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Coca-Cola HBC

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FY2017 Annual Report · Coca-Cola HBC
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2017 Integrated Annual Report

UNDERSTAND
EVOLVE
ENERGISE

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Contents

Strategic Report
1
8
10

Understand, evolve, energise
Our business
Joint Q&A with the Chairman  
and Chief Executive Officer
Market review
Our business model
Our strategy and KPIs
People
Communities
Consumers
Customers
Efficiencies
Risk and materiality
Financial review
Market highlights
Viability Statement

16
18
21
28
34
38
44
48
55
64
68
70

Corporate Governance
72 
Board of Directors
76
Corporate Governance Report
104 Directors’ Remuneration Report
126  Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities

Financial Statements
128
133
139 Notes to the Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s Report
Financial Statements

Swiss Statutory Reporting
198

Report of the statutory auditor on 
Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s consolidated 
financial statements
Report of the statutory auditor 
on Coca-Cola HBC AG’s financial 
statements

204

207 Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s financial 

statements
Report of the statutory auditor on 
the Statutory Remuneration Report
Statutory Remuneration Report

218

219

Supplementary Information
223 Alternative performance measures
227 Assurance statement
230

Shareholder information

Glossary

Key highlights for the year
We announced our financial results for the year ended 31 December 2017 on 
14 February 2018. In addition to the reported and comparable metrics we highlight 
below from these financial results, we report on our progress towards our 2020 
target KPIs on pages 24-25.

VOLUME
(m unit cases)

2,104

2016: 2,058

NET SALES REVENUE
(€m)

6,522

2016: 6,219

COMPARABLE 
EBIT MARGIN1 (%)

COMPARABLE 
NET PROFIT1 (€m)

9.5

2016: 8.3

COMPARABLE EBIT1
(€m)

621

2016: 518

450

2016: 352

NET PROFIT
(€m)

426

2016: 344

1.  For details on APMs refer to the Alternative performance measures section.

About our report
The 2017 Integrated Annual Report (‘Annual Report’) consolidates Coca-Cola HBC 
AG’s UK and Swiss disclosure requirements while meeting the disclosure 
requirements for its secondary listing on the Athens Exchange and the 
sustainability reporting standards. For more information about our Integrated 
Annual Report, see page 234.

2017 has been a busy 
and exciting year for 
Coca‑Cola HBC.

Changing market 
environments and evolving 
consumer preferences 
compel us to better 
UNDERSTAND 
our consumers' needs and 
to EVOLVE and 
reformulate our portfolio.

We are ENERGISED by 
our position now, and our 
excellent progress against 
our strategy leaves us in a 
confident position for the 
year ahead.

Coca‑Cola Zero Lemon launch in Italy 
and the Czech Republic helped grow 
Coke Zero volumes in these 
countries by more than 
20% in 2017.

We work hard to understand 
the preferences of our 
consumers and the changing 
dynamics of our customers.

Consumer preferences are changing 
faster than ever before, with an 
increasing number of people looking for 
healthier, more functional or simply 
unique beverages to suit their lifestyles. 
We work hand-in-hand with The 
Coca-Cola Company to understand the 
consumer insights that shape the 
non-alcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) 
beverages industry and are excited 
about the opportunities these trends 
offer our business.

The retail landscape is also in constant 
evolution, driven by the needs of 
shoppers, with established formats 
being challenged.

The fastest growing retail sectors are all 
driven by the need for a convenient and 
cost-effective shopping trip, whether 
this is online shopping and home 
delivery or the emergence of smaller 
stores or discounters. We work hard in 
our markets to support the established 
formats capture the changing shopper 
and also take advantage of the 
opportunity in the faster growing 
formats. In turn, we are mindful of the 
impact that latest consumer trends 
have on packaging decisions and we 
continue our strategy to use more 
recycled packaging and less 
packaging overall.

See more on market trends in the Market review section

NARTD beverages value by category in our footprint 
(€ billion, 2014-2022)

97.5

Expected market value in 2022 

U
N
D
E
R
S
T
A
N
D

100

80

60

40

20

0

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

Sparkling beverages
Water
Juice

RTD tea
Energy drinks
Sport drinks

RTD coffee
Plant-based dairy
Value-added dairy

Company and TCCC estimates for 2018‑2022

A very successful innovation launched 
in Russia in 2017, Sprite Cucumber 
will be rolled out in several 
other countries.

To meet changing consumer 
preferences, we evolve our portfolio, 
creating new beverages and 
reformulating our products.

Jointly with our partners The Coca-Cola 
Company, we develop new beverages, flavours 
and packages to meet the changing needs 
of our consumers. We also evolve our recipes, 
providing more options to consumers with 
fewer calories, while keeping the great taste 
that consumers love. Key developments in 
2017 have been Coca-Cola Zero Lemon, 
Coca-Cola with stevia and no calories, Sprite 
Cucumber, Schweppes Pomegranate, Monster 
Hydro and Vegified juice.

Our route-to-market (RTM) initiatives deliver 
tailored solutions to the continuously changing 
retail landscape, ensuring that we capture the 
growth opportunities in every market and every 
channel. The consistent growth of smaller 
households is boosting the search for 
convenience, while discounters are the most 
dynamic segment. We are gaining incremental 
revenue by accelerating our ‘small baskets’ 
initiatives and single-serve packages. Digital 
commerce is also redefining the grocery 
shopping experience, presenting us with 
opportunities in increased transactions and 
closer engagement with the consumer.

See more on our initiatives in the Consumers and Customers sections

Growth achieved from new launches in 2017

New package formats 
46%

New categories and brands 
5%

E
V
O
L
V
E

We sold 47 million cases of innovative 
products and packages, accounting for 
2.3% volume growth vs 2016.

5%

Calories reduced in 
total portfolio vs 2016

Variants of Coca‑Cola 
28%

Flavours of other 
sparkling brands 
15%

Other flavours 
2%

Flavours for adults 
4%

Schweppes Pomegranate is one of our 
adult drink offerings. Launched in Russia 
in 2017, this variant was instrumental 
in growing Schweppes volumes 
by 15% in the year.

We energise our business  
by investing in it and nurturing it  
for long‑term growth.

We have a cash-generative business and a 
tremendous opportunity to deploy the cash to 
take advantage of volume and value growth 
opportunities. In production, we are investing in 
new technologies for categories such as 
plant-based beverages and innovative 
packaging. Cooler technology is also advancing, 
with digital coolers that can ‘connect’ with our 
consumers as well as more energy-efficient 
and environmentally friendly coolers, which will 
further drive down carbon emissions.

In markets where we can generate higher value 
by increasing single‑serve volumes, we intend 
to continue our investment in coolers. 

It is crucial that we invest in the promising 
new categories and brands we are launching, 
in the form of both advertising and in‑store 
execution. We have strong plans for 
investment in this area and our 
investment is matched by our partner, 
The Coca‑Cola Company.

Investing in revenue growth

5.9%

FX‑neutral revenue growth in 2017

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0%

12%

10%

8%

6%

4%

2%

0%

-1%

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

FX-neutral revenue 
growth (%) (LH scale)

CapEx as % of revenue
(RH scale)

Total marketing expenses 
as % of revenue (RH scale)

E
N
E
R
G
S
E

I

OUR BUSINESS

We have built the foundation for 
future growth and long‑term

SUCCESS

We have unique strengths to support 
our future journey
We are primed for growth. The fundamentals supporting our 
long‑term growth potential include the opportunities and 
demographics in our countries, our diverse and attractive product 
portfolio, and our strong position in the vast majority of our 
markets. These fundamentals are supported by our relentless 
focus on maximising the value of every case we sell and the lean 
infrastructure we have built through significant restructuring.

Our strategy and ambitions are clear, and we measure and 
manage our ongoing progress using financial and non‑financial 
targets set for 2020.

We have a diverse portfolio of some 
of the world’s leading brands
We have substantially developed our product portfolio over the 
years, expanding the share of still drinks in our volumes to 31%. 
This is quite unique in the Coca‑Cola System and gives us an edge, 
as many still drinks categories, such as water and plant‑based 
beverages, are forecast to grow faster than the industry as a whole.

Our experience with product innovation and new product launches, 
coupled with the evolution of our beverage portfolio pursued 
with The Coca‑Cola Company to address changing consumer 
preferences, powers our plans for more innovation, reformulation 
and selective acquisitions in still drinks.

See more in the Strategy and KPIs sections

See more in the Consumers section

We seek efficiency in everything we do
The optimisation of our production and logistics infrastructure 
and the right‑sizing of operating costs give us an efficient cost base 
with sufficient capacity headroom to continue to grow our 
revenues. Importantly, efficiency is a discipline that runs through 
everything we do at Coca‑Cola HBC. We continue to look for ways 
to reduce the cost of our inputs and the resources we use, and 
to minimise our impact on the environment.

‑31%

‑290bps

reduction in number 
of plants since 2008

fall in comparable operating expenses 
as % of net sales revenue since 2008

See more in the Efficiencies section

8

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Product portfolio
by volume sold

Sparkling beverages: 62%
Water: 19%
Low- and no-calorie sparkling drinks: 7%

Juice: 6%
RTD tea: 4%
Energy and other: 2%

We can develop and fuel growth 
in our markets
During the period from 2009 to 2015, our business faced 
unprecedented challenges from macroeconomic turmoil. 
This situation served to demonstrate our strength and resilience 
and the commitment and dedication of our people. In the last 
couple of years, we have seen the macroeconomic environment 
in our markets gradually improve and this is driving growth in the 
non‑alcoholic ready‑to‑drink (NARTD) beverages industry. 
Our forecasts indicate that NARTD beverages should grow by 1.5% 
per annum on average in our markets between 2016 and 2020. 
We continue to invest in our markets to grow volumes ahead of the 
industry and extract value out of our business under these more 
favourable conditions.

Emerging 
markets
GDP per capita 
US$5,502

Consumption  
97 servings

Developing 
markets
GDP per capita 
US$15,117

Consumption  
208 servings

Established 
markets
GDP per capita 
US$37,854

Consumption  
187 servings

Revenue in 2017 
+7.2%

Revenue in 2017 
+7.2%

Revenue in 2017 
+1.2%

Consumption is measured as 8 oz. servings per capita of sparkling drinks

See more in the Market highlights section

We remain agile in the changing retail 
landscape and execute with excellence
As the market leader in every market where we operate except for 
Slovakia, we work closely with our customers to develop and satisfy 
consumer demand, growing their business as well as ours. There 
are also efficiencies we can gain when taking our products to 
market. In a very dynamic retail landscape, we focus 
on route‑to‑market initiatives that deliver tailored solutions for the 
continuously changing retail landscape, ensuring that we capture 
growth opportunities in every market.

We lead the way in sustainability 
in the beverage industry
The recognition we have received globally as the sustainability 
leader amongst beverage companies in the Dow Jones World and 
Europe Sustainability Indices (‘DJSI’), and as the leader of the wider 
food, tobacco and beverage sector, reflects our success in 
operating an efficient, profitable business that is also responsible 
and trusted by stakeholders. This trust allows us to be even more 
ambitious in creating shared value, and serves to position our 
business as fit for purpose in a changing world.

See more in the Customers section

Our priorities are driven by the material issues which have 
the potential to alter our business environment in the medium to 
long term, including health and nutrition, and packaging. We also 
seek to address existing needs as well as new opportunities in our 
markets to strengthen communities and maximise our impact by 
carefully measuring the value we add and partnering with others 
to leverage combined expertise.

‑9.1% 

reduction in direct carbon 
emissions ratio  

4 years

consecutive leadership in our industry 
in the Dow Jones World and Europe 
Sustainability Indices

See more in the Communities and Efficiencies sections

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

9

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationJOINT Q&A WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

10

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

IN A STRONG POSITION 
TO ACHIEVE FUTURE 
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

In 2017, we steered our 
organisation through 
another year of success 
and growth. 

Anastassis G. David
Chairman

Zoran Bogdanovic
Chief Executive Officer

We are building on the strong foundation 
that we established with Dimitris Lois, who 
led Coca‑Cola HBC as CEO from 2011 until 
his untimely death in October. 

We continue to successfully implement  
our strategic plans, evolving our Company 
by diversifying our portfolio of beverages 
and modifying our offerings to be 
even more relevant to consumers 
and customers.

Q: How was 2017 for 
Coca-Cola HBC?
AD: Our impressive results for the year are 
very pleasing and a clear demonstration of 
our long‑term efforts to establish a strong 
strategic framework. The implementation 
of our internal succession plan, and the 
reinforcement of corporate governance 
and sustainability commitments, are also 
a testament to the effectiveness 
of the Board.

I feel privileged to have worked with Dimitris 
Lois, a special person and an inspiration to 
the whole Coca‑Cola HBC family. He had 
remarkable values, and placed our people 
at the centre of everything we do.

This is reflected in the Company’s 2017 
employee engagement results, which set 
the bar for the Coca‑Cola System and 
ranked Coca‑Cola HBC above the Willis 
Towers Watson benchmarking pool of 
high‑performing companies. This is an 
achievement that forms the foundation 
for much of the Company’s success.

I was delighted to announce Zoran’s 
appointment as Chief Executive Officer  
in December. He will bring a deep 
understanding of our markets and 
corporate culture along with fresh, 
innovative insights to address 
new challenges.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

11

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationJOINT Q&A WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CONTINUED

ZB: Needless to say, we are proud that, 
once again, we achieved solid currency‑
neutral revenue growth as well as 
improvement in operating margin. We 
started the year excited about the 
recovering economies in our markets and 
the well‑thought‑through plans every 
person was charged with implementing. As 
the year progressed, the operational and 
financial results we delivered invigorated 
everyone in the Company. As Region 
Director for part of the business before my 
appointment as CEO, I have been witness 
to the day‑to‑day motivation and energy 
throughout the business. Improvements in 
the macroeconomic environment in Russia 
and our success in managing the 
challenging circumstances in Nigeria were 
key developments in 2017, and provide 
good momentum for 2018.

Q: How would you summarise the 
operational and financial highlights 
for the year?
ZB: We have been making significant 
changes to drive volume and enhance value 
in an ever‑changing environment, with 
consumers looking for more choice to suit 
their preferences and customers making 
changes to ensure the long‑term health of 
their businesses.

Each market in the Company had a set of 
clear ‘revenue growth management’ 
initiatives, ranging from identifying new 
revenue pools and improving mix to 
adjusting pricing and promotional 
management. These initiatives have been 
very successful in supporting revenue 
growth. Our commitment to continuous 
efficiency improvements remains 
unchanged, as does our steady focus on 
attracting, developing and retaining the 
best people. Finally, we are proud to have 
been named the food, tobacco and 
beverage supersector leader this year in 
addition to remaining beverages industry 
leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability 
Indices for the fourth year in a row. This is 
an important indication of our commitment 
to our stakeholders and communities as 
well as our success in managing critical 
material issues.

Our strong results for the year have us on 
track to achieve the 2020 financial targets 
we announced in 2016. We delivered 5.9% 
revenue growth on a currency‑neutral 
basis. Importantly, this was achieved with a 
good balance between volume growth and 
price and mix improvements. As 
anticipated, the operational leverage in the 
business meant that this revenue growth 
resulted in a 120 basis‑point expansion in 
our comparable operating margin to 9.5%.

We also continued to convert our profits  
to cash, delivering €426 million of free  
cash flow.

Q: Can you elaborate on the 2017 
Integrated Annual Report theme: 
Understand, Evolve, Energise?
ZB: Consumers’ lifestyles are changing, 
with growth coming from lower calorie and 
more unique product propositions, some of 
which offer additional functions in addition 
to satisfying thirst. Demographics in many 
of our markets are also changing, 
with populations in many European markets 
ageing and more people living alone. As 
lifestyles change, shopping habits are also 
changing, making the adult segment and 
‘small baskets’ increasingly important.

Understanding these trends is important to 
ensure that we evolve our business, our 
product portfolio and market execution in 
ways that meet changing consumer and 
customer needs and preferences. As 
consumers are spending more time at 
work, or at home having ‘me time’, we are 
evolving our approach to cater to these 
occasions alongside the more traditional 
occasions such as ’Coke with meals’. Digital 
technology is also impacting consumption 
patterns and shopping habits, opening up 
new sales channels.

“Consumers’ lifestyles 
are changing, with growth 
coming from lower calorie 
and more unique product 
propositions, some of which 
offer additional functions in 
addition to satisfying thirst.”

Zoran Bogdanovic

12

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

More information
See more about strategy and KPIs
See more about our market
See more about consumers and customers

page 21
page 16
page 38

Having applied revenue growth 
management principles in our business for 
a few years, we have gained greater 
impetus. The understanding and discipline 
we now have, coupled with the tools we 
have developed, will support volume and 
value growth in a sustainable way. 

With the total beverage portfolio evolution 
that we are pursuing with The Coca‑Cola 
Company, we are collaborating in realising 
an unprecedented level of innovation, 
leading to new categories, brands, 
packages and channels. We are in touch 
with consumers 24/7, for every occasion.

Our route‑to‑market and execution 
capabilities have recently been upgraded, 
helping to make sure we can support our 
existing customers in the established 
channels as well as taking advantage  
of opportunities presented by newly 
emerging channels.

Gaining efficiencies in production, logistics 
and operating cost base are a way of life at 
Coca‑Cola HBC, and our continued focus 
on efficiency is key to streamlining 
packaging, reducing energy use and 
minimising our impact. Finally, we are 
determined to continue to invest in the 
business for growth.

These are, I believe, the key factors for the 
fulfilment of our vision.

Q: Two years into the 2020 plan 
and you have delivered very well. 
Are your plans and financial 
targets still valid until 2020?
AD: When the Company first announced its 
2020 financial targets in 2016, the targets 
were seen as ambitious by the investment 
community. We indicated that our progress 
would be slow through 2017, picking up 
significantly as the macroeconomic 
environment improved.

That we are well on track to achieve our 
2020 plan goals is very pleasing and shows 
that our confidence in our business and our 
people was justified. I am just as pleased 
that the Company is on course to achieve 
the vast majority of its ambitious 
sustainability targets.

“We have been making significant changes to drive 
volume and enhance value in an ever‑changing 
environment.”

Zoran Bogdanovic

In this report you will read about our plans 
for innovation, reformulation, new 
packaging formats, changes to our route to 
market, digital coolers and e‑commerce, all 
of which contribute to this evolution, 
energising our business for growth and 
success in the long term. 

AD: Our consumers are key stakeholders, 
and understanding their needs is crucial. 
We are also mindful that all of the other 
stakeholders we engage with, from 
investors and customers to employees and 
suppliers, are keen to understand how our 
business is evolving to remain fit for 
purpose and energised to grow in a 
changing world.

Q: What innovations are being 
prioritised for the year ahead?
ZB: Firstly, in order to shape choice and 
proactively support low‑ and no‑calorie 
sparkling drinks consumption, we are 
working with The Coca‑Cola Company to 
evolve the recipes. Sparkling drinks account 
for two thirds of our portfolio and we will 
continue to accelerate their growth. We are 
also refreshing the juice portfolio with 
smoothies and seasonal flavours. In 
ready‑to‑drink tea, we are launching FUZE 
tea, which will replace Nestea in all but three 
of our markets.

We believe that the innovative flavour 
and herb combinations of FUZE tea and 
the marketing investment to support the 
brand will revitalise the ready‑to‑drink 
tea category.

We are very excited about new categories, 
too. AdeZ plant‑based beverages are 
coming in 13 markets. Coffee, which is 
critical to our efforts to grow the ‘at work’ 
occasion, has already been launched in 
several markets. Finally, we are running a 
new initiative called Incubate & Grow, which 
will pilot certain products such as 
Appletiser, glacéau smartwater and ZICO 
Coconut Water in affluent cities in our 
territory. In my 21 years at Coca‑Cola HBC, 
I have never witnessed as many launches as 
we will have in 2018.

Q: How is the Company tracking 
against its strategy?
ZB: The financial results speak for 
themselves. What is important for me is 
how well entrenched our strategy is in the 
hearts and minds of our people. After all, 
our people and our culture are the most 
critical differentiating factors of our 
Company as well as being the drivers 
of growth.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

13

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationJOINT Q&A WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND 
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CONTINUED

This investment is lower than our 
commitment to spend 2% of our pre‑tax 
profit on communities due to the fact that 
our programmes take longer to ramp up 
while the increase in profitability is nearly 
60% in two years.

I am particularly happy with our 
achievement of a 9% reduction in carbon 
emissions from operations in 2017, 
compared to 2016 levels. Moreover, we 
reduced the amount of water we use and 
energy we consume to produce a litre of 
beverage by 6% and 4% respectively. These 
actions demonstrate our commitment to 
grow our business profitably, whilst lowering 
our impact on the environment.

We also introduced a new commitment in 
2017. As part of an overall industry pledge, 
we will by 2020 reduce the amount of added 
sugars in our sparkling soft drinks across 
the EU and Switzerland by 10% against the 
2015 baseline. We have already made a 
good start in 2017, and ongoing work to 
reformulate recipes supports this objective 
– and global health and wellness – while 
helping us meet consumer needs.

We will keep our commitments relevant and 
maintain our focus on our key material 
issues; in 2018, we will review our 
sustainability commitments with a view 
beyond 2020.

AD: 2017 has been a pivotal year for our 
sustainability agenda. Along with the 
improvements that Zoran mentions, we 
have successfully rolled out our flagship 
community programme, #Youth 
Empowered, in 21 of our markets. We know 
that the future of our business is linked to 
the futures of young people across our 
markets. #YouthEmpowered seeks to 
address persistent underemployment for 
young people between 18 and 30 years old. 
During 2017, more than 21,500 youngsters 
participated in a combination of on‑site 
workshops and online training sessions. In 
December, I attended a town hall session 
with youth participants in Athens, along with 
our Operating Committee, and all of the 
country General Managers, and saw for 
myself how meaningful it is to contribute to 
the futures of people in this age group.

“That we are well on track to achieve our 2020 
plan goals is very pleasing and shows that our 
confidence in our business and our people  
was justified.”

Anastassis David

ZB: Our strategy is clear and 
implementation has been successful 
because our people really understand their 
role in making it happen. The success we 
are achieving validates the strategy, and we 
believe we are gaining speed. Barring 
unforeseen circumstances, we are 
committed to our plans and reiterate our 
financial targets for 2020.

Q: As a signatory to the United 
Nations’ (UN) Global Compact 
since 2005, and a supporter of the 
UN’s Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs), the business has a 
very strong sustainability focus. 
Can you explain how this 
strengthens your business?
ZB: During 2017, we continued to make 
substantial progress against our ambitious 
sustainability targets. These targets, set for 
2020, range from science‑based goals for 
carbon reduction to increasing the recycled 
content used in product packaging.

Let me summarise our progress. We are 
partly behind on our commitment to 
increase the use of recycled PET and 
plant‑based PET materials for our PET 
packaging due to the higher cost of these 
materials in our geographies. On the other 
hand, we are pleased that in 2017 we have 
already met our 2020 packaging recovery 
target, collecting for recycling 
approximately 41% of the total packaging 
we put in the marketplace. Encouraged by 
this strong performance, we are working on 
revising the recovery rate target.

We have also joined the World Without 
Waste global packaging commitment of 
The Coca‑Cola Company, developing plans 
for drastic packaging reduction and 
increased recovery beyond 2020.

In 2017, we invested €7.4 million in our 
communities, which is 2% higher than 
2016 and is equivalent to 1.3% of our 
pre‑tax profit.

14

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Our sustainability efforts are also 
recognised internationally. In 2017, 
Coca‑Cola HBC was named the industry 
leader amongst beverage companies in the 
Dow Jones World and Europe Sustainability 
Indices (‘DJSI’) for the fourth consecutive 
year. In addition, we became the leader in 
the wider food, tobacco and beverage 
sector for the first time ever. We are 
committed to remaining a force for 
positive change in our communities.

Q: With the change in leadership, 
should one expect a change in the 
culture of the business?
AD: The Board believes that Coca‑Cola 
HBC has an incredibly strong corporate 
culture, and that this is a valuable asset 
which requires attention and investment. 
The Company has very deep roots, 
both within our markets and within the 
Coca‑Cola System, and our culture is also 
deeply rooted. 

However, as reflected in the theme of this 
report, we are focused on the need for our 
business to evolve, and we expect that this 
will impact our culture. As our Company 
evolves as a total beverage company, agility 
will become even more critical. Innovation 
has already become much more important. 

ZB: Our stakeholders, particularly 
employees, can expect our core values 
to remain unchanged. Our values are the 
cornerstone of our culture and the work we 
do to embed them will continue.

We have defined important behaviours that 
represent the essential building blocks of 
our culture; the behaviours we encourage. 
There are also behaviours, such as being 
curious, adopting innovative ideas with 
speed, taking risks and learning from both 
winning and failing, that will come to the fore 
with the evolution of the business. We have 
likewise identified behaviours that are not 
in alignment with our culture, including 
accepting the status quo or failing to 
respond to customer needs. As our 
business evolves, we will adjust the set of 
behaviours to ensure it is always one that 
supports our business the most.

Q: What are the Board’s areas 
of focus as we go into 2018?
AD: The Board will focus on supporting the 
evolution of the business, the acceleration 
of product innovation in alignment with 
The Coca‑Cola Company and nurturing 
our culture and values, all of which are 
critical for the long‑term growth and 
success of Coca‑Cola HBC.

We will also seek to continue demonstrating 
leadership in sustainability, working to 
continually improve and meet or exceed our 
commitments. To maintain resiliency and a 
strong pipeline of diverse talent, the Board 
will build on its succession planning work for 
Board and senior management positions.

Q: How do you see the outlook 
for 2018?
ZB: In 2018, we expect further economic 
growth and healthy inflation in Europe and 
Russia. In Nigeria, high inflation impacted 
consumers in 2017, but economic 
conditions are forecast to improve in 2018.

Overall, we expect volume to continue 
to grow in all three of our segments, 
with the Emerging markets segment 
accelerating, as Russia and Nigeria return 
to volume growth.

We are excited about the year ahead, which 
has a particularly strong pipeline of product 
innovation and commercial activity around 
our route to market and in‑store execution. 
There is good momentum in the business 
and a determination to build on our 
success. We are confident that 2018 
will be another successful year.

Anastassis G. David
Chairman

Zoran Bogdanovic
Chief Executive Officer

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

15

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationMARKET REVIEW

UNDERSTANDING EVOLVING 
TRENDS AND PREFERENCES

Market trends
Success involves 
anticipating the future. 
We continually track 
and monitor evolving 
consumer preferences, 
shifting market conditions 
and emerging trends.

