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Chemed

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FY2008 Annual Report · Chemed
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Our 
advantage 

 is...

Annual report 2008

iii 

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

...  owning 
the land 
 that will secure the  
feed supply...

Wheat prices

Monthly average $ per Kg

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

05                06                07                08               09

0.30

0.40

0.35

Wheat prices
Since 2007, Cherkizovo has been building up a 
Monthly average $ per Kg
substantial landbank to provide future protection 
against fluctuations in the cost and availability of 
feed, such as those we witnessed in 2008. This is 
directly in line with the Group’s vertical integration 
strategy, and we will continue to invest in land 
where cost-effective opportunities present 
themselves. In addition, we have made substantial 
investments in our ability to produce fodder, a clear 
source of advantage over many of our competitors. 

0.20

0.25

0.05

0.15

0.10

0.00

05                06                07                08               09

Wheat prices US$ per Kg 

Annual average                
Monthly average 

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

05            06            07           08

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

...  owning 

the land 

 that will secure the  

feed supply...

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008 



  Competitive advantage
1  Our land
2  Pork & Poultry
4  Meat Processing
6  Sales & Distribution network

  Overview
8  Cherkizovo at a glance
  10  Chairman’s statement
  12  Our markets

  Performance

  14  Chief Executive’s statement
  16  Poultry
  20  Pork
  24  Meat Processing
  28  Distribution
  30  Financial review

  Governance
  40  Board of Directors and  
  Executive management
  42  Corporate social responsibility
  43  Corporate governance
  44  Directors’ report

We produce 80% 
of poultry feed and 
75% of pork feed 
at our own plants

  Financial statements

  46  Statement of management’s responsibilities
for the preparation and approval of the

  consolidated financial statements
Independent auditors’ report 
  47 
  48  Consolidated balance sheets
  50 
  51 
  53 

 Consolidated income statements
 Consolidated cash flow statements
 Consolidated statements of changes  
in shareholders’ equity and 
comprehensive income

  54  Notes to accounts

  Shareholder information
  77  Advisers and corporate information

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2 

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

... for 
  our pork 
and poultry...

We are one of 
Russia’s most 
efficient quality 
pork producers

 
... for 

  our pork 

and poultry...

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008 



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Pork
We completed an intensive five-year cycle of investment 
that has significantly increased the capacity and efficiency 
of our Pork business to ensure a highly profitable year. 
Today, Cherkizovo is Russia’s largest greenfield pork 
producer, gaining from the efficiencies that also make it 
the one of the country’s lowest-cost producers. This is a 
business that will only grow in profitability as it approaches 
full capacity.

Poultry
Cherkizovo is Russia’s leading producer of both chilled  
and frozen poultry. During 2008, alongside important 
investments in capacity, we successfully integrated  
our major 2007 acquisition, Kurinoe Tsarstvo  
(Chicken Kingdom), into our existing operations to  
gain from new synergies in production, distribution  
and sales. Our vertically integrated organisation  
helped to protect us from the most damaging  
impact of rising grain prices, enabling us to post  
a profitable year on which we are excellently  
placed to build further.

Cherkizovo’s poultry 
volumes have grown  
by 267% since 2005

 
 
 
 

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

...  that complement 
our 
leading 
branded 
meats...

We are 
Russia’s 
No1 meat 
processor

We have led 
the way in eco 
and healthy 
products

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008 



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During 2008, we focused on implementing the key 
investments in automation and quality that will 
enable us to maintain and build on our position as 
Russia’s leading and most innovative meat-processing 
business. With important achievements in product 
and process innovation – including a state-of-the-art 
slicing line at our Cherkizovsky plant and the launch 
of new product ranges, particularly the healthy meats 
range – we continued the journey that has already 
established so many of our brands as Russia’s most 
admired and best loved.

 
 
 

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

... that are 
delivered by 
our 
network

Our storage facilities and 900-strong fleet of refrigerated 
vehicles are one of Russia’s leading storage and distribution 
networks. During the year, we invested in advanced  
logistics software to gain further advantage  
through streamlined operations.

Latvia

Estonia

St Petersburg

Our fleet of  
over 900  
delivery  
vehicles 
and network 
of specialist  
chilled storage 
units cover 80% 
of Russia’s 142m 
population

Lipetsk

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008 



RUSSIA

Vologda

Tver

Moscow

Kazan

Ul’yanovsk

Perm

Ufa

Ekaterinburg

Chelyabinsk

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Tambov

Penza

Voronezh

Saratov

Samara

Rostov-na-Donu

Krasnodar

Caspian 
Sea

Georgia

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan

Turkmenistan

Greece

Turkey

Mediterranean Sea

Syria

Iraq

Iran

Khabarovsk 

Kyrgystan

Sinkiang

 
 
8 

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

At a glance

  Strong
growth in
  challenging conditions

Despite exceptionally challenging operating conditions, we made strong progress in 
2008 towards achieving our stated strategic goal of becoming Russia’s leading vertically 
integrated producer of quality meat and meat products. We achieved this through our 
determined focus on driving new efficiencies and opportunities throughout our entire value 
chain, from securing feed supplies to streamlining distribution, via a targeted programme 
of investment, modernisation and rationalisation.

Poultry

Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales

Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*

US$505.2m
US$505.2m
US$505.2m

42%
42%
42%

US$93.2m
US$93.2m
US$93.2m

57%
57%
57%

Pork

Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales

Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*

US$112.5m
US$112.5m
US$112.5m

9%
9%
9%

US$45.1m
US$45.1m
US$45.1m

28%
28%
28%

Meat 
Processing

Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales
Contribution to Group Total Sales

Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*
Contribution to adjusted EBITDA*

US$577.9m
US$577.9m
US$577.9m

49%
49%
49%

US$25.6m
US$25.6m
US$25.6m

15%
15%
15%

  Strong

growth in

  challenging conditions

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008 



Vertical integration

Financial highlights

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Distribution
Branded m eats
Pigs and Poultry
Land use

Net income, US$m
2006-2008 +166%

Adjusted EBITDA*, 
US$m
2006-2008 +106%

Adjusted EBITDA*
margin, %

*

78.1

61.6

29.4

116.4

74.2

152.8

14

13

12

Adjusted Earnings 
before Interest, 
Income Tax, Depreciation 
and Amortisation 
(“Adjusted EBITDA”). 
Adjusted EBITDA 
represents income before 
interest, income tax and 
minority interest, adjusted 
for certain other items. 
Adjusted EBITDA margin 
is defined as Adjusted 
EBITDA as a percentage 
of our net revenues.

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2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

2008

Gross profit, US$m
2006-2008 +89%

Gross margin, %

Sales, US$m
2006-2008 +85%

279.4

27

24

23

222.3

1,166

820.8

631.6

147.8

2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

2008

2006

2007

2008

Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Income Tax, 

Depreciation and Amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”)

Adjusted EBITDA represents income before interest, income 

tax and minority interest, adjusted for certain other items. 

Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA as 

a percentage of our net revenues.

 Key products

  •  Chilled poultry, whole and in portions
  •  Frozen poultry, whole and in portions

 Strategy

  •  Continue long-term organic expansion
  •  Integrate merged operations to take 
advantage of scale opportunities
  •  Drive efficiency gains through targeted 

investment

 Key facts

  •  Federal number 1 brands in chilled and 

frozen poultry
  • 7,245 employees
  •  Four production clusters

 Key products

  •  Live pigs
  •  Pork carcasses

 Strategy

  •  Maximise efficiencies enabled by 

greenfield operations

  •  Develop market position in processed 

pork products

  •  Differentiate through quality and 

marketing

 Key facts

  •  Largest greenfield producer
  •  1,277 employees
  •  Five production complexes

 Key products

 Strategy

  •   Raw-smoked, semi-smoked and cooked- 

  •  Innovate through brand development and 

smoked salamis and sausages

marketing

  • Chilled meat for retail sale
  • Ready-to-cook dishes
  • Special range for health-conscious consumers
  • Sliced, ready-to-eat delicatessen products

  • Improve efficiency through modernisation
  • Compete on quality, taste and value
  • Increase market share

 Key facts

  • Number 1 in Russian Federation
  • 5,299 employees
  • Six meat processing plants

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Chairman’s	statement

The Company’s 
investment for  
steady growth  
and development 
continues to 
deliver progress 
against our 
strategic objectives

In 2008 a 42% rise in revenues took us past the US$1 billion milestone 
for the first time, and represented delivery against our primary goal to 
become the No1 company in Russia’s agricultural sector. The importance of 
Cherkizovo to the country’s economy was demonstrated by the company’s 
inclusion in the official list of 300 Russian enterprises that form the basis  
of the Russian Federation’s GDP.

Last year’s financial and economic crisis gave a powerful impetus to the 
development of the agricultural sector in Russia. The extent to which the 
country is dependant on food imports, meat in particular, became evident, 
as Russia was again the largest meat importer in the world, despite the 
substantial resource potential and competitive production advantages 
available to the country. Accordingly, the issue of import substitution 
became one of the highest priorities for the Government, which announced a 
programme of food supply security, setting a goal to achieve self-sufficiency 
in pork and poultry meat by 2012. 

In the face of the challenging conditions of 2008 the Russian Government 
announced practical support to agricultural producers, and Cherkizovo 
Group, one of the most prominent enterprises in the production sector of  
the economy, was able to fully benefit from the one-off direct subsidies.

The revival of Russian agriculture is directly linked to the producers’ ability 
to secure Government subsidized loans for major investment projects. In 
2004, when I spoke at the session of the State Council of Russia, I raised 
the need for Russia to address this issue – the development of the Russian 
agricultural production – and the pursuit of this aim has led to a fresh start 
for agro producers as they started to receive subsidised lending. At this time 
Cherkizovo began to implement its large-scale investment projects in poultry 
and pork, and over the next three years we have significantly increased 
our debt levels, which was necessary to ensure the construction and 
development of our production. 

At the time of taking on debt to increase production some investors 
questioned when this would translate in to increased volumes. However, it 
is essential to understand that in the agricultural sector results are seldom 
visible across a short-term horizon. Despite this, in 2008 we have already 
started to see returns on our capital investments as production volumes in 
pork and poultry increased substantially, and  pleasingly – this  growth has 

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  11

	The	financial	

	crisis	has	brought	new	
opportunities

for	Cherkizovo	Group,	
Russia’s	leading	
agri	business

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translated into our strong financial results that show further strengthening  
in our market positions. 

Pork and poultry businesses in Russia have enormous opportunities for 
growth and development and accordingly, we have a pool of new projects  
in those segments to further enhance our capacities and scale of operations. 
At the same time we are progressing our existing projects without material 
delay or disruption, enabling the company to benefit from more subsidised 
lending in the future.  

2008 was a successful year across all segments of the Group, which 
delivered a strong set of financial results due to our commitment to 
relentless execution and increased operational efficiencies, while benefitting 
from essential Government support. 

Today Cherkizovo is the leader of the Russian agriculture sector; our 
business is in the real production sector of the Russian economy and the 
nature of our business provides us with a defensive strategy in the most 
challenging of market conditions. 

While current stock market valuations remain depressed, we believe 
Cherkizovo continues to offer investors good value in a defensive sector that 
is of strategic importance to the Russian government. In 2008 Cherkizovo 
continued all of its investment projects and increased production efficiencies 
and volumes. Accordingly, the board remains confident of the Group’s future 
prospects, underpinned by our diversification and the advantages of a 
vertically integrated group.

Our	business	and	outlook
Cherkizovo is the largest producer of poultry and pork meat in Russia and 
our fully integrated structure runs across the entire agricultural production 
cycle. We are currently developing our own land bank, and considering crop 
production, as well as a silo storage base with the aim of fully satisfying our 
fodder needs and providing our livestock with the highest quality fodder available.  

Igor	Babaev
Chairman

On a separate note, I should say that in all the regions where we operate we 
are grateful for the continued support of the local administrations. We share 
trust and confidence and are mutually committed to a single goal which is 
to revive and further develop Russian agriculture, and the broader economy 
of the country. 

Our	people
The commitment and skills of our professional team remain key to the 
overall success of the Company and its ability to deliver against its strategic 
objectives. I would like to thank them all for all their hard work and trust, 
which has contributed enormously to our performance. 

Dividend	policy
We remain focused on the steady development of the Company and 
accordingly, we continue to reinvest net profits in the business. On an 
ongoing basis we review this policy to ensure the best strategy for the 
Company and all shareholders is being pursued. 

	
		
		
		
Finland

Estonia

Latvia

Bulgeria

Greece

St Petersburg

RUSSIA

Vologda

Cherepovets

Tver

Dmitrov

Moscow

Narofofominsk

Lipetsk

Voronezh

Kazan

Ul’yanovsk

Tambov

Samara

Penza

Saratov

Belarus

Bryansk

Perm

Ufa

Ekaterinburg

Chelyabinsk

Krasnoyarsk

Irkutsk

Slovakia

Ukraine

Moldova

Romania

Rostov-na-Donu

Krasnodar

Labinsk

Georgia

Caspian 

Sea

Kazakhstan

Uzbekistan

Tukmenistan

Turkey

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Tajikistan

Sinkiang

Kyrgystan

Mediterranean Sea

Syria

Iraq

Iran

Khabarovsk 

Vladivostok

Vladivostok

2  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Finland

Our markets

St Petersburg

RUSSIA

Estonia

Latvia

Vologda

Cherepovets

Tver

Dmitrov

Moscow

Narofofominsk

Belarus

Bryansk

Perm

Ufa

Ekaterinburg

Chelyabinsk

Kazan

Ul’yanovsk

Lipetsk

Tambov

Voronezh

Penza

Saratov

Samara

Krasnoyarsk

Irkutsk

Slovakia

Ukraine

Moldova

Romania

Mediterranean Sea

Bulgeria

Distribution and storage network

Turkey

Greece

Domestic production and quotas
2005-2009E (000 tonnes)

Domestic production (left scale)
Poultry quotas
Pork quotas

6000

5000

1,090

1,132

1,171

1,210

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Kazakhstan

Caspian 
Sea

Uzbekistan

Rostov-na-Donu

Krasnodar

Labinsk

Georgia

Kyrgystan

Khabarovsk 

Vladivostok

Vladivostok

Meat processing production facility

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Poultry production facility

Tukmenistan

Pork production facility

Tajikistan

Sinkiang

Syria

921

Iraq

Iran

Imported meat consumption, %
2004-2010E

Poultry
Pork
Beef

47

21

18

37

32

29

29

23

16

Annual per capita meat consumption, kg

Biological norm 75kg

117

94

92

79

78

62

467

476

485

494

502

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009E

2004

2008

2010E

USA

Australia

Canada

EU

Russia

USSR
(1988)

Poultry

Pork

Domestic production

Source: Meat Union of Russia, official statistics

Distribution and storage network

Meat processing production facility

Poultry production facility

Pork production facility

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

 We are uniquely  
 placed to 
	benefıt	from	
 Russia’s growing

 US$36bn 

                                                 meat market

Processed meat, value % 
2008

Poultry, slaughter weight, volume %
2008

Pork, live weight, volume %
2008

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Cherkizovo Group 7.5
OMPK 6.2

Prodo 5.8

Other 69.9

Mikoms 4.8

Tsaritsyno 4.0
Kampomos 1.3
TAMP 0.5

Other 50.2

Cherkizovo Group 10.1

Prioskolie 10.0

Prodo 7.5

Belgrankorm 4.5
Resurs 3.7
Belaya Ptitsa 3.2

Mosselprom 3.2
Sibirskaya Guberniya 2.8

Agros 2.3 Ural Broiler 2.5

Prodo 5.8

Agro-Belogorie 5.4
Miratorg 4.4

Cherkizovo Group 3.5
Siberian Agrarian Group 2.3
Povolzhskoe 2.1
Ariant 1.9
Agrokholding 1.7
Eksima 1.6
Aleiskzernoprodukt 1.3

Other 70.0

Source: Meat Union of Russia
Others

TAMP

Kampomos

Tsaritsyno

Source: Company estimates

Source: Institute of Agricultural Marketing

Russian meat market dynamics, tonnes m
2006-2010

Mikoms

Russian meat market, growth
2002-2010E

Prodo

Poultry
Pork
Beef

OMPK

Tonnes m
US$bn

8.3
27%

34%

39%

Cherkizovo Group
9.1
39%

32%

29%

8.5
45%

32%

23%

35.8

35.8

31.0

23.6

24.4

26.1

18.2

10.1

6.9

12.8

7.5

8.0

8.5

8.3

8.8

9.1

7.9

8.5

10

8

6

4

2

0

2006

2008

2010E

2002             2003             2004             2005             2006             2007              2008             2009E          2010E

USA

Australia

Canada

EU

Russia

USSR

(1988)

Source: Meat Union of Russia, official statistics

Poultry

Source: Meat Union of Russia, official statistics

Pork

Beef

US$bn

Tonnes m

Annual per capita meat consumption, kg

Biological norm 75kg

117

94

92

79

78

62

 
  
  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Chief Executive’s statement

We expect 
domestic meat 
production to 
increasingly grow 
at the expense 
of costly imports, 
highlighting 
the status of 
Cherkizovo as 
a prominent 
defensive stock

2008 was the year when the strength of our consolidation and 
diversification strategy was proven in the most unpredictable and difficult 
of market conditions. During the year our balanced portfolio of business 
segments and commitment to targeted investment started to provide the 
stable development and margin growth we are looking for. Even in an 
environment where it has been difficult to make forecasts, this ongoing 
focus on our strategy has helped keep us on track to deliver against it.

The results of our strategy
During the year, our Pork division emerged as a highly profitable business, 
driving higher margins based on our investments in state-of-the-art 
greenfield facilities. This combined strongly with the steady forward 
momentum of our Poultry operation to highlight the value of the protection 
against risk enabled by diversification. 

We also saw strong evidence of the increasing opportunities for margin 
improvement, both within and between our divisions, that will be enabled by 
further growth and vertical integration. Our ability to spread overheads more 
efficiently across maturing operations, combined with our growing potential 
for self-sufficiency at every point of the value chain, are successfully driving 
down our operating costs. This trend is set to accelerate further as more of 
our recently completed facilities and new investments achieve full capacity 
over the next one to three years.

Investing in our business
An important driver of success, which is set to deliver greater returns  
in the near and long-term future, was our commitment to continued  
investment during the global financial crisis that gathered pace in the 
second half of 2008. 

There were three primary reasons for this. First, we believe strongly in the 
market opportunity that the efficient production of scarce but essential 
resources such as pork and poultry represents in Russia. Second, in 
addition to the subsidised long-term loan finance that is substantially cutting 
the cost of investment and facilitating repayment, we are reducing the value 
of our debt by keeping it in Roubles. And third, we are approaching the end 
of a major investment cycle in our pork business that is already driving new 
sources of profitability ahead of full capacity being achieved.

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  15

During 2008 our continued commitment to our strategy 
ensured that Cherkizovo Group delivered against its 
modernisation, development and vertical integration 
plans, despite extremely challenging economic and 
market conditions

Responding	to	world	market	conditions
2008 was also a year in which new opportunities arose as a direct result  
of the crisis. Costs in areas such as construction and land values have 
fallen, enabling us to moderate our projected capital expenditure. It means 
we can also consider additional investments in our land bank, enabling us 
to explore further the potential this will provide for reducing the risk of feed-
price fluctuations. 

At the same time, the Rouble’s performance against the US Dollar and 
the Euro have driven up the price of imported meats, beef in particular, to 
enhance the competitiveness of home-produced pork and poultry. Russia 
remains the world’s largest net importer of meat, and the global crisis and 
challenging financial situation will lead to an import substitution policy that 
favours Russian producers by replacing imports with domestically produced 
goods. Due to the importance of our sector to the national economy, the 
government has also allocated specific funds within the 2009 Budget to 
agricultural producers. As one of Russia’s largest integrated producers, 
Cherkizovo is excellently positioned to benefit from this commitment. 

We believe that the medium and long-term indications for our business are 
positive. Levels of meat consumption in Russia have historically been low and 
are not expected to significantly decline in the future. In addition, we expect 
domestic meat production to increasingly grow at the expense of costly 
imports, highlighting the status of Cherkizovo as a prominent defensive stock.

Satisfying	our	domestic	market
Turning briefly to the performance of our three business segments during 
2008, our vertically integrated structure helped our Poultry division to 
overcome major challenges created by a drastic increase in the price 
of feedstock to deliver a profitable year. The support of the Russian 
government also made an important contribution – recognising the sector’s 
importance, the government introduced as a one-off measure a direct 
subsidy of 5 Roubles-per-kilo for the first half of the year.

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of the largest hatching sites in Europe with an annual capacity of up to  
60 million eggs.

We significantly increased the volumes of our Pork business, which is  
set to achieve full capacity at end of 2010 and successfully gained from 
major upward price movements. Critically, by completing construction  
and commissioning at the final four of our six new greenfield pig farms,  
we brought to an end the large-scale construction programme that  
started in 2005. The business is already highly profitable, gaining from  
a substantial decrease in per-kilo production costs enabled by the efficiency 
of our new farms.

2008 presented a particularly tough operating environment for our Meat 
Processing division, where the purely domestic focus of the business 
and high fragmentation of the market carried the risk of weakened future 
growth in premium products as the economic situation reduced household 
spending. We responded by improving automation of our production 
processes for enhanced efficiency, while our continued concentration on 
product innovation and quality resulted in several top awards for our market-
leading brands at the 2008 Meat Industry International Forum. We believe 
these activities have strengthened our ability to build on economic recovery 
and position us well for the potential consolidation of the market.

Looking	ahead
We believe the future for Cherkizovo is encouraging. We foresee no 
significant reduction in demand or consumption in the near future,  
and are confident that recovery will bring even greater opportunities for 
market growth.

Above all, we are certain that we have the right strategy to deliver long-term 
success for our business, our staff, our customers and our shareholders.

Other major achievements included the successful continuation of work  
to integrate our 2007 acquisition, Kurinoe Tsarstvo (Chicken Kingdom), into 
our established operations, achieving synergies in production, distribution 
and sales. We also completed the reconstruction and commissioning of the 
first zone within the Vertunovka parent stock facility, which will become one 

Sergei	Mikhailov		
Chief Executive Officer

	
  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Poultry

poultry marketNo1

in the Russian 

in the Russian 

poultry market

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

We made substantial progress in 2008 on realising the 
synergies delivered by fully integrating the operations of 
Kurinoe Tsarstvo (Chicken Kingdom), Russia’s fourth-largest 
poultry producer which we acquired in 2007. Alongside 
further investments in capacity and efficiency, this enabled 
us to keep our promise of ensuring the stable development 
of our Poultry business.