How we are responding
To win with customers 
and delight consumers, 
we take proactive 
approaches, navigate 
changing expectations 
and demonstrate 
business agility.

Dynamic retail environment 
The retail landscape keeps shifting as 
lifestyles and shopping habits change. 
Smaller and more frequent shopping trips 
and the increase of smaller households is 
driving growth in the proximity and 
convenience channel. E-commerce is also 
seeing rapid growth. We expect these 
channels to be the highest incremental 
revenue contributors in our industry by 
2020. Socialising occasions such as ‘Away 
from home’ show signs of growth and 
recovery in most of our markets, following 
an upward trend in consumer sentiment. 
This places increased emphasis on sales 
through hotels, restaurants and cafes 
(HoReCa).

Digital evolution
We see a consistently growing reliance on 
digital communications which affects the 
way consumers connect with brands. The 
total shopping experience is being 
digitalised, from market research for the 
most appropriate product to online orders 
and home delivery. Social media is 
increasingly powerful for shaping category 
and brand perceptions. Mobile phones and 
wearables allow constant connectivity, 
providing opportunities for companies to 
disseminate information on promotional 
activities, new launches and brands.

Our focus on route to market enables us to 
partner with our customers and ensure that 
we capture all growth opportunities across 
channels. We support the well-established 
organised trade and fragmented trade 
channels while simultaneously investing in 
newer, faster growing ones. Whilst at a 
small base, e-commerce has doubled in 
value over the last five years. We prioritise 
strategic partnerships with online retailers, 
driving transactions by working to ensure 
our products are well represented on their 
platforms. Consistent with our 24/7 
approach, we are devoting more resources 
to capture the socialising occasion growth 
in HoReCa and to develop new channels in 
line with category expansion.

Increased connectivity of consumers 
creates new opportunities for sales, brand 
awareness and consumer feedback. Digital 
solutions are being rolled out across our 
business to activate customers, empower 
our people and engage communities. We 
launched the WOAH (‘Where only awesome 
happens’) app to connect with teenagers in 
eight countries. The WOAH app, launched 
in partnership with The Coca-Cola 
Company, interacts with connected 
coolers, sending our consumers push 
notifications for customised promotions. It 
also provides useful information to business 
developers and helps to minimise the time 
needed for administrative tasks.

Delivered through

Working with our customers
Being relevant to our consumers

+2.2%

Online purchase of groceries is forecast 
to increase by 1 billion euros by 2020, 
accounting for 2.2% of the total future 
consumption channel value

16

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Working with our customers
Being relevant to our consumers
Efficiencies

0.55m

WOAH app downloaded 0.55m times 
in the first eight countries during 2017

Regulatory environment
The regulatory environment for the food 
and beverage industry is becoming 
increasingly prescriptive. Tax on products 
with added sugar, especially beverages, 
is a reality in a number of countries and is 
a trend that is gaining strength. To guide 
consumers and address public health 
concerns, the World Health Organization 
recommends that added sugars be limited 
to 10% of daily calorie intake. Product 
labelling regulations and packaging and 
environmental legislation are also higher on 
regulators' agendas.

Changing consumer preferences
Health and wellness is becoming a greater 
priority, triggering a clear shift towards 
natural, organic and functional offerings 
that contain less sugar, have pure 
ingredients and are sourced locally. 
The demand for more differentiation and 
more choice provides an opportunity for 
the creation and growth of smaller brands. 
The European population is ageing, leading 
to an increase in adult consumers looking 
for more sophisticated offers focusing on 
taste and premiumisation.

As a responsible category leader, we have 
taken steps to drive sustainable, profitable 
growth for our brands, while enabling 
consumers to control their sugar intake. 
We are accelerating sales growth of low- 
and no-calorie drinks, offering smaller 
packages and reformulating our sparkling 
beverages to include fewer calories. We 
also support the Evolved Nutrition Labelling 
initiative along with The Coca-Cola 
Company and four other industry players, 
for clear and uniform product information 
across the European Union. We contribute 
to the fight against childhood obesity by not 
advertising to children younger than 12 
and are taking steps to remove sugar-
sweetened drinks from secondary schools.

We are greatly expanding our product 
portfolio with new brands and new 
categories to satisfy a broader range of 
beverage needs. New, innovative products 
include natural juices, premium water, 
plant-based beverages and adult sparkling 
soft drinks. To address concerns about 
sugar intake, our innovation in sparkling 
drinks focuses on low- and no-calorie 
options and on the development of smaller 
packages. As new product launches 
become key drivers of future growth, and 
to remain competitive, we are investing 
in enhancing our processes to manage 
multiple launches simultaneously and to 
ensure that the speed to market is fast.

Sustainability 
Consumers have become more conscious 
of the social and environmental impact 
of consumption decisions. Sustainability 
considerations shape choice, especially 
among those who are less price-sensitive. 
As this preference is more pronounced 
among younger consumers, we expect this 
trend to accelerate. Companies that follow 
sustainable practices are able to develop 
greater brand loyalty and customer 
engagement, strengthening their 
competitive advantage. In addition, as 
natural resources become more scarce 
and environmental regulations stricter, 
companies that engage in sustainable 
practices benefit from financial incentives 
and reduced supply chain risk.

In Coca-Cola HBC, sustainability is at the 
core of all aspects of production, from 
sustainable raw material sourcing and 
responsible use of water and energy to 
environmentally friendly packaging and 
waste management. It has also become 
part of the DNA of our business, impacting 
all decisions and nearly everything we do. 
Sustainability considerations are part of 
product development, procurement 
decisions and our efforts to engage our 
employees. In 2017, we were named global 
beverage industry leader in the Dow Jones 
Sustainability Indices (‘DJSI’) for the fourth 
consecutive year and we were also 
recognised by the CDP (formerly the 
Carbon Disclosure Project), scoring an A for 
Climate and Water.

Being relevant to our consumers
Winning the trust of our communities

Working with our customers
Being relevant to our consumers
Efficiencies

Being relevant to our consumers
Winning the trust of our communities
Efficiencies

-5%

In 2017, the implementation of our plans 
resulted in reducing the number of calories 
per 100ml in our sparkling portfolio by 
almost 5%

+20% p.a.

Plant-based beverages are expected 
to grow by 20% p.a. between now and 2020

#1

We are number one in the DJSI and one of 
just 25 companies in all industries to score 
A in both climate and water in the CDP

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

17

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR BUSINESS MODEL

CREATING VALUE FOR 
ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Our business model is at the heart of everything we do. It supports our 
growth and defines the activities we engage in, the relationships we depend 
on and the outputs and outcomes we aim to achieve in order to create 
value for all of our stakeholders in the short, medium and long term.

Our resources 
and relationships

What we do

How we do it

Human

Natural

Social and relationship

Financial

Intellectual

Manufactured

We are a bottling partner 
of The Coca‑Cola Company.
This means that we use the concentrates, or 
syrups, from The Coca-Cola Company 
to manufacture, package, merchandise and 
distribute the final branded products to our 
trade partners and consumers.

Sourcing sustainable 
materials
We work with 35,000 
suppliers to procure 
the finest ingredients, 
raw materials, equipment 
and services.

The Coca-Cola Company 
creates demand

Trademark ownership

Concentrate supply

Brand development

Consumer marketing

Coca-Cola HBC  
delivers demand

Bottling

Sales and distribution

Customer management

In-outlet execution

Investment in production 
facilities, equipment, 
vehicles

Serving consumers 
and communities
We continue to innovate our 
product portfolio to meet 
the changing consumer 
preferences in the market.

Leveraging our growth model

Marketing

Brand investment 
– The Coca‑Cola Company

In-store activation 
 – Coca-Cola HBC

In-market execution

Growth in category volume

Share gains

Cost efficiencies

Investment in production 
optimisation

Operating expense 
reduction

See more on page 20

Use of cash

Working capital 
management

Disciplined CapEx 
investment

18

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

See more on our growth model on page 20

Value created

Manufacturing 
and packaging
Using concentrate from 
The Coca‑Cola Company, 
and other ingredients, 
we produce, package 
and distribute products.

Direct and indirect economic impacts

Operating in 28 countries, we are an important contributor 
to local economies. Our business has an impact either 
directly through our core operating activities, or indirectly 
through the value we create in our communities. For more 
financial performance details see pages 64‑67.

28

countries in 
Europe and Africa

Our activities generate income for employees, provide 
revenue for suppliers and contractors, improve our 
customers’ profitability, and support public well‑being and 
infrastructure. In 2017, we met or exceeded our customers’ 
expectations 94.2% of the time. We paid €313 million in total 
taxes, contributing to our communities. 

€313m

paid in total 
taxes

According to a survey conducted within the European Union, 
the Coca‑Cola System supports more than 500,000 direct 
and indirect jobs across our value chain through the sourcing 
of ingredients, raw materials, equipment and services. In 
2017, our total supplier spend reached €2,687 million. 

500,000

direct and indirect jobs 
supported

€2,687m

supplier spend

We measure our impact through the regular conduct of 
socio‑economic impact studies (SEIS) across our markets. In 
2017, we published SEIS in seven of our countries and we 
expect to conduct them in six more by the end of 2018. 

7

number of countries 
where we conducted SEIS

Delivering to our 
customers
We manage customer 
relationships as well as 
promotions and displays 
at the point of sale.

In-store activation 

 – Coca-Cola HBC

Create 
demand

Price and mix 
improvements

Grow the 
top line

Leverage top-  
line growth

Expand 
margins

Through the process of managing all inputs to our business 
well, we also create profits which benefit shareholders 
through dividend payments and share value. 

€426m

net profit achieved

Enhanced 
EBITDA growth

Invest 
in the 
business

GRI topics: economic performance; market presence; indirect economic impacts.
UN SDGs: 8, 11, 17

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

19

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR BUSINESS MODEL CONTINUED

UNDERSTANDING 
OUR BUSINESS MODEL

Every element of our business model is unique to our Company and has a role 
to play in our future long‑term success. 

The resources and relationships we depend on to create value 

Human
Our 29,427 people bring talent and 
strong capabilities relevant to all  
aspects of our business, from community 
and customer relations to the innovative 
thinking necessary to drive value growth 
and efficiency.

Natural
Water is the most important ingredient 
for nearly all of our products. Energy, 
sugar, aluminium and resin are also critical 
inputs which we seek to source 
responsibly and use efficiently.

Social and relationship
Our social 'licence to operate' is due 
to our reputation and the trust of key 
stakeholders. Our most valuable 
stakeholder relationships are with The 
Coca‑Cola Company, and our people, 
customers, suppliers and partners as well 
as governments and regulators.

Financial
Our business activities require financial 
capital, which includes shareholders’ 
equity, debt and reinvested cash. 
Coca‑Cola HBC has only one class 
of shares: ordinary shares. 

Intellectual
Our intellectual property includes 
our packaging, product and cooler 
innovations and our operational 
excellence systems. As we evolve our 
beverage portfolio, the importance of 
these types of innovation is increasing.

Manufactured
As a bottler, we require production 
and logistics assets that allow us to 
manufacture, package and deliver our 
products to meet the demands of 
customers and consumers. 

Our growth model
We create demand by investing in our 
brands jointly with The Coca-Cola 
Company. In delivering demand, we focus 
on growing the non-alcoholic ready-to-
drink category, while gaining share. Our 
work with our customers helps to grow 
their business as well as ours, improving 

value with price and mix improvements. 
At the same time, we continuously 
optimise our production and logistics 
infrastructure and adjust our cost base. 
The growth in the top line, combined with 
an efficient and well-invested cost base, 
gives us powerful operating leverage and 

expands our profitability. Disciplined 
management of working capital and 
capital expenditure enhances the cash 
we generate, which in turn is invested to 
fuel growth in the business.

Our values that guide how we create value
 – Authenticity 
 – Excellence

 – Learning 
 – Caring for our people 

 – Performing as one 
 – Winning with customers

20

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

OUR STRATEGY AND KPIs

FOCUSED  
ON DELIVERY

Our strategy is designed to achieve responsible, sustainable and profitable growth. 
We have identified specific initiatives to drive the business and a  2020 scorecard 
against which we measure our progress.

What we do 
to achieve our 
objectives
All of our operations in 28 
countries work towards the 
same objectives – drive 
volume growth, focus on 
value, improve efficiency 
and invest in the business – 
by implementing initiatives 
that are designed centrally. 
These initiatives are adjusted 
to respond to local 
demographics, economies 
and market characteristics 
in order to manage risk 
while driving growth.

How we measure 
our performance 
We have five key 
performance indicators (KPIs) 
that are chosen to measure 
our progress. We report on 
these every year. Please see 
pages 24‑25 for our 2017 
KPIs.

Objectives

Initiatives

A sustainable business
We create a sustainable business by growing profitably, responsibly and sustainably, 
and by driving positive change in our communities.

Drive volume 
growth

Focus on 
value

Improve 
efficiency

Invest in 
the business

Expand and deepen 
route to market 

Execute in‑store with 
excellence

Create joint value with 
customers

Drive the water 
category, focusing  
on value

Capitalise on meals 
and socialising 
occasions for sparkling 
drinks

Increase share of 
single‑serve packs, 
driving transactions

Continue production 
infrastructure and 
logistics optimisation

Invest in revenue‑ 
generating assets and 
innovative technology

Capitalise on 
contiguous territory 
and Emerging markets 
opportunities

Acquire water and 
juice brands in existing 
territory

Maintain negative 
working capital balance 
sheet position

Improve performance 
in hotels, restaurants 
and cafes (HoReCa)

Utilise shared services 
to gain process 
efficiency

Grow in the energy 
category

Drive pricing strategies

Drive packaging 
harmonisation 
and innovation 
(light‑weighting)

Scorecard

Average currency-neutral 
revenue growth

4‑5% p.a.

Comparable OpEx 
as % of revenue

26‑
27%

by 2020

Capital expenditure 

5.5‑
6.5%

of revenue

Comparable EBIT

11%

by 2020

Working capital 
less than

‑€100m

Enablers 
and values

Our people 
Our most important enablers of growth are our people: unparalleled talent and a high-performance 
mindset are what we strive for. Our people make our Company what it is and create value by growing 
our business responsibly and sustainably. Strengthening the capabilities of our people as well as 
engaging them and rewarding them appropriately are priorities at every level of our Company, 
enabling us to continue to attract and retain the best talent in every position.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

21

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Strategic Report 
 
 
 
 
PROGRESS ON OUR STRATEGY

ENERGISING 
OUR STRATEGY

Drive volume growth

Focus on value

Progress against our strategy

Progress against our strategy

2017

What we said we would do

 – Grow volumes in Emerging and Developing market segments
 – Stabilise volumes in Established markets
 – Expand and deepen route to market

2020

2017

2020

What we said we would do

 – Deliver a substantial increase in FX‑neutral net sales revenue 

per case

 – Capitalise on occasions and HoReCa
 – Increase share of single‑serve packs
 – Grow the energy category
 – Drive pricing strategies

Challenges in 2017

Challenges in 2017

 – Economic conditions challenged our consumers in Nigeria 

and to a lesser extent in Russia

 – Consumers' preferences continued to evolve in our 

Established markets

 – Pack mix was negatively impacted in the Emerging markets 
segment as consumers in Nigeria and Russia continued to 
seek affordable packs and formats

 – Continued growth in the organised trade had an adverse 

What we did in 2017

impact on channel mix

What we did in 2017

 – We revitalised our portfolios with launches of variants of our 

brands, most of them containing no or low sugar 

 – We made changes to our route to market, e.g. in Poland
 – Specifically in Nigeria, we changed our price pack architecture 

 – We increased the share of single‑serve packs overall
 – We achieved double‑digit growth in the energy category
 – We adjusted the price pack architecture in Nigeria and drove 

pricing with minimal impact on volumes

to provide consumers with affordable options
 – We delivered volume growth in all three segments

Priorities for 2018

 – We delivered improvements in FX‑neutral revenue per case in 

all three segments

Priorities for 2018

 – Continue launches of new products, variants, flavours and 

 – Drive category and pack mix as well as price strategies in 

packaging formats

 – Continue to drive the water category, focusing on value
 – Successfully migrate to the new FUZE tea brand

Key performance indicators

 – Volume growth

Risk management approach

Addressed under principal risks

countries where there is currency depreciation

 – Expand the distribution of the Monster energy brand
 – Capitalise on HoReCa
 – Develop Incubate & Grow unit in affluent cities in Europe

Key performance indicators

 – FX‑neutral net sales revenue per case growth (%)
 – FX‑neutral net sales revenue growth (%)

Risk management approach

Addressed under principal risks

 – Consumer health and Channel mix 

 – Channel mix and Declining consumer demand

See more on page 60

See more on pages 60 and 61

Delivered through

Being relevant to consumers
Working with our customers

Delivered through

Working with our customers
Being relevant to our consumers
Winning the trust of our communities

See more on pages 38 and 44

See more on pages 38, 44 and 34

22

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Improve efficiency

Invest in the business

Progress against our strategy

Progress against our strategy

2017

2020

2017

2020

What we said we would do

What we said we would do

 – Gain further efficiencies in our operating cost base 
 – Optimise production and logistics infrastructure 
 – Procure and use all resources efficiently

 – Continue to invest in revenue‑generating assets and 

innovative technology

 – Acquire water and juice brands in existing territory
 – Maintain discipline to ensure return on the capital invested

Challenges in 2017

Challenges in 2017

 – Increased cost of commodities, e.g. PET resin
 – Increased pressure on packaging and recycling of packaging
 – One‑off operating costs 

 – Potential acquisition targets were either not available or did 

not meet our strategic and financial criteria

What we did in 2017

What we did in 2017

 – We consolidated production and distribution centres in Russia 

and in Nigeria

 – We gained efficiencies in administration and warehousing 

costs

 – We invested in new 'smart' coolers
 – We invested in infrastructure relevant to FUZE tea
 – We developed digital solutions for production
 – We added production capabilities for glacéau smartwater in 

 – We invested in marketing
 – We fully delivered on our packaging recycling target

Hungary

Priorities for 2018

Priorities for 2018

 – Continue to optimise production and logistics
 – Make further enhancements to procurement processes
 – Review our sustainability commitments with a view 

beyond 2020

 – Invest to support the production of plant‑based beverages, 

juice smoothies, and PET juice packaging in Nigeria

 – Continue optimising and investing in our production in Nigeria 
 – Maintain working capital discipline

Key performance indicators

Key performance indicators

 – OpEx as percentage of net sales revenue (%)
 – Comparable EBIT margin (%)

 – CapEx as percentage of net sales revenue (%)
 – ROIC (%)

Risk management approach

Risk management approach

Managed as an operational risk by the business units and 
functions in line with our risk management processes

Managed as an operational risk by the business units and 
functions in line with our risk management processes

Delivered through

Efficiencies
Winning the trust of our communities

Delivered through

Efficiencies
Being relevant to our consumers

See more on pages 48 and 34

See more on pages 48 and 38

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

23

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

A STRONG 
TRACK RECORD

Objectives

Drive volume growth

Focus on value

How we track 
our progress

Volume is measured in million cases sold, where 
one unit case represents 5.678 litres.

Net sales revenue (NSR) comprises revenues from Coca‑Cola HBC’s 
primary activities. We track this on an FX‑neutral basis.

Net sales revenue generated per case sold is calculated 
on an FX‑neutral basis. 

What happened 
in the year

Volumes grew by 2.2% , with particularly strong 
growth in our Emerging and Developing markets, 
despite a challenging operating environment in 
both Nigeria and Russia. 

FX‑neutral revenue per case grew strongly, up 3.6%, supported by better 
price, category and package mix in all segments. 

KPIs

Volume 
(m unit cases)

FX-neutral revenue 
per case growth (%)

FX-neutral revenue 
growth (%)

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

5
5
0
2

,

8
5
0
2

,

4
0
1
2

,

6

4

2

6
3

.

9
2

.

3
0

.

2015

2016

2017

0

2015

2016

2017

6

4

2

0

9
5

.

4-5

9
2

.

0
3

.

2015

2016

2017

Volume is a measure for MIP awards.

Net sales revenue is a financial measure for MIP awards.

Link to 
remuneration
See page 104

Objectives

Underpinned by our enablers and values
Nurture unparalleled talent and a high‑performance mindset

How we 
measure our 
performance

What happened 
in the year

We track the percentage of employees responding positively to a Group‑wide engagement survey. 

We record the number of key people in key positions and the number of women in our Company.

Based on survey results, the employee engagement score was 89% in 2017. 92% of our key people were in key 
positions – up from 87% in 2016. 

Women make up 26% of our total workforce, 35% of our managers, 35% of our senior leaders and 25% of our Board of Directors. 

KPIs

Employee engagement 
score (%)

Key people in 
key positions (%)

Women in 
management (%)

100

80

60

40

20

0

7
8

8
8

9
8

2015

2016

2017

100

80

60

40

20

0

7
8

2
9

9
7

2015

2016

2017

40

30

20

10

0

3
3

3
3

5
3

2015

2016

2017

24

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Annual target =

2020 target =

Improve efficiency

Invest in the business

OpEx (operating expenses) as a percentage of net sales revenue 
is calculated by dividing comparable operating expenses by total net 
sales revenue.

Comparable EBIT margin refers to comparable profit before tax 
excluding finance income or cost and share of results of equity method 
investments divided by net sales revenue.

Working capital is operating current assets minus operating current 
liabilities, excluding financing and investment activities.

CapEx (capital expenditure) is calculated as a percentage of NSR.

Return on invested capital (ROIC) is comparable operating profit before 
finance costs divided by capital employed (average equity and net debt).

Operating leverage resulted in a 30 basis‑point reduction in OpEx as a 
percentage of revenue. This, combined with the improvement in gross 
margin, gave us 120 basis‑point expansion in comparable EBIT margin.

We kept the year‑end working capital balance sheet position under negative 
€100 million. We increased capital expenditure to 5.8% of revenue to 
support the growth opportunities in our business.

OpEx as percentage 
of NSR (%)

Comparable EBIT 
margin (%)

CapEx as percentage 
of NSR (%)

ROIC 
(%)

11

.

2
9
2

.

2
8
2

.

9
7
2

26-27

30

20

10

0

2015

2016

2017

10

8

6

4

2

0

5
9

.

3
8

.

5
7

.

2015

2016

2017

6

4

2

0

5.5-6.5

8
5

.

2
5

.

3
5

.

2015

2016

2017

15

10

5

0

.

4
2
1

.

3
0
1

8
8

.

2015

2016

2017

OpEx as a percentage of NSR and comparable EBIT are financial 
measures for MIP awards.

Working capital acts as a qualifier for the volume MIP payout. 
ROIC is a financial measure for PSP awards.

2020 sustainability targets status update

Avg. 40% of 
total packaging 
recovered for 
recycling

41%

20% of PET 
sourced from 
rPET and/or PET 
from renewable 
materials

9%

25% less 
packaging per 
litre of beverage 
produced* 

18%

30% water use 
reduction in 
operations* 

‑21%

Water 
stewardship 
certification for 
all plants 

26

Community 
investment at 
2% of pre-tax 
profit

1.3%

10% of our 
people 
volunteering 
during work 
hours

11%

>95% of key 
agricultural 
ingredients 
sustainably 
sourced 

33%

50% less direct 
carbon 
emissions* 

‑42%

25% less carbon 
emissions in 
value chain *

‑23%

10% reduction 
in added sugar 
per 100 ml of 
sparkling 
beverage in 
EU&CH

‑5%

40% of total 
energy from 
clean and 
renewable 
energy sources

34%

Status at the end of 2017

Fully on track

Partly on track

Step‑up required 

(*) versus baseline year

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

25

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationDimitris Lois
1961-2017

26

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

The safest way 
to win is 
to deserve it

“

”

Dimitris Lois had been our leader at Coca-Cola HBC for 
nine years until his untimely and sudden death in 2017. 

He was a willing mentor and inspiration to the whole 
Coca-Cola HBC family. Under Dimitris’s leadership, our Company 
has gone from strength to strength.

In 2017, Dimitris launched a photo competition designed to capture 
and celebrate life at Coca-Cola HBC. Throughout this report, you will 
see photographs taken by our people within the business – a fitting 
epitaph to an inspirational leader.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

27

OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: PEOPLE

CREATING AN INSPIRING  
WORKPLACE FOR OUR

PEOPLE

We seek to offer a workplace where our people 
are inspired to take advantage of opportunities 
to learn, grow and take charge of their careers.

2017 progress

 – Improved talent pool, working on our 
key positions and refined employer 
value proposition to aid in attracting 
and hiring the best people

 – Upgraded our revenue growth 

management, route-to-market  
and customer-centric market 
execution capabilities

 – Employee Engagement and  
Values Indices increased to  
89% and 91%, respectively
 – New cloud-based applications 
deployed to digitalise learning  
and to simplify our processes

2018 priorities

 – Continued focus to have the  
best person in every position

 – Maintaining employee engagement 

and commitment to Company values

 – Further developing skills and 

capabilities to take advantage of 
growth opportunities

 – Making our business more  

agile and innovative

Our people and our culture: 
catalysing our evolution
Our journey to evolve our Company and to 
make a distinct difference for a better and 
happier world is supported by the 
capabilities of our people and the strength 
of our culture. We seek to offer a workplace 
where our people can enjoy accelerated 
personal growth, where they are celebrated 
as they deliver results with speed and agility, 
and where diverse backgrounds and 
perspectives are always welcome.

Our people strategy supports the long-
term success of our business by 
emphasising workforce engagement and 
growth behaviours, and developing the 
capabilities, leadership and talent that are 
necessary for the evolution of our 
Company. The three focus areas of this 
approach are: 

 – Maintain high levels of employee 

engagement and commitment to 
Company values and make our business 
more agile and innovative;

 – Focus more than ever on developing 

skills and capabilities to take advantage of 
growth opportunities; and

 – Have the best person in every position 

today and tomorrow.

Every leader is accountable for delivering 
in each area, as our leadership plays an 
essential role in enhancing the capabilities 
of our people and in strengthening 
our culture.

High levels of employee 
engagement 
We believe high employee engagement 
leads to best-in-class performance. 
Successfully engaging our people 
is therefore a material issue which we 
take seriously.

We conduct an employee engagement 
survey annually, and partner with Willis 
Towers Watson to benchmark our 
performance against other companies in 
the Coca-Cola System as well as other 
high-performing companies. We are 
pleased by our progress during 2017, with 
our Employee Engagement Index score 
increasing to 89% from 88% in the prior 
year. Survey participation also increased to 
include 97% of our people.

Our engagement results for 2017  
meant not only that we remained the 
benchmark in the Coca-Cola System,  
but also that we retained a leading position 
in our industry and among the  
Willis Towers Watson benchmarking  
pool of high-performing companies.

28

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

The results are also considerably higher 
than the 80% average for FTSE 100 
companies participating in this pool.

Results from this survey are reviewed, and 
our people may be challenged to suggest 
ideas for improvements or solutions to 
remove barriers to their performance. This 
level of vigilance ensures that engagement 
levels are sustained and business results 
are improved.

Employee engagement: 
outperforming peer companies (%)

9
8

C
B
H
C
C

8
8

C
B
H
C
C

7
8

C
B
H
C
C

90

84

78

72

66

i

8
8
m
r
o
n
g
n
m
r
o
f
r
e
p
-
h
g
H

i

6
8

s
r
e
l
t
t
o
B
a
o
C
-
a
c
o
C

l

5
8
m
e
t
s
y
S
a
o
C
-
a
c
o
C

l

1
8
m
r
o
n
G
C
M
F

0
8

0
0
1
E
S
T
F

Living our values and making our 
culture more agile and innovative
Everything in our Company starts with our 
six core values: authenticity, excellence, 
learning, caring for our people, performing 
as one and winning with customers. These 
values represent the foundation of our 
Company culture.

We promote behaviours that embody our 
values, such as adopting innovative ideas 
with speed, taking risks and learning from 
both winning and failing. We have likewise 
identified behaviours we aim to eliminate, 
such as accepting the status quo or failing 
to respond to customer needs. 

As is the case with employee engagement, 
we closely monitor our progress in 
embedding and living our values. Our Values 
Index captures employees’ awareness of 
and commitment to the values. The survey 
also asks employees their opinion about the 
relevance of the values.

Direct employment

29,427

(2016: 31,083)

Key people in key positions

92%

(2016: 87%)

Employee Engagement Index

89%

(2016: 88%)

Values Index

91%

(2016: 90%)

60

15 16 17 17 17 17 17 17

Data for FTSE 100 companies and high-performing 
companies represents those companies participating 
in Willis Towers Watson benchmarking. This does not 
include all FTSE 100 companies.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

29

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: PEOPLE CONTINUED

well as the knowledge and skills of 
our people.

We made particularly strong progress 
during 2017 in bolstering our internal 
capabilities in revenue growth management 
and route-to-market capabilities. In 2018, 
we are poised to continue this work in even 
more areas to support our Company’s 
evolution and growth.

To match internal skills with business needs, 
our learning and leadership development 
architecture reflects the priorities of our 
business strategy. We have identified when 
learning needs to happen to be the most 
impactful and where development is 
needed, focusing on prioritised skills and 
performance differentiators that can 
accelerate the performance of all our 
people. In 2017, we completed an upgrade 
of our core leadership development 
programmes and we significantly improved 
our onboarding, induction and leadership 
transition programmes. These 
programmes are increasingly blended, 
using technology to engage wider 
communities, with line manager resources 
to sustain development and maximise 
learning from critical work experiences.

New cloud-based applications introduced in 
2017 empower our people with more 
accessible tools for learning, onboarding 
and recruitment. Additional applications 
deployed for performance and talent 
management will be introduced, extending 
the scope of this platform, which we call 
HELO (hiring, empowering and 
learning online). 

HELO is available to all our employees, 
democratising learning, accelerating 
development and helping our people fulfil 
their potential.

The best person in every position
Having the best people in every position 
today and tomorrow is an important issue 
and it is the underlying principle of our 
decision-making processes, placing the 
development of our people at the centre 
of everything we do.

Every position contributes to our success, 
but every workforce segment delivers 
different types of results and requires 
different skills. We have segmented our 
workforce to target recruitment and 
development efforts, and identified key 

positions across all segments that have 
a disproportionate impact on the 
Company’s performance. 

As of the end of 2017, 92% of our key 
positions are occupied by key people, 
compared with 87% at the end of 2016. 
Our focus on succession for business unit 
function heads also paid off as we enriched 
our successor pool for this critical 
workforce segment in 2017.

To support our efforts to recruit the best 
people into all positions, we refreshed our 
employer value proposition with 
customised benefits for different workforce 
segments. In 2018, we will finalise updates 
to our employer brand and digital 
communication to talent pools. Finally, our 
recruiters have received training in using 
new candidate selection tools.

Our ability to develop leaders internally is an 
important competitive advantage, ensuring 
cultural continuity. Career progression in 
our Company depends on performance 
against standards, potential and alignment 
with core values. Leadership acceleration 
centres have been established to support 
developing successors for leadership 
positions. They help our people understand 
their strengths and the areas of opportunity 
for their development in their current and 
future roles.

To accelerate the development of our 
people with leadership potential, we offer 
experiential learning to build new skills 
through our Fast Forward programmes. In 
2017, we redesigned three Fast Forward 
programmes and introduced one new Fast 
Forward programme for a segment not 
previously covered. We also upgraded  
our management trainee programme  
with an aim to make it more relevant for  
the new generation of graduates and a 
more effective entry point for our 
leadership pipeline.

Our leadership plays an essential role in 
ensuring that we have the best people in 
every position, with every leader 
accountable for attracting, developing, 
retaining and engaging the right talent and 
then empowering them to execute our 
strategy. As our programmes and tools 
have been improved and streamlined, our 
leaders have become even more motivated 
and engaged.

Every digital people 
conversation starts 
with a simple HELO.
We further digitalised our workplace 
by introducing new cloud-based 
applications under the new HELO 
platform. This is designed to help our 
people to grow, learn and lead within 
our organisation.

From the results of our annual Values Index 
survey, we know that over 90% of our 
employees are aware of and committed to 
our values, and 88% find them relevant and 
useful. These numbers are components of 
our overall Value Index, which was 91% for 
2017, a 1% improvement on the prior year.

Our performance framework links team 
performance and individual results, actions 
and skills, and aligns to our six core values. 
Our team performance management 
system allows us to bridge our strategy 
and its execution by aligning priorities 
across functions and teams and applying 
an iterative ‘plan, act and review’ cycle to 
improve output continuously. In 2017, 
we fully deployed this approach across 
our territory.

To ensure that our people balance short- 
and long-term objectives, in addition to 
assessing performance against financial 
objectives, we also plan and measure 
achievement for innovation, fostering of 
partnerships, people leadership, managing 
resources, and compliance with policies 
and procedures. 

We continue improving and simplifying the 
elements of this framework to support 
growth and create a line of sight between 
our values and behaviours and our results.

Strengthening capabilities 
Evolving our business to offer a total 
beverage portfolio requires specific 
organisational capabilities. We are building 
the capabilities our business needs to grow 
by improving our business processes, 
structures and performance systems as 

30

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

participate in a webinar series called 
Elevate, which helps women understand 
how to drive their performance, impact 
and exposure.

We are pleased that once again, in 2017 
Coca-Cola HBC received no fines for 
non-compliance with human rights-related 
laws and regulations. 

UN Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 
16 are supported through our activities and 
initiatives to champion human rights and 
diversity. These relate to gender equality 
and peace, justice and strong institutions.

Key position bench strength

57%

(2016: 50%)

Our Human Rights Policy adheres to 
international human rights standards and 
covers issues such as diversity, collective 
bargaining and workplace security. Regular 
reviews ensure that we adhere to all 
applicable laws and regulations, that 
processes are well implemented, that 
targets are set and reached and that 
reporting is timely and accurate.

We also maintain a zero-tolerance 
approach to breaches of our Code of 
Business Conduct, or of our anti-bribery 
policies, and regarding retaliation against 
individuals who in good faith report 
potential violations. 

We have established grievance 
mechanisms, including an independently 
operated whistle-blower hotline, available 
in all Coca-Cola HBC countries in local 
languages. In 2017, we received 292 
allegations, of which 98 were received 
through the whistle-blower hotline. 
For details concerning the handling of 
allegations received in 2017 see our 
website. We ran a dedicated ‘Human rights 
week’ campaign across all our 28 countries, 
as part of our annual ‘Ethics and compliance 
week’. Beyond these dedicated weeks, 
ongoing training on human rights and ethics 
is also provided. 

Championing inclusion, diversity 
and human rights
We believe that fostering a workforce that 
reflects the diversity of our markets is 
essential to remaining the strategic partner 
of choice for all our customers. Our 
business benefits greatly from the diverse 
range of people who work for us, and we 
actively seek to attract and retain 
employees with a range of backgrounds, 
skills and experiences. Beyond our own 
footprint, we champion international  
human rights principles in our supply  
chain and expect our partners to uphold 
prized workplace values.

We know that to maximise everyone’s 
contribution, we must ensure that every 
employee feels respected and heard. This  
is why respect for individuals is at the core 
of our values, and why we foster behaviours 
that create an inclusive culture. These 
behaviours are enshrined in our formal 
Inclusion and Diversity Policy, our Code  
of Business Conduct and our Human  
Rights Policy.

At the end of 2017, 35% of management 
roles in our Company were held by women, 
a 2% increase vs 2016. We foster diversity 
in our talent pipeline by recruiting a 
balanced number of male and female 
management trainees. In keeping with this 
approach, 49% of the 181 management 
trainees we hired in 2017 were women.

As an example of our efforts to foster the 
success of women in management, we 
support women to develop their confidence 
and leadership skills. More than 1,300 
women employees were invited to 

Talent pipeline improved

Key people in key positions (‘KPo’)
Key position succession rate
Key position bench strength (% of key positions with 
successors ready now or within the year)
Turnover of key people
Total turnover rate
Management trainees
Participants in Fast Forward programmes
Promotion rate for Fast Forward programme participants
Total number of employees in leadership acceleration centres
% of workforce covered during annual people review

2017
92% 
0.69 

57% 
6% 
13% 
181 
612 
75% 
5,596 
53% 

2016
87%
0.67

50%
5%
12%
231
902
71%
3,525
46%

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

31

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information 
OUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: PEOPLE CONTINUED

The health and safety of our 
people is paramount
While health and safety has always been 
closely monitored as a strategic risk, we 
elevated it to a principal risk in 2017. This 
emphasises the critical importance of 
ensuring the safety and well-being of our 
employees and contractors, and the safety 
of others in the workplace. We know that an 
enabling and socially supportive work 
environment fosters sustained 
engagement. To address this, we seek to 
create a culture of well-being that 
exemplifies our values and enhances 
productivity and our reputation. 

For the eighth consecutive year in 2017, the 
number of employee workplace accidents 
fell. In 2017, the Lost Time Accident Rate 
(LTAR) was 0.40, compared with 0.43 the 
prior year.

While we continue to improve our focus on 
safety, we regret that four employees and 
four contractors lost their lives in fatal road 
traffic accidents in 2017. While we have 
worked hard to strengthen our vehicle 
safety programmes, each of these 
tragedies was caused by other drivers.

Our Fleet Safety Policy and training 
programmes were improved in 2017, 
providing customised approaches for 
different types of drivers within the Group. 
The blend of online, classroom and 
on-the-road training elements is adjusted 
for different groups, reflecting their relative 
risk classification. Overall, 7,366 employees 
received training in these programmes 
in 2017. 

We also continued installing collision 
avoidance technology in fleet vehicles, and 
82.5% of the Company’s light fleet vehicles 
are now equipped with OEM or MobilEye 
collision driver warning technology to 
avoid collisions.

As a result of these efforts, the number of 
accidents per million kilometres travelled 
fell to 3.92 in 2017, a 7% reduction 
compared to 2016. This was our fifth 
consecutive year of improvement, resulting 
in a cumulative reduction of 56%.

While we are pleased with our 
improvements, we are determined to do 
more to ensure employee safety and 
well-being. After analysing the causes of all 
accidents and near-misses, we launched a 
new behaviour-based safety programme to 
create a truly proactive safety culture. In 
2017, we introduced this programme at 
four company sites in Italy, Hungary, 
Northern Ireland and Serbia. We will use the 
insights from these locations to deploy the 
programme in manufacturing sites and 
selected logistics units in 2018. 

This behaviour-based programme 
complements safety reviews of our 
manufacturing sites, our safety recognition 
programmes and our Safety week. In 2017, 
we conducted full-scope safety 
assessments in eight manufacturing 
locations and we upgraded our safety 
recognition programmes. Activities  
for our 2017 Safety week provided  
helpful information on driving safety, 
manual handling, falls and slips and 
contractor management.

Well-being and sustaining energy 
during work
Under our well-being umbrella, we have 
developed a Health and Dependent Care 
Framework which includes two pillars, one 
related to health care and the other to 
dependent care. Within each pillar there are 
a number of initiatives from which our 
countries provide at least one initiative per 
pillar to the employees. Regarding health 
care, these initiatives include: employee 
medical and health insurance benefits; 
vaccination programmes, cancer screening 
and other preventative health measures; 
on-site sports and gym facilities, as well as 
subsidised gym memberships; and nutrition 
information. Regarding dependent care, 
these initiatives include days off for 
dependent care, subsidies for school 
activities and supplies, internships and 
career days. To help employees financially, 
as well as benefits such as pensions and 
savings schemes and life insurance, 
measures have included financial planning 
and literacy and a variety of partner 
discount programmes. 

Countries have also covered emotional 
well-being through on-site counselling, 
relaxation techniques, and energy balance 
programmes; and social well-being with 
family days, Christmas events, employee 
bonding days and teambuilding events.

We have a well-being toolkit for countries, 
sharing best practice approaches for 
developing holistic employee well-being 
programmes, and in 2017 we introduced a 
guide to help managers recognise, prevent 
and manage work and personal stress in 
themselves and their teams. Training was 
also provided to our HR business partners in 
a ‘train the trainer’ approach to help our 
managers manage stress.

Five of our markets invested in employees' 
core energy needs to fuel their passion, 
resilience and excitement about work. 
Through the Energy Project programme 
our people learn how to recognise their 
energy-draining habits, and are encouraged 
to take responsibility for changing them, 
using various techniques to improve their 
physical, emotional, mental and spiritual 
energy. Energy level increased by 14% 
based on our energy audit for these 
business units.

Our initiatives for well-being and safety 
contribute to UN Sustainable Development 
Goals 3 and 8, which relate to good health 
and well-being and decent work and 
economic growth, respectively.

56% improvement on fleet 
accidents over the last five years

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Accidents per million kilometres travelled.

32

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Number of lost time accidents 
(LTA>1 day)

120

(13% reduction vs 2016)

Fleet accidents per million 
kilometres travelled

3.92

(7% reduction vs 2016)

Absenteeism days due to sickness 
per full-time employee

1.67

(2% reduction vs 2016) 

Understand
We know that engaged employees 
from diverse backgrounds and with 
different perspectives are critical to our 
ability to serve consumers, customers 
and communities. 

Evolve
We are working to develop 
key capabilities and a more agile, 
innovative culture. 

Energise
We make substantial investments 
in recruiting, attracting, training and 
retaining talented people to ensure 
our long-term success.

Values in action

Adopting innovative ideas

Awards for ‘Vegified’, ‘Impulse 
screens’ and ‘Illuminated bridge’ 
To accelerate our culture of 
entrepreneurship and innovation we 
operate an innovation platform across 
eight business units of the Company 
called Ideas for Growth. The ideation 
process, the tools, the programmes and 
the communication solutions represent 
the critical ingredients of the platform. 

We recognise the best innovations, 
and in 2017 23 ideas were shortlisted and 
the following three won 
Innovation Awards: 

 – ‘Vegified’ – a new juice product 

fortified with vitamins, developed 
and marketed in Ireland;

 – ‘Impulse screens’ – a solution to 
increase impulse consumption in 
stores, launched in Greece; and 

 – the ‘Illuminated bridge’ – where 5,000 
glass Coke bottles formed a replica 
of Croatia’s biggest bridge.

The award event also looked ahead into 
2018 and recognised six new bold ideas 
as ‘Big Bet Ideas’ including a suggestive 
selling competition to increase sparkling 
incidence in HoReCa.

Listening and acting to remove 
blockages to performance

‘Make My Life Easy’ – the most 
popular in-house social media 
network in 2017
To achieve more with less, eliminating 
unnecessary blockages to performance 
is the guiding idea behind our ‘Make My 
Life Easy’ (MMLE) initiative. Among other 
ways of sharing and spreading MMLE 
ideas, we operate an in-house voluntary 
social media network that became the 
Company's most popular network in 
2017 among our employees.

Network participants shared almost 100 
MMLE ideas and successful practices, 
triggering many ‘likes’ and online 
discussions as well as voluntary adoption 
across several business units. 
The majority of posts were around 
thoughtful email communication 
practices, effective meeting 
management, improvements in 
workplace conditions, caring leadership 
behaviours and reducing complexity of 
how we operate and communicate. Many 
of the practices provided tips to leverage 
our tools and technology applications 
better, further digitalising our workplace.

Recognising deeply held values 
and behaviours

We reinforce values through many 
recognition programmes in our 
countries.
To motivate high performance, inject 
entrepreneurial spirit and encourage 
values ambassadors, our Russian 
business unit has introduced ‘Premier 
League’, an employee recognition 
programme. Through an innovative 
platform, employees recognised their 
colleagues and teams exhibiting value 
behaviours more than 8,000 times 
during 2017.

In Romania our programme includes 
awards that recognise individuals and 
teams that have a high-performance 
mindset, inspire others by creating a 
positive work environment, exceed 
customer expectations, take action 
towards innovation and optimisation 
and are active Coke ambassadors.

The platform facilitates on-the-spot 
recognition, through which employees 
can endorse any colleague for a specific 
behaviour. Over 400 badges were 
granted on the digital platform in the 
second half of 2017.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

33

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: COMMUNITIES

BUILDING TRUST WITH OUR

COMMUNITIES

We are a trusted partner in the communities in which 
we operate because of the way we run our business and 
work with stakeholders to deliver value locally. This trust 
gives us licence to be ever more ambitious in tackling 
societal challenges.

2017 progress
 – 21 countries launched 

#YouthEmpowered, our flagship 
community programme

 – 2,767 tonnes of waste were collected 

from river banks and sea shores

 – 18,118 employee hours volunteered 

during worktime

2018 priorities
 – #YouthEmpowered rolled out in 
all Coca-Cola HBC countries and 
DigiHub go-live in 19 countries
 – Enhanced focus on water basins 

and marine protection 

 – Shift focus from output to measuring 
and reporting on the impact of key 
community programmes

2017 investments
In 2017, we invested €7.4 million in our 
communities, which is 2% more than 2016 
and is equivalent to 1.3% of our pre-tax 
profit. The biggest proportion of this 
investment was allocated to youth 
development, as seen in the chart below, 
and more specifically to our flagship 
#YouthEmpowered programme 
(see page 35).

Alongside financial investments, we enable 
employees to volunteer a portion of their 
working week to support community 
programmes. This not only positively 
impacts our communities, but also provides 
learning and development opportunities for 
our employees and supports employee 
engagement and well-being. 

In 2017, our employees volunteered more 
than 18,118 work hours in support of 
strategic community programmes. 

While we continue to report this data, we 
recognise these figures represent inputs 
and not the effectiveness of our efforts, an 
issue we will be addressing during 2018.

Strategic priorities for community 
investment
Over the years, our community 
investments have evolved from 
philanthropic initiatives to long-term 

programmes aligned to three key strategic 
priorities:

 – Youth development
 – Environmental and water stewardship
 – Community well-being

Focus of community 
investment

#YouthEmpowered and other
youth programmes: 38%
Community well-being: 35%
Water and environmental protection: 12%
Emergency relief: 1%
Other: 14%

In addition, we are active in emergency 
relief efforts, providing help in times 
of disaster, either directly or via our 
stakeholder partnerships.

34

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

#YE Greece workshop in Thessaloniki

Youth development
We believe in harnessing the potential of 
young people for the benefit of our 
communities. While levels of youth 
unemployment vary from country to 
country – from 3% in Switzerland to more 
than 60% in Bosnia – it remains an urgent 
concern in all the countries in which we 
are active.

This led us to launch #YouthEmpowered in 
2017, a Group-wide flagship initiative to 
help young people to achieve their career 
ambitions by providing guidance, support 
and assistance during their transition from 
school to meaningful employment.

To help youth develop business acumen 
and other skills, we have developed 
in-person and online training, alongside 
mentoring sessions with our employees 
that help participants to complete a range 
of programme activities. In addition, 
#YouthEmpowered enables young people 
to build valuable and long-lasting 
professional and personal networks that 
create employment and life opportunities.

In 2017, we ran live workshops in 21 
countries and piloted free online e-learning 
and mentorship platforms in Greece, Italy 
and Nigeria, with plans to engage 16 more 
countries in the #YouthEmpowered 
community through an online platform 
in 2018.

This initiative makes substantial 
contributions to SDG 8: Decent work and 
economic growth, and SDG 11: Sustainable 
cities and communities.

Results from the 2017 pilots include:

 – >21,500 youths participated either 

though live workshops/training or in an 
engaging online session with value-
adding e-learning skills content; 

 – >550 of our employees became mentors; 
 – >3,200 hours of employee volunteer time 

was dedicated exclusively to helping 
young participants; and 

 – >6,500 online learners participated in our 
free, innovative educational platforms.

Within #YouthEmpowered, we tailor our 
approach to address specific needs in 
different countries.

As a result of these targeted efforts, 
at the end of the pilot year 2017, already 
more than 100 young people reported 
having found employment. 

Eventually, our strategic business goal is to 
integrate #YouthEmpowered graduates in 
our own workforce or into meaningful roles 
with our customers and partners. We also 
expect to see a benefit in terms of 
employee engagement and pride in the 
Company, and improved opportunities for 
the participants. We are currently refining 
our targets based on the learnings from the 
pilot programmes and will report more 
detail on programme impacts in 2018. 

Belarus #YE

Belarus #YE workshop for people with 
disabilities.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

35

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: COMMUNITIES CONTINUED

Serbia #YE

Environmental protection 
and water stewardship
Our focus on natural resources follows a 
two-pronged approach. First, we are driving 
improvements in eco-efficiency within our 
operations, e.g. minimising our water 
consumption and replenishing the water we 
use in our manufacturing processes. 
Second, we prioritise support for 
community water stewardship programmes 
to protect water sources, wetlands, 
biodiversity and ecological processes. 

With the dedicated support of employee 
volunteers, in 2017 we collected 2,767 
tonnes of waste at river and sea shores and 
cleaned more than 1,950 kilometres of river 
banks and beaches. During the same time 
period, we have also contributed to 
reforestation by planting more than 
109,696 trees in over 203,400 square 
metres of land.

Our contributions in this area aid global 
progress toward SDG 6: Clean water and 
sanitation, and SDG 13: Climate action. 

Our 2020 commitment is to improve our 
water intensity ratio by 30% compared to 
our 2010 baseline and we are on track to 
achieve this. In 2017, the level of reduction 
reached 21% vs 2010. Our Top 10 Water 
Savers programme is mandatory for all our 
plants, encouraging water saving 
developments and initiatives throughout 
our facilities. The current implementation 
rate is 72.3% and in addition we 
implemented more than 110 water saving 
projects that saved 1.5 million cubic metres 
of water in our plants. At the end of 2017, 
we achieved 26 Gold certificates under the 
European Water Stewardship Standard and 
we have committed to certify 100% of our 
plants by 2020 to the European Water 
Stewardship Standard or Alliance for Water 
Stewardship. We also consider water used 
in agriculture as part of our supplier 
evaluation assessments.

By implementing water stewardship 
programmes at the community level, we 
help to preserve the natural habitat of key 
water basins and access to clean water. 
Moreover, we invest in programmes to 
prevent environmental damage from 
packaging waste and climate change. 
All activities are done in partnership with 
or after engaging local water users, 
authorities and other key stakeholders 
in the community.

We also work together with environmental 
ministries, and intergovernmental and civil 
organisations, to preserve and protect 
important ecosystems.

We invested €1 million in environmental 
community programmes during 2017. 

During 2017, we have also further 
consolidated our environmental community 
initiatives. Consequently, our future efforts 
will be more clearly focused on water and 
environmental protection.

Community well-being
As well as being committed to reducing the 
amount of sugar in our products by 2020 
(see Consumers section), we continue to 
support initiatives across our 28 countries 
to improve community well-being and 
health. These encourage physical activity 
and include the installation of active zones, 
walking trails and paths, and support for 
sports events and social gatherings. Many 
of the programmes are implemented in 
partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.

These programmes contribute to SDG 3: 
Good health and well-being, and SDG 11: 
Sustainable cities and communities. As our 
business and product portfolio evolves, we 
expect that more of our impact on well-being 
will come directly from new products that 
support healthy lifestyles.

FYROM: five new free active zones installed 
in Skopje.

Serbia #YE launch: Aleksandar Ruzevic, 
GM of CCH Serbia, Aleksandar Vulin, 
Minister of Labour, Employment and Social 
Policy of Serbia (from April 2014 to June 
2017), Zoran Martinović, Director of the 
National Employment Service and Ninoslav 
Erić, President of the Cuprija municipality, 
one of the 14 municipalities we collaborated 
with in Serbia.

Nigeria #YE

Nigeria #YE launch in Port Harcourt with 
the River State Commissioner for 
Employment and Empowerment opening 
the event.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Stakeholder partnerships
We have a long record of delivering 
meaningful community programmes by 
investing creativity, innovation and 
resources and ensuring that our efforts 
align with our own strategic interests. We 
carefully measure the value that we add and 
are constantly looking for opportunities to 
partner with local stakeholders to combine 
our expertise and maximise this value. This 
also contributes to SDG 17: Partnerships.

In 2017, this led us to work with more than 
300 non-governmental organisations and 
non-trade partners in 28 countries, 
including the International Federation of the 
Red Cross, the International Commission 
for the Preservation of the Danube River, 
World Wide Fund for Nature, Junior 
Achievement, Teach for All and the Global 
Water Partnership.

Looking ahead
We will continue the roll-out of 
#YouthEmpowered in 2018, with the aim 
of reaching all our markets by year end.

We are also excited to launch the 
#YouthEmpowered DigiHub, our innovative 
online educational and mentorship 
platform, in 19 countries in 2018. 