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Our Petelinka chilled poultry brand and Kurinoe Tsarstvo 
frozen poultry brands are the absolute No1 brands in their 
categories*. Petelinka is the No1 selling brand in Moscow 
and Moscow region in volume and value terms, being priced 
at a premium to the market.

* Source: TNS Gallup Media, 2009 research.

Sales by volume, 
000 tonnes

187.1

167.4

69.2

Sales by volume, 
000 tonnes

38.8

27.7

11.9

Sales by volume, 

000 tonnes

155.5

149.0

144.6

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

Poultry volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

187.1

167.4

69.2

51.0

Pork volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

11.2

13.0

38.8

27.7

Meat Processing volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

161.4

155.5

149.0

144.6

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

 
8  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008
Poultry continued

 No1   in both chilled and  

frozen poultry brands

   The new Vertunovka  
facility has a capacity of

60m 

   eggs per year and is part  
of the Vasilyevskaya facility  
in the Penza region

Despite the high cost of feed making 2008 a testing year for our Poultry 
division, it realised highly profitable growth and achieved the key strategic 
goals that will support its future development.

creating hatching facilities that meet the demand created by the 60 million 
eggs this will produce each year. We also commenced reconstruction of a 
slaughtering facility, with an hourly capacity of up to 8,000 heads.

Integration for improved efficiency
We successfully realised synergies across the division in completing the 
integration of our major 2007 acquisition Kurinoe Tsarstvo with our 
established operations, improving efficiency and developing new market 
opportunities. 

This included streamlining the route to market by the incorporation of products 
into our existing sales channels. Additionally we started to sell chilled Kurinoe 
Tsarstvo products under our premium Petelinka brand, enabling a better 
margin for higher profits. Our vertical integration enabled us to commence 
supplying the Lipetsk facilities of Kurinoe Tsarstvo with eggs from our 
Penza cluster. This allowed us to remove the need to buy from third parties, 
mitigating price and quality risks. We also expect further synergies from 
integrating Kurinoe Tsarstvo will improve our ability to meet divisional targets. 

Maximising capacity
At other clusters, we focused on developing facilities to ensure a fully 
integrated, state-of-the-art division. 

In our Penza cluster, this saw us complete work at the Vertunovka site, one 
of Europe’s largest parent stock facilities – the most time and cost-intensive 
element of the poultry industry’s investment cycle. Our focus is now on 

At our Moscow cluster, we significantly improved the hatching facilities 
efficiency, closing one and upgrading the other to meet the cluster’s annual 
demand for 36 million eggs.

In our Lipetsk cluster, our primary focus was the maintenance of existing 
sites and equipment, while at Bryansk we began work on a large-scale 
programme of construction of broiler houses and processing facilities.

Competitive advantage
Vertical integration enables us to control product quality throughout the 
production chain. This starts with our own feed production capacity ensuring 
quality feed and supply stability; thus we ensure the health and well-being of 
our chickens to yield maximum returns. 

This also enabled us to realise the full value of the government’s 5 Roubles-
a-kilo subsidy in 2008, to offset any damage caused by fluctuations in the 
grain price.

In 2008 our Poultry division made significant progress towards achieving the 
integration and efficiency gains that are the primary goals of our strategy. 
This will allow us to strengthen our influential role in the consolidation of the 
fragmented Russian poultry industry.

Operational KPI’s 

Average liveweight, g 
Annual flock turnover, times 
Hatch, % 
Liveability 
Average growing period, days 
Meat yield, %  
Adjusted fodder conversion rate 
(2,000 g liveweight)
Average daily gain, g 

including  

including  

Kurinoe Tsarstvo   Kurinoe Tsarstvo*  change
%
-0.3
2.8
1.4
0.9
-2.5
–
-7.0

2008  
20  
.  
8.  
.  
8.  
. 
.8  

2007 
2019 
7.10 
77.0 
92.5 
39.7 
– 
2.02 

.  

50.0 

2.2

*proforma as if Kurinoe Tsarstvo is included for the full year 2007

Poultry performance
Total Sales, 
US$m

Adjusted EBITDA*, 
US$m

Division profit, 
US$m

.

2
5
0
5

8
.
6
9
2

7
.
5
5
1

Adjusted EBITDA* 
margin % (right scale)

2
.
3
9

1
.
9
5

4
.
5
3

50

25

0

3
.
1
5

8
.
8
3

1
.
0
2

Gross profit, 
US$m

Gross margin 
% (right scale)

.

9
8
3
1

4
.
3
9

0
.
6
5

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

50

50

25

0

100

Adjusted 

EBITDA 

margin %

7

.

2

2

9

.

9

1

4

.

8

1

6

0

0

2

7

0

0

2

8

0

0

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Gaining from our strategy
In realising valuable synergies through 
integration with Kurinoe Tsarstvo, we  
have successfully started to gain from  
new efficiencies in production, distribution 
and sales.

Leading capacity
The reconstructed parent stock facility 
at Vasylyevskaya will be one of Europe’s 
largest egg-production sites, with an annual 
capacity of up to 60 million.

Competitive advantage
Vertical integration enables us to  
control product quality throughout  
the production chain.

20  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Pork

Cherkizovo 
produced

38,   847

Sales by volume, 
000 tonnes

Sales by volume, 
000 tonnes

149.0

144.6

155.5

38.8

27.7

11.9

Sales by volume, 

000 tonnes

187.1

167.4

69.2

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

Poultry volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

187.1

167.4

69.2

51.0

Pork volumes
Slaughter weight
Tonnes 000

11.2

13.0

38.8

27.7

Meat Processing volumes
Slaughter weight
Tonnes 000

161.4

155.5

149.0

144.6

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  2

With substantial increases in capacity and efficiency during 
2008, enabled by the completion of our long-term investment 
programme, our Pork business recorded a highly profitable 
year. This profitability is set to grow substantially in the years 
to come, as our state-of-the-art new facilities reach full 
capacity and production costs are further reduced by the 
increasingly efficient sharing of overheads.

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38,   847

tonnes of pork in 2008, 
representıng	a	2460/0 
increase in volumes 
since 2005

 
22  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008
Pork continued

   Pork production 
will reach

90,000
  tonnes per annum 

at full capacity

   EBITDA margin

400/0

In a landmark achievement during 2008, we successfully completed the 
construction and commissioning of the final four of Cherkizovo’s six new 
pig farms, making the Company Russia’s largest greenfield pork producer. 
These were the third and fourth modules at our Lipetskmyasoprom breeding 
facility in the Lipetsk region, and the two modules that make up our new 
farm in the Tambov region.

The much improved efficiency of these state-of-the-art facilities provides 
us with a defensive strategy that enables us to sustain high margins even 
in difficult years. This was proven amid 2008’s dramatic increases in grain 
prices, showing that the significantly reduced cost of production will support 
our competitiveness and profitability in turbulent conditions. 

A completed investment programme
These activities brought to a successful conclusion a capital-intensive five-
year investment programme, meaning that our exposure to investment risk 
is now significantly reduced. These farms are already delivering the volume 
growth and efficiency gains we targeted, enabling us to improve our KPI’s in 
the division. As they move towards operating at full capacity we expect even 
greater cost benefits to progressively emerge.

Vertical integration is a key element of our strategy, and we are seeking 
ever-improving ways of using our own resources to make further efficiency 

gains. To this end, we installed new equipment and capacity at our feed 
mills to enable the production and storage of high-quality pellets.

Optimising growth rates and yields
We have completed the second experimental cycle which uses manure  
from our pigs to complete the circle. The results have been remarkably 
positive, and represent an important element of our commitment to 
optimising growth rates and yields.

We also created a stand-alone Trading House, which allows us to increase 
efficiency in selling live pigs by providing a single efficient channel to 
market. In anticipation of the development of our chilled and processed 
pork business, we also began project-scoping the future build of our own 
slaughterhouse.

Ensuring best practice
As each site reaches full capacity, its costs continue to fall as the expense 
of staff recruitment and training reduces. To build on this and to ensure best 
practice, we started work on our Standard Operations Manual as the first 
step of our journey towards certification.

Operational KPI’s

Average marketable pig weight, kg 
Average fattening period, days 
Number of farrows per year 
Number of pigs per farrow 
Liveability, % 
Annual pork (live weight)  
yield per sow, kg
Average fodder conversion rate, 
kg per kg of weight gain

Adjusted 
2008  
EBITDA 
.  
margin %
8  
2.2  
.  
.  
28  

6
.
2
3

5
.
1
4

2007 
110.0 
185 
2.27 
11.4 
80.3 
2273 

1
.
0
4

change
%
1.4
-1
0
2.6
-1.5
2.9

.2  

3.28 

-0.3

Pork performance
Total Sales, 
US$m

Adjusted EBITDA*,
US$m

Division profit, 
US$m

Adjusted EBITDA* 
margin % (right scale)

Gross profit, 
US$m

Gross margin 
% (right scale)

6
.
7
4

.

5
2
1
1

1
.
5
4

9
.
9
6

8
.
7
2

0
.
9
2

1
.
9

50

25

0

5
.
7
3

1
.
3
2

8
.
6

2
.
9
3 2
.
0
1

50

25

0

50

25

0

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

100

75

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Reducing the risk of investment
The successful completion of our five- 
year investment cycle has substantially 
reduced the risk we face across our  
entire Pork business.

Achieving productivity growth
With full commissioning achieved at our 
final four new pig farms, we significantly 
grew productivity across the business, with 
full capacity targeted for the end of 2010.

Efficiency drives enhanced 
profitability
As capacity approaches its full potential, 
profitability will continue to rise through 
the increasingly efficient spread of our 
overheads.

2  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Meat processing

In 2008 we 
invested

US$12 million

increasing automation, 

in Meat Processing,  

improving efficiency  

and raising quality

Sales by volume, 

000 tonnes

187.1

167.4

69.2

Sales by volume, 

000 tonnes

38.8

27.7

11.9

Sales by volume, 
000 tonnes

155.5

149.0

144.6

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

2006        2007         2008

Poultry volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

187.1

167.4

69.2

51.0

Pork volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

11.2

13.0

38.8

27.7

Meat Processing volumes

Slaughter weight

Tonnes 000

161.4

155.5

149.0

144.6

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

2005        2006         2007         2008

Investments in automation  
and productivity
Investments in new and enhanced production 
facilities in 2008 included the commissioning 
of a new slicing section at our Cherkizovsky 
plant, as well as the reconstruction of our 
main production facility there – this drove an 

immediate 21% increase in productivity for our 
hot dog-style sausages.

These investments are already paying 
significant dividends in quality, with our new 
slicing and packaging resources, for example, 
enabling major gains in the storage times, 
freshness and taste qualities of our products.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  2

In 2008 we 

invested

Innovation was the central theme in 2008 for our Meat 
Processing business – both in our most important production 
facilities and in the creation of new brands to meet emerging 
consumer demands. By investing in automation, we improved 
the quality, productivity and efficiency of several production 
lines. And with the launch of our new Akti Meat range for the 
health-conscious consumer, we extended our market reach 
to satisfy the requirements of a fast-emerging segment of the 
Russian population.

US$12 million

in Meat Processing,  
increasing automation, 
improving efficiency  
and raising quality

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Chilled retail-packed meat
Our retail products are sourced from the 
highest quality meats, and are packaged in a 
protective atmosphere to preserve natural 
freshness. In 2008 we started using our own 
pork from the Lipetsk farms. Our chilled 
meats once again achieved ecological 
certification in 2008.

Salami-type sausages
Our dry salami-type sausages continue  
to win numerous awards – and more 
importantly – the appreciation of our 
consumers.

In 2008 we expanded the range of our 
offering.

Sliced cooked products
We completed the modernization of our 
slicing facility at Cherkizovsky Plant in 2008. 

We have also launched a new line of sliced 
hams and cooked sausages that are made to 
traditional Russian recipes.

 
2  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Meat processing continued

  We received

13major awards 

   at the prestigious Meat 
Industry International 
Forum, including several 
Grands Prix

  Cherkizovo produces

350 

  products under its 
market-leading meat 
brands

Product and process innovation were the major features of a year when we 
concentrated on the vital management priorities necessary to maintain and 
enhance our leading position in the Russian processed meats market.

The skills of our people are also fundamental to success, and the year’s 
investments in continuous staff training included visits from our Italian 
and Austrian partners to help us gain the most from our new production 
technologies.

Investments in automation are an important element of our strategy. 
These totalled some US$12 million during 2008, generating significant 
improvements in the efficiency and productivity of our major production 
facilities, as well as our ability to create high-quality premium products  
with the absolute minimum of human contact. 

Driving productivity through innovation
One example among many includes the new slicing section at our 
Cherkizovsky plant. This advanced production line is now enabling a 
monthly capacity of up to 400 tonnes of products, including our famous 
salami-type and dried sausages – all professionally sliced and secured 
under sterile conditions, in ecologically sound packaging for prolonged 
freshness and guaranteed ecological security. We also standardise the  
size of all packaging for added retailer and consumer convenience.

This is just one way in which we are developing a new production culture 
that matches one of Russia’s most advanced meat processing facilities. 
Others include our efforts to guarantee the integrity of our products through 
investments in advanced sanitation techniques and technologies, including 
zoning, air-filtering and anti-bacterial lamps.

Achieving the highest meat industry standards

Cherkizovo Group has one of the best complete sets of national and 
international certification for quality and product safety in the Russian 
meat industry.

Adjusted 
EBITDA 
margin %

This includes quality management certification at our meat-processing 
plants, under ISO 9001-2001 (ISO 9001 – 2000).

8
.
3 7
.
7

All our chilled meats are covered by ecological safety  
certification, which contributed to our successful  
recertification under McDonald’s standards certification.

4
.
4

Our products are certified as free of genetically 
modified additives.

Targeting the health-conscious consumer
The year also saw the launch of a range of health-oriented products under 
the new Akti Meat brand, including premium semi-smoked and smoked 
products, as well as more traditional ready-to-eat sausages, Akti Meat is 
now meeting a growing demand for high-protein, low-fat products among 
consumers switching to healthier, more active life-styles.

Continuous improvements in quality
Our overriding commitment to product quality was recognised in 2008 by 
our best-ever performance at the Meat Industry International Forum (MIIF), 
Russia’s premier award scheme for our sector, with three Grand Prix and  
10 Gold and Silver Awards.

Meat Processing Performance
Total Sales, 
US$m

Adjusted EBITDA*,
US$m

Division profit, 
US$m

Adjusted EBITDA* 
margin % (right scale)

.

9
7
7
2 5
.
7
6
4

9
.
4
5
4

6
.
6
3

4
.
3
3

6
.
5
2

2
.
9

2
.
8

)

3
.
7

(

15

10

5

0

Gross profit, 
US$m

Gross margin 
% (right scale)

7
.
9
9

3
.
3
9

5
.
1
8

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

6
0
0
2

7
0
0
2

8
0
0
2

20

15

50

25

0

50

25

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High quality products recognised at 
meat industry forum
Cherkizovo received a number of awards 
at the Meat Industry International Forum 
(MIIF), recognising the high quality  
products offered within the Group’s meat 
processing division.

The Group was presented with several 
Grand Prix awards, the highest accolade 
awarded by the MIIF, for its ‘Kazachia’ 
brand of semi-smoked salami, its  
‘Palmira’ brand of pork roll and its 
‘Doktorskaya’ brand of cooked salami.

Launching the Akti range of healthy  
meat products
Following a highly successful trial, we 
launched Akti Meat in 2008 – a 
delicatessen-style product range that meets 
the growing demands of Russian consumers 
for health-orientated meat products.

This is a powerful example of our 
investment in product innovation, helping  
to develop a new sector that we expect to 
grow as more Russians switch to healthier, 
more active lifestyles.

28  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Distribution

As a leading Russian agriculture and food 
processing company, we strive to ensure 
that our consumers have access to our 
entire product range, and that our products 
are of the highest possible quality at point 
of sale. For this reason, the large-scale 
distribution network that we have created 
covers most Russian regions, including 
over 80% of the country’s population 
(approximately 115 million people).

In 2008 we fully integrated sales of Kurinoe Tsarstvo (Chicken Kingdom), 
which we acquired in 2007, into our structure. As a result, our distribution 
network for chilled and frozen poultry meat has considerably increased.  
Our distribution reach has also broadened in the Tambov, Voronezh, 
Yaroslavl, Orel, Vladimir, Kaluga, Bryansk, Tver, Lipetsk, Smolensk and 
Tula regions. We have increased the sales volume of the Petelinka brand, 
and have continued to grow the volume of product sold under the Kurinoe 
Tsarstvo brand. This performance allows us to maintain our leading  
position in the regions. 

Ensuring product freshness
Cherkizovo Group owns a dedicated fleet of transport vehicles, including 
over 900 refrigerated trucks. By using only specialised transport to reach 
our consumers, we are able to ensure that the freshness and quality of  
our products are not compromised in transit. 

Our transport management is successfully optimised via an automated 
routing and management system based on GPS navigation. The system 
allows us to minimise delays from traffic congestion, communicate with  
our drivers en route, reduce delivery costs and improve client service.  
To increase efficiency further, in addition to using our own fleet we source 
transport services from specialist logistics companies.

distribution network115m

people are covered by our 

Leading through technology
We are an industry leader in our use of innovative technologies in our 
storage and transport logistics. In 2008 we installed a WMS ‘Logistics’ 
system to provide a centrally-supported, integrated product catalogue for 
all our divisions. This allows us to increase the speed and quality of labeling 
and storage operations, as well as reducing product loss. We supply 
products to all leading retailers, and the new system is ensuring that we  
can respond promptly to their requests. 

We also have our own trading houses network and distribution centres. We 
maintain strong relationships with the independent distributors who sell our 
products to smaller retailers in the more remote areas of the country.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  2

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Product quality comes first
Cherkizovo’s fleet of 900 specialist vehicles 
ensures the freshness and quality of our 
products between the group’s facilities and 
into our customers’ premises.

Large-scale operations
Our strategically sited distribution centres 
enable us to forge close relationships with 
the wholesalers who sell on our behalf to 
retailers throughout Russia.

Rapid response to retailers’ needs
The advanced WMS logistics system, 
installed in 2008, enables us quickly and 
easily to respond to the requirements of  
our retail customers.

 
0  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Financial review

During 2008, Cherkizovo group continued  
to make solid progress against its  
strategic objectives, despite a challenging 
market environment. The Company’s  
sales increased by 42%, adjusted EBITDA* 
by 31% and net income by 27%, and  
we continued to deliver real value for all  
our shareholders. However, the dramatic  
rise in grain prices in the first six months  
of the year exerted some pressure on  
margins for the whole year, despite 
substantial government support and 
operational efficiencies.

Cherkizovo is one of the leading integrated diversified meat producers in the 
Russian Federation. According to 2008 statistics from Russia’s Meat Union, 
we have the largest market share of processed meat products in Russia; 
and according to TNS Gallup Media research and our own estimates, we 
have the largest sales of poultry in Moscow and the Moscow region and 
are the leader nationally. We are also one of the leaders in the highly-
fragmented Russian pork industry. In 2008, we sold approximately 144,500 
tonnes of meat products, 187,000 slaughter-weight tonnes of poultry 
products and 39,000 live-weight tonnes of pork. 

Our principal operations consist of the production and sale of processed 
meat products, primarily in the European part of Russia; the breeding and 
rearing of chickens, and the processing and sale of chilled and frozen 
poultry products produced at facilities in the Moscow, Lipetsk, Bryansk 
and Penza regions; and the breeding and rearing of pigs, at facilities in 
the Moscow, Lipetsk, Vologda and Tambov regions, and the sale of live 

pigs. We also carry out trading and distribution operations and produce 
feed consumed in our Poultry and Pork operations. In February 2006 we 
began operations at a purpose-built pig breeding and rearing complex in 
Lipetsk, and during 2008 completed construction and commissioning of all 
greenfield farms in Lipetsk and Tambov. All six new state-of-the-art pork 
farms are operational. 

Our operations are structured into three operating divisions: Meat 
Processing, Poultry and Pork. We operate six meat processing plants where 
we process raw meat into fresh and ready-to-cook products, and process 
it further into processed meat, sausages, hams and other products. The 
division also carries out associated sales and trading operations. Our Poultry 
division consists of four production clusters, two processing facilities, a 
feed production plant and associated sales and trading operations. Our 
Pork operations consist of five pig breeding and rearing complexes and feed 
production facilities.

All three operating divisions are also involved in other non-core activities, 
including dairy, crop cultivation and associated services. Expenses for our 
corporate headquarters are recorded under “corporate expenditures”.

In 2008, our Meat Processing segment was responsible for 49% (57% in 
2007), Poultry for 42% (35% in 2007) and Pork for 9% (8% in 2007) of 
the Group’s sales. Virtually all our sales are in the Russian Federation with a 
large proportion being in Moscow and the Moscow region. 

Looking ahead, 2009 is likely to be a challenging year in terms of the 
operating environment. The various uncertainties that could have an 
impact on our performance include grain prices, domestic consumption, 
government activity, devaluation of the Rouble against other currencies 
and other external factors. However we believe that we will benefit from 
increased production scale in our pork and poultry segments, and improved 
operating efficiency.

Our results for the first quarter of 2009 were broadly in line with our 
expectations, and so despite the challenging economic conditions, we 
remain cautiously optimistic about consumption patterns and pricing trends 
for our products.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Sales up 42%
    despite a challenging 
market environment

Consolidated Selected Financial Data 
Year ended December 31, 2008 

Total Sales 

including other sales 
including sales volume discount 

Intersegment Sales 
Sales to external customers 
Cost of Sales 
Gross profit 

Gross margin 

Operating expenses 
Operating income 

Operating margin 

Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 

Segment profit 

Income Tax expense 
Depreciation and amortisation expense 
Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 

Adjusted EBITDA* reconciliation

Segment profit 
Add: 
Interest expense 
Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Other financial income & expenses 
  Depreciation and amortisation expense 

Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 
Impairment of non-current assets 

Adjusted EBITDA* 

Adjusted EBITDA* Margin 

The reconciliation between net segment profit and 
net income per the consolidated income statements 

Total net segment profit 

Minority interest 
Income taxes 
Loss from discontinued operations 
Net gain on disposal of discontinued operations 

Consolidated net income 

Intersegment 

Combined

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

Meat 
Processing 

 577,919  
 4,581  
 (26,363) 
 (271) 
 577,648  
 (484,571) 
 93,348  

Poultry 

 505,204  
 39,773  
 (15,380) 
 (19,859) 
 485,345  
 (366,330) 
 138,874  

16% 

27% 

 (85,935) 
 7,413  

1% 

 71  
 (14,763) 

 (7,279) 

 1,398  
 17,217  
 509  

 (70,498) 
 68,376  

14% 

 (2,477) 
 (14,611) 

 51,288  

 (264) 
 22,248  
 779  

Pork 

 112,507  
 6,148  
 -   
 (9,223) 
 103,284  
 (64,939) 
 47,568  

42% 

 (8,292) 
 39,276  

35% 

 (102) 
 (1,724) 

 37,450  

 (59) 
 6,271  
 (437) 

Corporate 
assets/ 
expenditures 

 1,028  
 -   
 -   
 (1,024) 
 4  
 (40) 
 988  

 (12,125) 
 (11,137) 

 -   
 29,041  
 (1,336) 

 1,336  

 26,536  
 (14,460) 

 (22,833) 
 22,833  

 939  

 334  
 12  

 -   
 -   

 (7,279) 

 51,288  

 37,450  

 939  

 ,,8 
 0,02 
 (,)
 (0,)
 ,,28 
 (88,8)
 2,2 

2%

 (,)
 0,28 

%

 , 
 (22,2)

 82,8 

 ,0 
 ,8 
 8

 82,8  

 22,2  
,8  
,0  
 ,  
 20  
 ,8  
 8  
 2,28  

 1,724  
 (0) 
 -   
 102  
 -   
 6,271  
 (437) 
 -   

 14,460  
 (23,178) 
 -   
 (3,565) 
 206  
 12  

 -   

 (22,833) 
 22,833  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 45,110  

 (11,126) 

 -   

 2,8 

40% 

%

 14,611  
 (144) 
 (140) 
 2,761  
 0  
 22,248  
 779  
 1,777  

 93,180  

18% 

 14,763  
 (1,494) 
 (871) 
 2,298  
 (3) 
 17,217  
 509  
 481  

 25,621  

4% 

 82,398  

 (3,994) 
 (1,409) 
 (3,489) 
 4,599  

 8,0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
2  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Financial review continued

State support for agricultural production in 
Russian Enterprises 

Favourable profit tax
Enterprises engaged in agricultural production in Russia, including our 
poultry and pork production facilities, benefit from a favourable profit tax 
rate. In 2008 the zero percent corporate tax rate, which had originally been 
applicable only for 2008, was extended to the end of 2012. This rate is 
scheduled to increase to 18% for 2013-2015, and to 20% thereafter. Our 
non-production agricultural operations, such as processing of chilled and 
frozen poultry, trading operations and feed production, do not benefit from 
this reduced tax rate. 

Largely as a result of these reduced tax rates, our overall effective tax rate 
in 2008 was 1.7% (2007: 9.8%), as compared to the general corporate 
profit tax rate in Russia of 24%. 

Reimbursement of interest payments
Agricultural enterprises are also eligible for reimbursements of up to two-
thirds of the official Central Bank of Russia (“CBR”) refinancing rate from 
the Russian federal authorities for interest payable on loans, and of up to 
one-third of the official CBR refinancing rate from regional authorities. The 
CBR’s refinancing rate increased during 2008 from 10.25% in February up 
to 13% in December.

We account for interest on these loans on a net basis, after taking the 
subsidies into account. As of 31 December 2008, approximately 74% of 
the aggregate principal amount of our loans was eligible for, and received, 
the subsidies, which reduced interest for the year by US$18.4 million 
(2007: US$9.7 million). As of 31 December 2008 our effective interest 
rate applicable to the loans on which the interest subsidies applied ranged 
from 4.4% to 4.7%, compared with the weighted average interest rate on 
outstanding amounts under the loans, which ranged from 11.7% to 13.1%. 
As of December 2008 our effective interest rate was 4% (2007: 3%).  
Such subsidies were netted against interest expense. The favourable  
interest rate subsidies are not available to non-production agriculture- 
related operations, such as our trading, mergers and acquisitions and  
Meat Processing operations.

Direct Subsidies
In accordance with Russian legislation, enterprises engaged in agricultural 
activities receive targeted subsidies based on the amount of meat produced. 
Such subsidies were netted against cost of sales.

In the first six months of 2008, the Federal Budget of the Russian 
Federation was amended to increase the total assignment of funds for 
subsidies to agricultural producers, by introducing subsidies designed 
to compensate producers for the high cost of mixed fodder used in the 
production of poultry and pork. 

In September 2008, the government of the Russian Federation issued a 
decree providing formulas for calculating subsidies to agricultural producers. 
The decree was based on the change to the law on the Federal Budget 
of the Russian Federation that was approved by the Duma of the Russian 
Federation on 30 June 2008.

Based on the decree, subsidies were provided of 5 Roubles and 10 Roubles 
respectively per kilogram of live weight poultry and pork produced for 
slaughter. The reported numbers include US$31.0 million of direct Federal 
Budget subsidies provided for the first half of the year. These subsidies 
reduced cost of sales in our Poultry and Pork segments. Of the total amount 
of subsidies, US$23.2 million and US$7.8 million relate to our Poultry and 
Pork segments respectively. 

In addition to federal subsidies, based on agreements with regional 
governments, our pork facilities (OJSC Lipetskmyasoprom in Lipetsk and 
CJSC Botovo in Vologda) and our poultry facilities (CJSC Petelinskaya in 
Moscow and JSC Vasiljevskaya in Penza) received direct subsidies from the 
regional administrations, based on the amount of pork or poultry they sold 
and to purchase veterinary products and fuel. In 2008 the Group received 
regional administration subsidies amounting to US$3.4 million. These 
subsidies were also netted against the cost of sales in our Pork and  
Poultry divisions.

Seasonality
Each year the volume of sales and average selling prices in each of our 
divisions are generally most favourable in the second quarter, at the start  
of the summer season, and in the fourth quarter, at the beginning of the 
pre-New Year holiday sales. Post-holiday economising, combined with 
the period of Lent before Russian Orthodox Easter, makes the year’s first 
quarter generally the least favourable.

Seasonality also affects average selling prices as retail consumers  
generally buy more (and more expensive) high-quality products in the 
fourth quarter. In addition, because feed costs are lower when crops are 
harvested, the second half of the year is notably more profitable for pork 
and poultry production.

Changes to the 200 financial statements
The Group made certain adjustments to the previous year’s financial 
statements to reflect the effects of discontinued operations. In November 
2008, management of the Group made a decision to dispose of a subsidiary 
in the Meat Processing division, JSC Belmyaso, to optimise the divisional 
cost structure. The sale was completed in December 2008, with the Group 
selling 75% of JSC Belmyaso shares for US$68,000. We have therefore 
separately disclosed the financial position and results of JSC Belmyaso’s 
operations as of and for the year ended 31 December 2007 (see Note 23 to 
the Financial Statements for more details).

 
cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Gross profit increased by 26% to US$279.4 million (2007: US$222.3 
million), while gross margins decreased to 24% (2007: 27%). The Group 
managed to increase profits in spite of the challenging inflationary 
pressures on grain, primarily as a result of our efficient purchasing strategy, 
increased operational efficiency at our new pork facilities and product mix 
improvements in our Poultry and Meat Processing businesses.

Net income increased by 27% to US$78.1 million (2007: US$61.6 million). 
Net income margin slightly decreased to 7% (2007: 8%).

Adjusted EBITDA* increased by 31% year-on-year to US$152.8 million 
(2007: US$116.4 million) and adjusted EBITDA* margin decreased slightly  
to 13% (2007: 14%).

Consolidated Selected Financial Data 

Sales 
Cost of sales 
Gross profit 

Gross margin 

Operating expenses 
Operating Income 
Operating margin 
Income from continuing operations before  
income tax and minority interest 

Net Income 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding 
Earnings per share (basic and deluted): 
Income from continuing operations  
Loss from discontinued operations 

  Gain on disposal of discontinued operations 

Extraordinary gain 

  Net Income 

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA* reconciliation 
Income from continuing operations before income tax  
and minority interest 
Add: 
Interest expense 
Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Other financial income & expenses 
  Depreciation and amortisation expense 

Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 
Impairment of non-current assets 

Year ended 
December  
2008 

Year ended
December 31 
2007

,,28 
(88,8) 
2,2 

2% 

(,) 
0,28 
% 
82,8 

820,763
(598,490)
222,273

27%

(137,387)
84,886
10%
73,941

8,0 

61,582

,2,8 

39,564,300

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

.8 
-0.08 
0. 
0.00 
.8 

1.62 
-0.06
0.00
0.00
1.56

82,8 

73,941

22,2 
(,8) 
(,0) 
, 
20 
,8 
8 
2,28 

18,396
(3,899)
(467)
(3,205)
120
31,466
40
-

Combined and consolidated adjusted EBITDA* 

2,8 

116,392

Adjusted EBITDA* Margin 

% 

14%

Impairment of non-current assets
In accordance with applicable standards, the Group conducted an analysis 
of impairment of non-current assets at 31 December 2008, including 
property, plant and equipment, goodwill and trademarks. Evidence of 
impairment was found only for trademarks, mainly due to an increase in the 
Group’s weighted average cost of capital. The amount of impairment was 
determined to be US$2.3 million which was included in operating expenses. 

Interest rates and currency exchange
Our reporting currency is the US Dollar; our subsidiaries’ functional  
currency is the Rouble. The Rouble is not fully convertible outside the 
Russian Federation.

Within the Russian Federation, official exchange rates are determined  
daily by the CBR. Market rates and official rates may differ, although this  
is generally within narrow parameters monitored by the CBR.

Our products are typically priced in Roubles, and our direct costs, including 
raw materials (other than imported meat products and some fodder 
components), labour and transportation, are also largely incurred in Roubles. 
Other costs, such as interest, are incurred in Roubles, US Dollars and Euros. 
According to the CBR, the Rouble appreciated in real terms against the US 
Dollar by 13.3% in 2008 (2007: 12.8%), and the average exchange rate 
of the Rouble against the US Dollar appreciated by 3.1% (2007: 6.3%) in 
nominal terms. 

Approximately 2.8% of the aggregate principal amount of our long-term 
debt outstanding at 31 December 2008 consisted of foreign-currency 
denominated loans (4.7% in 2007), of which approximately 95% was 
US Dollar-denominated and 5% Euro-denominated). Our short-term debt 
balance (excluding the current portion of long-term loans) at 31 December 
2007 contained 39% of foreign-currency denominated loans (all US Dollar-
denominated). In 2008 our short-term debt is entirely Rouble-denominated.  
Of our outstanding debt, as of 31 December 2008, 97% bore interest  
at fixed rates, and 3% bore interest at floating rates linked to MosPrime  
and LIBOR. We have not entered into transactions to hedge against interest 
rate risk.

Results of operations

Group Results
The Group performed strongly in 2008.

Overall sales increased by 42% to US$1.2 billion during the year (2007: 
US$820.8 million). Meat Processing accounted for 49% (57% in 2007), 
Poultry for 42% (35% in 2007) and Pork for 9% (8% in 2007) of the 
Group’s sales. Our Pork and Poultry divisions showed the strongest growth 
in the year, with the Pork division growing by 61% and the Poultry division 
by 70%.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Financial review continued

We will benefit 
from increased 
production scale 
in our pork and 
poultry segments

Meat Processing sales, % 
2008

Wholesale 61

Retail 22

2007

Wholesale 61

Retail 22

Poultry Division 
In 2008, total volume in our Poultry division increased by 12% to 
approximately 187,100 tonnes, compared to 167,400 tonnes in 2007. Prices 
for Cherkizovo poultry sales increased by 11% from 57.71 Roubles per kg 
in 2007 to 63.87 Roubles per kg in 2008 (excluding VAT). In Dollar terms, 
prices increased by 14% from US$2.26 per kg in 2007 to US$2.57 per kg 
in 2008 (excluding VAT).

As a result, total sales in the Poultry division increased by 70% from 
US$296.8 million to US$505.2 million.

The Poultry division’s gross profit increased by 49% to US$138.9 million 
(2007: US$93.4 million). Gross margin decreased to 27% (2007: 31%), 
mostly due to high grain prices in the first half of the year. However, federal 
subsidies of US$23.2 million and regional subsidies of US$1.3 million offset 
some of the increase in grain prices. 

Divisional operating expenses decreased as a percentage of sales year-on-
year, from 16% to 14%. This improvement was mostly due to the synergies 
achieved by selling products from the newly acquired Kurinoe Tsarstvo 
(Chicken Kingdom) through the Poultry division’s existing distribution 
network. As a result, operating income in the division increased by 45% 
to US$68.4 million (2007: US$47.2 million), while the divisional operating 
margin decreased from 16% to 14% in the corresponding period. Divisional 
interest expenses increased to US$14.6 million (2007: US$10.7 million).  
As a result of these factors, divisional profit increased 32% to US$51.3 
million (2007: US$38.8 million). 

Overall, Cherkizovo’s adjusted EBITDA* in the Poultry division increased 
by 58% to US$93.2 million (2007: US$59.1 million), delivering a strong 
adjusted EBITDA* margin of 18% (2007: 20%) despite a challenging 
environment for grain and poultry prices.

Poultry sales, % 
2008

Wholesale 54

Retail 22

2007

Wholesale 32

Modern retail/
retail chains 17

Modern retail/
retail chains 17

Modern retail/
retail chains 24

Retail 34

Modern retail/
retail chains 33

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Poultry processing segment 
income statement data 

Total Sales 
Intersegment Sales 
Sales to external customers 
Cost of sales 
Gross profit 
Gross margin 
Operating expenses 
Operating Income 
Operating margin 
Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 

Segment profit 

Poultry segment adjusted EBITDA* reconciliation 
Segment profit 
Add: 
Interest expense 
Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Other financial income & expenses 
  Depreciation and amortisation expense 

Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 
Impairment of non-current assets 

Poultry segment adjusted EBITDA* 

Adjusted EBITDA* Margin 

Year ended 
December  
2008 

Year ended
December 31 
2007

0,20 
(,8) 
8, 
(,0) 
8,8 
2% 
(0,8) 
8, 
% 
(2,) 
(,) 

,288 

0% 

296,803
(5,165)
291,638
(203,381)
93,422
31%
(46,256)
47,166
16%
2,248
(10,659)

38,755

13%

,288 

38,755

, 
() 
(0) 
2, 

22,28 
 
, 

,80 

8% 

10,659
(9)
(131)
(2,107)

11,267
627
-

59,061

20%

Volumes, 000 (slaughter weight) 
Price / kg  

8,00 
US$2.2 

167,400
US$2.57

Pork Division 
2008 was a landmark year in the development of the Pork segment, as 
Cherkizovo completed construction and commenced production at our new 
greenfield farms in Lipetsk and Tambov. Sales volumes in the Pork division 
were up 40% to approximately 39,000 tonnes, compared to approximately 
28,000 tonnes in 2007.

Prices in Rouble terms increased by 11% in 2008 from 61.58 Roubles per 
kg in 2007 to 68.36 Roubles per kg in 2008 (excluding VAT). In Dollar 
terms, prices increased by 14% in 2008 from US$2.41 per kg of live weight 
in 2007 to US$2.75 per kg of live weight in 2008 (excluding VAT).

As result total sales increased by 61% to US$112.5 million (2007:  
US$69.9 million).

The new pork facilities at Lipetsk further improved our performance in 
2008. This had an effect on our cost of sales and, as a result, despite 
high wheat and barley prices in 2008, our gross profit increased by 63% 
to US$47.6 million (2007: US$29.2 million). Gross margin for this division 
remained strong at 42%, largely due to the increase in selling price, 
increased operational efficiencies from the new pork farms, and as a 
result of the federal subsidies of US$7.8 million and regional subsidies of 
US$2.1 million that offset increases in grain prices. The division’s operating 
expenses as a percentage of sales remained flat at 7%. 

Divisional interest expenses increased slightly to US$1.7 million (2007: 
US$1.4 million). The division’s profit increased by 62% to US$37.5 
million (2007: US$23.1 million). The division generated adjusted EBITDA* 
of US$45.1 million, an increase of 56% on the previous period (2007: 
US$29.0 million) and an adjusted EBITDA* margin of 40% for the year 
(2007: 42%).

We believe that the developments at Lipetsk and Tambov will further 
improve the division’s performance and help to sustain strong margins.

Pork processing segment 
income statement data 

Total Sales 
Intersegment Sales 
Sales to external customers 
Cost of sales 
Gross profit 
Gross margin 
Operating expenses 
Operating Income 
Operating margin 
Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 

Segment profit 

Pork segment adjusted EBITDA* reconciliation 
Segment profit 
Add: 
Interest expense 
Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Other financial income & expenses 
  Depreciation and amortisation expense 

Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 

Pork segment adjusted EBITDA* 

Adjusted EBITDA* Margin 

Sales Volumes, 000 (live weight) 
Price / kg  

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

Year ended 
December  
2008 

Year ended
December 31 
2007

2,0 
(,22) 
0,28 
(,) 
,8 
2% 
(8,22) 
,2 
% 
(02) 
(,2) 

,0 

% 

69,869
(5,186)
64,683
(40,684)
29,185
42%
(4,680)
24,505
35%
(64)
(1,390)

23,051

33%

,0 

23,051

,2 
() 
- 
02 
() 
,2 
() 

,0 

0% 

8,800 
US$2. 

1,390
()
(54)
(2)
121
4,502
1

29,009

42%

27,700
US$2.41

Meat Processing Division
Sales volumes in the Meat Processing segment remained largely flat,  
but were slightly lower year-on-year, down by 3% to approximately  
145,000 tonnes.

As a result of growth in the price of raw meat, average prices increased  
by 19% from 87.51 Roubles in 2007 to 103.86 Roubles in 2008  
(excluding VAT). Segment prices in Dollar terms increased by 22% from 
US$3.42 per kg in 2007 to US$4.18 per kg in 2008 (excluding VAT).  

We were delighted to receive several awards for the quality of our meat 
products during the period, reflecting our focus on improving the Group’s 
value-added product offering. 

The division’s operating income increased by 60% to US$39.3 million 
(2007: US$24.5 million). Operating margin remained constant at 35%. 

Total sales in our Meat Processing division increased by 24% to US$577.9 
million (2007: US$467.2 million), principally as a result of significantly higher 
selling prices.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Financial review continued

Our targeted 
capital expenditure 
program has 
enhanced 
operational 
efficiency across 
our segments

Divisional gross profit decreased by 6% to US$93.3 million (2007: US$99.7 
million), mostly due to raw meat price growth and significantly increased 
pressure from retail chains. Gross margin in the Meat Processing division 
decreased from 21% to 16%, mostly due to raw meat price increases. 
Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 15% from  
17% in 2007 mostly due to decreased marketing and advertising expenses. 
As a result of the above factors, the operating income in 2008 was US$7.4 
million. Divisional interest expenses increased by 6% to US$14.8 million 
(2007: US$13.9 million).

The division lost US$7.3 million in 2008. Adjusted EBITDA* decreased 
to US$25.6 million (2007: US$36.6 million), while the adjusted EBITDA* 
margin decreased to 4% from 8%.

Meat Processing sales, % 
2008

Wholesale 61

Retail 22

2007

Wholesale 61

Retail 22

Poultry sales, % 
2008

Wholesale 54

Retail 22

2007

Wholesale 32

Modern retail/
retail chains 17

Modern retail/
retail chains 17

Modern retail/

retail chains 24

Retail 34

Modern retail/

retail chains 33

Meat processing segment 
income statement data 

Total Sales 
Intersegment Sales 
Sales to external customers 
Cost of sales 
Gross profit 
Gross margin 
Operating expenses 
Operating Income 
Operating margin 
Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 

Segment (Loss)/Profit 

Meat processing segment 
Adjusted EBITDA* reconciliation 
Segment profit 
Add: 
Interest expense 
Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Other financial income & expenses 
  Depreciation and amortisation expense 

Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment 
Impairment of non-current assets 

Meat processing segment adjusted EBITDA* 

Adjusted EBITDA* Margin 

Sales Volumes, 000  
Price / kg  

Year ended 
December  
2008 

Year ended
December 31 
2007

, 
(2) 
,8 
(8,) 
,8 
% 
(8,) 
, 
% 
 
(,) 

(,2) 

-% 

467,216
(2,776)
464,440
(367,539)
99,677
21%
(78,149)
21,528
5%
1,583
(13,890)

9,221

2%

(,2) 

9,221

, 
(,) 
(8) 
2,28 
() 
,2 
0 
8 

2,2 

% 

13,890
(1,318)
(282)
17
-
15,695
(588)
-

36,635

8%

,00 
US$.8 

149,100
US$3.42

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Liquidity and capital resources

Capital expenditure, US$000*

Capital requirements
In addition to our working capital requirements, we need capital to finance 
the following:

200000

150000
•  capital expenditure, particularly in connection with further development  

of our Pork and Poultry segments

• potential acquisitions
• repayment of debt.

100000

We anticipate that capital expenditure, potential acquisitions and repayment 
50000
of long-term debt will represent the most significant use of funds for the 
next several years.

We generally rely on operating cash flows and bank loans to finance capital 
0
expenditure. In 2008, the major sources of our funds were our operating 
cash flows, proceeds from a secondary public offering and short and long-
term borrowings. We financed our capital expenditure primarily with short 
and long-term borrowings. 

Capital expenditure
Our total capital expenditure in 2008, excluding acquisitions, amounted to 
US$158 million. This included cash and other payments for property, plant 
and equipment acquired under leases, as well as property acquired but not 
yet paid for. 

In 2008, capital expenditure in our Poultry segment totalled US$75 
million and related mainly to the expansion of our facilities and operational 
efficiency in Moscow and Penza regions. 

800000

700000

600000

In 2008, capital expenditure in our Pork segment amounted to US$65 
million, covering the completion of construction of our new pork facilities  
in Lipetsk (modules 3 and 4) and Tambov (modules 1 and 2). 

400000

500000

300000

In 2008, capital expenditures in our Meat Processing segment totalled 
US$12 million and covered improvements at our existing meat processing 
facilities as well as automation and cost optimisation in our three biggest 
production facilities – at our Cherkizovsky, Ulyanovsky and Penzensky meat 
processing plants. 

100000

0

200000

Land
Poultry
Pork
Meat Processing

101,138
29,398

57,275

85,892
37,205

40,157

186,342
47,911

124,616

158,324
5,624

74,994

65,473

8,530
2005                           2006                           2007                           2008

12,233

13,815

14,465

*note: includes capital expenditure accounted for under corporate assets and expenditures 
which represented less than 1% of the capital expenditures each year.

Debt, $000
Cash flow
The table below represents movements in our cash flows from various 
activities during the two years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007: 

Long-term
Short-term
Cost of debt

47,911

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
P

4.8%

For the year ended 31 December  

2.8%
Net cash from operating activities  
Net cash used in investing activities  
Net cash from financing activities  

654,282

2008  
US$000  

28,22  
(2,)  
8,0  

5

2007
US$000

4

3

2

19,925
(309,555)
195,743

2,28  

(90,049)

4.0%

124,616
562,017

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents1  

425,222

1 Includes cash flow movements associated with discontinued operations.

325,666

364,799

Net cash from operating activities in 2008 increased to US$128.2 million 
(2007: US$19.9 million).