We will continue driving water and 
environmental protection through specific 
water stewardship programmes to 
preserve water sources and wetlands. 

Overall, our approach has become more 
strategic and we are also applying better 
metrics to measure and manage the 
impacts of our key community 
programmes, with focus on both youth 
development and environmental and water 
stewardship. We will report on our progress 
in these areas in our 2018 Integrated 
Annual Report.

Understand
Building and maintaining trust 
involves understanding what our 
stakeholders value.

Evolve
While our approach is consistently 
strategic, our community investment 
reflects the evolving needs of the 
communities in which we work.

Energise
Our ambitious 2020 commitments 
provide internal momentum and allow 
us to make substantial contributions 
to global progress towards the UN’s 
Sustainable Development Goals.

Greece – Mission Water

Armenia – ASPIRED project

Greece is projected to be among the 
most water-stressed countries by 2040, 
with water scarcity a particular concern on 
the Greek islands. 

The Mission Water programme has 
promoted water conservation, primarily 
through rainwater harvesting on dry 
islands, since 2006. The project involves 
a partnership between the Coca-Cola 
System in Greece , Global Water 
Partnership – Mediterranean (‘GWP- 
Med’) and authorities. with funding from 
The Coca-Cola Foundation since 2011. 

In 2017, the programme worked with 
local authorities to install three new 
water storage tanks on Kythera island, 
which was suffering a water shortage 
crisis, increasing the municipal water 
supply's volume. 

Kythera is the 31st island to be aided 
by the programme. 

In Armenia, we have joined forces 
with the United States Agency for 
International Development (USAID) to 
help communities denied reliable access 
to water as a result of uncontrolled water 
use by fish farms.

previously dumped into the drainage 
network, is now used for irrigating 
farmland. This has benefited the Hayanist 
community, where workforce migration 
decreased by 50-60% because the 
Hayanist are able to cultivate land again.

Our joint project, the Advanced Science 
and Partnerships for Integrated Resource 
Development (ASPIRED) project, 
implemented an initiative during 2017 
to reduce groundwater use in the Ararat 
Valley. Water from fisheries, which was 

As a result, 1.1 million cubic metres 
of water was saved, 11 times the 
amount used annually by our Armenian 
manufacturing site.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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INNOVATING OUR  
PORTFOLIO FOR OUR

CONSUMERS

People’s tastes and lifestyles are changing  
and with that comes a desire 
 for different drink choices.

2017 progress
 – Excellent growth from our low- and 
no-sugar portfolio; with positive 
customer reactions to both 
reformulations and no-sugar variants

 – Adult-focused flavours and brands 

saw strong growth

 – Second year of growth above 20% 

in energy drinks

 – Growth, with a focus on value in stills.
 – Ongoing progress on creating a 

nimble organisation that can manage 
a faster pace of launches

2018 priorities
 – 2018 will see more launches from 

Coca-Cola HBC than at any time in 
recent history, both within the existing 
portfolio and in new categories

An evolving portfolio for 
a healthier world
Our focus is on providing healthier new 
options across our portfolio of sparkling and 
still beverages, and emphasising low or 
no-sugar choices to our consumers.  
These efforts are helping us to maintain 
our strength in sparkling beverages and  
we also have strong foundations on which 
to grow in the stills category, since 30%  
of our revenues are from still drinks, the 
highest proportion amongst the listed 
Coca-Cola bottlers. 

On average people in our markets drink six 
beverages each day, and although our share 
in sparkling soft drinks is at an average of 
43% across our markets, our share of total 
beverage consumption is still low at around 
5%, which offers huge potential for growth. 
Our evolving portfolio equips us to better 
serve consumers at every occasion in which 
they want to enjoy a drink, which, when 
combined with our ability to get this 
portfolio into the hands of our end 
consumer, allows us opportunities to better 
serve our consumers and grow our 
business sustainably.

Coca-Cola HBC has committed, in 
partnership with the Union of European 
Soft Drinks Associations (UNESDA), to 
reduce sugar in sparkling soft drinks by 10% 
between 2015 and 2020 across the EU and 
Switzerland. With more than 30 years of 
experience in launching low- and no-calorie 
beverages, we are on track to achieve this 
goal with a reduction of nearly 5% in 2017 
compared to 2016. We achieved our sugar 
reduction target in 2017 through our 
portfolio evolution towards no-sugar 
variants and reformulations with lower 
sugar content. For that purpose, we are 
accelerating the rollout of our pipeline 
across all innovation pillars, i.e. 
reformulation of existing products, more 
zero-sugar formulations with improved 
taste, new products with low or no sugar 
and the development of small packages.

We are applying a holistic approach to the 
reduction of sugar which considers 
sweetness taste profiles, the impact on 
appearance, mouthfeel and taste 
and advanced sensory knowledge. Our aim 
is to produce drinks with fewer calories, that 
consumers love. We believe these efforts 
support progress toward several of the 
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 
adopted by the UN, including SDG 3: Good 
health and well-being, SDG 9: Industry 
innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 12: 
Responsible consumption and production.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

We initiated a pilot of this approach at the 
start of 2017 in Poland and Romania with 
excellent results. Sales grew, versus a 
control group, for both Coke Zero and for 
Trademark Coca-Cola overall. We 
subsequently rolled out ‘One Brand’ 
throughout our markets. In addition, we 
completed the relaunch of Coke Zero by 
February 2017 and launched new light 
variants such as Coca-Cola Zero with 
Lemon, which achieved 88% distribution 
within 20 weeks of launch. This strong 
execution supported growth for Trademark 
Coke variants exceeding that of the 
sparkling drinks category overall in our 
markets in 2017 (2.7% and 2.3% 
respectively). These results were aided by 
the 22% growth in sales of Coke Zero 
during the year.

Fanta and Sprite 
In Fanta, a combination of ongoing 
innovation and strong market activation 
delivered growth. New flavour launches for 
Fanta, including Dragonfruit, Shokata and 
Raspberry, helped to keep excitement in 
the brand high. Sprite Cucumber was 
launched in Russia early in 2017, and strong 
execution of the launch and fast distribution 
supported double-digit year-on-year 
growth for Sprite in Russia.

Fanta and Sprite are also benefiting from 
innovative reformulations to reduce their 
sugar content. Sprite Fresh contains half 
the sugar of the original version, while Fanta 
Orange contains 30% less sugar than 
regular Fanta. We began the rollout of 
Sprite Fresh in 2017 and will roll out the 
reformulated Fanta Orange in 2018. We are 
also launching no-calorie Fanta Lemon in a 
number of our markets in 2018.

We support, along with The Coca-Cola 
Company, the recommendation of the 
World Health Organization and other health 
authorities that intake of added sugar 
should be no more than 10% of total energy 
or calories consumed per day. 

Trademark Coca-Cola brands
To highlight our evolving approach to our 
brands and to build awareness of low- and 
no-sugar drinks, we launched the ‘One 
Brand’ marketing strategy in Trademark 
Coca-Cola in collaboration with The 
Coca-Cola Company. With ‘One Brand’ 
we offer our consumers a Coca-Cola with 
a range of choices: Coke Zero; Coca-Cola 
Light; or Coca-Cola.

As the category leader, we believe it is our 
responsibility to actively shape consumer 
choice towards lower calorie options. In 
order to achieve this we have taken the 
decision to make the sugar-free variants of 
Coke the focal point in marketing efforts 
and are dedicating a greater proportion of 
shelf space to sugar-free Coke variants 
than their current share of the mix, ensuring 
increased prominence and availability of our 
sugar-free Coke drinks.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Growth in energy
Energy remains a small category for us, but 
one that is growing fast and with attractive 
revenue per case. For the second year in a 
row our sales in the energy category grew 
over 20%. We aim to sustain our growth in 
the energy segment with a dual brand 
strategy focused on Burn and Monster. 
With the launch of Monster in Nigeria in 
2017, the brand is now available in all but 
three of our countries.

Growing adult opportunity
As the overall population in Europe is 
getting older, there is greater demand for 
sophisticated flavour profiles and for adult 
sparkling beverages. Two of our brands 
targeted to this consumer segment are 
Schweppes and Kinley. For Schweppes, our 
premiumisation strategy, combined with a 
strong launch of Schweppes Pomegranate 
during the year, helped to deliver mid 
single-digit growth for the brand. We are 
excited about the launch of Coca-Cola’s 
Royal Bliss brand in a few of our countries in 
2018. Royal Bliss is a line of premium mixers, 
with complex and nuanced flavour profiles, 
which will be available exclusively in hotels, 
restaurants and cafes.

Driving the water and juice 
categories while focusing 
on value creation
Water represents 30% of the underlying 
non-alcoholic beverage market value 
across our regions and is expected to drive 
almost a quarter of the non-alcoholic 
beverage incremental value growth to 
2020. The fastest growth is expected to be 
seen in the premium segment including 
water with functional benefits or flavours. 
We are currently under-indexed to water 
with under 20% of our volumes coming 
from the category.

We intend to grow our water business in line 
with two pillars. The first is to grow our 
existing mainstream brands while enriching 
the portfolio with flavoured water, and the 
second is to enter new premium segments. 

To meet growing consumer interest in the 
juice category we are evolving our offering 
to include more innovative flavours and 
no-added-sugar varieties, while working to 
grow value in excess of volume. In Russia, 
for example, we launched three unique 
flavour mixes reflecting local heritage. 
The new flavours were marketed as a 
premium offering within the mainstream 
Dobriy brand and sold only in a one-litre size 
to improve pack mix.

Energy drinks growth 
(%)

Proportion of lights within the sparkling category* (%) 

50

40

30

20

10

0

1
4

5
2

9
2

1
2

2016

2017

25

20

15

10

5

0

0
2

1
2

2
2

3
2

9 9

0
1

0
1

0
1

0
1

2
1

1
1

2

2014

3

3

4

2015

2016

2017

Organic Monster
Energy

Emerging

Developing

Established

CCH total

*Lights here refers to Coke Light, Coke Zero, Coke Life, Sprite Zero and Fanta Zero

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

In Ireland we launched Vegified, a vegetable 
and fruit drink fortified with vitamins which 
was offered at an affordable price in 
single-serve packs intended to help busy 
people who are trying to achieve a 
healthier lifestyle.

We seek to capture the opportunities in 
these occasions, with The Coca-Cola 
Company, through co-ordinated 
campaigns including television and 
traditional media, in-store displays, 
sampling and social media.

Meals and socialising occasions 
We prioritise the largest and most valuable 
occasions for beverages: meals and 
socialising. At-home consumption is the 
largest opportunity across our markets, 
accounting for 54% of the value share 
within the non-alcoholic ready-to-drink 
market and as such it will always be a priority 
for our business.

Away-from-home consumption represents 
an interesting growth opportunity, as it 
delivers a higher revenue per case than the 
average for the Group. We seek to capture 
away-from-home consumption by focusing 
on increasing our sales in hotels, 
restaurants and cafes and offering 
single-serve packages which can earn  
two to three times the revenue per case  
of multi-serve packages and beverages 
bought for future consumption.

Engaging with consumers digitally
In order to remain relevant, we also 
consider changes in the way consumers 
use technology. Digitalisation presents  
new opportunities to communicate  
with consumers and new information  
about consumption.

22.4%

Growth in Coke Zero in 2017

12

Number of product reformulations 
or conversion to no-sugar formulas 
planned for 2018

In addition to our focus on organic growth 
and innovation, we will continue to look 
at bolt-on M&A in the juice and water 
categories. Where we find strong local 
and regional brands that fit well with our 
footprint, we will seek to add these to 
our portfolio.

Satisfying demand: consumption 
occasions
To meet consumer demand we need to 
understand what drives someone’s desire 
for a beverage at different times 
throughout the day.

We segment possible consumption 
opportunities into occasions. For each 
occasion, we aim to provide every 
consumer with the perfect brand in the 
right package, from the right channel and at 
the right price. We call this process 
Occasion, Brand, Pack, Price, Channel, or 
OBPPC, and it helps us to construct our 
business plans on a country and brand level.

Share of single-serve packs 
in volume (%)

.

2
9
3

.

3
3
3

.

9
9
3

.

0
5
3

.

3
0
4

.

5
4
3

.

7
1
4

.

6
6
3

50

40

30

20

10

.

0
2
14
8
3

.

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Water
Total

Connected coolers offer opportunities 
for more direct communication with our 
consumers. In 2017, with The Coca-Cola 
Company, we launched a new consumer 
app called WOAH, which stands for ‘Where 
only awesome happens’, in eight of 
our countries.

The WOAH app delivers engaging content 
from The Coca-Cola Company and helps us 
to communicate directly to consumers. 
Once downloaded, the WOAH app can 
serve push notifications on promotions 
from a nearby, digitally connected cooler.

Connectivity also helps us position coolers, 
by providing data on door openings and 
how coolers are used. In addition, they can 
gain our sales force four days of selling time 
a year. Less than 10% of our 1.4 million 
coolers are currently digitally connected, 
but we aim to achieve 100% connectivity 
by 2022.

Long-term success 
To ensure that our business continues to 
deliver what consumers need and want we 
prioritise successfully growing our revenues 
ahead of volumes and volumes ahead of 
calories, ensuring product quality and 
marketing our products responsibly.

Revenue growth management
We aim to grow transactions and revenue 
faster than volume since this will both 
create a more sustainable business and 
improve our profitability. Coca-Cola HBC, 
in partnership with The Coca-Cola 
Company, has developed a comprehensive 
approach to achieve this goal of revenue 
growth management which we call RGM 
2.0. RGM 2.0 puts in place a 10-step 
framework to address consumers, 
shoppers and customers together. After 
considerable work in conjunction with 
external consultants we have now 
implemented a set of strategies, specifically 
targeted to each market, intended to 
maximise value growth. We are developing 
the relevant skills, capabilities and growth 
mindset in our teams to ensure this 
initiative is sustainable. We started this 
programme in Q3 of 2016 in Nigeria and 
Russia and in 2017 we expanded it into our 
other largest markets; we aim to complete 
the full rollout of these initiatives 
within 2018.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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An example of our ‘One Brand’ strategy at work. This marketing effort presents Coke Regular, Zero and Light under one brand 
and emphasises the no-sugar options. 

In our Emerging segment the likelihood of 
currency depreciation means that we need 
to balance affordability for our consumers 
with required price increases to offset 
inflation and a weaker local currency. The 
flexibility of our business allows us to adjust 
pack sizes, list prices and promotions to 
serve our consumers in ways that protect 
the viability of our business.

Product quality and integrity 
Product quality, safety and integrity are 
necessary to build consumer trust, maintain 
market leadership and generate sales 
volumes and revenues. Product integrity for 
us means offering the highest quality 
beverages that satisfy customers’ and 
consumers’ expectations in every aspect. 
In addition to product functionality, quality, 
safety, taste and design, integrity also 
includes intangibles such as brand equity. 
We have zero tolerance for quality and food 
safety non-compliance.

Therefore, in 2017 we continued to 
collaborate with key ingredient and 
packaging suppliers. As a result of this 
product quality culture development and 
governance processes, the freshness of 
our soft drinks improved by 12% in 2017 
compared to 2016.

Further, the number of trade quality issues 
declined by 58% and business losses from 
trade quality issues were reduced by 
84% in 2017 compared to 2016. Overall 
consumer complaints in 2017 remained at 
a low level, standing at 20 per 100 million 
containers sold. This is, however, higher 
than our target of 17. While the number 
of consumer complaints decreased by 4% 
in the Emerging and Developing segments, 
we saw a 7% increase in the Established 
segment, mainly due to elevated social 
media activities related to product taste 
and carbonation.

The continued low rate of consumer 
complaints shows that our beverages are of 
high quality and people trust our products 
and brands. Better product quality and food 
safety also contribute to SDG 3: Good 
health and well-being, and SDG 12: 
Responsible consumption and production.

Responsible marketing
Marketing our brands responsibly but 
effectively is of great importance to our 
business. Offering a wide range of products 
and providing clear and transparent 
information is at the centre of our approach.

We comply with The Coca-Cola Company’s 
Global Responsible Marketing Policy and are 
signatories of the UNESDA commitments. 
This compliance is checked regularly 
by external third-party auditors contracted 
by UNESDA.

As part of UNESDA’s school sales 
commitment, we do not offer our products 
for sale in primary schools. In addition, 
we will ensure from 2018 onwards that 
only no- and low-calorie drinks are offered 
in secondary schools as a complement 
to water, which remains the primary 
drink available for schoolchildren 
and adolescents. 

We are not only complying with the letter of 
these policies; we strive to follow the spirit 
of them as well. Therefore, we do not place 
advertising in media where the target 
audience includes a substantial portion of 
children. This applies to all media including 
television shows, print media, websites, 
social media, movies, SMS/email marketing, 
animation, third-party characters, 
celebrities/games/contests, branded toys/
merchandise, talent selection, point of sale, 
and merchandise items. Moreover, we do 
not design our marketing communications 
in a way that directly appeals to children 
under 12.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Looking ahead
In 2018, we will continue to focus on ways 
to shape our portfolio to better satisfy 
existing and emerging consumer 
preferences. We plan to continue our 
efforts to reduce the sugar content of our 
sparkling drinks, supported by more than 
12 product reformulations or conversions 
to zero-calorie versions. 

We will also be introducing important new 
brands in water, plant-based beverages and 
ready-to-drink tea. We will introduce 
glacéau smartwater in eight countries in 
2018, boosting our premium water brand 
portfolio. Within plant-based beverages, we 
will launch AdeZ in 13 countries. Finally, 
FUZE tea is the fastest growing billion-dollar 
brand in the Coca-Cola System, and we 
believe that launching it in our markets in 
2018 will enhance our proposition in a 
high-value and high-growth category. 
Within the adult segment we are excited 
about the launch of Royal Bliss in premium 

hotel, restaurant and cafe outlets. We 
will also be continuing with our work on 
Incubate & Grow which we launched in 
2017 in Milan, Rome, Zurich and Vienna. 
Incubate & Grow is an initiative created by 
The Coca-Cola Company to nurture new 
brands in a highly entrepreneurial and 
nimble environment. We are proud that 
Coca-Cola HBC was chosen for the global 
pilot for Incubate & Grow within the 
Coca-Cola System. 

We are able to proceed with this faster pace 
of new launches with confidence. Coca-
Cola HBC serves as a benchmark across the 
global Coca-Cola System in getting new 
products to market quickly, with an average 
of 19 weeks from business case approval to 
product launch. Efficiency in this area is 
increasingly important as the pace of 
product innovation and new product 
launches accelerates and we feel excited 
about the future that this offers the 
Company and our consumers.

Understand
Lifestyles and consumer preferences 
are changing, and we recognise that 
this is leading consumers to choose 
healthier beverage options and more 
innovative flavours, and to explore 
new categories.

Evolve 
The expansion of our product portfolio 
and our approach to packaging and 
distribution reflect emerging 
consumer trends.

Energise
Our pace of change is gathering speed, 
with more new product launches in 
2018 than at any other time in our 
recent history.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: CUSTOMERS

EVOLVING WITH THE  
CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

Changing lifestyles and new technologies are 
impacting purchasing behaviour and preferences 
in retail formats, causing significant change 
in the retail landscape.

2017 progress
 – Further improvement in customer 

satisfaction

 – Embedding of our new route-to-
market initiatives across our five 
largest countries, resulting in an 
improvement in both depth and 
breadth of coverage

 – Ongoing improvement in in-store 

execution

 – Seizing of e-commerce opportunities 

by serving new and existing 
customers online

2018 priorities
 – Rolling out our new route-to-market 
initiatives across all of our countries

 – Improving our e-commerce 

capabilities

 – Continuing the work and investments 
that make us a responsible supplier

Customer preference: customer 
partnership and shared growth 
Changing lifestyles and new technologies 
are impacting purchasing behaviour and 
preferences in retail formats, causing 
significant change in the retail landscape. 
Successfully adapting to these market 
changes, and helping our customers to 
seize new opportunities, boosts the 
resilience and profitability of our business 
and our customers' businesses. With all of 
our customers, the key objectives remain 
the same: excellent customer service and 
in-store execution, to create joint value for 
long-term success. 

Creating satisfaction 
and economic benefit 
Winning with customers is one of our six 
core values, and we work hard to build 
strong customer relationships to create 
shared success. We monitor customer 
satisfaction by commissioning an annual 
survey of more than 15,000 customers, 
comparing ourselves to other beverage 
suppliers including suppliers of beer and 
dairy products. In 2017, more than half of 
our customers, 59.8%, said we exceeded 
their expectations, an increase of 3.3% 
compared to 2016.

In addition, 94.2% of customers reported 
that the Company either met or exceeded 
their expectations.

The feedback we receive from our 
customers helps direct priorities for training 
and development, indicating where we need 
to improve skills and capabilities. We 
encourage customers to disclose the detail 
of their individual responses so that we can 
build a specific improvement plan tailored 
to their needs. In Italy in 2017, we managed 
to get nearly 100% of the customers that 
we engaged with to provide detailed 
feedback, an improvement from 41% in 
2016. We believe this increase reflects  
our responsiveness to feedback and  
the value customers find in bespoke 
improvement plans.

Improving product accessibility
To ensure that customers can best serve 
consumers, we tailor our customer 
relationships so that we can provide  
each customer with the right level of  
sales force coverage and access to our 
distribution networks.

Due to the dynamism of the retail 
environment, outlets open and close  
over time.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

We have to assess relevant changes in the 
retail universe and incorporate these 
appropriately into our route-to-market 
solutions. By performing a complete 
assessment of the outlet universe, we 
capture incremental growth opportunities, 
both horizontally through new outlets and 
vertically through improved service to 
existing customers. This project is called 
the Every Dealer Survey (EDS), and it allows 
us to improve by adjusting the structure of 
our sales force and ensuring that our 
capabilities address the changing needs of 
our customers. Our most recent 
assessment of outlets identified a number 
of specific opportunities which we then 
invested in in order to improve. One 
example was the creation of dedicated 
teams exclusively serving hotels, 
restaurants and cafes; another was the 
decision to make hunting for new outlets 
a priority and an ongoing project. 
Additionally, during 2017, we successfully 
embedded new initiatives in the routes to 
market in five of our largest countries. In 
Poland, for example, we expanded the 
number of outlets carrying our full portfolio 
from 1,800 to 7,000, while in Russia we put 
in place a dedicated team to serve top-end 
bars, cafes and restaurants, and in 
Switzerland we expanded home delivery 
of our product portfolio.

Ensuring excellent execution 
in store
Getting the basics right is critical to building 
strong relationships with our customers. 
For Coca-Cola HBC, this means that we 
seek to always deliver in full, on time and 
accurately invoiced, an internal metric we 
monitor and call by the acronym DIFOTAI. 
We track our success in achieving this each 
day, for each customer, and constantly 
work to improve our performance. Our 
overall DIFOTAI score for 2017 was 97.2%, 
a small decline from the result achieved in 
2016 of 97.9%. 

To ensure that the right product is 
presented in the right location, we track 
real-time execution in our customers’ 
stores and use that data to evaluate and 
improve in-store operations. We use an 
approach called Right Execution Daily, 
referred to by the acronym RED, which 
measures aspects required for strong 
execution and awards a score to each 
customer, channel and, ultimately, country 
on that basis. These scores reflect our 
execution level relative to our internal 
targets, and we use all this data to 
continually improve.

In our experience, using this approach, we 
have found that for every percentage point 
of improvement in the RED score, our sales 
volume increases between 0.25% and 1%. 
The data collected for RED is also used by 
our business developers to pursue 
opportunities for growth and they are able 
to adjust our in-store operations to improve 
performance. In 2017 our RED score 
increased by 5.8%, helped by strong 
performance in Nigeria. A significant 
percentage of our customer base is 
included in this data collection and we 
continue to expand coverage, creating a 
positive feedback loop for improvement.

Creating joint value
We want to create shared value and help 
our customers grow their overall beverage 
sales. One way that we do this is by sharing 
our expertise to enhance the shopping 
experience, extending our service to 
customers beyond just sparkling beverages. 
With a supermarket chain in Romania, for 
example, we helped to improve shopping 
experiences and drive transactions by 
building on the ‘beverage with meals’ 
experience in their in-store restaurant and 
outside barbecue area.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

45

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: CUSTOMERS CONTINUED

Met or exceeded customer 
expectations

94.2%

Exceeded customer expectations

59.8%

At the same time, we supported strong 
execution and product placement within 
the store aisles. In another example, we 
collaborated with a leading operator of 
petrol station convenience stores, 
developing a category vision concept for 
this channel to offer fast, easy, cold 
beverage solutions to the busy consumers 
this customer serves. The project started 
with a pilot in Hungary, and we subsequently 
became a strategic partner for the 
customer's outlets in six countries. 

Seizing opportunities 
in single-serve packages
The rising trend for smaller and more 
frequent shopping trips, and consumer 
decisions to reduce sugar content through 
buying smaller packages, has increased the 
importance of chilled availability for 
single-serve packs consumed ‘on the go’. 

In Switzerland, we worked with one 
international customer to optimise sales 
of chilled single-serve drinks located beside 
the customer’s prepared foods by rolling 
out open-fronted coolers in two-thirds of 
their stores. The project successfully 
increased the number of shoppers adding 
a non-alcoholic beverage to their shopping 
basket. Careful adjustments to store layout 
can be extremely impactful for customers.

As chilled single-serve packs become more 
important to meet the needs of busy 
consumers, and help to drive revenue per 
case and profitability, cold drinks equipment 
(CDE) is an essential part of our 
engagement with customers and our 
consumer experience. 

At approximately 39%, refrigeration 
represents a significant part of our carbon 
emissions footprint. A major focus for 
improvement has been phasing out HFC 
refrigerants since 2015. Instead, all new 
equipment placed in the market is eco-
friendly. These new coolers use either CO 
or HC (hydrocarbon) as refrigerant agents, 
which have zero global warming potential, 
and are also 57% more energy-efficient 
than conventional coolers.

In 2017, we introduced a total of 71,786 
eco-coolers across our markets, helping 
our customers save 735.2 million kWh of 
electricity, and contributing 16% of our total 
electricity savings, 26% more than in 2016. 
In total, eco-coolers currently account for 
5% of our 1.4 million units. 

At the same time, we continue to optimise 
our cooler portfolio in order to improve our 
spend and reduce our energy consumption. 
Within five years, we have reduced 
the number of cooler types from 33 to 10.