262,466

236,351

229,060

102,333

This significant increase in net cash from operating activities in 2008 
compared to 2007 (up by US$108.3 million) is mostly related to factors 
including: a slight decrease in inventories in 2008, compared to the large 
increase in 2007; a decrease in advances paid; accrued subsidies; and 
a decrease in receivable VAT for property, plant and equipment, mostly 
related to the refund of VAT by the Government.

2006                           2007                           2008

In 2008, we also purchased approximately 15,000 ha of agricultural  
land in the Saratov region, which is currently undergoing registration into our 
ownership.

The following bar chart sets out our capital expenditure by segment, 
excluding acquisition of Kurinoe Tsarstvo in 2007 (US$143 million), for the 
four years ended 31 December 2008. 

A slight decrease in inventories of US$3.0 million is made up of a decrease 
in raw materials, which is offset by an increase in livestock. The decrease  
in raw materials mostly relates to the fact that due to the falling prices 
for grain at the end of 2008, it was appropriate to wait for lower prices in 
2009. This is the reverse of the situation in 2007, when the prices at the 
end of the year were rising and it was more prudent to buy larger quantities 
at lower prices.

The increase in livestock mostly relates to the growing operations at our 
new pork facilities in Lipetsk and Tambov, and also to the commissioning 
of our new poultry site at Vertunovka (part of JSC Vasiljevskaya) in Penza. 
The large increase in inventories during 2007 is primarily the result of the 
commencement of operations at our state-of-the-art pork facility in Lipetsk.

 
 
 
 
 
 
8  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Financial review continued

The increase in trade receivables that we experience mainly resulted from 
an increase in general sales and in those of mixed fodder to related parties. 

In 2008 there was a slight decrease (of US$1.3 million) in advances paid, 
mostly due to the decreasing price of oils for mixed fodder production,  
which we pay for in advance. A significant increase in advances in 2007 
was due to the change in terms of purchase contracts in our Meat 
Processing segment.

The increase in other current assets mostly relates to an increase in  
accrued subsidies for both interest reimbursement and mixed fodder  
costs, and this increase was partially offset by the reduction in current  
VAT receivable. In 2008 several Group companies received payments for 
VAT receivable, which led to a decrease in the amount of VAT receivable 
totalling US$7.2 million. 

In 2007, VAT receivable increased mainly due to major construction  
projects in our Pork and Poultry segments.

200000

150000

100000

50000

0

Our investment activities in 2008 showed a significant decrease in the  
Capital expenditure, US$000*
use of cash, which totalled US$172.3 million (2007: US$309.6 million). 

186,342
47,911

Land
Poultry
Pork
Meat Processing

Net cash used in investment activities in 2007 included US$139.8 million, 
158,324
which was mostly attributable to the acquisition of Kurinoe Tsarstvo.  
5,624
In addition, in 2008 the Company decreased capital expenditure within 
74,994
the Pork segment, as most investments into our new pork farms were 
completed in previous years. We increased capital expenditure in our Poultry 
segment, mostly in the Penza region, which led to total capital expenditure 
in US Dollars staying relatively constant. The company also increased the 
amount of short-term loans given to related parties.

101,138
29,398

85,892
37,205

124,616

65,473

57,275

40,157

Our net cash flow from financing activities decreased to US$89.4 million in 
2008 (2007: US$195.7 million). A decrease in net cash flow from financing 
activities in 2008 resulted primarily from the increased use of cash for 
12,233
8,530
repaying both long- and short-term loans. This was partially offset by the 
2005                           2006                           2007                           2008
proceeds of the secondary public offering of US$82.3 million that was used 
*note: includes capital expenditure accounted for under corporate assets and expenditures 
to refinance short-term debt, and additional financing raised for capital 
which represented less than 1% of the capital expenditures each year.
expenditure purposes in the Pork and Poultry segments. 

13,815

14,465

Debt, $000

Long-term
Short-term
Cost of debt

47,911

4.8%

2.8%

4.0%

800000

700000

600000

500000

400000

300000

200000

100000

0

364,799

262,466

102,333

654,282

425,222

124,616
562,017

325,666

229,060

236,351

2006                           2007                           2008

Liquidity
As of 31 December 2008, we had total cash and cash equivalents of 
US$49.7 million, of which around 69% were denominated in US Dollars, 
with the remainder in Roubles. We also had working capital of US$23.4 
million (2007: US$17.1 million). Following this date, we continued to 
meet our obligations to trade creditors from operating cash flow and debt 
financing. Our trade working capital, which we define as current assets less 
current liabilities excluding short-term loans and the current portion  
of long-term loans, was US$259.8 million (2007: US$246.1 million) as of 
31 December 2008. Our future plans for improving liquidity and our working 
capital position include refinancing short-term debt on a long-term basis.

One factor which brought about changes in the components of our 
working capital was the depreciation of the Russian Rouble, the end-of-
year exchange rate being 20% higher than at the beginning of the year. 
This led to a reduction in Dollar amounts that was much greater than the 
corresponding amounts in Roubles. 

As we maintained the share of sales made to modern retail chains, our 
trade receivables from third parties (net of allowances for doubtful accounts) 
increased by 19% in Roubles. This was partly compensated for by the 
depreciation of the Rouble against the US Dollar. Trade receivables from 
related parties at 31 December 2008 increased to US$15.3 million (2007: 
US$10.0 million). Trade receivables’ turnover averaged 28 days as of  
31 December 2008 (2007: 40 days). The allowance for doubtful accounts, 
which we create on a case-by-case basis, was US$3.1 million (2007: 
US$2.6 million). 

Trade accounts payable to third parties increased in Roubles but decreased 
in US Dollars, due to the depreciation of the Rouble, to US$66.3 million  
at 31 December 2008 (2007: US$74.7 million). This was mostly due to 
rising meat prices. Trade payables to related parties decreased slightly  
to US$2.4 million as of 31 December 2008 (2007: US$3.0 million).  
As of 31 December 2008, trade payables’ turnover averaged 27 days 
(2007: 46 days).

We also make advances on a case-by-case basis to our raw meat and grain 
suppliers, in accordance with the terms of the supply agreements we have 
with them. As of 31 December 2008, advances paid amounted to US$29.7 
million, net of allowances for doubtful accounts (2007: US$37.6 million). 
The decrease was mainly due to depreciation of the Rouble. In Roubles 
this decrease is only 4% from the 2007 figure. Of our total net advances, 
US$7.3 million (2007: US$7.8 million) was to related parties. The allowance 
for doubtful accounts at 31 December 2008 was US$1.3 million (2007: 
US$834,000).

Inventory consists primarily of raw materials and goods for resale, work-
in-progress, livestock and finished goods. As of 31 December 2008, our 
inventories were US$133.6 million (2007: US$154.5 million). This decrease 
was mostly due to depreciation of the Rouble – there was an increase of 
3.5% in Rouble terms. This comprises the decrease in raw materials offset 
by the increase in livestock.

5

4

3

2

Decreases in raw materials are mostly because of the falling prices for grain 
at the end of 2008, which made it more feasible not to buy large amounts of 
grain but to wait for lower prices in 2009. This is the reverse of the situation 
in 2007 when the prices at the end of the year were rising and it was more 
prudent to buy larger quantities at lower prices.

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  39

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The value of our livestock at 31 December 2008 was US$55.3 million 
(2007: US$52.9 million). A 25% increase in Rouble terms is due to the 
increased operations at our new pork facilities in Lipetsk and Tambov, and 
to the commissioning of our new poultry site at Vertunovka (part of JSC 
Vasiljevskaya) in Penza.

Other receivables mainly comprise subsidies due from the government, 
which increased to US$20.5 million in 2008 (2007: US$12.0 million).

Other current assets include other taxes receivable, prepaid expenses, spare 
parts and notes receivable. The decrease here is mainly because of the 
depreciation of the Rouble and the decrease in VAT receivable, due to the 
repayment of input VAT by the government.

Ludmila	I	Mikhailova
Chief Financial Officer

*Non-GAAP financial measures. This financial review includes financial 
information prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally 
accepted in the United States of America, or US GAAP, as well as other 
financial measures referred to as non-GAAP. The non-GAAP financial 
measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, 
the information prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA. We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, 
income taxes, depreciation and amortisation. Adjusted EBITDA is defined 
as EBITDA adjusted for other operating expenses, other income (expense) 
on a net basis, minority interest, loss from discontinued operations (net of 
income tax), loss on disposal of discontinued operations (net of income tax) 
and extraordinary gain on purchase of interests in consolidating entities (net 
of income tax). We believe that EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are measures 
commonly used by investors. Our calculation of EBITDA and adjusted 
EBITDA may be different from the calculation used by other companies and 
therefore comparability may be limited.

Some of the information in this financial review may contain projections 
or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future 
financial performance of the Group. Forward looking statements can be 
identified by terms such as “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, 
“intend”, “will”, “could”, “may”, or “might”, the negative of such terms or 
other similar expressions. We wish to caution that these statements are only 
predictions and that actual events or results may differ materially.

We do not intend to update these statements to reflect events and 
circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of 
unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ 
materially from those contained in our projections or forward-looking 
statements, including, among others, general economic conditions, our 
competitive environment, risks associated with operating in Russia, rapid 
market change in our industry, as well as many other risks specifically 
related to the Group and its operations.

	
0  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Board of Directors and Executive management

Igor Babaev Chairman, 59
Mr Babaev has served as Chief Executive Officer of most 
Group companies since 1998. He joined Cherkizovsky 
MPP in 1988 as chief engineer, becoming President 
and a member of the Board of Directors in 1993. Before 
joining Cherkizovsky MPP, he was an engineer and 
senior engineer at Essentuki Canning Plant. He was 
also head of the Production Division of Nalchik Meat 
Processing Plant, engineer-in-chief of Stavropol Meat 
Canning Plant, chief engineer-technologist of Simferopol 
Poultry Processing Plant and engineer-in-chief of NPO 
Komplex of the Gosagroprom of the USSR. He graduated 
from Krasnodar Polytechnic Institute in 1971 and 
received a PhD from the Moscow Technological Institute 
of Meat and Milk Processing Industry in 1981. He holds 
an honorary distinction of the “Honoured Worker of the 
Food Industry of the Russian Federation” and has been 
an acting member of the Russian Engineering Academy 
since 1994. 

Sergei Mikhailov Chief Executive Officer, 30
Mr Mikhailov is also President and a member of the 
Board of Directors of AIC Cherkizovsky. He was Deputy 
President and Chief Operating Officer of Cherkizovsky 
MPP from 2000 and joined AIC Cherkizovsky as Deputy 
President of the Marketing and Sales Department in 
2004. In the same year, he was appointed General 
Director of Cherkizovsky Trade House. From 1998 
to 2001, he served as a director and founder of the 
telecommunications company aTelo, Inc. in the United 
States. In 1997, he worked as an intern at Goldman 
Sachs and in 1999 was a financial analyst at Morgan 
Stanley. He received a BSc in Finance from Georgetown 
University (Washington DC) in 2000.

Evgeny Mikhailov Executive Director, 27
Mr Mikhailov also serves as Vice-President and a 
member of the Board of Directors of AIC Cherkizovsky. 
He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of 
AIC Mikhailovsky since 2004. He joined AIC Mikhailovsky 
as Deputy General Director in 2004. In 2002, he worked 
as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley and in 2001 
was an assistant to the Vice-President at aTelo, Inc. in 
Washington DC. He received a BSc in Economics from 
the University of California at Los Angeles in 2004.

Yury Dyachuk Head of Legal Department, 41
Mr Dyachuk has been head of our Legal Department 
since 2006. A practicing lawyer for 14 years, he  
was head of the Legal sub-divisions in the Group for  
12 years. In 2005, he was our senior counsel and 
led the restructuring of the Cherkizovo Group, having 
previously been head of the Legal Department of AIC 
Cherkizovsky since 2001. He was head of the Legal 
Department of Cherkizovsky MPP from 1996 to 2000 
and a member of the legal department at Cherkizovsky 
MPP from 1995 to 1996. He graduated from the 
Moscow State Law Academy with a degree in Civil Law 
in 1995.

Samuel Lipman Non-executive Director, 64
Mr Lipman joined the Board of Directors in April 2006. 
He also currently serves as President of The Lipman 
Company, which he founded in 1997, which provides 
consulting services in relation to the management of 
the broiler industry. He was Chief Executive Officer of 
Limited Liability Company Broiler Buduschego, a Russian 
subsidiary of US enterprise Stromyn Breeders, Ltd, from 
2004 to 2006. From 2003 to 2006 he was President of 
Stromyn Breeders, LLC. Mr Lipman founded and was 
President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Rooster in 
Lipetsk, Russia, from 1996 to 2000. He graduated from 
Colby College, Maine, USA, with a BA in English in 1972.

Musheg Mamikonian Non-executive 
Director, 49
Mr Mamikonian has also served as Chief Executive 
Officer of OJSC Lianozovsky Sausage Plant, Chairman 
of the Board of Directors of OJSC Dmitrovsky Meat Plant 
and Chief Executive Officer of CJSC Myasnoy Alliance 
since 2003, and has been President of the Russian 
Meat Union since 1998. From 2001 to 2003, he was 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of OJSC Lianozovsky 
Sausage Plant. In 1998, he was Chief Executive Officer 
of CJSC Eko-Torg and between 1997 and 1998 was 
Deputy President at CMPP. He graduated from Yerevan K. 
Marx Polytechnic Institute with a degree in Engineering 
in 1981 and received a PhD from Moscow Technological 
Institute of Meat and Milk Industry in 1986. He holds 
over 100 patents for technical and technological 
inventions, and in 1999 received a Russian Federation 
State award for achievements in Science  
and Technology.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

  The Board’s broad range of sector,  
Russian and international experience,  
best positions Cherkizovo to

deliver against  
 strategy

its stated

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Artur Minosyants Chief Operating Officer, 44
Mr Minsoyants was previously First Deputy President for 
Finance and Economics of Cherkizovsky MPP, and from 
1996 to 2000 was Finance and Economics Director 
of Birulevsky MPP. Before joining, he was Head of 
Finance of Armavir City Administration. Mr Minosyants 
is a graduate of the Moscow Plekhanov Institute for the 
National Economy and holds a PhD in Economics.

Ludmila Mikhailova Chief Financial Officer, 33
Ms Mikhailova was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of 
the Company from September 2005 to February 2006. 
From January 2005 to March 2005 she was First Deputy 
President of AIC Cherkizovsky, and Deputy Chief Executive 
Officer of LLC Group Cherkizovo from March 2005 to 
September 2005. From July to December 2004 she 
was Deputy President of Cherkizovsky MPP. From 2002 
to 2004, she was a financial analyst at General Mills 
Corporation Canada (Toronto). In 2002, she worked at ING 
Barings in London, and from 2000 to 2001 she worked 
for McFarlane Gordon Inc. (Toronto). She was previously 
a financial analyst at Cherkizovsky MPP (1996 to 1998). 
She graduated from the Financial Academy of the 
Government of the Russian Federation in 1998.  
In 1999, she completed a Canadian Securities Course 
at the Canadian Securities Institute, and in 2003 she 
received an MBA from Schulich School of Business,  
York University (Canada).

Esben Juhl was a Non-executive Director and 
resigned from the Board in June 2008

Paul James Ostling was a Non-executive Director 
from June 2008 and resigned from the Board in  
early 2009

 
            
2  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008

Corporate social responsibility

We consider Cherkizovo to be a good corporate citizen. We aim both to 
reduce the impact we make on the environment and to make positive 
connections with the communities in which we operate. We also make 
considerable efforts to communicate with our shareholders, suppliers  
and employees.

Employment policies
Our employees are our most valuable asset, and we pursue a policy  
of objective and systematic assessment of their skills. Our personnel  
policy ensures we recruit and retain high-quality people at all levels of  
the business.

Health, safety and the environment
We comply with applicable environmental legislation and observe biological 
and veterinary safety requirements in our poultry and pig-farming 
operations. This involves:

Training When new people join the Group, we provide introductory training 
on the Company and its history, as well as on production, distribution, sales 
and our quality policy. Professional development is an ongoing priority for 
our employees.

We consider the shortage of suitably trained people to be one of the major 
risks to our business. As a result, we work closely with final-year students 
in educational establishments in a drive to attract the best people. We 
have also instituted programmes to give existing senior members of staff 
international training.

Equal opportunities We do not consider age, colour, ethnic origin, 
gender, political or other opinions, religion or sexual orientation to be a 
barrier to employment or advancement.

Benefits Employees work a 40-hour week, including a daily one-hour 
lunch break. Each of our facilities has a staff canteen at which food is 
available at low cost and for free for some categories of staff. In addition, 
each employee is given a food hamper every month, as well as at New Year 
and on national Women’s and Men’s Days.

We reward employees for particular achievements. These include 
particularly good work, reaching or exceeding output targets, long service 
(we have some employees who have worked for CMPP since it was founded 
in 1974) and a generally outstanding contribution. Women are entitled 
to 120 days’ paid maternity leave, receive a cash gift on the birth of a 
child, and their jobs are kept open for three years. We also give financial 
assistance on marriage and in cases of invalidity or bereavement.

The Company organises and partly funds summer camps for employees’ 
children, and many of our operations have a gym or facilities for football  
and tennis.

Health Our employees are given medical examinations three times  
a year. Those who work with raw meat receive additional examinations  
and inoculations. All employees are given flu injections every autumn. 
We have medical centres at which employees can receive help, although 
Russian citizens have government medical insurance which entitles them  
to free treatment. 

Comfort We stimulate healthy growth and development of our poultry and 
pigs by controlling air temperature and circulation, lighting and humidity.

Traceability To ensure the high quality of our products, we control  
all stages of production, from feed production to breeding, processing  
and distribution.

Balanced feed We produce our own feed to special formulas that ensure 
it contains the optimum balance of energy and protein, micro-elements, 
vitamins and amino acids.

Specialisation and separation of sites We carry out all stages of 
production at discrete sites, divided by minimum sanitation zones of at least 
five kilometers. This prevents the transfer of diseases between generations 
of animals and between breeding and production stock. We also take 
prevailing winds into consideration when choosing locations.

All full/all empty Individual sites only contain animals of the same 
generation. Sites are cleaned and disinfected between production periods.

Preventative measures We seek to operate our agricultural facilities 
to international best practice standards. We undertake a large number of 
preventative measures to ensure that our sites are safe, both to limit stock’s 
susceptibility to disease and to prevent the spread of any diseases which 
may occur. These measures include:

• strictly controlling access to sites
• limiting the number of visitors, including foreign delegations
• prohibiting the movement of staff between sites
• ensuring the effective operation of veterinary and sanitary stations
• providing staff with work shoes and clothing
• using disposable packaging for deliveries
•  prohibiting staff from visiting countries which suffer from pig and 

poultry diseases

•  regularly eliminating potential carriers of disease, such as rodents 

and insects

• regularly testing blood samples from our pigs and chickens
• clinically examining and taking veterinary care of stock
• vaccinating to required procedures

Environmental measures We have systems at all sites that control 
waste water, air pollution and energy consumption.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Federal Law prohibits the Board of Directors from acting on issues that fall 
within the exclusive competence of an AGM.

Our charter generally requires a majority of the directors present at a 
Board meeting to vote for an action for it to be approved. The exceptions 
are major or interested-party transactions, for which Russian legislation 
requires a qualified or unanimous vote. A Board meeting is considered to be 
duly assembled and legally competent to act when a majority of the Board 
members are present.

The Board met 12 times during the year.

Chief Executive Officer
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is responsible for day-to-day 
operations. He is elected by the Board for up to a five-year period. With the 
exception of matters exclusively assigned to the competence of an AGM or 
to the Board of Directors, he has executive authority over all our activities.

Internal control/risk management
The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for ensuring that the 
Company maintains an adequate system of internal control and risk 
management, and for reviewing its effectiveness. It has established a 
continuous process for identifying, evaluating and managing risk.

Internal control is carried out by the Revision Commission, the activities of 
which are governed by our charter and revision commission regulations. The 
commission oversees and co-ordinates audits of our financial and economic 
activities. Its principal duties are to ensure that our activities comply with 
applicable Russian legislation, and do not infringe shareholders’ rights, and 
that our accounting and reporting do not contain material misstatements. 
The members of the commission are elected for one year at the AGM and 
may not include the Chief Executive Officer or other members of the Board.

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Corporate governance

Cherkizovo’s shares are listed on the Russian Trading System (RTS), and 
the London Stock Exchange (LSE). They are also traded off the list on the 
Moscow Stock Exchange (MSE) and Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange 
(MICEX). In connection with our listing on the RTS, we are required to 
comply with the corporate governance standards of our home country. 
These include:

•  the obligation to have at least one non-executive director: Cherkizovo’s 

Board of Directors includes three independent directors, as defined in the 
Corporate Governance Code approved by the FSFM. These criteria differ 
from those set out in the UK’s Combined Code on Corporate Governance. 
Despite his business relations with the Group, we believe that Mr Samuel 
B Lipman can be regarded as ‘an independent director’ in accordance 
with the Combined Code;

•  the formation of an Audit Committee: the Audit Committee is formed 

every year from independent Board members;
•  the adoption of the bylaws on insider trading; and
•  the implementation of internal control procedures.

The role of the Board
The Board is responsible for the general management of the Company and 
has the power to form the:

•  determination of our business priorities;
•  convening annual and extraordinary general shareholders’ meetings, 

including setting a date and time, approving the agenda and determining 
the date of record for the shareholders entitled to participate (except 
in certain circumstances specified under Federal Law on Joint-Stock 
Companies);

•  placement of our bonds and other securities, in certain cases provided for 

by Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies;

•  determination of the price of our property and our securities to be 

placed or repurchased, as provided for by Federal Law on Joint-Stock 
Companies;

•  repurchase of our shares, bonds and other securities, in certain cases 

provided for by Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies;

•  election and early termination of the powers of our sole executive body 

(general director);

•  recommendations on the amount of dividends and the payment 

procedure;

•  use of our reserve fund and other funds;
•  creation of branches and representative offices;
•  approval of our internal documents, except for those documents for 

which approval falls within the competence of the Company’s general 
shareholders’ meeting or general director;

•  approval of major and interested party transactions, in certain cases as 

provided for by Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies;

•  increase of our share capital by the issuance of additional shares within 

the limits of our authorised share capital, except in circumstances 
specified under Federal Law on Joint-Stock Companies and our charter; 

•  approval of decisions regarding securities issuances and prospectuses 
relating to such securities, as well as of reports on the results of such 
share issuances, except in certain circumstances specified under Federal 
Law on Joint-Stock Companies;
•  approval of our share registrar; and
•  other issues, as provided for by the Federal Law on Joint-Stock 

Companies and our charter.

 
  cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008
Directors’ report

The directors present their annual report and audited financial statements 
for the year ended 31 December 2008.

Directors in the year
The following served as directors of the Company during the year ended  
31 December 2008:

Igor E Babaev, Chairman
Sergei Mikhailov, Chief Executive Officer
Yury Dyachuk, Head of Legal Department
Evgeny Mikhailov, Executive Director
Samuel B Lipman, Independent Non-executive Director
Musheg L Mamikonian, Non-executive Director
Paul James Ostling

Election and re-election of directors
Our charter provides that our entire Board of directors may be re-elected 
at each Annual General Meeting. The Board is elected through cumulative 
voting, under which each shareholder may cast an aggregate number of 
votes equal to the number of voting shares he or she holds, multiplied 
by the number of people to be elected to the Board. Each shareholder 
is entitled to cast all his votes for one candidate or to spread them out 
between a number of candidates. The directors may be removed as a group 
at any time before the end of their terms of office, without cause, by a 
majority vote at a shareholder meeting.

Disclosure of information to auditors
So far as each director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of 
which the Company’s auditors are unaware. Each director has taken all 
steps that he ought to have taken in his duty as a director to make himself 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s 
auditors are aware of that information.

Principal activities and review of the business
Cherkizovo is one of the leading integrated diversified meat producers in 
the Russian Federation. Operations are structured into three divisions: 
Meat Processing division, Poultry division and Pork division. Each division 
incorporates its own distribution unit, sales unit, network of trading centers, 
storage facilities, marketing department; each is also involved in non-core 
activities, such as dairy, farming and accompanying services.

Meat Processing division This comprises six plants at which raw meat is 
processed into fresh and ready-to-cook products, and a wide range of other 
processed products, including salamis, sausages and hams.

Poultry division Four poultry clusters, a feed mill and four processing 
plants make up the Poultry division.

Pork division This comprises five pig farms and a feed plant.

More information about the business is set out in the Chairman’s  
Statement, on pages 10 and 11, the Chief Executive Officer’s Statement,  
on pages 14 and 15.

Future developments
The Group’s stated objective is to become the undisputed leading integrated 
diversified producer of meat and meat products in the Russian Federation. 
To achieve this aim, it will continue to modernise existing meat processing 
facilities, invest in its poultry facilities – and look for possible acquisitions 
– build new sales and distribution centers where these will increase its 
geographic spread, and invest in its pork business.

The management believes that there are opportunities for continuing 
expansion, in what is a fragmented market, through acquisition as well  
as organic growth.

Going concern
After reviewing the 2009 budget and longer-term plans of the Group, the 
directors are satisfied that, at the time of the approval of the financial 
statements, it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the financial statements of the Group.

Dividends
We do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, but plan to 
invest all net profits into the business development. We have no doubt that 
this will be to the long-term benefit of the Company and its shareholders.

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  

Financial accounts contents

 46  Statement of management’s responsibilities for the preparation  

and approval of the consolidated financial statements 

47  Independent auditors’ report 

48  Consolidated balance sheets 

50  Consolidated income statements 

51  Consolidated cash flow statements 

 53  Consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity  

and comprehensive income 

54  Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

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46	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Statement	of	management’s	responsibilities	for	the	preparation	and	
approval	of	the	consolidated	financial	statements

Management is also responsible for:

• Designing, implementing and maintaining an effective and sound system 

of internal controls throughout the Group;

• Maintaining proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable 

accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Group, and which enable 
them to ensure that the consolidated financial statements of the Group 
comply with US GAAP;

• Maintaining statutory accounting records in compliance with local 

legislation and accounting standards in the respective jurisdictions in 
which the Group operates;

• Taking such steps as are reasonably available to them to safeguard the 

assets of the Group; and

• Preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities.

The consolidated financial statements for the years ended 31 December 2008 
and 2007 were approved on 3 April 2009 by:

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

The following statement, which should be read in conjunction with the 
independent auditors’ responsibilities stated in the independent auditors’ 
report set out on page 3, is made with a view to distinguishing the respective 
responsibilities of management and those of the independent auditors in 
relation to the consolidated financial statements of OJSC Cherkizovo Group 
and subsidiaries (“the Group”).

Management is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial 
statements that present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated 
financial position of the Group at 31 December 2008 and 2007 and 
the consolidated results of its operations, cash flows and changes in 
shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income for the years then ended, in 
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 
of America (“US GAAP”).

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is 
responsible for:

•  Selecting suitable accounting principles and applying them consistently;
• Making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and fairly represent 

the most likely outcome of uncertainties;

• Stating whether US GAAP has been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in the consolidated financial 
statements; and

• Preparing the consolidated financial statements on a going concern 

basis, unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in 
business for the foreseeable future.

Mr. Sergei I. Mikhailov  
Chief Executive Officer  

Mr. Arthur M. Minosyants  
Chief Operating Officer  

Ms. Ludmila I. Mikhailova 
Chief Financial Officer

 
 
Independent	auditors’	report

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of OJSC Cherkizovo Group:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of OJSC 
Cherkizovo Group and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) as of  
31 December 2008 and 2007 and the related consolidated statements of 
income, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity and comprehensive 
income for the years then ended. These financial statements are the 
responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally 
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we 
plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether 
the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes 
consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for 
designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not 
for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s 
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such 
opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting 
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the 
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, 
as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe 
that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Group did not 
maintain historical cost records for property, plant and equipment acquired 
prior to 31 December 2001. On 31 December 2001, the Group established 
the carrying value of such assets based on the estimated fair values at such 
date. In our opinion, accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States of America require that property, plant and equipment be stated at 
historical cost. The information needed to quantify the effects of these items 
on the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Group is 
not reasonably determinable from the accounts and records.

In our opinion, except for the effects of including property, plant and 
equipment based on fair values as described in the preceding paragraph, 
such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the 
consolidated financial position of the Group as of 31 December 2008 and 
2007 and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the 
years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted 
in the United States of America.

3 April 2009

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  47

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48	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Consolidated	balance	sheets

As of 31 December 2008 and 2007

Assets
Current	assets:
Cash and cash equivalents  
Trade receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of 3,135 and of 2,633  
as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively 
Advances paid, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of 1,324 and of 834  
as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively 
Inventory 
Deferred tax assets 
Other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of 562 and of 404  
as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively 
Other current assets 
Total	current	assets	of	continuing	operations	
Current assets of discontinued operations 
Total	current	assets	

Non-current	assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net  
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets, net 
Loans receivable 
Deferred tax assets 
Notes receivable, net 
VAT receivable 
Total	non-current	assets	of	continuing	operations	
Non-current assets of discontinued operations 
Total	non-current	assets	
Total	assets	

Notes 

2008 
US$000 

2007
US$000

3 

49,664 

16,841

88,375 

88,845

4 
18 

5 
6 

23 

7 
8 
8 

18 
9 

23 

29,672 
133,627 
4,621 

28,488 
34,659 
369,106	
334 
369,440	

683,946 
8,548 
43,210 
7,917 
470 
7,903 
11,462 
763,456	
1,368 
764,824	
1,134,264	

37,609
154,481
7,304

20,849
43,301
369,230
6,626
375,856

705,849
10,959
55,007
8,836
2,030
8,357
21,034
812,072
8,297
820,369
1,196,225

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
		
	
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
	
	
 
	
	
		
	
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  49

Notes 

2008 
US$000 

2007
US$000

10 
11 
18 

23 

10 
18 
11 
21 

23 

24

12 

66,283 
236,351 
7,549 
54 
12,233 
3,808 
11,285 
2,713 
4,049 
344,325	
1,705 
346,030	

325,666 
28,594 
6,935 
929 
144 
362,268	
 819 
363,087	

74,716
229,060
6,811
177
14,334
2,722
16,055
2,673
3,044
349,592
9,210
358,802

425,222
42,982
10,003
1,167
212
479,586
 7,087
486,673

24,169 

21,226

15 
289,146 
(496) 
(64,551) 
176,864 
400,978	
1,134,264	

14
209,861
 –
20,890
98,759
329,524
1,196,225

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Liabilities	and	shareholders’	equity
Current	liabilities:
Trade accounts payable 
Short-term debt and current portion of finance leases 
Tax related payables 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Payroll related liability 
Advances received 
Payables for non-current assets 
Interest payable 
Other payables 
Total	current	liabilities	of	continuing	operations	
Current liabilities of discontinued operations 
Total	current	liabilities	

Non-current	liabilities:
Long-term debt and finance leases 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Tax related payables 
Payables to shareholders 
Other liabilities 
Total	non-current	liabilities	of	continuing	operations	
Total non-current liabilities of discontinued operations 
Total	non-current	liabilities	

Commitments and contingencies 
Minority interest 

Shareholders’	equity:
Share capital (par value – 0.01 Russian Roubles; 31 December 2008: total authorized shares – 
54,702,600; issued shares – 43,069,355, outstanding shares – 43,028,022; 31 December 2007: 
total authorized shares – 54,702,600, issued and outstanding shares – 39,564,300) 
Additional paid-in capital 
Treasury shares, at cost (41,333 shares as of 31 December 2008) 
Other accumulated comprehensive (loss) income 
Retained earnings 
Total	shareholders’	equity	
Total	liabilities	and	shareholders’	equity	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
		
	
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
  
 
		
	
 
	
	
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
		
	
		
	
50	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Consolidated	income	statements

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

Sales 
Cost of sales  
Gross	profit	
Selling, general and administrative expenses 
Impairment of non-current assets 
Other operating expense 
Operating	Income	
Other income, net  
Interest expense, net 
Income	from	continuing	operations	before	income	tax	and		
minority	interest		
Income tax 
Income	from	continuing	operations	before	minority	interest	
Minority interest 
Income	from	continuing	operations	
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax (expense) benefit  
of (546) and 395 in 2008 and 2007, respectively 
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of 30 
Net	Income	
Weighted average number of shares outstanding 

Earnings per share (basic and diluted): 
Income from continuing operations 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax 
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax 
Net	income	per	share	

Notes 
13 
14 

15 
8 
7 

16 
17 

18 

23 
23 

2008 
US$000 
1,166,281 
(886,839) 
279,442	
(172,405) 
(2,258) 
(851) 
103,928	
1,195 
(22,725) 

82,398	
(1,409) 
80,989	
(3,994) 
76,995	

2007
US$000
820,763
(598,490)
222,273
(137,347)
–
(40)
84,886
7,451
(18,396)

73,941
(7,259)
66,682
(2,848)
63,834

(3,489) 
4,599 
78,105	
41,725,834 

(2,252)
–
61,582
39,564,300

US$ 

US$

1.84 
(0.08) 
0.11 
1.87	

1.62
(0.06)
–
1.56

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
		
	
 
 
 
		
	
 
 
		
	
 
	
	
  
 
		
	
 
 
		
	
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
Consolidated	cash	flow	statements

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

Cash	flows	from	operating	activities:
Income from continuing operations 
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash from operating activities: 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Bad debt expense 
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Minority interest 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
Deferred tax (benefit) expense 
Expense (income) related to expiration of statute of limitations on tax risks accrued  
under FIN 48, net of penalties accrued on FIN 48 tax liabilities and new accruals 
Impairment of non-current assets 
Other adjustments   
Changes	in	operating	assets	and	liabilities
Decrease (increase) in inventories 
Increase in trade receivables 
Decrease (increase) in advances paid 
Decrease (increase) in value added tax receivable 
Increase in other current assets 
Increase in trade accounts payable  
Increase (decrease) in taxes payable  
Increase in other current payables  
Net	cash	from	operating	activities	of	continuing	operations	
Cash	flows	of	discontinued	operating	activities:
Loss from discontinued operations 
Adjustments to reconcile loss from discontinued operations 
to net cash (used in) from operating activities of discontinued operations: 
Bad debt expense 
Minority interest in loss from discontinued operations 
Deferred tax expense (benefit) 
Depreciation 
Foreign exchange loss (gain) 
(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Net change in operating assets and liabilities 
Net	cash	(used	in)	from	operating	activities	of	discontinued	operations	
Total	net	cash	from	operating	activities	

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  51

Notes 

2008 
US$000 

2007
US$000

76,995 

63,834

15 
7 

16 
18 

18 
8 

45,748 
3,685 
851 
3,994 
1,596 
(5,557) 

867 
2,258 
(1,693) 

2,962 
(17,844) 
1,326 
7,226 
(4,503) 
5,133 
2,287 
4,122 
129,453	

31,466
2,135
40
2,848
(3,205)
259

(2,528)
–
(953)

(38,914)
(20,640)
(15,535)
(6,440)
(14,431)
23,209
(2,221)
702
19,626

23 

(3,489) 

(2,252)

54 
(1,035) 
546 
428 
34 
(30) 
2,260 
(1,232)	
128,221	

485
(743)
(395)
744
(12)
116
2,356
299
19,925

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
52	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Consolidated	cash	flow	statements	continued

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

Cash	flows	from	investing	activities:	
Purchases of long-lived assets 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Sale of consolidated entities, net of cash surrendered 
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired 
Purchases of notes receivable 
Issuance of long-term loans 
Repayment on long-term loans issued 
Issuance of short-term loans 
Repayment on short-term loans issued 
Net	cash	used	in	investing	activities	of	continuing	operations	
Cash	flows	used	in	investing	activities	of	discontinued	operations:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Net	cash	used	in	investing	activities	of	discontinued	operations	
Total	net	cash	used	in	investing	activities	
Cash	flows	from	financing	activities:
Proceeds from long-term loans 
Repayment of long-term loans 
Repayment of notes payable 
Purchase of treasury stock 
Proceeds from short-term loans 
Repayment of short-term loans 
Proceeds from shares issued 
Payments for services related to share issuance 
Cash distributed to shareholders 
Net	cash	from	financing	activities	of	continuing	operations	
Cash	flows	from	financing	activities	of	discontinued	operations:
Repayment of long-term loans 
Proceeds from short-term loans 
Repayment of short-term loans 
Net	cash	from	financing	activities	of	discontinued	operations	
Total	net	cash	from	financing	activities	
Total	cash	from	(used	in)	operating,	investing	and	financing	activities	
Impact of exchange rate difference on cash and cash equivalents 
Net	increase	(decrease)	in	cash	and	cash	equivalents	
Cash	and	cash	equivalents	of	continuing	operations,	at	the	beginning	of	the	period	
Cash	and	cash	equivalents	of	discontinued	operations,	at	the	beginning	of	the	period	
Cash	and	cash	equivalents	of	continuing	operations,	at	the	end	of	the	period	
Cash	and	cash	equivalents	of	discontinued	operations,	at	the	end	of	the	period	
Supplemental	Information:
Income taxes paid  
Interest paid 
Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

2008 
US$000 

2007
US$000

(165,231) 
973 
58 
– 
(402) 
(1,968) 
1,342 
(7,098) 
56 
(172,270)	

(160) 
55 
(105)	
(172,375)	

114,103 
(47,248) 
– 
(496) 
273,950 
(330,665) 
82,340 
(2,903) 
(48) 
89,033	

– 
2,629 
(2,253) 
376	
89,409	
45,255	
(12,527) 
32,728	
16,841	
98	
49,664	
3	

8,521 
71,697 
6,494 

(172,989)
3,629
–
(139,775)
–
(1,281)
1,560
(435)
433
(308,858)

(816)
119
(697)
(309,555)

121,825
(23,562)
(195)
–
312,323
(215,060)
–
–
(44)
195,287

(14)
2,190
(1,720)
456
195,743
(93,887)
3,838
(90,049)
106,952
36
16,841
98	

11,404
47,802
8,376

 
 
 
 
 
 
	
		
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated	statements	of	changes	in	shareholders’	equity	and	
comprehensive	income

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  53

Total 

Total
shareholders’  comprehensive
inome (loss)
US$000

equity 
US$000 
248,667	
61,582 
(2,664) 
21,939 
329,524	

329,524	
79,286 
(496) 
78,105 
(85,441) 
400,978	

61,582

21,939

83,521

78,105
(85,441)

(7,336)

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Balances	at	1	January	2007		
Net income for the year 
Cumulative effect of adjustment upon adoption of FIN 48 
Translation gain 
Balances	at	31	December	2007		
For	the	year	ended	31	December	2007		
Balances	at	1	January	2008	
New share issuance, net of issuance costs 
Purchase of treasury shares 
Net income for the year 
Translation loss 
Balances	at	31	December	2008		
For	the	year	ended	31	December	2008		

Share  
capital 
US$000 
14	

Additional 
paid-in 
capital 
US$000 
209,861	

Retained 
earnings 
US$000 
39,841	
61,582 
(2,664) 

Other 
accumulated 
Treasury  comprehensive 
income (loss) 
US$000 
(1,049)	

shares 
US$000 
–	

14	

209,861	

98,759	

–	

14	
1 

209,861	
79,285 

98,759	

78,105 

(496) 

15	

289,146	

176,864	

(496)	

21,939 
20,890	

20,890	

(85,441) 
(64,551)	

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
	
		
		
		
		
		
		
54	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements

For the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

1	Business	and	environment
Incorporation and history
OJSC Cherkizovo Group (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together “the Group” or “Cherkizovo”) trace their origins back to the transformation of a formerly 
state owned enterprise, Cherkizovsky Meat Processing Plant (Moscow), into a limited liability partnership and subsequent privatisation in the early 1990’s. 
At the time of privatisation, one individual became the majority shareholder in the enterprise. Over the next decade, this individual continued to acquire other 
meat processing and agricultural entities in the Russian Federation registering shareholding amounts personally as well as in the name of other immediate 
family members or friends of the family, (collectively “the Control Group”). As the Group evolved with continuing acquisitions, two distinctive operating 
structures emerged consisting of meat processing (APK Cherkizovsky) and agricultural (APK Mikhailovsky) entities. 

A restructuring of ownership interests in Group companies was performed in 2005 by transferring direct interests in Group companies to the Company and 
its wholly owned subsidiaries (“Restructuring”). The Restructuring was performed in order to legally consolidate control over the Group’s agricultural holdings 
and meat processing companies. This Restructuring eliminated all direct ownership in such companies by the Control Group. This was accomplished by 
contributing shares of companies held by the Control Group to the share capital of wholly owned subsidiaries. Companies whose business activities were 
not in line with the overall business strategy of the Group were transferred to members of the Control Group (the “Spin-Off”). The Spin-Off was treated as a 
distribution to owners. The historical share capital and additional paid in capital presented in these consolidated financial statements represent that of the 
Company for all periods presented.

The business of the Group
The Group’s operations are spread over the full production cycle from feed production and breeding to meat processing and distribution. The operational 
facilities of the Group include six meat processing plants, four pig production complexes, four poultry production complexes and one combined fodder 
production plant. The Group also operates two trading houses with subsidiaries in 13 major Russian cities.

The Group’s geographical reach covers Moscow, the Moscow region, the regions of Saint Petersburg, Penza, Lipetsk, Vologda, Ulyanovsk, Tver, Chelyabinsk, 
Tambov, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Ufa, Saratov, Samara, Ekaterinburg, Perm, Briansk and Kazan. The Group is represented in the European part of Russia through 
its own distribution network.

The Group owns locally recognised brands which include Cherkizovsky (“Черкизовский”), Pyat Zvezd (“Пять Звезд”), Petelinka (“Петелинка”), Kurinoe 
Tsarstvo (“Куриное Царство”) and Imperia vkusa (“Империя вкуса”) and has a diverse customer base. At 31 December 2008 and 2007 the number of staff 
employed by the Group was 13,943 and 15,295, respectively.

During 2008 the Group was impacted by significant volatility in grain and feed prices and its financing costs were impacted by the worldwide financial crisis. 
During the first half of 2008, the cost of grain and feed were unusually high. To help companies offset the increased costs, the Russian government provided 
agricultural producers a one-time additional subsidy. This additional subsidy, which offset the majority of these increased costs, allowed the Group to maintain 
relatively consistent margins. 

During the second half of 2008, while the prices of grain and feed normalized, the Russian economy was impacted by the global financial crisis and saw the 
rouble devalue by approximately 25%. In connection with this crisis, a number of major global financial institutions have been placed into bankruptcy, taken 
over by other financial institutions and/or supported by government funding. 

The Group’s operations have not been directly impacted by the global economic downturn due to a lower elasticity of demand on food products. Management 
is assessing and making appropriate changes in the product mix to ensure that the products offered are those meeting the needs of consumers under current 
market conditions. In addition, the Group is continuing to pursue its cost optimization plans that it began at the end of 2007 including the disposal of loss 
making assets (Note 23). While the Group’s operations have not been significantly impacted by the global economic slowdown, the Group (along with other 
companies throughout the world) has experienced a decrease in availability of credit and a significant increase in the costs of borrowing (Note 10).  The Group 
is forecasting a further significant increase in its borrowing costs in 2009 in connection with the refinancing of its short term borrowings.  However, the Group 
has a significant portion of its borrowings denominated in Russian roubles. Accordingly, the Group’s ability to service repayment of its outstanding borrowings 
was not significantly impacted by the devaluation of the rouble in the second half of 2008.  

Management expects to fund its forecasted 2009 investing cash outflow both through operating cash inflows, as well as through refinancing a portion of its 
short term debt as it becomes due. Management is confident that based on current economic conditions that it will be able to refinance its borrowings and has entered 
into new borrowings of 29 812 through March 2009. Management believes that the plans that it has in place are sufficient to enable the Group to be able to continue 
to meet its obligations and discharge its responsibilities as they become due in the normal course of business.

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  55

2	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies
Accounting	principles
The Group’s companies maintain their accounting books and records in accordance with Russian or foreign statutory accounting regulations, as applicable. 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in order to present the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash 
flows of the Group in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The accompanying consolidated 
financial statements differ from the financial statements prepared for statutory purposes in Russia in that they reflect certain adjustments that are appropriate 
to present the financial position, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with US GAAP.

Basis	of	consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group include the accounts of the Company and subsidiaries controlled through direct ownership of the majority 
of the voting interests as described in Note 23. Companies acquired or disposed of during the periods presented are included in the consolidated financial 
statements from the date of acquisition or to the date of disposal.

Foreign	currency	translation
The Group follows a translation policy in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 52, “Foreign Currency Translation” and 
has determined the Russian rouble to be the Group’s companies’ functional currency.

Management has selected the US Dollar as the Group’s reporting currency and translates the consolidated financial statements into US Dollars. Assets 
and liabilities are translated at reporting period end exchange rates. Equity items are translated at historical exchange rates. Income and expense items 
are translated at weighted average rates of exchange prevailing during the reporting period. The resulting translation adjustment is recorded as a separate 
component of other comprehensive income.