Right Execution Daily (RED)
An approach to executing in-store 
with excellence

Our people are highly engaged  
(%)

40

32

24

16

8

0

90

5
8

E x p a n d i n g   t h e   c o v e r a g e   b a s e

7
2

7
2

7
2

80

6
1

6
1

7
1

70

1
8
m
r
o
n
G
C
M
F

0
8

x
e
d
n

I

0
0
1
E
S
T
F

5
2

0
2

4
1

5

8
8
m
r
o
n

i

g
n
m
r
o
f
r
e
p
-
h
g
H

i

9
8

x
e
d
n

I

C
B
H
C
C

9
8

t
p
e
d

l

i

a
c
r
e
m
m
o
c
C
B
H
C
C

6
8

x
e
d
n

I

s
r
e
l
t
t
o
b
a
o
C
-
a
c
o
C

l

I

x
e
d
n
m
e
t
s
y
S
a
o
C
-
a
c
o
C

l

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

60

17

17

17

17

17

17

17

 CCH countries with RED framework
Countries with >35% numerical coverage

46

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Understand
We strive to understand our customers 
so that we can provide a tailored solution 
that best suits their needs.

Evolve
In a constantly changing retail landscape, 
we maintain strong customer 
satisfaction by adapting to challenges 
and emerging trends.

Energise
We help our customers seize new 
opportunities and we grow with them, 
creating joint value for long-term success.

In addition, we foster the innovation of 
connected coolers, using internet of things 
technologies to optimise the energy 
consumption to the actual time of use. In 
2018, the ICOOL range of coolers will use a 
lower charge of HC refrigerant gas, while 
keeping the energy consumption stable, if 
not lowering it.

Improving performance in hotels, 
restaurants and cafes 
Our expectation is that sales through 
hotels, restaurants and cafes will grow 
faster than our overall sales growth in the 
near term. This reflects the increasing trend 
for people to prioritise experiences and is 
supported by the economic recovery in our 
markets. To support sales in this channel 
we are intent on sharing best practice within 
Coca-Cola HBC to improve our 
performance. Within the Group there are 
countries with excellent performance in 
the HoReCa channel and in 2017 our sales 
teams met in Croatia to benefit from the 
Croatian team’s expertise and to further 
improve the Group’s performance in 
this channel.

We have also developed eRED, a 
measurement system to score execution in 
online stores. eRED allows us to check that 
our full portfolio is available and presented 
with the right quality standards and 
messaging. This system also creates an 
improvement plan for each online retailer 
to drive incremental transactions.

Looking ahead
In 2018, we expect to make further 
progress in rolling out new route-to-market 
initiatives, improving our e-commerce 
capabilities and continuing to be a strong 
partner for our customers and a 
responsible supplier.

By the end of 2018, we expect to have 
rolled out the newly identified 
route-to-market initiatives in all our 
countries. We believe that e-commerce 
channels will continue to gain momentum 
and building our internal capabilities within 
this channel is ongoing.

Growth in e-commerce 
The value of e-commerce in our markets 
has doubled over the last five years and is 
expected to double again over the next five, 
making the e-commerce channel one of 
our most dynamic.

E-commerce is still a small proportion 
of our overall revenue, but we are clear on 
its importance for the future, and we are 
working with new and existing customers 
to capture growth through this channel.

Online shopping has brought us new 
customers, including online takeaway food 
businesses. We help them to increase the 
value of each transaction by including a 
beverage with every meal. We achieved this 
objective with one online takeaway food 
business in Poland, for example, by 
developing combination meals (a meal and 
a beverage for a single price point) and 
improving product displays in online menus. 
This resulted in volume growth of 60% 
with this online takeaway food business, 
with distribution of our full portfolio 
increasing by 20%.

We continue to invest to improve our ability 
to serve online shoppers, creating the 
fundamentals to be ready for rapid growth. 
In 2017, we piloted a platform to manage 
our commercial digital assets, including 
information on how to best present our 
brands in online stores.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

47

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: EFFICIENCIES

REMAINING FOCUSED ON COST

EFFICIENCIES

Our focus remains on optimising both infrastructure 
and processes to support evolving business needs, 
while achieving efficiencies and ensuring the 
sustainability of our resources.

2017 progress
 – Total cost of supply as percentage 
of revenue fell below 10%, following 
logistics initiatives

 – Full integration of Nigeria into our 
business services organisation

 – Strong cash generation with increased 

capital expenditure focusing on 
revenue-generating assets

 – Enhanced relationships with suppliers, 

emphasising local sourcing and 
sustainable principles

 – 41% of total packaging recovered 

for recycling

 – Zero waste to landfill in four plants
 – Renewable and clean energy 
accounting for 34.1% of all 
energy used

2018 priorities
 – Ensure fast response of the supply 
chain to growing market's needs 

 – Strong cash generation
 – Further exploit digital solutions 

and systems

 – Increase the use of recycled PET 

in our packaging

To drive profitability, our focus remains on 
those areas we can influence: optimisation 
of our production and logistics base, 
our operating cost base and our cash 
conversion. Careful management of all 
inputs to our business includes natural 
resources. Efforts to reduce costs are 
therefore directly linked to streamlined 
packaging and reduced water and 
energy use.

Infrastructure optimisation
The drive to optimise and develop our 
infrastructure to manage growth and to 
produce a broader beverage portfolio 
continued in 2017. Strong focus on 
managing and modernising cost-efficient 
mega-plants that can effectively serve a 
country or region remains our priority. In 
addition, we added new capabilities in 
selected sites during 2017 to support the 
expansion of our beverage portfolio, 
particularly for still drinks.

Since 2008, our optimisation work has 
resulted in a 31% reduction in the number 
of plants across the Group, from 80 to 55 at 
the end of 2017. In the process, the average 
number of filling lines per plant has 
increased from 3.6 to 4.9, creating more 
efficient and flexible facilities.

During the same period, we also reduced 
the number of our warehouses and 
distribution centres by 53%. Our capacity 
utilisation across the business was 65% 
during peak months in 2017, giving us 
plenty of room for growth without the need 
for additional investment. 

In Russia, we closed a juice production plant 
in St Petersburg, transferring the 
production capacity to our local production 
facility for sparkling drinks and to other 
parts of the country. This change allows for 
better geographic alignment between 
production and demand for our juice 
products, reducing transport distances in 
our vast Russian territory. In addition, we 
temporarily closed five filling lines for juice 
and three for sparkling drinks, while 
retaining the option to resume production 
on these lines as the market recovers.

We focused on creating mega-plants in 
Nigeria in 2017, consolidating production 
in Asejire, Abuja and Port Harcourt. 
Our plant in Ikeja, which is the largest 
Coca-Cola bottling plant in Africa, was 
also further modernised.

48

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

We have closed 34 distribution centres in 
the past two years, reducing numbers from 
51 in 2015 to 17 in 2017 and outsourcing 
distribution without disrupting our supply 
chain. Optimisation of production and 
logistics will continue in Nigeria throughout 
2018, with further closures of less efficient 
facilities in due course.

In 2017, our ongoing work on logistics 
reduced the total cost to supply as a 
percentage of revenue to a level below 
10%. Our drive to shift from fixed to variable 
costs across the Group continued, 
outsourcing logistics activities and 
partnering with suppliers. These initiatives 
reduce risk and fixed cost, while improving 
operational efficiency.

To support commercial initiatives, we 
upgraded production lines, so that our 
manufacturing capabilities reflect our 
diverse product portfolio. We made 
investments relevant for the packaging of 
the new FUZE tea brand and for the 
production of plant-based beverages, juice 
smoothies and juice drinks with PET 
packaging in Nigeria. In Hungary, we 
invested in production capabilities for 
glacéau smartwater, a new premium 
lifestyle water brand which we plan to 
launch in 10 markets in 2018.

Digital solutions provide great opportunities 
for efficiency with high quality standards. In 
2017, we implemented a real-time quality 
monitoring and process control system in 
eight of our manufacturing facilities.

In nine of our largest and most important 
plants, we introduced a line monitoring 
solution to collect data automatically from 
production lines. These investments 
enhance the reliability of our production 
processes and the quality of our products. 
We also developed and piloted a control 
tower solution which provides end-to-end 
visibility of logistics activities. This allows 
us to monitor deliveries to our customers, 
supporting efficient execution and 
service quality.

Business standardisation
Nigeria was the latest addition to the 
Company-wide business standardisation 
initiative, which began with a shared 
business services organisation (BSO)  
in Bulgaria in 2011 and was followed in late 
2016 by the Russian service centre in 
Nizhny Novgorod.

The extension of services from our BSO in 
Sofia, Bulgaria to our Nigerian business unit 
centralises and standardises the 
management of general accounting, cash 
collection, credit and dispute management 
and human resource processes. 

Serving as a business partner, in 2017 the 
BSO streamlined back-office work for the 
commercial function, freeing up time for 
launching products and serving customers. 
New digital solutions were introduced, 
including travel and expense tools, a 
self-service supplier portal and an 
automated accounts payable solution.

While carrying out this transformative work, 
the BSO is also a part of our efforts to 
achieve service excellence, conducting 
customer workshops on process design 
and delivering soft skills training for 
Coca-Cola HBC employees with customer 
support responsibilities. The BSO also 
serves as a talent pool for our Company, 
with 43 people promoted to country 
operations and corporate service centre 
roles in 2017.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

49

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: EFFICIENCIES CONTINUED

Cash generation
Our business is highly cash-generative, 
producing an average of c.€400 million of 
free cash flow per annum. In 2017, we 
generated €426 million of free cash flow  
by improving our profitability and by 
maintaining excellent working capital 
discipline – once again achieving a working 
capital year-end position of less than 
negative €100 million.

Efficient, responsible sourcing
To minimise our impacts and drive 
performance, we partner with logistics 
providers and suppliers. Working 
collaboratively, we are better able to  
meet the expectations of customers and 
consumers, supporting business growth. 
Local sourcing is the cornerstone of  
our joint value creation initiative with  
our suppliers.

In line with our financial targets, we 
experienced in 2017 a bigger contribution 
of profits to free cash flow of €82 million, 
and this trend is expected to continue in the 
coming years. This in turn allows for an 
increase in capital expenditure to help our  
business grow.

Our medium-term target for capital 
expenditure is 5.5% to 6.5% of net sales 
revenue. The majority of this is invested in 
revenue-generating assets such as 
state-of-the-art filling lines and cold drink 
equipment. Our net expenditure for 2017 
amounted to €378 million, equivalent to 
5.8% of net sales revenue. Excluding the 
sale of idle assets, capital expenditure was 
6.4% of net sales revenue. Given our 
integrated capital expenditure decisions, 
and our disciplined approach to allocating 
cash, we continue to believe our medium-
term target range is appropriate for 
nurturing our future growth, especially in 
view of evolving market trends.

In 2017, more than 98% of our total spend 
was local in our countries of operations, or 
within the European Union, which we regard 
as one geographic area for sourcing. Good 
examples are the local sourcing for all sugar 
used in Russia, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine and 
Belarus and for metal cans in Nigeria. Local 
sourcing helps us control quality and costs. 
This practice can be helpful in managing 
foreign exchange exposure, and reducing 
transportation expenses. It also involves a 
significant contribution to the economies of 
countries where we conduct business.

Our suppliers are required to uphold 
our high standards regarding human rights, 
labour practices, environmental impacts, 
health and safety, ethics and quality. 
We have guidelines and tools for supplier 
selection and governance, including 
Supplier Guiding Principles (SGP), 
Sustainable Agriculture Guiding Principles 
(SAGP) and a pre-assessment process  
with criteria for supplier selection.

Adhering to our SGPs involves, at a 
minimum, complying with applicable 
environment and labour laws and core 
international conventions. These principles 
also communicate our values, and our 
expectations for responsible business 
practices. We aim to achieve 100% of our 
suppliers accepting our SGPs by utilising our 
‘SGP Coverage Triangle’ with three 
checkpoints throughout the procure-to-
pay process, available on our website.

Sustainable sourcing of product ingredients 
is particularly important to our long-term 
success. As part of the Coca-Cola System, 
we have a uniform approach to sustainable 
agriculture, rooted in the principles of 
protecting the environment, upholding 
human and workplace rights and helping to 
build more sustainable communities. These 
principles are included in the SAGPs, which 
provide guidance to our suppliers for 
agricultural ingredients. We expect to meet 
our target of certifying at least 95% of the 
key agricultural ingredients we use against 
the SAGPs by 2020. 

The impact of our supply chain efforts 
supports several of the UN’s Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 
8: Decent work and economic growth, SDG 
12: Responsible consumption and 
production, and SDG 13: Climate action.

Water use ratio in plants 
(litre/litre of produced beverage)

Operational water footprint 
(billion litres)

Energy use ratio in plants 
(MJ/litre of produced beverage)

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

.

0
3
02
0
2

.

-30%
vs 2010

3
9
1

.

2
8
1

.

9
7
1

.

1
6
1

.

.

2
1
5

60

50

40

30

20

10

.

5
8
1

.

1
8
1

.

7
7
1

-75%
vs 2004

.

5
7
91
2
1

.

2010 2015 2016 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

0

* 

2004*2015*2016* 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

In 2017 we verified our methodology for water 
footprint and restated 2004, 2015 and 2016.

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0

7
5
0

.

6
4
0

.

3
4
0

.

2
4
0

.

9
3
0

.

-47%
vs 2010

0
3
0

.

2010 2015*2016* 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

* 

In 2017, we slightly changed the energy use ratio 
as we identified missing data from CHP thermal 
energy. 2015 and 2016 were restated. Baseline 
year (2010) was not affected.

50

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Smarter procurement
In 2013, we ran the PLATO (Procurement 
Lean and Agile Transformation and 
Optimisation) project with the objective of 
aggregating the spend managed by the 
procurement function and of achieving 
synergies across countries, while improving 
the quality of the procurement service. A 
pitstop named PLATO 2.0 was held in 2017, 
which focused on efficiency and 
performance with the participation of 
stakeholders from other functions. 

In order to benefit from the large quantities 
our business requires, we consolidate 
orders for promotional materials and 
marketing equipment needed across our 
business. Our cooler supplier, for example, 
has helped us standardise and harmonise 
our cooler portfolio across our markets 
while stabilising costs through a multi-year 
contract agreement.

To leverage bargaining power related to our 
large volumes, all countries are requested 
to place their orders for promotional 
materials within certain time frames. 
Volume leverage through this ‘One Hellenic’ 
approach produced a 6.6% cost 
optimisation for FUZE tea glassware 
procurement – just one example of how this 
approach produces benefits.

Joint growth initiatives 
and benchmarking
To increase awareness of sustainability, 
engagement with strategic suppliers and 
the development of our people, we 
introduced new events, workshops and 
tools in 2017. We piloted three sustainability 
day events in 2017 with strategic suppliers 
in Zurich, Belgrade and Moscow, which 
created an opportunity to share information 
about our Company’s corporate social 
responsibility policy and sustainability 
commitments, share achievements and 
best practices, and begin working together 
on joint targets and initiatives.

Consistent with our interest in developing 
our people and our suppliers, we developed 
workshops and training sessions for specific 
commodities for packaging, such as PET 
plastic and metals used for cans.

The Ecovadis CSR platform, a third-party 
assessment tool, was introduced in 2017  
to evaluate corporate social responsibility 
performance management systems for  
our suppliers. More than 120 critical 
suppliers have already been assessed  
using the platform.

Efficient use of resources
Our efforts to reduce our use of packaging 
materials, energy and water continued in 
2017. As a leading bottler in the Coca-Cola 
System, we place a significant amount of 
packaging in the marketplace. Packaging 
plays a central role in our business, ensuring 
the quality and safety of our products, but 
innovative light-weight packaging reduces 
costs and environmental impact. 

We are taking decisive action to address 
the risks and opportunities presented by 
climate change. In November 2017, 
Coca-Cola HBC was among the first to sign 
the Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) CFO 
statement of support for the Task Force 
on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosures (‘TCFD’). 

We have specific 2020 targets, aiming at 
reducing carbon emissions per litre of 
produced beverage by 50% in our 
operations and by 25% across our value 
chain, against a 2010 baseline, and in 2017 
we continued to make good progress. Since 
2015, our energy and carbon reduction 
initiatives have resulted in approximately 
€11 million aggregate savings.

CO2 ratio (scopes 1 and 2) 
(gCO2/litre of produced beverage)

CO2 ratio (scopes 1, 2 and 3) 
(gCO2/litre of produced beverage)

Landfill waste ratio 
(g/litre of produced beverage)

90

75

60

45

30

15

0

-50%
vs 2010

.

3
8
7

.

6
3
5

.

3
0
5

.

7
5
4

.

0
4
4

.

1
9
3

2010 2015*2016* 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

-25%
vs 2010

1
4
4

2
5
3

0
5
3

9
3
3

6
3
3

1
3
3

2010 2015*2016* 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

*  Restated 2015 and 2016 figures to include the 

*  Restated 2015 and 2016 figures to include the 

new plant acquisition.

new plant acquisition.

-90%
vs 2004

0
5

.

6
7
0

.

1
5
0

.

9
3
0

.

8
3
0

.

0
5
0

.

2004 2015 2016 2017 Target
2018

2020
goal

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

51

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: EFFICIENCIES CONTINUED

Progress in packaging and waste 
management
We have a holistic approach to packaging, 
intended to minimise our impact at every 
stage of the lifecycle by reducing weight, 
increasing the use of recyclable materials 
and increasing the overall recyclability of 
packaging. Further, we have been using 
renewable (plant-based) materials, as well 
as improving our post-consumer waste 
management.

With our light-weighting initiatives, we 
reduced the main packaging materials used 
for our beverages, namely PET, aluminium 
cans and glass bottles, by 18% in 2017 vs 
our baseline of 2010.

Our packaging-related targets commit us 
to source 20% of the total PET we use from 
recycled PET or PET from renewable 
materials by 2020. We are partly behind 
on this commitment due to the higher cost 
of these materials in our geographies. 
We invested more than €14.9 million in 
packaging optimisation and efficiency. 
We used 13,100 tonnes of recycled PET 
material and 11,050 tonnes of plant PET 
material, which together with light-
weighting initiatives helped us to save more 
than 36,000 tonnes of CO2. We have 
dedicated teams at a country level who 
work on developing thorough plans for 
further weight reduction for each container 
size and type, without impacting the quality 
of the bottles or product taste. 

Streamlining packaging is, by itself, not 
enough. We champion increases in 
recycling and other solutions to packaging 
waste, and we want to close the recycling 
loop, converting used packaging into new. 
We support 19 packaging waste 
management schemes across our markets 
and we have a Group-wide policy on 
post-consumer waste management. 
We have initiated projects in Russia, Nigeria 
and Ukraine for packaging recovery with 
a target of 20% in each by 2020. In Poland, 
we have initiated a separate collection 
system, working with four other companies, 
to focus on increased collection of PET. 
In 2017, 41% of the total packaging we 
placed in the market was recovered for 
recycling, exceeding our 2020 target of 40%.

Our 2020 target for waste from plants to 
landfill was also overachieved in 2017, 
reaching 0.39g/lpb, compared to a target 
of 0.5g/lpb. At the same time, four of our 
plants had zero waste to landfill in 2017.

Energy efficiency
Climate change brings significant potential 
risks to Coca-Cola HBC, with the potential 
for increased energy costs, carbon taxation, 
reduced access to water and business 
disruption due to severe weather 
conditions. However, it also presents us 
with an opportunity to make our value chain 
more efficient and sustainable.

Our efforts to address climate change and 
its impacts contribute to the UN 
Sustainable Development Goal on climate 
action (SDG 13) and affordable and clean 
energy (SDG 7).

To seize this opportunity, we were among 
the first companies to introduce science-
based climate targets. These commit us to 
use energy from renewable and clean 
energy sources for at least 40% of the total 
energy we use by 2020, and reduce the 
total energy Coca-Cola HBC consumes per 
litre of produced beverage by 47% 
compared to a 2010 baseline.

To ensure we meet our targets, we use an 
internal carbon price of €25 per metric 
tonne of CO2 to guide decision-making, 
hold regular reviews to confirm that we 
adhere to all our internal standards and 
external environmental laws and 
regulations, and have third parties annually 
audit our environmental management 
systems and all bottling plant data.

We are well placed to achieve our 2020 
targets: during 2017, renewable and clean 
energy (CHP – combined heat and power) 
accounted for 34.1% of all the energy we 
used, and we reduced the total amount of 
energy consumed per litre of produced 
beverage by 26.5% compared to the 2010 
baseline. Our energy intensity dropped by 
4% in 2017 compared to 2016. Direct 
carbon emissions also declined by 9.1% 
during 2017, and indirect emissions from 
our value chain fell by 3.2%.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Understand
Maximising our performance requires 
us to prioritise and focus on those 
areas where we have the most control: 
optimising our production and logistics, 
our operating costs and our 
cash conversion.

Evolve
To support the expansion of our 
beverage portfolio, we are using all 
resources more efficiently and 
effectively, while adding new capabilities.

Energise
Our long-term growth is nurtured 
and energised through investments 
in new technologies which support 
new product categories and 
energy efficiency.

Looking ahead
As we enter a year of strong innovation, 
we will accelerate our investments in 
revenue-generating activities and assets. 

In 2018, we will continue to optimise 
our production and logistics, make 
enhancements to our procurement 
processes, increase awareness on 
sustainability issues, and continue 
minimising the use of packaging materials. 
We will also extend the implementation 
of our carbon, water and energy-
saving projects.

In addition to the ongoing focus on 
light-weighting projects for packaging, 
we will increase the use of recycled PET 
content. We are currently working on two 
joint value creation projects with our PET 
resin suppliers to develop the technology 
required to achieve this.

Digital solutions supporting efficiency and 
automation will also continue to be rolled 
out across the Group. These include pilot 
programmes, such as an integrated 
business planning cloud platform to 
strengthen collaboration in sales and 
operations and optimise inventories, which 
was tested in six countries in 2017.

The outcome from PLATO 2.0 will be the 
roadmap for procurement for the coming 
years. The streamlining of procurement 
processes, the simplification of guidelines 
and the exploitation of digital solutions are 
the tools we will put in place to reinforce 
relationships with our suppliers.

Based on the positive feedback received, 
we will extend our sustainability events and 
workshops in 2018, with supplier events 
held in additional countries and new training 
workshops covering raw materials such as 
sugar, juices and other ingredients. We also 
expect to assess the corporate social 
responsibility systems of at least 200 more 
suppliers using the third-party platform we 
implemented in 2017. 

We are committed to reaching our 2020 
sustainability targets and in 2018 we will 
critically review them and raise the bar 
higher, expanding our time horizon. 
Moreover, as part of the Coca-Cola System 
we are working with The Coca-Cola 
Company to achieve the goals set out in the 
‘World Without Waste’ System platform, 
to collect and recover 100% of primary 
packaging we place in the market.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

53

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationOUR STRATEGY IN ACTION: EFFICIENCIES CONTINUED

Reducing our environmental footprint remains a key priority. In 2017, we invested 
in innovative solutions across our territories to improve energy efficiency.

1. Biogas from waste water 
treatment plant used in Istra 
manufacturing site, Russia
After a €35,000 investment, the Istra plant 
in Russia now burns biogas taken from its 
waste water treatment process, rather than 
natural gas. Through this, we expect savings 
of 181,000 Nm3 of natural gas each year, 
and 540 tonnes of CO2. This is the first 
renewable energy of its kind to be used in 
our Russian operations. The concept was 
deployed in our Novosibirsk plant and in 
2018 we will implement it in the Oricola 
plant in Italy.

2. New cooling system in 
Kostinbrod plant, Bulgaria 
We invested €310,000 in a new cooling 
system in our manufacturing site in 
Kostinbrod, Bulgaria. We introduced chillers 
with direct evaporation/heat exchange in 
the water tanks and now use water instead 
of mono propylene glycol. This has 
contributed not only to chemical reduction 
and a safer environment, but also to 
530 MWh of energy savings annually.

3. Waste heat recovery boilers, 
Nigeria
A €1.4 million investment in waste heat 
recovery boilers in our Nigerian sites is 
expected to save over 400 tonnes of 
carbon emissions each year. The waste 
heat coming from our generators is 

converted to steam and used again in 
the plant. This steam can also be used to 
create chilled water with vapour absorption 
chillers (‘VAC’).

4. Water, energy and CO2 
emissions reduction, Switzerland
We are working with the Swiss start-up 
company Climeworks, which has developed 
a process for capturing CO2 from air with 
the world’s first commercial carbon removal 
technology. The CO2 produced by 
Climeworks causes 66% fewer CO2 
emissions than traditionally produced CO2. 
This technology demonstrates our 
commitment to sustainability and local 
sourcing. The CO2 will be used for 
carbonation of our mineral water Valser 
Classic in 2018.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

3. Nigeria400 tonnesof carbon emissions saved each year1. Russia181,000 Nm3of natural gas saved annually2. Bulgaria530 MWhof energy savings annually4. Switzerland66%fewer CO2 emissionsUNDERSTANDING OUR RISKS 
TO CREATE AND HARNESS

OPPORTUNITIES

Understanding and proactively managing our material 
issues and principal risks is vital. This is because they 
have the greatest potential to impact our ability 
to create and sustain value, which can influence 
our ability to remain viable over time. 

Due to their critical importance, our material issues and 
principal risks are integrated into our business planning processes 
and monitored on a regular basis by our Operating Committee 
and our Board. They offer two complementary lenses for viewing 
our future course. 

One is the risk management lens, which provides insight into future 
threats and uncertainty, and opportunities for seizing advantage.
The other is the material issues lens, which provides a filter for 
prioritising those environmental, social, economic and financial 
issues that are critically important to our ability to create value for all 
of our stakeholders.

In this section, we outline how our material issues and principal risks 
are identified, managed and reported.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

55

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationRISK AND MATERIALITY CONTINUED

OUR APPROACH 
TO MATERIALITY

Our material issues are those that matter most to our stakeholders and 
contribute to our business success. Assessing their importance provides 
a guide to strategically managing the risks and opportunities they represent. 

For these reasons, we undertake an 
annual materiality assessment process. 
This involves looking beyond our own 
footprint and considering all of the 
environmental, social, economic and 
financial topics that could affect – 
negatively or positively – our ability to 
create value over the short, medium 
and long term. 

To support our annual materiality 
assessment, we conduct ongoing dialogue 
with our stakeholders, including suppliers, 
consumers, regulators and non-
governmental organisations (NGOs). 
We also assess material issues based 
on their relevance to our strategic plans 
and objectives. 