The following table summarizes the exchange rates of the Russian rouble to 1 US dollar at 31 December 2008 and 2007.

31 December 2008 
31 December 2007 

Exchange rate
29.3804
24.5462

Management	estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during  
the reporting period. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual 
results could differ from those estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

The principal management estimates underlying these consolidated financial statements include estimations used in assessing long lived assets for 
impairment, allowances for bad debts, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and valuation of assets and liabilities of the acquired entities used in 
determining purchase price allocation.

Cash	and	cash	equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and in bank accounts and short-term highly liquid investments having original maturities of less than three 
months.

Accounts	receivable	and	allowance	for	doubtful	accounts
Accounts receivable are stated at their net realizable value, which approximates their fair value.

Group companies provide an allowance for doubtful accounts based on management’s periodic review of receivables, including the turnover of account 
balances. Accounts receivable are written off when evidence exists that they will not be collectible.

Inventory
Inventories, including work in-process, are valued at the lower of cost or market value. Cost is determined using the average cost method. Cost is the sum 
of the expenditures and charges, direct and indirect, in bringing goods to their existing condition or location. It includes the applicable allocation of fixed 
production and variable overhead costs. Write downs are made for unrealizable inventory in full.

Livestock
Animals with short productive lives, such as poultry, are classified as inventory on the balance sheet. Full cost absorption (which includes all direct and indirect 
costs) is used in determining the asset value of livestock. Newborn cattle and pigs, as well as other immature animals purchased for breeding are initially 
accounted for as inventory. Immature cattle and pigs are not considered to be in service until they reach maturity, at which time their accumulated cost 
becomes subject to depreciation. The Group treats breeding animals as fixed assets with costs to be depreciated over their useful lives, as follows:

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56	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

2	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued

Sows 
Cattle 

Age of transfer to  
property, plant and equipment,  
years 
1 
2 

Depreciation,  
years
2
7

Value	Added	Tax
Value Added Tax (“VAT”) related to sales is payable based upon invoices issued to customers. Input VAT incurred on purchases may be offset, subject to 
certain restrictions, against VAT related to sales. Input VAT related to purchase transactions that are subject to offset against taxes payable after the financial 
statement date are recognized in the consolidated balance sheets on a net basis.

Property,	plant	and	equipment
Due to the state of the records relating to the construction and acquisition of a significant portion of the assets of the Group companies, their carrying amounts 
as of 31 December 2001 (the date of the first US GAAP balance sheet) were determined through valuation and are stated based on estimated fair value. 
Certain fixed assets were adjusted for the allocation of the excess of the value of net assets acquired over the purchase price paid in business combinations 
or adjusted to fair value as of the date of such combinations occurring subsequent to 31 December 2001. Assets acquired subsequent to 31 December 2001 
are stated at historical cost.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining useful lives of the related assets, as follows:

Buildings and infrastructure 
Machinery and equipment 
Vehicles 
Cattle 
Sows 
Other 

10-39 years
3-22 years
3-10 years
7 years
2 years
3-10 years

Business	Combination
The acquisition of businesses from third parties is accounted for using the purchase method. On acquisition, the assets and liabilities of an entity are 
measured at their fair values as at the date of acquisition. The interest of minority shareholders is stated at the minority’s proportion of the book values of the 
assets and liabilities recognized if applicable. Goodwill arising on acquisitions is recognized as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the 
cost of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognized. 

Acquisitions of entities under common control are accounted for on a carryover basis, which results in the historical book value of assets and liabilities of the 
acquired entity being combined with that of the Company. The consolidated historical financial statements of the Group are retroactively restated to reflect the 
effect of the acquisition as if it occurred during the period in which the entities were under common control. Any difference between the purchase price and 
the net assets acquired is reflected in shareholders’ equity.

Goodwill	and	other	intangible	assets
Goodwill represents the purchase price for businesses acquired in excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not deductible for 
income tax purpose in the Russian Federation.

Other intangible assets represent trademarks and computer software acquired. The fair value of the Group’s acquired trademarks is determined using a relief 
from royalty method based on expected revenues by trademark. Certain trademarks have been determined to have an indefinite life. Management evaluates a 
number of factors to determine whether an indefinite life is appropriate, including product sales history, operating plans and the macroeconomic environment. 
Intangible assets with determinable useful lives and computer software are amortized over their useful lives.

Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are subject to annual impairment tests at fiscal year end or earlier if indications of impairment 
exist, in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles. In the Group’s assessment of goodwill, management makes assumptions regarding 
estimates of future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the reporting unit. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, the 
management has determined that each segment represents a reporting unit. 

The goodwill impairment analysis is a two-step process. The first step used to identify potential impairment involves comparing each reporting unit’s estimated fair 
value to its carrying value, including goodwill. The Group uses a discounted cash flow approach to estimate the fair value of its reporting units. The assumptions 
used are disclosed in Note 8. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is considered to not be impaired. If the carrying 
value exceeds estimated fair value, there is an indication of potential impairment and the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  57

The second step of the process involves the calculation of an implied fair value of goodwill for each reporting unit for which step one indicated impairment. 
The implied fair value of goodwill is determined similar to how goodwill is calculated in a business combination, by measuring the excess of the estimated 
fair value of the reporting unit as calculated in step one, over the estimated fair values of the individual assets, liabilities and identifiable intangibles as if 
the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination. If the implied fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value of goodwill assigned to 
the reporting unit, there is no impairment. If the carrying value of goodwill assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an 
impairment charge is recorded for the excess. An impairment loss cannot exceed the carrying value of goodwill assigned to a reporting unit, and the loss 
establishes a new basis in the goodwill. Subsequent reversal of goodwill impairment losses is not permitted. 

Impairment	of	long-lived	assets,	except	for	goodwill	and	intangible	assets	with	indefinite	lives
When events and circumstances occur indicating that the carrying amount of a long-lived asset (group) may not be recoverable, the Group estimates the 
future undiscounted cash flows expected to be derived from the use and eventual disposition of the asset (group). If the sum of the expected future cash flows 
(undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the long-lived asset (group), the Group then calculates impairment as the 
excess of the carrying value of the asset (group) over the estimate of its fair market value.

Notes	Receivables
Notes receivable purchased valued at cost upon acquisition with any discounts or premiums arising on purchase reported in the balance sheet as direct 
deductions/additions to the face value. Amortisation of such discounts/premiums is recorded as additions to/reductions from interest income. Notes receivable 
for which the Group has an intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity. 

Revenue	recognition
The Group derives its revenue from three main sources: sale of processed meat, poultry, and pork. Revenue is recognised when the products are shipped 
or when goods are received by its customer, title and risk of ownership have passed, the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable and recoverability is 
reasonably assured. 

In accordance with the Group’s standard sales terms, title is transferred and the customer assumes the risks and rewards of ownership upon shipment. 
However, on contracts with certain large retail chains, title transfers upon acceptance of goods by the customer at delivery. Sales made under these contracts 
are recognised upon acceptance.

Sales are recognised, net of VAT and discounts, when goods are shipped to customers. The Group grants discounts to customers primarily based on the 
volume of goods purchased. Discounts are based on monthly, quarterly, or annual target sales. Discounts range up to 19.5% for meat processing segment 
and 12% for the poultry and pork segments. The discounts are graduated to increase when actual sales exceed target sales. Discounts are accrued against 
sales and accounts receivable in the month earned. 

Any consideration given to direct or indirect customers of the Group in the form of cash, such as listing fees, are included in the consolidated income 
statements as deductions from sales in the period which it relates to.

The Group offers product guarantees to its customers, providing them with an option to return damaged and non conforming goods and goods of initial 
improper quality. The period that goods may be returned is set to a maximum of one month from the date of shipment. Returns are accounted for as 
deductions to sales. 

Marketing	expenses
Marketing costs are expensed as incurred. Marketing expenses are reflected in selling and distribution expenses in the accompanying consolidated  
income statements.

Government	subsidies
In accordance with Russian legislation, enterprises engaged in agricultural activities receive certain subsidies. The largest of such subsidies received relate to 
reimbursement of interest expense. The Group records interest subsidies as an offset to interest expense during the period to which they relate.

Taxation
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of existing differences between the financial and tax reporting 
bases of assets and liabilities, as well as loss carry forwards, using enacted tax rates expected to be in effect at the time these differences are realized. Under 
Russian tax law, the Group is not allowed to file a consolidated tax return and is not allowed to offset tax assets and tax liabilities for the different legal entities. 
Accordingly, deferred tax assets are offset, as appropriate, with deferred tax liabilities at each legal entity within the Group. Valuation allowances are recorded 
for deferred tax assets where it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realised.

Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” (“FIN 48”) clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions stated in SFAS No. 109, 
“Accounting for Income Tax.” FIN 48 applies to all tax positions that are within the scope of FAS No. 109 and requires a two-step approach for recognizing 
and measuring tax benefits. FIN 48 establishes a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold that must be met before a tax benefit can be recognized in 

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58	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

2	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
the financial statements. To meet this threshold, the enterprise must determine that upon examination by the taxing authority, the tax position is more likely 
to be sustained than not, based on the technical merits of the position. Once the recognition threshold has been met, the enterprise is required to recognise 
the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the taxing authority. In both steps, 
enterprises must presume that the taxing authority has full knowledge of all relevant information.

Concentration	of	credit	risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable 
from customers and advances paid to vendors. As of 31 December 2008, 52% and 28% of total cash balances are held on deposit in two Russian financial 
institutions. As of 31 December 2007, 47%, 22% and 14% of total cash balances are held on deposit in three Russian financial institutions.

As of 31 December 2008, approximately 12% of the Group’s net accounts receivable were due from one customer. As of 31 December 2007 the Group’s 
risk associated with customers was diversified due to a large customer base, with no single customer or customer group representing greater than 10% of 
accounts receivable. 

As of 31 December 2008, approximately 24% and 16% of advances paid were outstanding with two vendors, respectively.
As of 31 December 2007, approximately 22% and 14% of advances paid were outstanding with two vendors, respectively. 

The maximum amount of loss due to credit risk, based on the fair value of trade receivables and other receivables that the Group would incur if related parties 
failed to perform according to the terms of contracts, was 35 094 and 33 066 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Minority	interest
Minority interest is accounted for at historical value, which is the minority’s share in the book value of a subsidiary’s net assets on the date, when the control 
over a subsidiary was established by the Group. 

Leasing
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other 
leases are classified as operating leases. Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value or, if lower, at the present 
value of the minimum lease payments, each determined at inception of the lease. The corresponding liability is included in the balance sheet as debt from 
finance leases. Lease payments are apportioned between interest expense and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on 
the remaining balance of the liability. Interest expense is charged directly against income, unless it is directly attributable to qualifying assets, in which case it 
is capitalised in accordance with the Group’s general policy on interest costs. 

Pension	costs
The Group makes payments for employees into the Pension fund of the Russian Federation. From 1 January 2005, all contributions to the Pension fund 
are calculated by the application of a regressive rate from 20% to 2% of the annual gross remuneration of each employee. The Group does not have any 
additional obligation other than the cash contribution described herein.

Effect	of	accounting	pronouncements	adopted
As of 1 January 2008, the Group adopted SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurement” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 provides a single definition of fair value, along 
with a framework for measurement and requires additional disclosure about using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 emphasises that 
fair value measurement is market-based, not entity-specific, and establishes a fair value hierarchy in which the highest priority is quoted prices in active 
markets. Under SFAS 157, fair value measurements are disclosed according to their level within this hierarchy. While the statement does not add any new fair 
value measurements, it does change practice as follows: requiring entities to include their own credit standing when measuring their liabilities, modifying the 
transaction price assumption, prohibiting broker-dealers and investment companies from using block discounts when valuing large blocks of securities and 
requiring entities to adjust the value of restricted securities  for the effect of the restriction even when the restriction lapses within one year. The Group  
adopted SFAS 157 on 1 January 2008 and the adoption only had an impact on the disclosure of the fair value of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities.  
The effective date for SFAS 157 as it relates to fair value measurements for non-financial assets and liabilities that are not measured at fair value on a 
recurring basis has been deferred to fiscal years beginning after 15 December 2008 in accordance with FASB Staff Position (“FSP”), SFAS 157-2, “Effective 
Date of FASB Statement No. 157”. The Group plans to adopt the deferred portion of SFAS 157 on 1 January 2009 and does not expect a material impact on 
the financial statements from adopting the statement.

As of 1 January 2008, the Group adopted SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 
permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Entities that elect the fair value option will report unrealised gains and losses 
in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option may be elected on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with a few exceptions, as long as 
it is applied to the instrument in its entirety. The fair value option is irrevocable, unless a new election date occurs. The adoption of SFAS 159 did not have an 
impact on the financial statements at the date of its adoption, as the Group did not elect the fair value option for any of its financial assets or liabilities.

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  59

New	accounting	pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”). SFAS 141R significantly changes the accounting 
for business combinations. Under SFAS 141R, an acquiring entity will be required to recognise all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction 
at the acquisition date fair value with limited exceptions. SFAS 141R will change the accounting treatment for certain specific acquisition related items 
including expensing acquisition related costs as incurred, valuing noncontrolling interests at fair value at the acquisition date and expensing restructuring 
costs associated with an acquired business. SFAS 141R also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. SFAS 141R is to be applied 
prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after 1 January, 2009. The adoption of SFAS 141R will impact the accounting 
for business combinations completed by the Group on or after 1 January 2009. Effective January 1, 2008, the Group adopted an accounting policy of 
expensing acquisition-related costs incurred before the effective date of SFAS 141R for probable acquisitions not yet completed as of 31 December 2008. No 
such costs were expensed during 2008. 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research 
Bulletin No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the treatment of noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary. 
Noncontrolling interests in a subsidiary will be reported as a component of equity in the consolidated financial statements and any retained noncontrolling 
equity investment upon deconsolidation of a subsidiary is initially measured at fair value. The Group will adopt the provisions of SFAS 160 on 1 January 2009. 
The adoption of SFAS 160 will result in the reclassification of minority interests to equity.

In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets” (“FSP SFAS 142-3”). FSP SFAS 142-3 amends 
the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognised intangible asset under 
FASB Statement No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. FSP SFAS 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning 
after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption prohibited. The Group does not expect a material impact on the 
consolidated financial statements from adopting FSP SFAS 142-3.

3	Cash	and	cash	equivalents
Cash as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Cash in hand 
Bank accounts 
Total	cash	and	cash	equivalents 

4	Inventory
Inventory as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Raw materials and goods for resale 
Livestock 
Work in-process 
Finished goods 
Total	inventory	

5	Other	receivables,	net
Other receivables, net, as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Subsidies receivable for interest expense reimbursement 
Subsidies receivable for purchase of fodder 
Subsidies receivable for meat produced 
Other receivables 
Total	receivables,	net	

2008 
US$000 
144 
49,520 
49,664	

2008 
US$000 
69,930 
55,316 
5,280 
3,101 
133,627	

2008 
US$000 
13,961 
5,086 
1,416 
8,025 
28,488	

2007  
US$000
1,045
15,796
16,841

2007  
US$000
88,998
52,879
7,195
5,409
154,481

2007  
US$000
6,840
–
5,201
8,808
20,849

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For the six months ended 30 June 2008, the Federal Budget of the Russian Federation was amended to increase the total assignment of funds for subsidies 
to agricultural producers by introducing subsidies designed to compensate producers for the high cost of mixed fodder used in production of poultry and pork 
during the first half of 2008. Of the total amount of 33,077 expected to be received, 4,524 remain receivable as at 31 December 2008. Management expects 
to receive the remaining portion within the next 12 months.

	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
60	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

6	Other	current	assets
Other current assets as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

VAT and other taxes receivable 
Notes receivable (effective annual interest rate of 9.41% and 7.52% 
as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively)  
Prepaid expenses 
Loans receivable 
Other current assets 
Total	other	assets	

7	Property,	plant	and	equipment,	net
The carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Land 
Buildings, infrastructure and leasehold improvements 
Machinery and equipment 
Vehicles 
Sows 
Cattle 
Other 
Advances paid for property, plant and equipment 
Construction in-progress and equipment for installation 
Total	property,	plant	and	equipment,	net	

2008 
US$000 
16,732 

3,160 
2,627 
8,303 
3,837 
34,659	

2008 
US$000 
2,373 
366,795 
135,832 
27,168 
7,838 
183 
1,681 
43,804 
98,272 
683,946	

2007  
US$000
29,141

3,678
3,348
2,807
4,327
43,301

2007  
US$000
2,711
303,725
142,360
30,486
10,156
830
1,914
52,976
160,691
705,849

Accumulated depreciation amounted to 145,097 and 131,723 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. Depreciation expense amounted to 45,269 
and 31,216 for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively, which includes depreciation of leased equipment.

Vehicles and Machinery and equipment include 15,424 and 16,068 of leased equipment as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. Buildings, 
infrastructure and leasehold improvements include 13,830 and 18,556 of leased buildings and constructions as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, 
respectively. Accumulated depreciation on leased property and equipment amounted to 3,775 and 1,495 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment of 851 and 40 was recognized in the Other operating expenses line item in the consolidated income 
statement for the year ended 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

8	Goodwill	and	other	intangible	assets,	net
Goodwill
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for 2008 and 2007 were as follows:

Balance	at	31	December	2006	
Acquisitions 
Translation gain 

Balance	at	31	December	2007	
Adjustment related to expiration of statute of limitations on tax risks accrued under FIN 48 upon  
acquisition of Golden Rooster Co. Limited (Note 18) 
Translation loss 
Balance	at	31	December	2008	

Total	
US$000
9,538
728
693

10,959

(608)
(1,803)
8,548

As of 31 December 2006, goodwill of 9,538 arose from the purchase by the Group of its controlling stakes in JSC BMPP (which is included in the meat 
processing segment). During 2007, the Company purchased Golden Rooster Co. Limited (which is included in the poultry segment) and recorded goodwill of 728.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  61

As of 31 December 2008, management performed an annual impairment test and determined that goodwill was not impaired. The following specific 
assumptions were used in the impairment test;

•  Sales volumes increase by 6%, 5% and 4% during 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and remain constant thereafter;
•   Prices are forecast to increase by 4% and 15% in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and increase in line with inflation at an average of 10% per annum 

thereafter;

•  Operating costs are forecast to increase by 7% and 21% in 2009 and 2010, respectively, and increase by 10% per annum thereafter;
•  Pre-tax discount rate of 24.6%.

Management believes that a 5% increase in future planned operating expenses, which is a key variable in determination of cash flows, would result in the 
carrying value of the meat processing segment exceeding its fair value, thereby indicating potential impairment.

Other	intangible	assets
Other intangible assets as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Computer software 
Trademark subject to amortisation 
Indefinite life trademarks 
Other	intangible	assets,	net	

2008  
US$000 

Gross		

carrying		Accumulated 
amount	 amortization 
(63) 
4,034 
– 
– 
39,239 
– 
(63)	
43,273	

Net 
carrying 
amount 
3,971 
– 
39,239 
43,210	

Gross 

carrying  Accumulated 
amortisation 
amount 
(190) 
3,567 
(36) 
720 
– 
50,946 
(226)	
55,233	

2007 
US$000
Net 
carrying 
amount
3,377
684
50,946
55,007

Software
Software is amortised over its useful life of two to three years, with the exception of Oracle software, which is amortised over its estimated useful life of ten years. 
Weighted-average useful life for software as of 31 December 2008 is 5.9 years.

Aggregate amortisation expense for the year ended 31 December 2008 and estimated amortisation expense for the following five subsequent years are as follows:

Computer software 

2008	
US$000	
372 

2009	
US$000	
771 

2010	
US$000	
658 

2011	
US$000	
742 

2012	
US$000	
329 

2013	
US$000
329

Biruliovsky	(“Бирюлевский”)	trademark
The carrying value of the Biruliovsky trademark was 0 and 684 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. 

Prior to July 2007, the Biruliovsky trademark had an indefinite useful life. Based on operational plans to reposition the Biruliovsky trademark into a lower-
margin market segment during the second half of 2007, management reassessed the classification of this intangible as of 1 July 2007. As a result, 
management determined that the trademark had a finite life and began amortisation of the asset over its estimated useful life of ten years. Amortisation 
expense for the Biruliovsky trademark was 107 and 35 for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively 

As of 31 December 2008, management tested the Biruliovsky trademark for impairment and determined the trademark to be fully impaired as a result 
of implementation of a cost optimization plan which includes cessation of sales of products under the Biruliovsky trademark, with impairment loss of 481 
recognized in Impairment of non-current assets in the consolidated income statement.

Kurinoe	Tsarstvo	(“Куриное Царство”)	trademark
The carrying value of the Kurinoe Tsarstvo trademark was 24,408 and 33,195 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

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In 2008, the carrying value of the Kurinoe Tsarstvo trademark decreased by 1,548 due to expiration of the statute of limitations on tax risks accrued under  
FIN 48 upon acquisition of Golden Rooster Co. Limited (Note 18).

As of 31 December 2008, management tested the Kurinoe Tsarstvo trademark for impairment and determined the trademark to be impaired primarily due to 
an increase in the Group’s weighted average cost of capital from the time of the original valuation of the trademark in August of 2007. An impairment loss in 
the amount of 1,777 was recognized in Impairment of non-current assets in the consolidated income statement.

	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
62	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued 

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

8	Goodwill	and	other	intangible	assets,	net	continued
The following specific assumptions were used in the impairment test:

•  Sales volumes increase by 20%, 27% and 25% during 2009, 2010 and 2011, respectively, and remain stable thereafter;
•  Prices are forecast to increase by 33% in 2009 and increase by 10% per annum thereafter;
•  Pre-tax discount rate of 25.5%.

Management believes that a 1% increase in discount rate would increase the impairment loss by 1,552 and a 10% decrease in future planned trademark 
revenues increases the impairment loss by 2,441.

Cherkizovsky	(“Черкизовский”)	trademark
The carrying value of the Cherkizovsky trademark was 14,831 and 17,751 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. 

As of 31 December 2008, management tested the Cherkizovsky trademark for impairment and determined that the trademark was not impaired.