Our internal process for assessing 
materiality involves the following groups:

 – Our cross-functional Sustainability 

Steering Committee assesses the list 
of material issues and ensures that our 
sustainability approach is fully aligned 
with our business priorities.

 – The Social Responsibility Committee of 
the Board of Directors endorses the 
prioritised list of issues and the resulting 
materiality matrix.

 – The Operating Committee integrates 
our sustainability priorities into our 
business strategy.

Engaging stakeholders
We engage with our stakeholders to listen 
and to understand their insights into the 
issues that matter most to our 
communities and our business. This 
engagement enables our leadership to 
understand emerging trends and different 
perspectives, strengthens our relationships 
and helps us make better business 
decisions to deliver on our commitments. 
Our key internal and external stakeholders 
include investors, employees, customers, 
suppliers, local communities, NGOs and 
governments, among others.

Environmental, social, economic and 
financial issues touch on every aspect of 
our business. Engaging with stakeholders is, 
therefore, a cross-functional process that 
takes place across all of our markets. This is 
done through co-operation with trade 
associations, governments, civil 
organisations and alliances, in various 
meetings, forums and events.

Once a year, together with The Coca-Cola 
Company, we invite a selected group of 
people to a Group stakeholder forum, 
where we present briefs on two to three 
material issues and seek input regarding 
these and our other material issues. Our 
2017 stakeholder forum took place in 
Vienna in November. 

Attendees included 25 high-level 
academics, suppliers, customers and NGO 
representatives, and discussions centred 
on the two material issues we presented: 
health and nutrition and employee 
engagement and well-being.

Beyond this, we ask more than 460 key 
stakeholders to provide online feedback 
every year via our material issues survey. 
This gives them the opportunity to prioritise 
our material issues based on their own 
interests and perception of the value 
we create.

The survey includes open-ended questions 
allowing stakeholders to share feedback on 
anything we may have missed. A similar 
survey is conducted internally to collect 
input from our top 300 business leaders, 
which includes the senior leadership teams 
in our 28 countries, as well as the regional 
management teams and the Group top 
management. The output of these surveys 
is used to derive our materiality matrix.

In 2017, we continued the standardisation 
of materiality assessment and stakeholder 
engagement at the country level, with 
Russia, Poland and FYROM among the first 
countries to implement this initiative. The 
objective is to gauge input from a broad 
array of stakeholders in a structured way, 
both at the Group and country level. Local 
teams use the same standard set of 
material issues as the Group, and may 
amend them by adding up to three others 
which reflect the unique characteristics of 
their local market, following the 
endorsement of the local senior leadership.

You can read more about our stakeholder 
engagement processes in the Governance 
section of this report and on our website.

Engaging with stakeholders in Moscow and Skopje.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

MANAGING OUR 
MATERIAL ISSUES

We continue to regard the 12 material issues identified below 
as the most relevant and important to our business, and believe 
they will remain so.

By combining the importance of these 
issues for stakeholders with the significance 
of their economic, environmental and 
social impacts on our business, we derive 
the relative materiality of each issue. 
This is shown in the materiality matrix 
graphic below.

Following the process of prioritising our 
material issues, our Operating Committee 
ensures that they are proactively managed 
within our overall strategic framework.

This includes setting and disclosing 
targets and metrics to measure progress. 
Executive compensation is linked to 
these targets.

We use the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United 
Nations in 2016 as a framework to guide 
us in creating value for all stakeholders 
through the proactive management of our 
material issues.

Our contributions to the specific SDGs 
below, which we believe are relevant to our 
business, are noted in the Communities, 
Consumers, Customers and Efficiencies 
sections of this report.

You can find more details on our 
sustainability performance in the GRI 
Content Index: https://coca-colahellenic.
com/en/investors/2017-integrated-
annual-report/

Materiality matrix

l

s
r
e
d
o
h
e
k
a
t
s
o
t
e
c
n
a
t
r
o
p
m

I

i

h
g
h
y
r
e
V

h
g
H

i

e
t
a
r
e
d
o
M

4

7

3

9

1

11

2

10

8
12

6

5

Moderate

High

Very high

Significance of economic, social 
and environmental impacts on our business

Key
Economic dimension

Corporate governance, 
business ethics and 
anti-corruption
Direct and indirect 
economic impacts

Health and nutrition

Product quality 
and integrity

Responsible marketing

1

2

3

4

5

Environmental dimension

6

7

8

9

Carbon and energy

Packaging, recycling 
and waste management

Sustainable sourcing

Water stewardship

Social dimension

10

11

Community investment 
and engagement
Employee well-being 
and engagement

12

Human rights and diversity

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information 
 
 
RISK AND MATERIALITY CONTINUED

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT 
OF RISK

Risk management
Intrinsically linked to materiality is the 
management of risk. During 2017, to 
support informed risk-taking at all levels, 
we further embedded our enterprise risk 
management programme into our 
Company culture. Informed risk-taking 
allows us to innovate and leverage 
opportunities for growth across our 28 
countries and forms the foundation of our 
effective risk management strategy. The 
enterprise risk management programme is 
led by the Group Chief Risk Officer (CRO) 
who works in close collaboration with the 
risk owners in specialised functions on 
specific business risks.

The Board is ultimately responsible for the 
Group’s risk management and internal 
control systems, and for reviewing their 
effectiveness. The Board has defined the 
Group’s risk appetite and reviews quarterly 
the Company’s risk exposure to ensure that 
material matters and principal risks facing 
the Company are managed in alignment 
with our strategic goals and objectives. 
While oversight responsibility rests with the 
Audit and Risk Committee (as described in 
the Governance section of this report), the 
Board is updated on outcomes and all 
significant issues.

Risk management is the central pillar of our 
business resilience programme which was 
disclosed in the 2015 Annual report. The full 
programme description is available at:
https://coca-colahellenic.com/en/about-us

Collaboration is central to the success of 
the risk management programme and 
strong partnerships have been forged 
across all business functions which actively 
support the enterprise risk management 
programme. Successful collaborations in 
2017 included:

 – an updated Board-endorsed risk 

management policy;

 – Group statements on strategic direction, 

ethics and values;

 – clear business strategies, objectives 

and principles;

 – an annually reviewed enterprise risk 

management framework that articulates 
the continuous process for the 
identification and evaluation of significant 
risks to the achievement of business 
objectives;

 – programme integration into the business 

planning cycle;

 – continual monitoring of our internal 

and external environment for factors 
that may change our risk profile or 
create opportunities;

 – training and awareness programmes 
across all operations and functions 
focused on embedding a risk 
management culture into our DNA and 
creating informed risk-taking leaders at 
all levels, which builds the capability to 
leverage opportunities; and

 – the annual evaluation of the type and 

amount of Group insurance purchased 
from the market while leveraging our 
captive insurance entity. This is with 
reference to the availability of cover and 
cost measured against the probability 
and magnitude of the associated risks.

Programme review
The risk management programme  
is audited annually by the Company’s 
internal audit department. It measures  
the programme, its processes and their 
application against best practice and  
the International Accounting Standard.  
The Corporate Audit Director makes 
recommendations to improve the  
overall risk management programme  
with the findings submitted to the Audit  
and Risk Committee.

Our principal risks
Leveraging our robust risk management 
programme, we are constantly vigilant to 
uncertainty in our operating environments. 
In this way, we proactively identify new 
opportunities and risks, and understand the 
threats to our business viability.

This overview of our most important risks, 
which involves an assessment of the 
likelihood of occurrence and the potential 
consequences, does not include all risks 
that can ultimately affect the Company. 
There are risks not yet known to us, or 
currently believed to be immaterial, that 
could ultimately have an impact on our 
business or financial performance. 

For the current reporting period, we have 
made three changes to our principal risk 
categories. Moving off the list is the risk of 
change management. With our major 
business transformation projects involving 
supply chain and information technology 
effectively implemented, the probability and 
impact of this risk was further reduced in 
2017 and therefore it is no longer evaluated 
as a principal risk. However, the category will 
continue to be monitored as part of our 
strategic risk review processes, which 
allows for its reclassification if required. 

The people and talent risk has transformed 
into two separate risks due to the differing 
mitigations: people attraction and people 
engagement. Elevated to a principal risk is 
health and safety. While health and safety 
was always closely monitored as a strategic 
risk, the elevation to a principal risk 
emphases the critical importance of the 
well-being and safety of our employees 
and contractors, and the safety of others 
in the workplace. 

With respect to the risk ratings, the principal 
risks of cyber and discriminatory taxes 
increased in comparison to 2016 in both 
likelihood and impact. The foreign currency 
risk observed a decrease in impact.The 
risk ratings were influenced by changes 
experienced in our operational environment.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

A solid framework to manage risk
Our enterprise risk management process for the identification, review, management and escalation of both risks and opportunities 
is based on ISO 31000. In 2017 this process incorporated the following key activities:

 – quarterly risk reviews were undertaken by the markets 

and corporate functions;

 – the CRO and his team facilitated 20 of these sessions 

with senior leaders;

<

Opportunities 
and risks

Quarterly 
reviews

CRO 
leadership 
sessions

 – management actions were reviewed quarterly. In May and 
November, facilitated regional-level reviews including the 
Regional Directors, their teams and the CRO were conducted. 
Stakeholder feedback was provided after these sessions, 
ensuring a cyclic bottom/up, top/down information loop;

Management  
actions reviewed

 – the Group Risk Forum (GRF), which acts as an internal think 
tank and is headed by the CRO, convened on a six-monthly 
basis and evaluated risk trends and the risk environment as 
part of the preparation of our strategic risk register and list 
of principal risks;

 – the Operating Committee reviewed the findings of the GRF and 
our risk exposures with the CRO in May and November; and

Operating  
Committee  
review

 – on a quarterly basis, the CRO briefed the Audit and Risk 
Committee on material risks, management actions, and 
process compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The Group 
 Risk Forum

Committee  
briefings

Feedback 
to this 
process

<

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59

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationRISK AND MATERIALITY CONTINUED

OUR PRINCIPAL RISKS

Principal risks
1. Consumer health

Description
Failure to adapt to 
changing consumer 
health trends and 
address 
misconceptions about 
our formulations and 
the health impact of 
soft drinks.

Potential impact
•  Failure to achieve 
our growth plans

•  Damage to our 

Key mitigations
•  Focus on product innovation and 

expansion to a 24/7 total beverage 
portfolio

brand and 
corporate 
reputation

•  Loss of consumer 

base

•  Expand our range of low- and 

no-calorie beverages
• 
Introduce smaller entry packs
•  Reduce the calorie content of 

products in the portfolio

Link to material 
issues
Health and 
nutrition

Responsible 
marketing

Product quality 
and integrity

2. Foreign currency

3. Climate, carbon 
and water

4. Channel mix

•  Clearer labelling on packaging
•  Promote active lifestyles through 

consumer engagement 
programmes focused on health and 
wellness

•  Financial loss
•  Asset impairment
•  Limitations on 

•  Treasury policy requires the hedging 
of 25% to 80% of rolling 12-month 
forecasted transactional exposure

cash repatriation

•  Hedging beyond 12 months may 

Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts

occur in exceptional cases subject 
to approval of the Group CFO 

•  Derivative financial instruments are 
used, where available, to reduce net 
exposure to currency fluctuations

Carbon and 
energy 

Packaging, 
recycling and 
waste 
management

Sustainable 
sourcing 

Water 
stewardship

Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts

•  Long-term 

•  Water stewardship programmes 

damage to our 
corporate 
reputation

•  Less influence in 

shaping the 
citizenship and 
sustainability 
agenda
•  Reduced 

profitability

•  Reduced 

profitability

that are reducing our water 
consumption, our footprint and 
assuring sustainable end-to-end 
water (from water sourcing, and 
using treated waste water for the 
benefit of our communities, other 
users and stakeholders)

•  Carbon and energy management 

programmes

•  Packaging waste management 

programmes

•  Partnering with NGOs and 

international NGOs on common 
issues such as nature conservation
•  Partnering with local communities 
to minimise environmental impact
•  Focus on sustainable procurement
•  Continued to increase our presence 
in the discounter channel during 
2017

•  Working closely with our customers 
to identify opportunities for joint 
value creation

•  Right Execution Daily (RED) strategy 

continues to support our 
commitment to operational 
excellence, enabling us to respond 
to changing customer needs across 
all channels

Foreign exchange 
exposure arises from 
changes in exchange 
rates, as well as 
currency depreciation 
in combination with 
capital controls, 
restricts movement of 
funds and increases 
the risk of asset 
impairment.
Failure to meet our 
stakeholders’ 
expectations in 
making a positive 
contribution to the 
sustainability agenda, 
particularly relating to 
climate change, 
packaging waste and 
water usage.

A continued increase 
in the concentration 
of retailers and 
independent 
wholesalers on whom 
we depend to 
distribute our 
products. The 
immediate 
consumption channel 
remains under 
pressure as 
consumers alter 
consumption habits.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Key for principal risks table
Increasing
Stable
Decreasing

Principal risks
5. Declining 
consumer demand

6. Discriminatory 
taxes

7. Quality

8. Regulatory 
challenges

Description
Challenging and 
volatile 
macroeconomic, 
security and political 
conditions can affect 
consumer demand 
and create security 
risks across our 
diverse mix of 
markets.
Regulations on 
consumer health, 
government 
misconceptions 
relating to 
formulations and the 
risk of the targeting of 
our products by 
governments and 
NGOs for 
discriminatory 
taxation and 
packaging waste 
recovery.

The occurrence of 
quality issues, or the 
contamination of our 
products, across our 
diverse total beverage 
portfolio. 

Inadvertent non-
compliance, by the 
Company or related 
third parties, with laws 
and regulations, that 
exist across our 
diverse mix of 
markets.

Link to material 
issues
Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts

Community 
investment and 
engagement

Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts

Product quality 
and integrity

Potential impact
•  Eroded consumer 

• 

confidence 
affecting 
spending
Inflationary 
pressures
•  Social unrest
•  Safety of people 
and security of 
assets

•  Reduction in 
profitability

•  Damage to brand 
and corporate 
reputation 

•  Loss of consumer 

trust

•  Reduction in 

volume and net 
sales revenue

Key mitigations
•  Seeking to offer the right brand, at 
the right price, in the right package 
through the right channel
•  Robust security practices and 

procedures to protect people and 
assets

•  Crisis response and business 

continuity strategies

•  Proactively working with 

governments and regulatory 
authorities to ensure that the facts 
relating to formulations are clearly 
understood and that our products 
are not singled out unfairly

•  Shaping the sustainability agenda as 
it relates to packaging and waste 
recovery

•  Engaging with stakeholders 
including NGOs and the 
communities in which we operate 
on strategies to protect the 
environment and build consumer 
trust

•  Stringent quality processes in place 

to minimise the occurrence of 
quality issues

•  Early warning systems (Consumer 
Interaction Centres and social 
media monitoring) that enable issue 
identification

•  Robust response processes and 
systems that enable us to quickly 
and efficiently deal with quality 
issues, ensuring customers and 
consumers retain confidence in our 
products

•  Damage to our 

•  Annual ‘tone from the top’ 

corporate 
reputation
•  Significant 

messaging

•  Code of Business Conduct training 

and awareness

financial penalties

•  Anti-Bribery Policy and commercial 

•  Management 

time diverted to 
resolving legal 
issues

• 

compliance training
Internal control assurance 
programme with local management 
accountability

•  Risk-based internal control 

framework

•  Whistle-blower hotline
•  Legal function in constant dialogue 

with regulators

Corporate 
governance, 
business ethics 
and anti-
corruption

Human rights 
and diversity

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RISK AND MATERIALITY CONTINUED

Principal risks
9. People attraction

Potential impact
•  Failure to achieve 
our growth plans

Description
Inability to attract and 
retain sufficient 
numbers of qualified 
and experienced 
employees in 
competitive talent 
markets.

Link to material 
issues
Employee 
well-being and 
engagement

Key mitigations
•  Upgrade our employer value 

proposition and employer brand
•  Develop leaders and people for key 

• 

positions internally
Improve leaders’ skills and 
commitment to talent development

•  Create shared value with the 

communities in which we work to 
ensure we are seen and considered 
as an ethical business with an 
attractive purpose

•  Expand employee pool by hiring a 

more diverse workforce

10. People 
engagement

Inability to ensure 
ongoing engagement 
and commitment of 
our workforce.

11. Cyber

A cyber-attack or data 
centre failure resulting 
in business disruption, 
or the loss of personal 
data.

•  Failure to achieve 
our growth plans

•  Promote operational excellence and 
remove barriers to performance
•  Listen to our people to measure 

Employee 
well-being and 
engagement

• 
• 

engagement and address findings
Improve well-being of employees
Improve leaders’ skills so that they 
can enable, engage and energise 
employees sustainably

•  Promote an inclusive environment 
that allows all employees to realise 
their full potential

•  Monitoring, identifying and 

addressing cyber threats and 
suspicious internal computer 
activity

•  Training on information 

management and the protection of 
information

•  Disaster recovery testing and 
enhanced crisis response 
capabilities

Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts

•  Financial loss
•  Operational 
disruption
•  Damage to 
corporate 
reputation

•  Non-compliance 
with statutory 
data protection 
legislation

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Key for principal risks table
Increasing
Stable
Decreasing

Principal risks
12. Strategic 
stakeholder 
relationships

13. Health and 
safety

Description
We rely on our 
strategic relationships 
and agreements with 
The Coca-Cola 
Company. Monster 
Energy and our 
premium spirits 
partners.

The risk of health and 
safety issues being 
ineffectively managed. 
This incorporates the 
management of 
third-party providers, 
particularly fleet and 
logistics.

Not linked to viability

Potential impact
•  Termination of 
agreements or 
unfavourable 
renewal terms 
could adversely 
affect profitability

Key mitigations
•  Management focus on effective 
day-to-day interaction with our 
strategic partners

•  Working together as effective 

partners for growth

•  Engagement in joint projects and 
business planning with a focus on 
strategic issues

•  Participation in ‘top to top’ senior 

management forums

•  Death or injury of 

•  Standardised programmes, policies 

employees, 
contractors or 
third parties

•  Employee 

engagement and 
motivation

and legislation applied locally

•  Group oversight by the health and 

safety team

•  Health and Safety Board with the 
clear purpose to accelerate the 
implementation of the health and 
safety step-change plan

Link to material 
issues
Direct and 
indirect 
economic 
impacts 

Employee 
well-being and 
engagement

Principal risk heat map
This heat map illustrates the likelihood and impact of our principal risks. The timeframes for our principal risks are directly linked to our 
viability statement.

h
g
H

i

t
c
a
p
m

I

w
o
L

Low

12

10

7

1

11

3

6

4

5

2

9

8

13

Key

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Consumer health

Foreign currency

8

9

Regulatory challenges

People attraction 

Climate, carbon and water

10

People engagement 

Channel mix

11

Cyber 

Declining consumer 
demand

12

Strategic stakeholder 
relationships 

Discriminatory taxes

13

Health and safety 

Quality

Likelihood

High

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

AN EXCEPTIONAL 
SET OF RESULTS

In 2017, we achieved balanced growth across our business, 
with a considerable improvement in every line of our income 
statement, making this an exceptional year in our recent history.

We delivered another year of progress towards our 2020 objectives, and with 
better momentum. Strong in-market execution, supported by an improving 
economic environment, resulted in excellent top-line growth and margin 
expansion in 2017. Here are the highlights:

 – good balance of volume and price/mix growth drove net sales revenue up 

5.9% on an FX-neutral basis; reported net sales revenue increased by 4.9%;

 – FX-neutral revenue per case improved in all segments, up 3.6% overall;
 – volume increased by 2.2%, with growth in all segments;
 – operating leverage drove a 30 basis-point reduction in comparable 

operating expenses as a percentage of net sales revenue;

 – comparable EBIT margin increased by 120 basis points to 9.5%; and 
 – comparable EPS increased by 26.9% to €1.233.

Michalis Imellos
Chief Financial Officer

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Key financial information

Volume (million unit cases)
Net sales revenue (€ million)
Net sales revenue per unit case (€)
FX-neutral net sales revenue (€ million) 
FX-neutral net sales revenue per unit case (€)
Operating profit (EBIT) (€ million)
Comparable EBIT (€ million)
EBIT margin (%)
Comparable EBIT margin (%)
Net profit (€ million)
Comparable net profit (€ million)
Comparable basic earnings per share (€)

Percentage changes are calculated on precise numbers.

2017
2,104 
6,522 
3.10 
6,522 
3.10 
590 
621 
9.0 
9.5 
426 
450 
1.233 

2016 
2,058
6,219
3.02
6,157
2.99
506
518
8.1
8.3
344
352
0.972

% 
change
2.2
4.9
2.6
5.9 
3.6
16.5
20.0
90bps
120bps
24.0
27.7
26.9

Balance sheet

Assets
Total non-current assets
Total current assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Total current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Equity
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total equity and liabilities

Figures are rounded.

2017 
€ million

2016 
€ million

4,345 
2,286 
6,630 

1,896 
1,722 
3,618 

3,007 
5 
3,012 
6,630 

4,504
2,061
6,565

1,968
1,727
3,695

2,866
5
2,870
6,565

Income statement
Volume grew 2.2% in the year, an 
acceleration from the marginal expansion 
of 0.1% in the prior year. We saw a good 
performance from both sparkling drinks 
(including Energy) and still drinks, which 
grew 2.6% and 1.5% respectively. Volume 
was up 1.1% in the Established segment, up 
2.8% in the Developing segment and up 
2.7% in the Emerging segment. Strong 
volume delivery from our medium-sized 
markets in the Developing and Emerging 
segments has been an important 
component of overall volume growth.

Net sales revenue improved by 5.9% on an 
FX-neutral basis. Reported revenue grew 
4.9%, aided by the stronger Russian rouble 
when compared to the prior year. FX-
neutral revenue per case grew in all 
segments, up 3.6% overall, with positive 
contributions from price, category and 
package mix. 

Cost of goods sold increased by 4.2% in 
2017, compared to the prior year, as a 
result of volume growth as well as higher 
input costs, driven mainly by increases in 
PET resin while the cost of our other main 
commodities declined year on year. 

Ongoing tight cost management, 
combined with strong revenue growth, 
delivered a 30 basis-point reduction in 
comparable operating expenses as a 
percentage of revenue in a year where we 
invested to support our revenue growth 
management initiatives and increased 
marketing spend. 

Comparable operating profit increased by 
20.0% in 2017, compared to the prior year, 
as benefits from our revenue growth 
management initiatives including price 
increases, higher sales volume and slightly 
positive FX impact more than offset higher 
cost of goods sold and increased operating 
expenses. Operating profit increased by 
16.5% in 2017, compared to the prior year.

FX-neutral 
revenue growth

5.9%

Comparable 
operating profit

€621m

Comparable EBIT margin 
improvement

+120bps

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FINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

Net finance costs declined by €26 million 
during 2017, compared to the prior year, 
mainly driven by the issuance of the €600 
million bond in March 2016 and the 
repayment in November 2016 of the 4.25% 
fixed rate bond, that had resulted in higher 
interest costs in 2016, as well as the lower 
effective interest rate of the new bond.

On a comparable basis, the effective tax 
rate was 24.5% for 2017 and 24.8% for 
2016. On a reported basis, the effective tax 
rate was fairly stable at 24.5% and 24.9% for 
2017 and 2016 respectively. The Group’s 
effective tax rate varies depending on the 
mix of taxable profits by territory, the 
non-deductibility of certain expenses, 
non-taxable income and other one-off tax 
items across its territories.

Comparable net profit increased by  
27.7% and net profit by 24.0% in 2017 
compared to the prior year, mainly driven  
by higher operating profitability and lower 
net finance costs, only partially offset by 
increased taxes.

Dividend
In view of the Group's progressive dividend 
policy and the Board's assessment of 
progress against the Group's strategy, the 
Board of Directors has proposed a dividend 
of €0.54 per share. This is a 22.7% increase 
from €0.44 per share for 2016. The dividend 
payment will be subject to, among other 
things, shareholders’ approval at our Annual 
General Meeting.

Balance sheet
Total non-current assets decreased by 
€159 million in 2017, mainly due to the 
impact of foreign currency translation. Net 
current assets increased by €296 million  
in 2017, driven mainly by the cash and  
cash equivalents generated by the Group  
in the year. 

Cash flow
Net cash from operating activities 
increased by 5.3% in 2017 compared  
to the prior year, as increased operating 
profitability was only partially offset by  
taxes paid.

Capital expenditure, net of receipts from 
the disposal of assets and including principal 
repayments of finance lease obligations, 
increased by 13.7% in 2017 compared to 
the prior year and represented 5.8% of net 
sales revenue, up from 5.3% in 2016.

We generated €426 million of free cash 
flow, compared to €431 million in 2016, 
despite increasing capital expenditure. 

Economic value
Efficient use of capital and higher profits 
resulted in an increase in return on invested 
capital (ROIC) from 10.3% in 2016 to 12.4% 
in 2017. At the same time, our weighted 
average cost of capital (WACC) fell from 
8.2% in 2016 to 7.8% in 2017, reflecting  
the improving economic environment  
in a number of our countries in the year.  
As a result, we continued to grow the 
positive economic value generated  
by our operations.

Cash flow

Cash flow from operating activities
Payments for purchases of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

Principal repayments of finance lease obligations 
Free cash flow

Figures are rounded.

2017 
€ million

2016 
€ million 

804
(410)
39 

(7)
426

763
(348)
36

(20)
431

Financial risk management
Given the volatility in currency and 
commodity markets, proactively managing 
financial risks was critical throughout the 
year. We experienced certain adverse 
currency impacts due to our foreign 
currency exposures arising from changes in 
exchange rates between the euro, the US 
dollar and the currencies of our non-euro 
countries. In 2017, unusually for our 
business, we incurred an overall positive 
impact of €8 million at operating profit level, 
mainly due to the stronger Russian rouble, 
which more than offset the impact arising 
from other depreciating currencies.

We actively hedge transaction exposures in 
each foreign currency with an available 
active hedging market on a rolling 
12-month basis. The Nigerian naira 
experienced double-digit depreciation 
against the euro in 2017. We mitigated a 
significant part of the impact of this 
depreciation by pre-buying certain key raw 
materials at the beginning of the year. On 
the other hand, the Russian rouble 
significantly appreciated versus 2016 
against both euro and US dollar. The 
significant appreciation of the Russian 
rouble, the depreciating Nigerian naira  
and minor impacts from various other 
currencies resulted in a €4 million positive 
transaction impact to our P&L. With an 
additional €4 million positive impact from 
translation, the total impact of currencies 
on our P&L was €8 million in the year.