Impairment	summary
The impairment of non-current assets was reflected as follows as of 31 December 2008 and 2007:

Impairment of Biruliovsky trademark 
Impairment of Kurinoe Tsarstvo trademark 
Total	impairment	of	non-current	assets	

2008 
US$000 
481 
1,777 
2,258	

2007  
US$000
–
–
–

For the impairment analysis the Group used cash flow projections based on actual operating results and business plans approved by management. The 
discount rate used in the analysis for trademarks and goodwill reflects the time value of money and risks associated with each individual operating segment 
and/or asset being analyzed. A summary of the key assumption management used in their fair value calculations were as follows:

•  Cash flow projections covered a period of five years;
•  Cash flow projections were prepared in nominal terms;
•  Cash flow projections during the forecast period were based on long-term price trends for both sales prices and input costs;
•  Consumer price inflation expectations (in Russian roubles) during the forecast period were 10%; and
•   Discount rates were estimated for each item based on the following weighted average cost of capital (in Russian roubles) as calculated for each segment 

and adjusted for any asset specific risk factors:

  –  Meat processing segment 
  –  Poultry and pork segments 

23.5%
20.5%

Values assigned to key assumptions and estimates used to measure fair value were consistent with external sources of information. Management believes that 
the values assigned to the key assumptions and estimates represented the most realistic assessment of future trends. The impairment analyses were sensitive 
to changes in key assumptions, in particular discount rates and changes in forecast revenues or expenses. The rates used in this analysis are meant to provide 
information regarding levels of sensitivity of assumptions used and have, therefore, been tailored to reflect the specifics of each business segment.

9	Long-term	notes	receivable
During June 2006, the Group purchased Russian rouble denominated notes receivable from Gazprombank with a maturity date of June 2014 and a face value 
of 12,851 at the issuance date for total cash consideration of 6,762. In addition, the Group purchased Russian rouble denominated notes receivable from 
Sberbank in December 2008 at par value for a total cash consideration of 357. The maturity date of those notes is December 2010. As of 31 December 2008, 
the balance comprised:

Gazprombank notes receivable 
Sberbank notes receivable 
Total	long-term	notes	receivable	

As of 31 December 2007, the balance comprised:

Gazprombank notes receivable 

	Carrying	Value		
US$000	
7,563 
340 
7,903	

Discount	
US$000	
(4,198) 
– 
(4,198)	

Face	Value	
US$000	
11,761 
340 
12,101	

Effective	
%
8.36%
11.00%

  Carrying Value  
US$000 
8,357 

Discount 
US$000 
(5,723) 

Face Value 
US$000 
14,080 

Effective 
%
8.36%

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10	Borrowings
Borrowings of the Group as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Finance leases 
Bonds 
Bank loans 
Credit lines 
Loans from government 
Other borrowings 

Total	borrowings	

Interest rates 

WAIR* 
  8.30%-16.9%  14.22% 
8.85% 
 8.85% 
 8.00%-19.00%  11.65% 
 8.00%-24.55%  13.13% 
4.16% 
2.34% 

 3.00%-6.00% 
 0.00%-7.00% 

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  63

14.22% 
8.85% 
4.71% 
4.38% 
4.16% 
2.34% 

EIR**  Short-term***	
4,179 
68,073 
5,058 
129,449 
27,308 
2,284 
  236,351	

2008  
US$000 

Long-term  Short-term*** 
4,533 
– 
76,593 
124,224 
19,545 
4,165 
229,060	

7,476 
– 
7,206 
305,686 
5,054 
244 
325,666	
562,017	

2007 
US$000

Long-term
9,657
81,479
10,564
309,144
13,653
725
425,222
654,282

* WAIR represents the weighted average interest rate on outstanding loans. 
** EIR represents the effective rate on borrowings at year end, adjusted by government subsidies for certain qualifying debt. Since approvals for subsidies are submitted annually by the Group 
as required by law, the existence of such subsidies in any given year is not necessarily indicative of their existence in future periods. See Note 17 for further disclosure of government subsidies 
related to interest on borrowings.

Maturity of long-term borrowings (excluding finance leases) is as follows:

Total	borrowings 

2010  
US$000 
77,106 

2011 
US$000 
98,801 

2012 
US$000 
29,097 

2013 
US$000 
51,048 

2014 
US$000 
50,894 

>2014 
US$000 
11,244 

Total 
US$000
318,190

As of 31 December 2008, the Group’s borrowings are denominated in the following currencies: 542,042 in Russian roubles, 663 in Euro and 19,312 in 
US dollars. As of December 31 2007, the Group’s borrowings are denominated in the following currencies: 552,502 in Russian roubles, 1,983 in Euro and 
99,797 in US dollars. 

The interest on the majority of borrowings is paid on a monthly or quarterly basis, with the exception of bonds, for which the interest is paid on a semi-annual basis.

Finance	leases
As of 31 December 2008 and 2007, the Group used certain fixed assets under leasing contracts that qualified for treatment as finance leases. The lower of 
the incremental borrowing and the rate implicit in the lease agreement was used in capitalizing the leases.

The total minimum lease payments due under these lease agreements comprised:

Payments falling due 
Within one year 
In year two 
In year three 
In year four 
In year five 
After year five 

  Total	minimum		
lease	payments		
US$000	
5,525 
3,051 
1,319 
869 
858 
7,932 
19,554	

2008 
Portion 
related  Total minimum 
to	interest  lease payments 
US$000 
6,243 
4,090 
1,807 
1,045 
1,026 
10,521 
24,732	

US$000 
1,346 
910 
720 
675 
647 
3,601 
7,899	

2007
Portion 
related 
to interest 
US$000
1,710
1,192
910
837
808
5,085
10,542

Bonds
During June 2006, the Group raised two billion roubles (74,881 at the issuance date) through an issue of putable bonds with a face value of 1,000 roubles 
(37 at the issuance date). The issuance was completed in June 2006 with the bonds issued at par value and the Group incurring 378 related to issuance 
costs that are being amortized into the income statement over the life of the borrowing. The bonds will mature in 2011, unless redeemed in 2009.

The coupon rate on the bonds, payable semi-annually, is set at 8.85% per annum for the first three years. In 2009, the Group will bid a coupon rate to be paid 
for an additional two years. At that point, the investors in the bonds have the right to redeem the bonds at their par amount or may accept the Group’s bid, 
causing the maturity to be extended to June 2011. The investors’ decision to redeem will be decided by each individual bondholder therefore it is possible that 
either a portion, or the entirety, of the outstanding principle may become due in June 2009.

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64	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

10	Borrowings	continued
Bank	loans
Gazprombank
Borrowings from Gazprombank consist of two long-term rouble denominated loans with interest of 12% per annum. Notes receivable with a carrying value of 
7,563 were pledged as collateral under these loan agreements (Note 9). Principal payment is due on maturity in 2014. Amount outstanding was 6,127 and 
7,333 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Lipetzkkombank
Borrowings from Lipetzkkombank consist of one short-term rouble denominated loan with interest of 16% per annum. The loan is guaranteed by a Group 
company and a related party. Principal payment is due on maturity in 2009. Amount outstanding was 681 and 2,037 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, 
respectively.

Savings	Bank	of	Russia
Borrowings from Saving Bank of Russia consist of three short-term rouble denominated loans with interest ranging from 16% to 19% per annum. The loan is 
guaranteed by a Group company. Principal payment is due on maturity in 2009. Amount outstanding was 1,293 and 1,548 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, 
respectively.

Lines	of	credit
Savings	Bank	of	Russia
Borrowings from the Savings Bank of Russia consist of fifty five rouble denominated lines of credit with interest ranging from 11.5% to 17.25% per annum. 
Several of these instruments are guaranteed by a related party. Principal payments are due from 2009 to 2014. Amount outstanding was 206,812 and 168,583 
as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Gazprombank
Borrowings from Gazprombank consist of five rouble denominated lines of credit with interest ranging from 11.5% to 14% per annum. Some of these facilities 
are guaranteed by Group companies and related parties. Principal payments are due from 2009 to 2016. Amount outstanding was 133,772 and 160,932 as 
of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Lipetzkkombank
Borrowings from Lipetzkombank consist of five rouble denominated and one US dollar denominated lines of credit with interest ranging from 8% to 15%  
per annum. Principal payment is due on maturity in 2009. Amount outstanding was 11,201 and 11,997 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Raiffeisen
Borrowings from Raiffeisen consist of one rouble denominated and one US dollar denominated unsecured loan facilities bearing interest equal to the MosPrime 
one-month rate which at 31 December 2008 was 24.55% per annum. Principle payment is due on maturity in 2009. Amount outstanding was 16,257 and 
37,061 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Bank	Zenith
Borrowings from Bank Zenith consist of two rouble denominated lines of credit with interest ranging from 11.5% to 12.8% per annum. Notes receivable with a 
carrying value of 3,160 were pledged as collateral under these agreements. Some of these facilities are guaranteed by Group companies and related parties. 
Principal payment is due on maturity in 2011. Amount outstanding was 66,699 and 54,469 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

The total amount of unused credit on lines of credit as of 31 December 2008 is 59,609. The unused credit can be utilized from 2009 to 2015 with varying 
expiration of available amounts.

Loans	from	government
Department	of	Food	Supply	of	the	City	of	Moscow
Borrowings from the Department of Food Supply of the City of Moscow consist of one rouble denominated long-term and two rouble denominated short-term 
loans with interest ranging from 3.4% to 4.0% per annum. Principal payments are due on maturity in 2009. Amount outstanding was 24,851 and 15,483 as 
of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Department	of	Taxes	and	Financial	Policies,	Moscow	City	Government
Borrowings from the Department of Taxes and Financial Policies of the Moscow City Government consist of two rouble denominated long-term loans with interest ranging 
from 5.5% to 6% per annum. Principal payments are due from 2010 to 2011. Amount outstanding was 6,603 and 9,859 as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Other	borrowings
Other borrowings primarily represent unsecured loans from shareholders and contractors with interest rates ranging from 0% to 7% per annum. Principal 
payments are due from 2008 to 2011.

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  65

Collateral	under	borrowings
Shares of and participating interests in the following Group companies are pledged as collateral under certain borrowings as of 31 December 2008:

–  92%
• JSC Vasiljevskaya 
–  76%
• CJSC Petelinskaya 
–  51%
• JSC Lipetskmyasoprom 
–  51%
• LLC Budenovets Agrifirm 
–  51%
• LLC Mikhailovsky Feed Milling Plant 
–  51%
• LLC Kuznetsovsky Kombinat 
–  51%
• LLC Ardymsky Feed Milling Plant 
–  51%
• CJSC Botovo 
–  35%
• JSC MPP Ulyanovsky 
• LLC AIC Mikhailovsky 
–  51%
• JSC Biruliovsky meat processing plant  –  51%

Inventory with carrying value of 19,916 and 37,348 was pledged under certain borrowings as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. 

Property, plant and equipment with carrying value of 151,166 and 136,747 was pledged under loan agreements as of 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

11	Tax	related	payables
Short-term tax related payables as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Value added tax 
Property tax payable 
Payroll related taxes 
Personal income tax withheld 
Corporate income tax 
Transportation tax 
Other taxes 
Total	short-term	tax	related	payables 

Long-term tax related payables as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Corporate income tax 
Payroll related taxes 
Value added tax 
Other taxes 
Total	long-term	taxes	payable	

2008 
US$000 
3,312 
1,342 
1,180 
1,067 
461 
79 
108 
7,549 

2008 
US$000 
6,890 
34 
11 
– 
6,935	

2007  
US$000
1,857
1,142
1,520
1,296
774
71
151
6,811

2007 
US$000
9,949
38

16
10,003

12	Shareholders’	equity
Share	capital
On 10 July 2007, issued shares of OJSC Cherkizovo Group were split by converting each issued share with a par value of 1 rouble into 100 shares with a par 
value of 0.01 roubles. This increased the number of authorized shares to 54,702,600 and the number of issued and outstanding shares to 39,564,300. All 
share amounts have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split.

In May 2008, the Group issued an additional 3,505,055 ordinary shares, of which 493,447 ordinary shares were acquired by OJSC Cherkizovo Group’s 
existing shareholders (including holders of global depository receipts (GDRs) acting through the depositary) pursuant to their statutory pre-emptive rights. This 
issuance increased the number of issued and outstanding shares to 43,069,355. The net proceeds from the offering, after share issuance costs of 3,054, 
were 79,286. Share issuance costs of 122 remained unpaid as at 31 December 2008 and were recorded in other accounts payable.

In October 2008 the Group purchased 62,000 global depository receipts, which equates to 41,333 ordinary shares, for 496. These treasury shares were 
accounted for using the cost method. This transaction decreased the number of outstanding shares to 43,028,022.

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66	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

12	Shareholders’	equity	continued
All issued and outstanding shares have equal voting rights. As of 31 December 2008, MB Capital Partners Ltd. (formerly, Cherkizovsky Group Ltd.) owned 
61.1% of the outstanding share capital of OJSC Cherkizovo Group. The Group is authorized to issue preferred shares not exceeding 25% of its ordinary share 
capital. No such shares are currently issued.

In accordance with Russian legislation, earnings available for dividends are limited to retained earnings of OJSC Cherkizovo Group, calculated in accordance 
with statutory rules in local currency. No dividends were declared or paid for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007.

Earnings	per	share
Earnings per share for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 have been determined using the weighted average number of Group shares outstanding 
over the period. 

On 10 July 2007, the number of shares was increased through a share split. In accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Earnings Per Share”, earnings per share 
figures were adjusted retrospectively to reflect the change in the number of shares.

The Group has no securities which should be considered for dilution.

13	Sales
Sales for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Produced goods and goods for resale 
Other sales 
Sales volume discounts 
Sales returns 
Total	sales 

14	Cost	of	sales
Cost of sales for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Raw materials and goods for resale 
Personnel (excluding pension costs) 
Depreciation 
Utilities 
Pension costs 
Other 
Total	cost	of	sales 

2008 
US$000 
1,203,637 
13,785 
(41,743) 
(9,398) 
1,166,281	

2008 
US$000 
704,588 
79,988 
39,719 
31,212 
12,448 
18,884 
886,839	

2007 
US$000
849,079
3,900
(24,887)
(7,329)
820,763

2007 
US$000
479,623
52,520
26,667
17,931
7,566
14,183
598,490

Raw materials and goods for resale are offset by subsidies received from local governments in the amount of 34,433 and 5,970 for the years ended  
31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively. These targeted subsidies are received based on the amount of meat produced.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  67

15	Selling,	general	and	administrative	expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Personnel (excluding pension costs) 
Transportation 
Materials and supplies 
Pension costs 
Taxes (other than income tax) 
Security services 
Depreciation and amortisation 
Audit, consulting and legal fees 
Advertising and marketing 
Utilities 
Bad debt expense 
Repairs and maintenance 
Veterinary services 
Bank charges 
Information technology and communication services  
Insurance 
Other 
Total	selling,	general	and	administrative	expenses	

16	Other	income,	net
Other income and expenses for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Interest income 
Gain from expiration of payables 
Other financial loss 
Foreign exchange (loss) gain 
Total	other	income,	net	

17	Interest	expense,	net
Interest expense for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Interest expense, net 
Finance lease interest expenses 
Amortisation of discount 
Total	interest	expense,	net	

2008 
US$000 
67,815 
20,810 
14,360 
9,127 
7,930 
7,329 
6,029 
4,905 
4,339 
3,006 
3,685 
2,800 
2,548 
2,014 
1,619 
1,080 
13,009 
172,405	

2008 
US$000 
1,983 
1,011 
(203) 
(1,596) 
1,195	

2008 
US$000 
20,742 
1,975 
8 
22,725	

2007  
US$000
56,699
11,288
10,935
7,061
6,122
4,400
4,799
3,977
8,236
1,676
2,135
2,190
2,147
1,347
844
699
12,792
137,347

2007  
US$000
3,899
467
(120)
3,205
7,451

2007  
US$000
17,669
710
17
18,396

In accordance with Russian legislation, enterprises engaged in agricultural activities and enterprises involved in purchasing meat receive subsidies on certain 
qualifying loans. The Group has accounted for such subsidies by reducing the interest expense on the associated loans by 18,433 and 9,730 for the years 
ended 31 December 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Interest capitalized in the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 was 7,910 and 4,475, respectively.

18	Income	tax
The income tax expense for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Current provision 
Deferred tax (benefit) expense  
Provision	for	income	tax	

2008 
US$000 
6,966 
(5,557) 
1,409	

2007  
US$000
7,000
259
7,259

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68	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

18	Income	tax	continued
All of the Group’s taxes are levied and paid in the Russian Federation.

The statutory income tax rates for all operations in the meat processing and non-agricultural operations in the poultry/pork segments are 24% and 0% for 
agricultural operations within the poultry/pork segments for the years presented under Russian legislation.     

In July 2008, the government of the Russian Federation delayed the introduction of income taxes for agricultural companies until 2013. In November 2008 the 
government also decreased the statutory tax rate applicable to non-agricultural entities from 24% to 20% effective from 1 January 2009. These changes in 
tax rates resulted in a reduction of net deferred income tax liability in the amount of 5,911 as of 31 December 2008.

The agricultural operations within the poultry and pork segments will be subject to income tax starting 1 January 2009 as follows:

Years 
2013-2015 
Thereafter 

Income tax charge reconciled to the theoretical tax provision at the statutory rate for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 is:

Income from continuing operations before income tax and minority interest  
Income from continuing operations before income tax and minority interest of 
entities taxed at agricultural rates 
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax and minority interest of generally taxed entities 
Statutory tax rate (Agricultural) 
Statutory tax rate (General) 
Theoretical income tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate 
Impact from agricultural temporary differences calculated at enacted future tax rates 
Adjusted theoretical income tax expense at statutory rates 
Expenses not deductible for Russian statutory taxation purposes, net 
Change in tax rates 
Impact from reversal of FIN 48 accruals related to expiration of statute of limitation, 
net of penalties accrued on FIN 48 tax liabilities 
Other permanent differences  
Change in valuation allowance 
Actual	income	tax	provision	

Deferred tax assets/(liabilities) arising from tax effect of temporary differences: 
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangibles 
Other non-current assets 
Other non-current liabilities 
Other current liabilities 
Other current assets 
Loss carry forwards 
Valuation allowance 
Net	deferred	tax	liability	

Deferred tax asset – long-term portion 
Deferred tax liability – long-term portion 
Long-term	deferred	tax	liability,	net 
Deferred tax asset – current 
Deferred tax liability – current 
Current	deferred	tax	asset,	net 
Total	deferred	tax	liability,	net 

2008 
US$000 
82,398 

87,601 
(5,203) 
0% 
24% 
(1,249) 
2,094 
845 
4,481 
(5,911) 

867 
691 
436 
1,409	

2008 
US$000 
(30,687) 
(3,089) 
43 
1,115 
1,389 
3,179 
6,162 
(1,669) 
(23,557)	

470 
(28,594) 
(28,124)	
4,621 
(54) 
4,567	
(23,557)	

 Income tax rate
18%
20%

2007  
US$000
73,941

58,692
15,249
0%
24%
3,660
2,693
6,353
3,933
411

(2,528)
(829)
(81)
7,259

2007 
US$000
(44,192)
(4,312)
52
2,039
2,484
4,545
7,115
(1,556)
(33,825)

2,030
(42,982)
(40,952)
7,304
(177)
7,127
(33,825)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  69

The valuation allowance is attributable to loss carryforwards which are not expected to be utilised by management. As the Group does not have a legal right to 
offset deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities between different legal entities, management expects that the Group will not be able to utilize all of the tax 
loss carryforwards as certain of the Group’s subsidiaries are expected to have operating losses in the future. 

The Group’s tax loss carry forwards expire as follows:

Tax	loss	carry	forwards 

2012 
US$000 
55 

2013 
US$000 
– 

2014 
US$000 
438 

2015 
US$000 
2,298 

2016 
US$000 
11,481 

2017 
US$000 
8,375 

2018 
US$000 
8,899 

Total
US$000
31,546

The movements in net deferred tax liability for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 comprised:

Net deferred tax liability, beginning of the year  
Impact of translation loss on beginning balance 
Deferred tax expense (benefit) 
Deferred tax acquired on acquisition of new consolidated entities 
Net	deferred	tax	liability,	end	of	the	year 

2008 
US$000 
(33,825)	
4,711 
5,557 
– 
(23,557)	

2007  
US$000
(14,088)
(1,781)
(259)
(17,697)
(33,825)

Unrecognized	income	tax	benefits
As of 31 December 2008, the Group included accruals for unrecognized income tax benefits of approximately 6,584 as a component of long-term tax related 
payables (of which approximately 729 and 922 were penalties and fines, respectively).

As of 31 December 2007, the Group included accruals for unrecognized income tax benefits of approximately 9,582 as a component of long-term tax related 
payables (of which approximately 732 and 1,040 were penalties and fines, respectively).

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

Balance at 1 January 
Purchase of Golden Rooster Co. Limited (Note 23) 
Translation (gain) loss 
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year 
Additions based on tax positions related to prior years 
Reductions related to settlements with taxing authorities 
Reductions as a result of a lapse of the applicable statute of limitations 
Balance	at	31	December	

2008 
US$000 
7,810 
– 
(1,405) 
521 
– 
– 
 (1,993) 
4,933	

2007  
US$000
2,048
7,214
395
45
–
–
(1,892)
7,810

As of 31 December 2008, it is estimated that 4,933 of the unrecognized tax benefit will affect future effective tax rates. 

In 2008 certain unrecognised tax benefits were recognised due to the expiration of the statutes of limitations. Tax benefits which arose in OJSC Kurinoe 
Tsarstvo prior to its purchase by the Group were recognised by reducing the amount of goodwill to zero with the remainder reducing the carrying amount of 
the trademark “Куриное Царство” (Kurinoe Tsarstvo).

The Group considers it reasonably possible that approximately 2,870 of the unrecognized income tax benefit (including interest and penalties) will be reversed 
within the next year, due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The Group recognizes accrued penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits and fines in income tax expenses. During the years ended 31 December 2008 
and 2007, the Group recognized approximately 827 and 732 in penalties, respectively. 

As of 31 December 2008, the tax years ended 31 December 2006, 2007 and 2008 remained subject to examination by the Russian tax authorities.

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70	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

19	Fair	value	of	financial	instruments
Effective 1 January 2008, the Group adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 applicable to financial assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 provides a hierarchy of 
valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data 
obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Group’s assumptions with respect to how market participants would price an asset 
or liability. These two inputs used to measure fair value fall into the following three different levels of the fair value hierarchy:

•  Level One: Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets that are observable.
•   Level Two: Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quote prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are non-active; inputs 

other than quoted prices that are observable and derived from or corroborated by observable market data.

•  Level Three: Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.

This hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available.

As of 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007, there were no financial instruments measured at fair value.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables reported in the consolidated balance sheet 
approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments.

As of 31 December 2008, the Group had various long term borrowings that are measured at amortised cost. Solely for the purpose of presentation, the Group 
has estimated fair value based on expected discounted cash flows incorporating interest rates on other similar debt adjusted for the Group’s estimated non-
performance risk, including credit risk. Other similar debt was determined based on rates available for similar facilities in the Russian Federation at  
31 December 2008. Non-performance risk was estimated based on spreads between debt obtained by the Group and average interest rates in the Russian 
Federation on other similar debt at the reporting date. 