We had contracted EU sugar prices at 
favourable levels at the end of 2015, which 
proved successful. PET resin prices did 
increase, as expected, but careful 
management and certain well-timed 
pre-buys by our procurement team 
ensured that we secured better pricing 
compared to our plans. Overall, input cost 
per case on an FX-neutral basis was up by 
3.1% year on year.

Our general policy is to retain a minimum 
amount of liquidity reserves in the form of 
cash and cash equivalents on our balance 
sheet while maintaining liquidity potential  
in the form of an unused committed €500 
million revolving credit facility. We invest  
our excess cash at Group level primarily  
in short-term time deposits.

66

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 
Tax contribution by category

Corporate income tax: 42.6%
Withholding tax: 1.7%
Payroll taxes: 46.6%
VAT (cost): 1.3%
Environmental taxes: 0.2%
Other taxes: 7.6%

Taxes we contribute to 
our communities
Coca-Cola HBC commits to a 
transparent approach to tax, and will 
continue paying taxes in the countries 
where value is created, driving a 
consistent tax behaviour across the 
Group. Our tax policy is aligned with 
business and commercial strategy, and 
we observe all applicable laws, rules and 
regulations everywhere we operate. 

We support the communities in the 
countries where we operate directly, by 
creating wealth, and also indirectly, by 
paying taxes. These taxes include: 
corporate income tax calculated on 
each country’s taxable profit, employer 
taxes and social security contributions, 
net VAT cost and other taxes that are 
reflected as operating expenses. Excise 
taxes and taxes borne by employees are 
not included.

In principle, we do not keep excess cash 
in any of our countries except for the ones 
with various degrees of capital controls. 
We have a multi-currency zero balance 
automated pool structure in place for 15 
of our countries. Fund transfer restrictions 
exist in Belarus, Greece, Serbia and Ukraine, 
but these restrictions do not have a 
material impact on our liquidity, as the 
amount of cash and cash equivalents we 
hold in these countries is generally retained 
for capital expenditure, working capital and 
dividend distribution purposes. Fund 
transfer restrictions also exist in Nigeria 
and the tight liquidity in the local foreign 
exchange market in 2016 and the start 
of 2017 significantly limited our ability to 
execute payments in foreign currency 
during that period. Foreign currency liquidity 
has improved considerably since the 
second quarter of 2017.

Borrowings
Our medium- to long-term aim is to 
maintain a ratio of net debt to comparable 
EBITDA in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 times. 
We ended the year with a ratio of 0.8 times. 
Our funding strategy in the debt capital 
markets involves raising financing through 
our wholly owned Dutch financing 
subsidiary, Coca-Cola HBC Finance B.V., 
except in the case of subsidiaries with joint 
control, or countries where certain legal  
or tax restrictions apply. In such cases, 
financing at lower levels in the organisation 
may be considered.

We use our €3 billion Euro Medium Term 
Note programme and our €1 billion Euro 
Commercial Paper programme as the  
main basis for our financing.

Borrowing structure (€ million)

We endeavour to maintain our presence 
and profile in the international capital 
markets and, where possible, to broaden 
our investor base. We also seek to maintain 
a well-balanced redemption profile. 

In early 2016, we issued a €600 million bond, 
repayable in November 2024, at an 
effective interest rate of 2.99%. This was 
utilised mainly in the refinancing of the €600 
million bond maturing in November 2016. 
Our €800 million bond, with June 2020 
maturity, is still outstanding.

We also have a €500 million syndicated 
revolving credit facility, which was extended 
until 24 June 2021. We have never drawn 
down on this facility, which can be used for 
general corporate purposes and carries 
a floating interest rate over EURIBOR 
and LIBOR.

Looking ahead
Given the improving economic conditions 
in our territory, we expect volume to 
continue to grow in all three segments, 
with the Emerging markets segment 
accelerating, as Russia and Nigeria return 
to volume growth.

Our revenue growth management 
initiatives, which are designed to grow 
revenue faster than volume, have gained 
momentum and should continue to 
enhance the value we get from every case 
we sell. We also intend to continue with 
pricing actions in markets impacted by 
foreign currency depreciation and markets 
where deflationary pressures are abating. 
We expect our plans to continue to 
improve FX-neutral net sales revenue per 
case in the year.

On the cost side, we expect our input costs 
per case to increase by low single digits on 
an FX-neutral basis and further reduction in 
operating expenses as a percentage of net 
sales revenue in the year.

In summary, we have started the year 
excited about our plans for product 
innovation and the work we are doing in 
route to market and in-store execution. 
We expect the combination of volume 
growth, price/mix improvement and cost 
control to deliver FX-neutral revenue 
growth and margin expansion in the year.

Bonds issued: 1,394
Commercial paper: 120
Finance leases: 74
Other: 39

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

67

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationMARKET HIGHLIGHTS

BROAD-BASED GROWTH IN 
OUR DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIES 

Established markets

“We are focusing on innovation and value in 
the Established markets segment, with a 
number of initiatives supporting Lights and 
Adult drinks. Therefore seeing Coca-Cola 
Zero up by 14% and Schweppes up by 10% 
in this segment is very encouraging.”

Volume vs 2016

+1.1%

FX-neutral net sales revenue per 
case vs 2016

+0.7%

Developing markets

Emerging markets

Sotiris Yannopoulos
Region Director

“Developing markets grew very well in the 

Volume vs 2016

year, showing an acceleration in the second 
half, mainly due to a better volume 
performance in Poland. Hungary and the 
Czech Republic grew faster compared to 
2016, helped by their favourable economies 
and good summer weather.”

+2.8%

FX-neutral net sales revenue per 
case vs 2016

+2.7%

Keith Sanders
Region Director

“We are pleased to see good momentum 
in our medium-sized Emerging segment 
countries, while Nigeria and Russia 
produced flattish results in a challenging 
operating environment.

Volume vs 2016

+2.7%

“With slightly favourable currency rates in 
the year, the profitability of the segment 
improved, delivering 300 basis points of 
comparable operating margin expansion.”

FX-neutral net sales revenue per 
case vs 2016

+6.9%

Naya Kalogeraki
Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer

68

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

We achieved broad-based revenue growth in all of our segments with a good 
balance between volume and price/mix growth, despite facing a challenging 
operating environment in Nigeria and Russia.

Volume breakdown by country

Italy: 42%
Greece: 17%
Austria: 14%
Switzerland: 12%
Ireland: 12%
Cyprus: 3%

Volume (million unit cases)
Net sales revenue (€ million)
Operating profit (EBIT) (€ million)
Comparable EBIT (€ million)
Total taxes1 (€ million)
Population2 (million)
GDP per capita (US$)
Bottling plants (number)
Employees (number)
Water footprint (billion litres)
Carbon emissions (tonnes)
Safety rate (lost time accidents 
>1 day per 100 employees)

2017
613 
2,436 
238 
250 
130 
91.2
37,854
13 
6,530 
5.0 
99,812 

2016 % change
1.1%
607
1.2%
2,408
0.6%
237
3.3%
242
7.6%
121
0.3%
90.9
3.5%
36,565
–
13
-3%
6,744
-9.4%
5.5*
114,329 -12.7%

0.93 

0.94 

-0.7%

1.  Total taxes include corporate income tax, withholding tax, and deferred tax, as well as social security costs and other taxes that are reflected as operating expenses; 

as per IFRS accounts.

2.  Population source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, October 2017. Northern Ireland: NISRA (Northern Ireland Statistics and 

Research Agency), Office for National Statistics, UK, Northern Ireland Economic Outlook, 2017. Italian data: Sicilian population excluded based on data from ISTAT 
(Italian National Institute of Statistics).

Volume breakdown by country

Poland: 43%
Hungary: 23%
Czech Republic: 13%
Baltics: 7%
Croatia: 7%
Slovakia: 5%
Slovenia: 2%

Volume (million unit cases)
Net sales revenue (€ million)
Operating profit (EBIT) (€ million)
Comparable EBIT (€ million)
Total taxes1 (€ million)
Population2 (million)
GDP per capita (US$)
Bottling plants (number)
Employees (number)
Water footprint (billion litres)
Carbon emissions (tonnes)
Safety rate (lost time accidents 
>1 day per 100 employees)

2017
394 
1,173 
92 
92 
54 
76.1
15,117
8
4,747 
2.6 
78,630 

2016 % change
2.8%
 383 
7.2%
 1,094 
-1.4%
 93 
-4.9%
 97 
–
 54 
-0.1%
 76.2 
7.8%
14,020
–
 8 
-5%
 4,980
1.9%
 2.5* 
 84,498  -12.1%

0.36 

 0.66 

-46%

1.  Total taxes include corporate income tax, withholding tax, and deferred tax, as well as social security costs and other taxes that are reflected as operating expenses; 

as per IFRS accounts.

2.  Population source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, October 2017.

Volume (million unit cases)
Net sales revenue (€ million)
Operating profit (EBIT) (€ million)
Comparable EBIT (€ million)
Total taxes1 (€ million)
Population2 (million)
GDP per capita (US$)
Bottling plants (number)
Employees (number)
Water footprint (billion litres)
Carbon emissions (tonnes)
Safety rate (lost time accidents 
>1 day per 100 employees)

2017
1,097 
2,912 
260
278 
129 
432.6
 5,502 
34 
18,150 
10.2 
368,144 

 1,068 
 2,717 

2016 % change
2.7%
7.2%
 177  47.2%
 178  56.3%
 106  20.9%
1.1%
8.8%
-3%
-6%
1.2%
-4%

 427.8 
 5,055 
 35 
19,359
 10.1*
383,604

0.26 

 0.24  10.1%

Volume breakdown by country

Russian Federation: 31%
Nigeria: 23%
Romania: 16%
Serbia and Montenegro: 9%
Ukraine: 9%
Bulgaria: 5%
Belarus: 3%
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 2%
Armenia: 1%
Moldova: 1%

1.  Total taxes include corporate income tax, withholding tax and deferred tax, as well as social security costs and other taxes that are reflected as operating expenses; 

as per IFRS accounts.

2.  Population source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, October 2017.

* 

In 2017 we verified our methodology for water footprint, restating 2016.

Figures are rounded.
Percentage changes are calculated on precise numbers.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

69

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The above scenarios were tested in 
isolation as well as in combination and our 
stress testing showed that due to the 
stable cash generation of our business, the 
Group would be able to withstand the 
impact of these scenarios occurring over 
the period of the financial forecasts by 
making adjustments, if required, to its 
operating plans within the normal course of 
business. Following the above, as well as 
carrying out a robust assessment of the 
Group’s risks that could threaten our 
business model, future performance, 
solvency or liquidity, the Board has 
concluded that the Group is well positioned 
to effectively manage its financial, 
operational and strategic risks.

Viability Statement
Based on our assessment of prospects and 
viability as outlined above, the Directors 
confirm that they have a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will be able to 
continue operating and meet its liabilities as 
they fall due over the five-year period 
ending 31 December 2022.

VIABILITY STATEMENT

Business model and prospects
Our business model and strategy, as 
outlined on pages 18-21 of this report, 
constitute the key factors underpinning the 
understanding and evaluation of our 
prospects, which are our:

 – strong sales and execution capabilities;
 – attractive geographic diversity;
 – market leadership; 
 – global brands; and 
 – diverse beverage portfolio. 

Our strategy is being adapted over time in 
order to sustainably create value for our 
shareholders, suppliers, employees, and the 
customers and communities we serve. The 
Group’s business model has proven to be 
effective and resilient even during the 
recent challenging market conditions. Our 
Board has historically applied a prudent 
approach to the Group’s decisions relating 
to major projects and investments. From 
2013 to 2017, we generated free cash flow 
of an average of €403 million per year. The 
Board considers that our diverse 
geographic footprint, including exposure to 
emerging markets with low per capita 
consumption, and our proven strategy in 
combination with our leading market 
position, offer significant opportunities for 
future growth. 

The business planning process, 
key assumptions and viability 
period
The Group has a well-established strategic 
business planning process which has 
formed the basis of the Board’s quantitative 
assessment of the Group’s viability. The 
business plan reflects our current strategy 
over a five-year rolling period. The financial 
projections included in the plan are based 
on the following key assumptions:

 – key macroeconomic data, that could 
impact our consumers’ disposable 
income and consequently our sales 
volume and revenues;
 – key raw material costs;
 – foreign currency rates;
 – spending for production overheads and 

operating expenses;

 – working capital levels; and
 – capital expenditure.

The Board believes that a viability period of 
five years is the most appropriate as it aligns 
with the Group’s strategic business 
planning cycle and is also consistent with 
the potential impact of principal risks as 
disclosed on pages 58-63, the Group’s debt 
profile and our impairment review process, 
where goodwill and indefinite-lived 
intangible assets are tested based on 
five-year forecasts.

Assessment of viability 
From a qualitative perspective, we analysed 
the output of the enterprise risk 
management, business planning and 
liquidity management internal processes, to 
ensure that the risks to the Group’s viability 
are understood and managed. The Board 
has concluded that the Group’s processes 
continue to provide a comprehensive 
framework that effectively supports the 
operational and strategic objectives of the 
Group and provides a robust basis for 
assessment and confirmation of the 
Company’s ability to continue in operation 
and meet its obligations as they fall due 
over the period of assessment. Supporting 
the qualitative assessment was a 
quantitative analysis performed through 
the strategic business plan including, but 
not limited to, the Group’s ability to 
generate cash. We have continued to 
stress test the plan against several severe 
but plausible downside scenarios linked to 
certain principal risks as follows:

Scenario 1: the impact of changes to 
foreign exchange rates was considered, 
particularly the depreciation of key 
currencies – principal risk: foreign exchange

Scenario 2: lower estimates for sales 
volumes were assessed – principal risk: 
declining consumer demand

Scenario 3: lower estimates for sales 
revenue for reasons other than volume 
decline are considered – principal risk: 
channel mix

Scenario 4: the impact of higher raw 
material costs was also considered.

70

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

GOVERNANCE

Contents

Corporate Governance
72
Board of Directors
76
Corporate Governance Report
104 Directors’ Remuneration Report
126

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

71

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationBOARD OF DIRECTORS

UNRIVALLED EXPERIENCE 
IN OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

N

R

Charlotte J. Boyle
Independent non-Executive Director

Appointment: Charlotte Boyle was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC on 20 
June 2017. 

Skills and experience: Charlotte Boyle joined 
The Zygos Partnership, an international executive 
search and board advisory firm, as a consultant in 
2003 and was subsequently appointed associate 
partner in 2006 and partner in 2008. After 14 
years with the firm, she retired from her position 
in July 2017. Prior to that, Charlotte Boyle worked 
at Goldman Sachs International between 2000 
and 2003. Between 1996 and 1999 Charlotte 
Boyle was a consultant at Egon Zehnder 
International, an international executive search 
and management assessment firm. Charlotte 
Boyle obtained an MBA from the London 
Business School and an MA from Oxford 
University and was a Bahrain British 
Foundation Scholar. 

External appointments: Charlotte Boyle serves 
as a member of the board and as chair of the 
finance committee of Alfanar, the first venture 
philanthropy organisation focused on the Arab 
world. She also serves as an independent 
non-executive director of Capital and Counties 
Properties plc.

Ahmet C. Bozer
Non-Executive Director

Appointment: Ahmet Bozer was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC on 21 
June 2016. 

Skills and experience: Ahmet Bozer retired from 
the position of Executive Vice President of The 
Coca-Cola Company in March 2016. Ahmet 
Bozer started his professional career in 1985 at 
Coopers & Lybrand, based in Atlanta, serving in a 
variety of audit, consultancy and management 
roles and moved to The Coca-Cola Company in 
1990 as Financial Controls Manager. Four years 
later, he assumed a leadership role at Coca-Cola 
Bottlers of Turkey (now Coca-Cola Içecek), 
becoming its Managing Director in 1998. He 
returned to The Coca-Cola Company in 2000 as 
Division President, Eurasia, and quickly 
progressed to the role of Division President, 
Eurasia and the Middle East. In 2007, he became 
Group President, Eurasia, assuming additional 
responsibility for the India and South West Asia 
Division, and was subsequently named Group 
President and Chief Operating Officer, Eurasia 
and Africa Group. As President of Coca-Cola 
International, he had responsibility for operations 
in more than 200 countries and territories. 
Ahmet Bozer earned a Bachelor’s degree in 
Management from the Middle East Technical 
University, Ankara, Turkey, and a Master’s degree 
in Business Information Systems from Georgia 
State University.

External appointments: Ahmet Bozer is an 
Advisory Board Member of Swire Beverages, 
Hong Kong and a Board Member of Hepsi Burada 
in Istanbul and the Turkish Philanthropy 
Foundation in New York. He serves as a Board 
member for the Coca-Cola Foundation and 
The Coca-Cola Turkey Life Plus Foundation, 
is on the Board of Advisors for Robinson College 
of Business at Georgia State University, and is 
a former member of The Turkish Educational 
Volunteers Foundation.

Anastassis G. David
Non-Executive Chairman

Appointment: Anastassis David was appointed 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola 
HBC on 27 January 2016. He joined the Board of 
Coca-Cola HBC as a non-Executive Director in 
2006 and was appointed Vice Chairman in 2014.

Skills and experience: Anastassis David brings 
to his role more than 20 years’ experience as an 
investor and non-executive director in the 
beverage industry. Anastassis David is also a 
former Chairman of Navios Corporation. He holds 
a BA in History from Tufts University.

External appointments: Anastassis David is 
active in the international community and serves 
on the International Board of Advisors of Tufts 
University. He serves as a member of the board 
of directors of Aegean Airlines S.A. and AXA 
Insurance S.A. Anastassis David is a member 
of the Board of Trustees of College Year in 
Athens, Vice Chairman of the Cyprus Union 
of Shipowners and Vice Chairman of the State 
Health Services Organisation of the Republic 
of Cyprus.

Board committees

A&R

Audit and Risk Committee page 94

N

SR

R

Nomination Committee page 98

Social Responsibility Committee page 102

Remuneration Committee page 104

Committee Chair

Note: Zoran Bogdanovic will be nominated as an Executive Director on the Board of Directors at the Company’s next Annual General Meeting. He was appointed 
as the new Chief Executive Officer on 7 December 2017 following Dimitris Lois’ death in October 2017. Zoran Bogdanovic’s biography can be found on page 91.

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A&R

A&R

N

R

William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Independent non-Executive Director

Appointment: Bill Douglas was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC on 
21 June 2016. 

Skills and experience: Bill Douglas is a former 
Vice President of Coca-Cola Enterprises, a 
position in which he served from July 2004 until 
his retirement in June 2016. Bill Douglas has held 
various positions within the Coca-Cola System 
since 1985. In 1991, he was appointed Division 
Finance Manager for the Nordic & Northern 
Eurasia Division of The Coca-Cola Company. Bill 
Douglas moved to Atlanta in 1994 as Executive 
Assistant to the President of The Coca-Cola 
Company’s Greater Europe Group. In 1996, Bill 
Douglas became Nordic Region Manager. In 
1998, he was appointed Controller of Coca-Cola 
Beverages plc. From 2000 until 2004, Bill Douglas 
served as Chief Financial Officer of Coca-Cola 
HBC. He joined Coca-Cola Enterprises in 2004 
when he was appointed Vice President, Controller 
and Principal Accounting Officer. He was 
appointed Senior Vice President and Chief 
Financial Officer in 2005 and Executive Vice 
President and Chief Financial Officer of 
Coca-Cola Enterprises in 2008. From 2013 to 
2015, Bill Douglas was the Executive Vice 
President, Supply Chain. Before joining the 
Coca-Cola System, Bill Douglas was associated 
with Ernst & Whinney, an international accounting 
firm. He received his undergraduate degree from 
the J.M. Tull School of Accounting at the 
University of Georgia.

External appointments: : Bill Douglas is the Lead 
Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of 
SiteOne Landscape Supply, Inc. He is also 
member of the Board of Directors and Chair of 
the Audit Committee for The North Highland 
company. Finally, Bill Douglas is the Chairman of 
the Board of the University of Georgia Trustees.

Olusola (Sola) David-Borha
Independent non-Executive Director

Appointment: Sola David-Borha was appointed 
to the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC in 
2015.

Skills and experience: Sola David-Borha was 
Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings 
plc, a full service financial services group with 
subsidiaries in commercial banking, investment 
banking, pension and non-pension asset 
management and stockbroking. Stanbic IBTC 
Holdings is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange 
and is a member of Standard Bank group. Sola 
David-Borha has over 30 years’ experience in 
financial services and held several senior roles 
within the Stanbic Group, including the position of 
Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank from May 
2011 to November 2012. She also served as 
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC 
Bank and Head of Investment Banking Coverage 
Africa (excluding South Africa). Sola David-Borha 
holds a first degree in Economics, and obtained 
an MBA degree from Manchester Business 
School. Her executive education experience 
includes the Advanced Management Programme 
of the Harvard Business School and the Global 
CEO Programme of CEIBS, Wharton and IESE. 

External appointments: Since January 2017, 
Sola David-Borha is the Chief Executive of the 
Africa Regions (excluding South Africa) for 
Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by 
assets with operations in 20 countries across 
the continent. Sola David-Borha is an Honorary 
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of 
Nigeria (CIBN) and a former Vice Chairman of the 
Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

Reto Francioni
Senior Independent non-Executive 
Director

Appointment: Reto Francioni was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC on 21 
June 2016.

Skills and experience: Reto Francioni has been 
Professor of Applied Capital Markets Theory at 
the University of Basel since 2006 and is the 
author of several highly respected books on 
capital market issues. From 2005 until 2015, Reto 
Francioni was Chief Executive Officer of 
Deutsche Börse AG and from 2002 until 2005, he 
served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board and 
President of the SWX Group, which owns the 
Swiss Stock Exchange and has holdings in other 
exchanges. Between 2000 and 2002, Reto 
Francioni was Co-Chief Executive Officer and 
Spokesman for the Board of Directors of Consors 
AG. Between 1993 and 2000, he held various 
management positions at Deutsche Börse AG, 
including that of Deputy Chief Executive Officer. 
From 2003 until 2005, Reto Francioni was an 
Adjunct Professor of Economics and Finance at 
Zicklin School of Business, part of the City 
University of New York. He earned his Doctorate 
of Law at the University of Zurich.

External appointments: Reto Francioni serves 
as a member of the Board of Directors of UBS 
Group and also as the Chairman of the 
Supervisory Board of Swiss International Airlines.

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Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationBOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUED

SR

N

R

SR

Christo Leventis 
Non-Executive Director

Appointment: Christo Leventis was appointed to 
the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC in 2014.

Skills and experience: Christo Leventis worked 
as an Investment Analyst with Credit Suisse Asset 
Management from 1994 to 1999. In 2001, he 
joined J.P. Morgan Securities as an Equity 
Research Analyst focusing on European beverage 
companies. From 2003 until March 2014, Christo 
Leventis was a member of the Board of Directors 
of Frigoglass S.A.I.C., a leading global 
manufacturer of commercial refrigeration 
products for the beverage industry. Christo 
Leventis holds a BA in Classics from University 
College London and an MBA from the Kellogg 
School of Management in Chicago.

External appointments: In 2003, Christo 
Leventis started the private equity investment 
arm of Alpheus, a private asset management 
company, and he continues to serve as a member 
of its investment advisory committee.

Anastasios I. Leventis
Non-Executive Director

Appointment: Anastasios Leventis was 
appointed to the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola 
HBC in 2014.

Skills and experience: Anastasios Leventis holds 
a BA in Classics from the University of Exeter and 
an MBA from New York University’s Leonard 
Stern School of Business.

External appointments: Anastasios Leventis is 
currently employed by Leventis Overseas 
Limited, a company that imports and exports to 
West Africa, and is a board member of A.G. 
Leventis (Nigeria) Plc. Anastasios Leventis is also 
a director of Alpheus Group Limited, a private 
asset management company managing assets of 
private clients and charitable foundations. In 
addition, he serves as a trustee of the A.G. 
Leventis Foundation, a member of the board of 
overseers of the Gennadius Library in Athens and 
a member of the Campaign board of the 
University of Exeter.

Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Independent non-Executive Director

Appointment: Alexandra Papalexopoulou was 
appointed to the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola 
HBC in 2015.

Skills and experience: Alexandra 
Papalexopoulou worked previously for the OECD 
and the consultancy firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton, 
in Paris. From 2003 until February 2015 she 
served as a member of the board of directors of 
Frigoglass S.A.I.C., from 2010 to 2015 she served 
as a member of the board of directors of National 
Bank of Greece and from 2007 to 2009 she 
served as a member of the board of directors of 
Emporiki Bank. Alexandra Papalexopoulou holds a 
BA in Economics and Mathematics from 
Swarthmore College, USA, and an MBA from 
INSEAD, France.

External appointments: Alexandra 
Papalexopoulou is the Strategic Planning Director 
at Titan Cement Company S.A., where she has 
been employed since 1992 and serves as 
Executive Director since 1995. Alexandra 
Papalexopoulou is treasurer and a member of the 
board of directors of the Paul and Alexandra 
Canellopoulos Foundation, a member of the 
board of directors of the ALBA College of 
Business Administration Association and a 
member of the board of trustees of the American 
College of Greece.

Board committees

A&R

Audit and Risk Committee page 94

N

SR

R

Nomination Committee page 98

Social Responsibility Committee page 102

Remuneration Committee page 104

Committee Chair

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SR

A&R

Robert Ryan Rudolph
Non-Executive Director

Appointment: Robert Ryan Rudolph was 
appointed to the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola 
HBC on 21 June 2016.

Skills and experience: From 1993 until 2006, 
Robert Ryan Rudolph worked as an attorney at 
the business law firm Lenz & Staehelin in Zurich. 
Prior to that, Robert Ryan Rudolph worked as a 
public relations consultant at the public relations 
agency Huber & Partner in Zurich, as marketing 
assistant and subsequently as manager at 
Winterthur Life Insurance as well as part-time 
with D&S, the Institute for Marketing and 
Communications Research in Zurich. Robert Ryan 
Rudolph obtained an LLM from the University of 
Zurich and is admitted to the Zurich bar. Robert 
Ryan Rudolph also studied at the Faculté des 
Lettres of the University of Geneva as well as the 
Ecole Polytechnique in Lausanne.