The carrying values and fair values of the Group’s long term borrowings, with the exception of finance leases, as of 31 December 2008 and 31 December 2007 
are as follows:

Loans	receivable*	
Notes	receivable,	net	(Note	9)	
Borrowings	other	than	finance	leases	(Note	10)	

* This amount includes both the long-term loans to affiliates and short-term loans receivable

2008		
US$000	
Fair	
Value	
14,163	
3,680	
505,743	

Carrying	
Value	
11,643	
8,357	
640,092	

2007	
US$000
Fair	
Value
11,753
3,566
645,394

Carrying		
Value	
16,220	
7,903	
550,362	

20	Related	parties
Related parties include shareholders, entities under common ownership and control with the Group, members of key management personnel and affiliated 
companies. The Company and its subsidiaries enter into various transactions such as the sale and purchase of inventory. In addition, the Group enters into 
financing transactions with related parties. The amounts recognised are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that would be recognised for transactions 
with third parties.

Trading	transactions
Trading transactions with related parties comprise mostly of sales of mixed fodder to LLC RAO Penzenskaya Grain Company and CJSC Penzamyasoprom and 
purchases of raw materials from these companies. 

Trade receivables, trade receivables and advances issued are associated with such transactions. The Group expects to settle such balances in the normal 
course of business.

Financing	transactions
During 2008 and 2007, certain shareholders issued loans to the Group (Note 10) and, as of 31 December 2008, have personally guaranteed certain of the 
bank loans and lines of credit for a total amount of 168,142.

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  71

As of 31 December 2008 and 2007, and for the years then ended, balances and transactions with related parties are summarized as follows:

Balances
Short-term loan receivable 
Trade receivables 
Advances issued 
Other receivables and prepayments 
Long-term loans receivable 
Trade payables 
Short-term loans 
Other payables 
Current portion of long-term loans payable 
Long-term loans payable 
Long-term payables to shareholders related to lease agreements 

Transactions
Sales 
Rental income 
Purchases of IT services 
Purchases of security services 
Purchases of goods and services 
Purchases of property, plant and equipment 

2008 
US$000 

8,235 
15,314 
7,319 
2,187 
2,039 
2,380 
937 
548 
34 
5 
929 

17,836 
135 
582 
1,241 
24,288 
40 

2007  
US$000

2,703
9,962
7,786
2,940
9,675
3,023
77
409
163
725
1,167

12,076
109
224
912
18,083
2,632

21	Long-term	payables	to	shareholders
To retain the use of assets necessary for the Group’s business in companies disposed to shareholders as part of the restructuring undertaken in 2005, the 
Group entered into finance leasing agreements with these entities. The assets under such leases were accounted for at their historical book value and the 
liability incurred at origination of the lease agreements was accounted for as a distribution to shareholders. The lease terms include bargain options for  
the Group to continue the agreement over the life of the underlying equipment. For the purposes of calculating the lease term, the Group used the remaining 
useful life of the underlying assets. The value of property, plant and equipment at lease inception was 4,137 and the related deferred tax asset was 229.

Payables to shareholders for leased property, plant and equipment as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 amounted to 975 and 1,215, respectively, including a 
long-term portion of 929 and 1,167, respectively.

Movements in the total liability for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 were:

Liability incurred to shareholders in term of lease of this equipment as of 1 January 
Interest accrued at 14% on leasing liability 
Repayment 
Translation gain (loss) 
Liability	incurred	to	shareholders	in	term	of	lease	of	this	equipment	as	of	31	December 

2008 
US$000 
1,215 
166 
(213) 
(193) 
975 

2007  
US$000
1,175
167
(207)
80
1,215

22	Segment	reporting
The Group’s operations are divided into three segments by types of products produced: meat processing, poultry and pork. Substantially all of the Group’s 
operations are located within the Russian Federation. The pork and poultry segments share a common legal and organizational structure. All segments share a 
common chief operating decision maker. For the purpose of determining reportable segments, the Group has determined the chief operating decision maker to 
be the individual responsible for allocating resources to and assessing the performance of each component of the business. 

The meat processing segment is involved in the production of a wide range of meat products, including sausages, ham and raw meat.

Pork and poultry are strategic segments that produce and offer distinctive products, such as semi-finished poultry products, raw meat, eggs and other poultry 
meat products in the poultry segment and live pigs in the pork segment.

All three segments are involved in other business activities, including production of dairy, crop cultivation and other services, which are non-core business activities.

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72	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. 

22	Segment	reporting	continued
The Group evaluates segment performance based on profit before income taxes. The Group accounts for inter-segment sales and transfers as if the sales or 
transfers were to third parties, that is, at current market prices.

Corporate assets comprise cash in bank received from both the issuance of new shares and bond issue, and loans to Group companies.

Segment information at 31 December 2008 and for the year then ended comprised:

Total sales 
including other sales 
including sales volume discount 

Intersegment sales 
Sales to external customers 

Cost of sales 
Gross	profit	
Operating expenses 
Operating	income	
Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 
Segment	profit	
Supplemental information: 
Expenditure for long-lived assets 
Depreciation and amortisation expense 
Income tax expense 

Meat-processing 
US$000 
577,919 
4,581 
(26,363) 
(271) 
577,648 
(484,571) 
93,348	
(85,935) 
7,413	
71 
(14,763) 
(7,279)	

12,233 
17,217 
1,398 

Segment information at 31 December 2007 and for year then ended comprised:

Total sales 
including other sales 
including sales volume discount 

Intersegment sales 
Sales to external customers 

Cost of sales 
Gross	profit	
Operating expenses 
Operating	income	
Other income and expenses, net 
Interest expenses 
Segment	profit	
Supplemental information:
Expenditure for long-lived assets 
Depreciation and amortisation expense 
Income tax expense 

Poultry 
US$000 
505,204 
39,773 
(15,380) 
(19,859) 
485,345 
(366,330) 
138,874	
(70,498) 
68,376	
(2,477) 
(14,611) 
51,288	

74,994 
22,248 
(264) 

Poultry 
US$000 
296,803 
19,872 
(7,217) 
(5,165) 
291,638 
(203,381) 
93,422	
(46,256) 
47,166	
2,248 
(10,659) 
38,755	

Corporate  
assets/ 
expenditures 
US$000 
1,028 
– 
– 
(1,024) 
4 
(40) 
988	
(12,125) 
(11,137)	
26,536 
(14,460) 
939	

5,624 
12 
334 

Corporate  
assets/ 
expenditures 
US$000 
660 
– 
– 
(658) 
2 
(4) 
656	
(8,969) 
(8,313)	
22,095 
(10,868) 
2,914	

Pork 
US$000 
112,507 
6,148 
– 
(9,223) 
103,284 
(64,939) 
47,568	
(8,292) 
39,276	
(102) 
(1,724) 
37,450	

65,473 
6,271 
(59) 

Pork 
US$000 
69,869 
3,317 
– 
(5,186) 
64,683 
(40,684) 
29,185	
(4,680) 
24,505	
(64) 
(1,390) 
23,051	

Intersegment 
US$000 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
29,041 
(1,336)	
1,336 
–	
(22,833) 
22,833 
–	

Consolidated 
US$000
1,196,658
50,502
(41,743)
(30,377)
1,166,281
(886,839)
279,442
(175,514)
103,928
1,195
(22,725)
82,398

– 
– 
– 

158,324
45,748
1,409

Intersegment 
US$000 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
13,118 
(667)	
667 
–	
(18,411) 
18,411 
–	

Consolidated 
US$000
834,548
24,710
(24,887)
(13,785)
820,763
(598,490)
222,273
(137,387)
84,886
7,451
(18,396)
73,941

Meat-processing 
US$000 
467,216 
1,521 
(17,670) 
(2,776) 
464,440 
(367,539) 
99,677	
(78,149) 
21,528	
1,583 
(13,890) 
9,221	

13,815 
15,695 
3,271 

47,911 
11,267 
280 

124,616 
4,502 
2,644 

14 
2 
1,064 

– 
– 
– 

186,356
31,466
7,259

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  73

The reconciliation between net segment profit and net income per the consolidated income statements for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007 is 
as follows:

Total net segment profit 
Minority interest 
Income taxes 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax 
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (Note 23) 
Consolidated	net	income	

2008 
US$000 
82,398 
(3,994) 
(1,409) 
(3,489) 
4,599 
78,105	

2007  
US$000
73,941
(2,848)
(7,259)
(2,252)
–
61,582

The reconciliation between segment assets and total assets per the consolidated balance sheets as of 31 December 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

Meat processing 
Poultry 
Pork 
Corporate assets 
Intersegment 
Assets of discontinued operations (Note 23) 
Total	assets	

2008 
US$000 
292,196 
404,582 
334,204 
308,517 
(206,937) 
1,702 
1,134,264	

2007  
US$000
336,853
390,651
333,886
355,667
(235,755)
14,923
1,196,225

23	Subsidiaries,	acquisitions,	divestitures
Subsidiaries
As of 31 December 2008 and 2007 the Group controlled the meat processing and agricultural companies through its 100% ownership in AIC Cherkizovsky 
Ltd. and AIC Mikhailovsky Ltd. and in Golden Rooster Co. Limited.

AIC Cherkizovsky Ltd. is a holding company under 100% control of the Company. AIC Cherkizovsky Ltd. includes the meat-processing segment, which consists 
of meat processing plants, distribution companies and other companies registered and operating in the Russian Federation. As of 31 December 2008 and 2007 
the following principal companies were included in AIC Cherkizovsky Ltd.:

Legal form 
Closed Joint Stock Company 
Open Joint Stock Company 
Open Joint Stock Company 

Name of company 
JSC MPP Babaevskiy 
JSC Belmyaso 
JSC Biruliovsky meat processing plant (JSC BMPP) 
JSC Meat and Poultry Processing Plant Penzensky 
(JSC MPPP Penzensky) 
JSC Meat Processing Plant Ulyanovsky 
(JSC MPP Ulyanovsky) 
JSC Cherkizovsky meat processing plant (JSC CMPP) 
LLC MPP Salsky 
TIC Cherkizovo Ltd. (Cherkizovo-2) 
LLC Cherkizovo-Kashira (Cherkizovo-Kashira Ltd.) 
LLC Cherkizovsky (Saint Petersburg) 
JSC Trading Company of Agroindustrial Complex  
Cherkizovsky (JSC Trading Company of AIC Cherkizovsky)  Open Joint Stock Company 

Open Joint Stock Company 
Open Joint Stock Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 

Open Joint Stock Company 

Nature of business 
Meat processing plant 
Meat processing plant 
Meat processing plant 

%	31.12.2008 
85% 
0% 
95% 

% 31.12.2007
85%
75%
95%

Meat processing plant 

Meat processing plant 
Meat processing plant 
Meat processing plant 
Procurement company 
Meat processing plant 
Trading company 

Trading company: 
distribution of products 
of AIC Cherkizovsky 

95% 

85% 
87% 
81% 
100% 
99% 
100% 

95%

85%
87%
81%
100%
99%
100%

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100% 

100%

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
74	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

23	Subsidiaries,	acquisitions,	divestitures	continued
AIC Mikhailovsky Ltd. is a holding company under 100% control of the Company. AIC Mikhailovsky Ltd. includes the pork and poultry segments that consist 
of companies engaged in the production of various types of compound feed, raising of poultry, pigs and cattle and the distribution of meat registered and 
operating in the Russian Federation. As of 31 December 2008 and 2007 the following principal companies were included in the AIC Mikhailovsky Ltd.:

Name of company 
CJSC Petelinskaya 
JSC Vasiljevskaya 
LLC Petelino Trade House 

Legal form 
Closed Joint Stock Company 
Open Joint Stock Company 
Limited Liability Company 

CJSC Botovo 
LLC Petelinsky Poultry Factory 
LLC Trading House Petelino-Samara 

Closed Joint Stock Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 

JSC Lipetskmyasoprom 
LLC Mikhailovsky Feed Milling Plant 
LLC Kuznetsovsky Kombinat 
LLC Tambovmyasoprom 
LLC Budenovets Agrifirm 

Open Joint Stock Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 
Limited Liability Company 

Nature of business 
Raising poultry 
Raising poultry 
Trading company: distribution  
of products of AIC Mikhailovsky 
Pig breeding 
Meat processing 
Trading company: distribution  
of products of AIC Mikhailovsky 
Pig breeding 
Mixed fodder production 
Pig breeding 
Pig breeding 
Pig breeding 

%	31.12.2008 
84% 
100% 

% 31.12.2007
84%
100%

84% 
76% 
84% 

100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
99% 
100% 

84%
76%
84%

100%
100%
100%
100%
99%
100%

Acquisitions
Golden	Rooster
On 28 August 2007, the Group completed an acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Golden Rooster Co. Limited. Golden Rooster Co. Limited is a company 
registered in Cyprus that holds 100% of the share capital of OJSC Kurinoe Tsarstvo. OJSC Kurinoe Tsarstvo is a poultry producer with a fully integrated poultry 
production cycle and operations in both the Lipetsk and Bryansk regions of the Russian Federation. The company produces chilled and frozen poultry products 
under the “Chicken Kingdom” brand name.

The purchase consideration was 142,466 including 673 of transaction costs. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method with goodwill of 
697 recognized as a result of the purchase price allocation. No adjustments were made to the purchase price in 2008.

Divestitures
2007	discontinued	operations	(LLC	MPP	Salsky)
In November 2007, management of the Group made a decision to dispose of a subsidiary in the meat processing segment – LLC MPP Salsky (“Salsky”). 
The disposal was classified as an asset held for sale and reflected as a discontinued operation in 2007. The assets and liabilities classified as discontinued 
operations were recorded at lower of cost or market. At the time of the classification as an asset held for sale, the Group had a plan for disposal. Subsequent 
to that time, primarily due to the deterioration in the worldwide economy and lack of available financing, the Group was unable to close the sale of Salsky. 
While the Group actively solicited offers during the period, it did not receive any other reasonable offers to purchase Salsky and in response, reduced the price. 
The Group continues to actively market Salsky at a price that is reasonable given the change in market conditions. As at 31 December 2008, management 
has determined that the Group has met the conditions for an exception to the one-year sale requirement under SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or 
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. As a result, Salsky continues to be classified as held for sale as of 31 December 2008.

2008	discontinued	operations	(JSC	Belmyaso)
In November 2008, management of the Group received an offer from a third party to purchase JSC Belmyaso, a subsidiary in the meat processing segment 
located on the Ukrainian border in southwest Russia. Management accepted the offer as the sale was consistent with its plan to optimize the cost structure of 
the meat processing segment. The sale was completed in December 2008, with the Group selling its 75% share ownership in JSC Belmyaso for proceeds of 68. 
The Group will not have any significant continuing involvement with the entity. The gain on the sale of the subsidiary amounted to 4,599.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net assets of discontinued operations were as follows as of 31 December 2008 and 2007

Cash 
Trade and other receivables, net 
Inventory 
Deferred tax assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Other assets 
Total	assets 
Trade and other payables 
Short and long-term loans 
Total	liabilities	
Minority	interest	
Net	liabilities	of	discontinued	operations	

Results from discontinued operations were as follows for 2008 and 2007:

Sales 
Cost of sales 
Gross	(loss)	profit	
Operating expenses 
Gain (loss) from disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Operating	loss	
Other expenses, net 
Loss	before	income	tax	and	minority	interest	
Income tax (expense) benefit 
Minority interest 
Loss	from	discontinued	operations	

cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008  75

2008 
US$000 
3 
– 
243 
156 
1,258 
42 
1,702	
(504) 
(2,020) 
(2,524)	
–	
(822)	

2008 
US$000 
15,675  
(16,131) 
(456)	
(2,897) 
30 
(3,323)	
(655) 
(3,978)	
(546) 
1,035 
(3,489)	

2007  
US$000
98
3,096
2,170
1,266
7,299
994
14,923
(5,432)
(10,865)
(16,297)
(1,065)
(2,439)

2007  
US$000
26,405
(24,980)
1,425
(3,676)
(116)
(2,367)
(1,023)
(3,390)
395
743
(2,252)

24	Commitments	and	contingencies
Legal
As of 31 December 2008 and 2007 several Group companies reported negative net assets in their statutory financial statements. In accordance with the Civil 
Code of the Russian Federation, a liquidation process may be initiated against a company reporting negative net assets. Management believes that it is remote 
that the liquidation process will be initiated against those companies.

The Group has been and continues to be the subject of legal proceedings and adjudications from time to time. Management believes that the resolution of all 
such outstanding matters will not have a material impact on the Group’s financial position or results of operations.

Taxation
Laws and regulations affecting businesses in the Russian Federation continue to change rapidly. These changes are characterized by different interpretations 
and arbitrary application by the authorities. Management’s interpretation of such legislation as applied to the activity of the Group may be challenged by the 
relevant regional and federal authorities. Recent events within the Russian Federation suggest that the tax authorities are taking a more assertive position 
in their interpretation of the legislation and assessments and as a result, it is possible that transactions and activities that have not been challenged in 
the past may be challenged. It is therefore possible that significant additional taxes, penalties and interest may be assessed. Under certain circumstances 
reviews may cover longer periods. Where uncertainty exists, the Group has accrued tax liabilities as management’s best estimate of the probable outflow of 
resources which will be required to settle such liabilities. Management believes that it has provided adequately for tax liabilities based on its interpretations 
of tax legislation. However, the relevant authorities may have differing interpretations, and the effects could be significant. Management believes that the total 
amount of possible tax risks, in accordance with FAS 5 “Accounting for Contingencies,” is 4,578 as of 31 December 2008.

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Environmental	remediation	costs
The Group’s management believes that it is in compliance with applicable legislation and is not aware of any potential environmental claims; therefore, no 
liabilities associated with such costs are recorded as of 31 December 2008.

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
76	 cherkizovo-group.com	annual report 2008

Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements	continued		

for the years ended 31 December 2008 and 2007

24	Commitments	and	contingencies	continued

Capital	commitments
At 31 December 2008, the Group had large capital projects in progress at JSC Lipetskmyasoprom, LLC Tambovmyasoprom, and CJSC Petelinskaya. As part of 
these projects, commitments had been made to contractors of approximately 51,699 towards completion of the projects.

Also the Group is in the process of implementing an integrated management planning and accounting system related to the meat processing segment of the 
business. As part of this project, commitments have been made to contractors of approximately 1,849 towards completion of the project.

Operating	lease	commitments
At 31 December 2008, the Group had the following obligations under non-cancellable operating lease agreements:

Total	commitments 

2009  
US$000 
314 

2010 
US$000 
314 

2011 
US$000 
314 

2012 
US$000 
314 

2013 
US$000 
254 

>2013 
US$000 
2,780 

Total 
US$000
4,290

25	Subsequent	events
Acquisitions
In March 2009, the Group acquired 57.29% of the share capital of OAO Penzensky Kombinat Khleboproductov (“Penzensky”) from a third party for cash 
consideration of 1,886. Penzensky is involved in grain processing and production of bread products in the Penza region of Russia. Penzensky will be a part 
of operations in the poultry segment of the Group. As of 31 March 2009, the purchase price allocation was not finalised as the Group had not completed its 
assessment of the fair value of the acquired net assets. As of the date of acquisition, Penzensky did not prepare financial statements in accordance with US 
GAAP. As a result, the Group has not provided the disclosures as required by SFAS 141, Business Combinations, as the disclosure would be impracticable.  

Borrowings
In the first quarter of 2009, the Group entered into several new credit facilities with Sberbank in the amount of 8,975 bearing interest rates ranging from 
16.75% to 17.5%. The Group drew down on existing credit facilities with Sberbank in the amount of 20,837, repaid 15,991 on these facilities and fully paid 
down the Raiffeisen facility in the amount of 16,257.

 
 
Advisers and corporate information

cherkizovo-group.com annual report 2008  77

...  owning 
the land 
 that will secure the  
feed supply...

ifc 
Populated from 
main doc

Depository 
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. 
4 New York Plaza 
13th Floor 
New York 
NY 10004 
United States of America 

Solicitors 

English law 
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 
City Place House 
55 Basinghall Street 
London EC2V 5EH 
United Kingdom 

Public relations 

Temple Bar Advisory
60 Cannon Street
London EC4N 6NP
United Kingdom

Company Lawyer 
Yuri Dyachuk 

Registered office 
OJSC Cherkizovo Group 
5 Permskaya Street 
Moscow 107143 
Russian Federation 
Tel: +7 (495) 788-3232 
Fax: +7 (495) 788-3233 
Website: www.cherkizovo-group.com 

Registered number 
1057748318473 

Registrars 
OJSC Obyedinennaya Registratsionnaya 
Kompaniya (OJSC ORK) 
70 Pyatnitskaya Street 
Moscow 113095 
Russian Federation 
Tel: +7 (495) 745-7891, +7 (495) 504-2886 

Auditors 
ZAO Deloitte and Touche CIS 
Business Centre Mokhovaya 
4/7 Vozdvizhenka St, bldg 2 
Moscow 125009 
Russian Federation 

Wheat prices

Monthly average $ per Kg

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

05                06                07                08               09

0.35

0.30

0.40

Wheat prices
Since 2007, Cherkizovo has been building up a 
Monthly average $ per Kg
substantial landbank to provide future protection 
against fluctuations in the cost and availability of 
feed, such as those we witnessed in 2008. This is 
directly in line with the Group’s vertical integration 
strategy, and we will continue to invest in land 
where cost-effective opportunities present 
themselves. In addition, we have made substantial 
investments in our ability to produce fodder, a clear 
source of advantage over many of our competitors. 

0.25

0.20

0.10

0.05

0.15

0.00

05                06                07                08               09

Wheat prices US$ per Kg 

Annual average                
Monthly average 

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

0.00

05            06            07           08

0.40

0.35

0.30

0.25

0.20

0.15

0.10

0.05

Designed and produced by Tor Pettersen & Partners.

Printed in England by Geoff Neal Litho - a ‘Carbon Neutral’ company environmentally 
accredited to ISO 14001 and FSC Certified. 

This brochure is printed using vegetable oil based inks from renewable raw materials. 
It is printed on Revive 50:50 Silk which contains 50% recovered waste and 50% virgin 
fibre and is certified as an FSC mixed sources product at a mill that is certified with 
the ISO14001 Environmental Management Standard. FSC mixed sources products 
are produced from recycled wood or fibre, well managed forests and other controlled 
sources. All pulp is bleached using an Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) process. 

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OJSC Cherkizovo Group
5 Permskaya Street
Moscow 107143
Russian Federation

Tel: +7 (495) 788-3232
Fax: +7 (495) 788-3233

www.cherkizovo-group.com