External appointments: Robert Ryan Rudolph is 
an attorney and partner at the Zurich-based law 
firm Oesch & Rudolph. In addition, he serves as a 
member of the Foundation Board of the A.G. 
Leventis Foundation and as a member of the 
board of various privately held companies.

José Octavio Reyes
Non-Executive Director

Appointment: José Octavio Reyes was 
appointed to the Board of Directors of Coca-Cola 
HBC in 2014.

Skills and experience: José Octavio Reyes is the 
former Vice Chairman of The Coca-Cola Export 
Corporation, a position in which he served from 
January 2013 until his retirement in March 2014. 
He was president of the Latin America Group of 
The Coca-Cola Company from December 2002 
to December 2012. Following various managerial 
positions in Mexico, Brazil and in The Coca-Cola 
Company headquarters in Atlanta, José Octavio 
Reyes was named President of the North Latin 
America Division of Coca-Cola in 2002. Prior to 
joining Coca-Cola, José Octavio Reyes spent five 
years with Grupo IRSA, a Monsanto Company 
joint venture. José Octavio Reyes holds a BSc in 
Chemical Engineering from the Universidad 
Nacional Autónoma de México and an MBA from 
the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores 
de Monterrey.

External appointments: José Octavio Reyes has 
been a member of the board of directors of 
MasterCard WorldWide since January 2008 and is 
a member of the board of directors of Papalote 
Children’s Museum in Mexico City and Fundación 
UNAM. He has been a Director of Coca-Cola 
FEMSA S.A.B. de C.V. since 2016.

John P. Sechi
Independent non-Executive Director

Appointment: John Sechi was appointed to the 
Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC in 2014.

Skills and experience: John Sechi started his 
career as a financial analyst and audit manager. 
In 1985, he joined The Coca-Cola Company as an 
internal auditor. In 1987, John Sechi became the 
Finance Director for Coca-Cola Great Britain 
Limited based in London. The following year, he 
was appointed General Manager of the European 
Supply Point Group and in 1990 he moved to 
Madrid to join the Iberian Division as Chief 
Financial Officer. In 1993, John Sechi was 
promoted to President of the Central 
Mediterranean Division of The Coca-Cola 
Company, based in Milan, where he was 
responsible for operations in Greece, Cyprus, 
Malta, Bulgaria, Former Yugoslavia (Croatia, 
Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Kosovo and FYROM), 
Albania and Italy. In 1998, he was promoted to 
President of the German Division, based in 
Düsseldorf. John Sechi was Chairman of 
Globalpraxis, a commercial consulting firm, from 
2001 to 2008. From 2007 until 2013, he was 
President, Greater Europe of The Campbell Soup 
Company, and from 2006 to 2011, a non-
executive Board member and Chairman of the 
Audit Committee of Coca-Cola Içecek. John 
Sechi has a BA in Business Management from 
Ryerson University in Toronto and is a Chartered 
Accountant (Canada) and a Chartered 
Professional Accountant.

External appointments: John Sechi is a 
non-executive director and advisor to various 
privately-held companies, and serves as 
Executive Chairman of Sechi & Sechi 
Properties Limited.

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GOOD GOVERNANCE SITS AT 
THE HEART OF OUR COMPANY

Good governance continues to sit at the heart of  
our Company
As a Board, our aim is to ensure the highest standards of corporate 
governance, accountability and risk management. Our internal 
policies and procedures, which have been consistently effective 
since the Group was formed, are properly documented and 
communicated against the framework applicable to premium listed 
companies in the UK. 

The UK Corporate Governance Code sets out the principles of 
good practice in relation to board leadership and effectiveness, 
remuneration, accountability and relationships with shareholders. 
Further information on our compliance with these main principles 
for the year ended 31 December 2017 can be found in this report 
as follows:

Main principle
Leadership 
Effectiveness
Accountability 
Remuneration 
Relations with shareholders 

Page
78 
84 
82 
104 
87 

Further details on the corporate governance regime applying to the Company are 
described in detail on page 89.

Strategy and oversight
The Board’s principal focus during the year continued to be on the 
execution of our strategic objectives, which are mainly to drive 
volume growth, focus on value, improve efficiency and invest in the 
business, as described in detail in the Strategic Report. We were 
also particularly focused on aligning strategically with The Coca-
Cola Company in all of our markets and managing the risks related 
to the external environment. These include risks associated with 
currency volatility, geopolitical instability and adverse 
macroeconomic conditions. Our governance framework is 
designed to ensure appropriate oversight and challenge.

The Board’s meetings are split between consideration of the 
longer-term vision and strategy of the Group and operational and 
financial updates on the markets where we operate. These updates 
provide links and context for the strategic discussions, as well as 
governance oversight. Meetings take place in Zug, Switzerland, but 
also in selected markets across our footprint, in order for the Board 
to interact with local management and learn more about their 
challenges and the way they are operating at a local level. For 
instance, we held our June 2017 meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, which 
represents one of our Emerging markets.

Letter from the Chairman of the Board

Anastassis G. David
Chairman of the Board

Dear Shareholder
As Chairman, I believe that the Board continues to be highly 
effective in performing its role and ensures that we have a strong 
and effective governance system throughout the Group which 
supports high corporate governance standards. With this in mind, 
on behalf of the Board, I am pleased to introduce our Corporate 
Governance Report.

We have renewed our Board in the last few years, with seven of the 
12-strong Board having been appointed in the last two years. The 
results of our work this year on strategy, CEO succession and the 
reinforcement of corporate governance and sustainability 
commitments is a testament to the effectiveness of the Board as 
well as the appropriateness of the present skill set.

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Board composition and diversity
We will continue to keep the composition and size of the Board 
under review. We believe that our Board is well balanced and 
diverse, with the right mix of international skills, experience, 
background, independence and knowledge.

The Board is committed to recruiting Directors with diverse 
backgrounds, personalities, skills and experience. We continue to 
make good progress in improving the diversity of the Board and 
senior management and increased the number of women on the 
Board during 2017. We will continue to attach importance to all 
aspects of diversity in our nomination processes, while at the same 
time appointing candidates with the credentials that are necessary 
for the continuing growth of our operations within a highly 
competitive and specialised industry. Our Board Diversity Policy 
guides the Board and the Nomination Committee in relation to their 
approach to diversity in respect of succession planning and the 
selection process for the appointment of new Board members. 
Further details on our approach to Board diversity are set out 
on page 100.

Anastassis G. David
Chairman of the Board

Culture and values
Our strong corporate culture is fundamental to our business 
success. The Board plays a critical role in shaping the culture of the 
Company by promoting values-based conduct. The Company’s 
culture is defined by our six core values: authenticity, excellence, 
learning, caring for our people, performing as one, and winning with 
customers. These values make for a culture where our people have 
a strong sense of integrity and ownership.

We monitor our progress in integrating our values through various 
indicators including our Values Index, Employee Engagement Index, 
diversity indicators, and health and safety indicators. We 
understand the importance of the Board’s role in establishing the 
Company’s ‘tone from the top’ in terms of its culture and values, 
and our Directors lead by example as ambassadors of our values 
in order to cascade good behaviour through the organisation. By 
focusing on continuous improvement, we model the values 
of excellence and learning.

Appointments and Board composition
During 2017, the Nomination Committee reviewed the 
composition of the Board to ensure it has the appropriate balance 
of skills, experience, independence and knowledge in order to 
discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively. As a result 
of this review, we recommended Charlotte Boyle as a new 
non-Executive Director, following the retirement of Antonio 
D’Amato. Charlotte brings significant skills and experience in the 
areas of people, talent, succession and executive remuneration to 
the Board, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee. 
Our Nomination Committee is devoted to developing strong 
succession plans for the Board and senior management. 
The internal appointment of Zoran Bogdanovic as our new CEO, 
following the untimely death of Dimitris Lois, is a testament to 
the quality of the work of the Committee. 

Board evaluation
In line with our commitment to adhere to best corporate 
governance practices, a Board effectiveness evaluation was 
conducted in the second half of 2017. We will do this once again in 
2018 to build upon the learnings of the 2017 evaluation. Further 
details are set out in the Nomination Committee Report on 
page 98.

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Board composition

Membership of the Board
On 31 December 2017, our Board comprised 12 Directors: the 
Chairman, one Senior Independent Director and 10 non-Executive 
Directors. The biographies of each member of the Board are set 
out on pages 72 to 75. 

At the Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2017, Charlotte Boyle 
was appointed as a non-Executive Director of the Board, and as a 
member of the Nomination Committee and Remuneration 
Committee, following the retirement of Antonio D’Amato. Further 
details on Charlotte Boyle’s appointment are set out in the 
Nomination Committee Report on page 98.

In September 2017, Dimitris Lois took medical leave of absence 
to undergo treatment for a medical condition. Michalis Imellos 
(our Chief Financial Officer) served as Acting Chief Executive 
Officer from 15 September 2017 to 7 December 2017. On 7 
December 2017, Zoran Bogdanovic was appointed as the new 
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) following Dimitris Lois’ untimely 
death on 2 October 2017.

Zoran Bogdanovic will also be nominated as an Executive Director 
on the Board of Directors at the Company’s next Annual General 
Meeting. Zoran Bogdanovic was previously the Company’s Region 
Director responsible for operations in 12 countries, and has been a 
member of the Operating Committee since 2013. He joined the 
Company in 1996 and has held a number of senior leadership 
positions, including as General Manager of the Company’s 
operations in Croatia, Switzerland and Greece. Zoran Bogdanovic’s 
biography can be found on page 91. Further details on the CEO 
succession are set out in the Nomination Committee Report on 
page 98.

The Operating Committee, described on page 90, supports Zoran 
Bogdanovic in his role as CEO.

The non-Executive Directors, of whom six are determined by the 
Board to be independent, are experienced individuals from a range 
of backgrounds, countries and industries. The composition of the 
Board complies with the UK Corporate Governance Code’s 
recommendation that at least half of the Board, excluding the 
Chairman, comprise independent Directors.

General qualifications required of all Directors

Coca-Cola HBC’s Board Nomination Policy requires that each Director is recognised as a person of the highest integrity and standing, 
both personally and professionally. Each Director must be ready to devote the time necessary to fulfil his or her responsibilities to the 
Company according to the terms and conditions of his or her letter of appointment. Each Director should have demonstrable 
experience, skills, and knowledge which enhance Board effectiveness and will complement those of the other members of the Board to 
ensure an overall balance of experience, skills, and knowledge on the Board. In addition, each Director must demonstrate familiarity with 
and respect for good corporate governance practices, sustainability and responsible approaches to social issues.

Business characteristics

Our business is extensive and involves complex financial 
transactions in the various jurisdictions where we operate.
Our business is truly international with operations in 28 
countries, at different stages of development, on three 
continents. 
Our business involves the manufacturing, sale and 
distribution of the world’s leading non-alcoholic 
beverage brands.

Our Board’s responsibilities include the understanding 
and oversight of the key risks we are facing, establishing 
our risk appetite and ensuring that appropriate policies 
and procedures are in place to effectively manage and 
mitigate risks.
Building community trust through the responsible 
and sustainable management of our business is an 
indispensable part of our culture.
Our business involves compliance with many different 
regulatory and corporate governance requirements 
across a number of countries, as well as relationships 
with national governments and local authorities.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Qualifications, skills and experience
Experience in finance, investments and accounting

Directors

Broad international exposure and emerging 
and developing markets experience

Extensive knowledge of our business and the 
fast-moving consumer goods industry, as well as 
experience with manufacturing, route to market 
and customer relationships
Risk oversight and management expertise

Expertise in sustainability and experience 
in community engagement

Expertise in corporate governance and/or 
government relations

12

12

8 

6 

7 

6 

Outside appointments
The Articles of Association of the Company (article 36) set out 
limits on the maximum number of external appointments that 
members of our Board and executive management may hold. 
In addition, if a Board member wishes to take up an external 
appointment he or she must ask our Chairman’s permission to 
do so (and the Chairman must consult the Chairman of the 
Nomination Committee). The Chairman will assess all requests on a 
case-by-case basis, including whether the appointment in question 
could negatively impact the Company or the performance of the 
Director’s duties to the Group. The nature of the appointment and 
the expected time commitment are also assessed to ensure that 
the effectiveness of the Board would not be compromised.

Details of the external appointments of our non-Executive 
Directors are contained in their respective biographies set out on 
pages 72 to 75.

Our Chairman holds positions on the Boards of Aegean Airlines S.A. 
and AXA Insurance S.A. He is a member of the International Board 
of Advisors at Tufts University. He is a member of the Board of 
Trustees of College Year in Athens, Vice Chairman of the Cyprus 
Union of Shipowners and Vice Chairman of the State Health 
Services Organisation of the Republic of Cyprus. In this context, 
the Board considers that fewer than four of the positions held by 
the Chairman are considered to be significant.

Having considered the scope of the external appointments of the 
Directors referred to above, our Board is satisfied that they do not 
compromise the effectiveness of the Board as each Director has 
sufficient time to devote to his or her role on the Board as the 
Board requires.

Independence
Our Board has concluded that Charlotte J. Boyle (appointed on 20 
June 2017), Olusola (Sola) David-Borha, William W. (Bill) Douglas III, 
Reto Francioni, Alexandra Papalexopoulou and John P. Sechi are 
deemed to be independent in accordance with the criteria set out in 
the UK Corporate Governance Code, with such individuals being 
independent in both character and judgement. Antonio D’Amato 
who retired from the Board on 20 June 2017 was also deemed to 
be independent in accordance with the same criteria.

The other non-Executive Directors, Anastassis G. David 
(Chairman), Anastasios I. Leventis, Christo Leventis, José Octavio 
Reyes, Ahmet C. Bozer and Robert Ryan Rudolph, were appointed 
at the request of shareholders of the Company: Kar-Tess Holding 
and The Coca-Cola Company. They are therefore not considered 
to be independent as defined by the UK Corporate 
Governance Code.

Anastassis G. David was appointed as Chairman on 27 January 
2016. The Board specifically considered Anastassis David’s 
qualifications, skills, and experience prior to his appointment. 

The Board firmly believes that Anastassis David embodies the 
Company’s core values, heritage and culture and that these 
attributes, together with his strong identification with the Company 
and its shareholders’ interests, and his deep knowledge and 
experience of the Coca-Cola System, will ensure an effective and 
appropriately balanced leadership of the Board and the Company.

Shareholders’ nominees
As described under the heading ‘Major shareholders’ on page 230, 
since the main listing of the Company on the Official List of the 
London Stock Exchange in 2013, Kar-Tess Holding, The Coca-Cola 
Company and their respective affiliates have no special rights in 
relation to the appointment or re-election of nominee Directors, 
and those Directors of the Company who were originally nominated 
at the request of The Coca-Cola Company or Kar-Tess Holding will 
be required to stand for re-election on an annual basis in the same 
way as the other Directors. The Nomination Committee is 
responsible for identifying and recommending persons for 
subsequent nomination by the Board for election as Directors by 
the shareholders on an annual basis.

As our Board currently comprises 12 Directors, neither Kar-Tess 
Holding nor The Coca-Cola Company is in a position to control 
(positively or negatively) decisions of the Board that are subject to 
simple majority approval. However, decisions of the Board that are 
subject to the special quorum provisions and supermajority 
requirements contained in the Articles of Association, in practice, 
require the support of Directors nominated at the request of at 
least one of either The Coca-Cola Company or Kar-Tess Holding in 
order to be approved. In addition, based on their current 
shareholdings, neither Kar-Tess Holding nor The Coca-Cola 
Company are in a position to control a decision of the shareholders 
(positively or negatively), except to block a resolution to wind up or 
dissolve the Company or to amend the supermajority voting 
requirements. The latter requires the approval of 80% of 
shareholders where all shareholders are represented and voting. 
Depending on the attendance levels at Annual General Meetings, 
Kar-Tess Holding or The Coca-Cola Company may also be in a 
position to control other matters requiring supermajority 
shareholder approval.

Anastassis G. David, Anastasios I. Leventis, Christo Leventis and 
Robert Ryan Rudolph were all originally appointed at the request of 
Kar-Tess Holding. José Octavio Reyes and Ahmet C. Bozer have 
been appointed at the request of The Coca-Cola Company.

Separation of roles
There is a clear separation of the roles of the Chairman and the 
Chief Executive Officer. The Chairman is responsible for the 
operation of the Board and for ensuring that all Directors are 
properly informed and consulted on all relevant matters. The 
Chairman is also actively involved in the work of the Nomination 
Committee concerning succession planning and the selection of 
key people. The Chief Executive Officer, Zoran Bogdanovic, is 
responsible for the day-to-day management and performance of 
the Company and for the implementation of the strategy approved 
by the Board.

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Key roles and responsibilities

The roles and responsibilities of our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Senior Independent Director, non-Executive Directors and 
Company Secretary are set out in detail in our Organisational Regulations which can be found at http://coca-colahellenic.com/en/
about-us/corporate-governance/corporate-governance-overview/. Their key responsibilities are as follows:

Chairman
•  leads the Board, presides over its meetings and ensures 

its effectiveness;

•  sets the agenda for Board meetings, ensures that 

adequate time is available for discussion and makes sure 
that Board members get timely, accurate and clear 
information;

•  promotes a culture of openness and debate;
•  ensures the highest standards of corporate governance;
•  is the main point of contact between the Board 

and management;

•  co-ordinates the work of the Board committees with 

committee Chairs; and

•  ensures effective communication with shareholders 

and stakeholders.

Chief Executive Officer
•  leads the development and execution of our long-term 
strategy with a clear view to creating shareholder value;

•  is responsible for day-to-day management and 

implementation of the Board’s direction and policies;

•  acts as a liaison between the Board and management and 
communicates with the Board on behalf of management; 
and

•  communicates on behalf of the Group with shareholders, 
employees, government authorities, other stakeholders 
and the public.

Senior Independent Director
•  acts as a sounding board for the Chairman;
•  leads the independent non-Executive Directors on 

matters that benefit from an independent review; and
•  is available to shareholders if they have concerns which 
have not been resolved through the normal channels 
of communication.

Company Secretary
•  ensures good information flows within the Board and 

its committees;

•  facilitates induction and assists with the Board’s 

professional development requirements;

Non-Executive Directors
The main responsibilities of the non-Executive Directors 
are set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code and 
include:
•  scrutinising the performance of management in meeting 

•  helps the Board and the Chairman to co-ordinate 

agreed goals and objectives;

and fulfil their duties and assignments; and
•  advises the Board on governance matters.

•  challenging constructively and helping develop the 

Group’s strategy;

•  ensuring the integrity of financial information;
•  ensuring that executive remuneration is at appropriate 

levels; and

•  overseeing succession planning, including the 

appointment of Executive Directors.

The appointment of the non-Executive Directors is for the 
period from the date of their election until the next Annual 
General Meeting. The non-Executive Directors are required 
to stand for re-election on an annual basis. 
Upon appointment, non-Executive Directors confirm 
they are able to allocate sufficient time to meet the 
requirements of the role.

Board committees
Our Board has delegated specific tasks to its committees as set out in the Organisational Regulations and reports from these 
committees are set out in this Corporate Governance Report. Biographies of the Chairmen of the Board committees and the other 
members of the Board, the Audit and Risk Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Social 
Responsibility Committee are set out on pages 72 to 75.

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Governance framework

Board of Directors

Audit and Risk 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Nomination 
Committee

Responsibilities
 – providing advice to the Board 

Responsibilities
Reviewing and approving:

 – the rewards for the 

executives of the Group;
 – Company-wide remuneration 

and benefit plans;

 – all non-cash obligations 

greater than €15,000 which 
are reportable by employees 
as income (except personal 
use of company cars and 
group life or health benefits);

 – general policies governing 
the early termination of 
employment of the 
executives of the Group; and

 – the implementation or 

modification of employee 
coverage for any benefit plan 
resulting in an increased 
annual cost of €5 million 
or more.

on whether the Annual 
Report and Accounts, taken 
as a whole, is fair, balanced 
and understandable and 
provides the information 
necessary for shareholders 
to assess our position and 
performance;

 – monitoring the quality, 

fairness and integrity of the 
financial statements of the 
Group and reviewing 
significant financial reporting 
issues and judgements 
contained in them;
 – reviewing the Group’s 

internal financial control and 
anti-fraud systems as well as 
the Group’s broader 
enterprise risk management 
and legal and ethical 
compliance programmes 
(including computerised 
information system controls 
and security) with the input 
of the external auditors and 
the internal audit 
department;

 – reviewing and evaluating the 

Group’s major areas of 
financial risk and the steps 
taken to monitor and control 
such risk, as well as 
guidelines and policies 
governing risk assessment; 
and

 – monitoring and reviewing the 

external auditors’ 
independence, quality, 
adequacy and effectiveness, 
taking into consideration the 
requirements of all applicable 
laws in Switzerland and the 
UK, the listing requirements 
of the London Stock 
Exchange and Athens Stock 
Exchange, and applicable 
professional standards.

Responsibilities
 – reviewing the size and 

composition of the Board;
 – identifying candidates and 

nominating new members to 
the Board;

 – planning and managing, 
in consultation with the 
Chairman, a Board 
membership succession 
plan;

 – ensuring, together with the 
Chairman, the operation of 
a satisfactory induction 
programme for new 
members of the Board and a 
satisfactory ongoing training 
and education programme 
for existing members of the 
Board and its committees 
as necessary to deliver 
on our strategy. The 
Committee will also oversee 
an externally facilitated 
self-assessment process;
 – setting the criteria for, and 
overseeing, the annual 
assessment of the 
performance and 
effectiveness of each 
member of the Board and 
each Board committee;

 – conducting an annual 
assessment of the 
performance and 
effectiveness of the Board 
and reporting conclusions 
and recommendations 
based on the assessment to 
the Board; and
 – ensuring that each 

committee of the Board is 
carrying out a self-
assessment of its 
performance and reporting 
its conclusions and any 
recommendations for 
change to the Board.

Social Responsibility 
Committee

Responsibilities
 – establishing the principles 
governing the Group’s 
policies on social 
responsibility and the 
environment to guide 
management’s decisions 
and actions;

 – overseeing the development 

and supervision of 
procedures and systems to 
ensure the achievement of 
the Group’s social 
responsibility and 
environmental goals;

 – establishing and operating a 
council responsible for 
developing and 
implementing policies and 
strategies to achieve the 
Company’s social 
responsibility and 
environmental goals and 
ensuring Group-wide 
capabilities to execute such 
policies and strategies;
 – ensuring the necessary and 
appropriate transparency 
and openness in the Group’s 
business conduct in pursuit 
of its social responsibility and 
environmental goals;

 – ensuring and overseeing the 
Group’s interactions with 
stakeholders in relation to its 
social responsibility and 
environmental policies, goals 
and achievements, including 
the level of compliance with 
internationally accepted 
standards; and

 – reviewing Group policies on 

environmental issues, 
human rights, and other 
topics as they relate to social 
responsibility.

Operating Committee
The Operating Committee, led by the Chief Executive Officer, meets 12 times each year and is responsible for:

 – the day-to-day executive management of the Group and its businesses, including all matters not reserved for the Board or other bodies;
 – the development of the Group strategies and implementation of the strategies approved by the Board;
 – providing adequate head-office support for each of the Group’s countries;
 – the setting of annual targets and approval of annual business plans which form the basis of the Group’s performance management, 

including a comprehensive programme of strategies and targets agreed between the Country General Managers and the Region Directors;

 – working closely with the Country General Managers, as set out in the Group’s operating framework, in order to capture benefits of scale, 

ensuring appropriate governance and compliance, and managing the performance of the Group; and

 – leading the Group’s talent and capability development programmes.

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Board and committee attendance in 2017 
The following table shows the membership of the Board committees and includes the Directors’ attendance at Board and committee 
meetings during the period between 1 January and 31 December 2017.

Director
Anastassis G. David
Dimitris Lois2
Charlotte J. Boyle3
Ahmet C. Bozer
Olusola (Sola) David-Borha4 
William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Antonio D’Amato5
Reto Francioni6
Anastasios I. Leventis
Christo Leventis
Alexandra Papalexopoulou
José Octavio Reyes7
Robert Ryan Rudolph
John P. Sechi

Board

Audit and Risk1

Remuneration

Nomination

Social Responsibility

Independent Attended
7
6
4
7
7
7
3
6
7
7 
7
 7
7
7

No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes

Total 

Total 

Total 

Total 

meetings   Attended
– 
– 
– 
– 
7
8
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
8

7  
6   
4  
7  
7  
7  
3  
7  
7  
7  
7  
7  
7  
7  

meetings   Attended
– 
– 
3 
– 
– 
– 
1 
3 
– 
– 
4 
– 
– 
–

–   
–   
–   
–   
8  
8  
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
8  

meetings   Attended
– 
– 
3 
– 
– 
– 
1 
3 
– 
– 
4 
– 
– 
– 

–   
–   
3   
–   
–   
–   
1   
4   
–   
–   
4   
–   
–   
–  

meetings   Attended
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
4
– 
4
3
– 
– 

–   
–   
3   
–   
–   
–   
1   
4   
–   
–   
4   
–   
–   
–   

Total 
meetings
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
4
– 
4
4
– 
– 

1.  Includes four conference calls.
2.  Dimitris Lois was eligible to attend six meetings of the Board held prior to his untimely death on 2 October 2017.
3.  Charlotte Boyle was appointed to the Board on 20 June 2017. She was eligible to attend four meetings of the Board, three meetings of the Remuneration Committee 

and three meetings of the Nomination Committee held after her appointment.

4.  Sola David-Borha did not attend one meeting of the Audit and Risk Committee due to a long-standing prior commitment.
5.  Antonio D’Amato retired from the Board and Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017. He was eligible to attend three meetings of the Board and one meeting 

of the Remuneration and Nomination committees held prior to his retirement.

6.  Reto Francioni did not attend the meetings in June 2017 due to a prior long-standing commitment.
7.  José Octavio Reyes did not attend the Social Responsibility Committee meeting in December 2017 due to a prior long-standing commitment.

Operation of the Board

Board governance of the Company
The governance process of the Board is set out in our Articles of 
Association and the Organisational Regulations. These regulations 
define the role of the Board and its committees, their respective 
responsibilities and authority, their processes and their relationship 
with management. The Articles and the Organisational Regulations 
can be found at http://coca-colahellenic.com/en/about-us/
corporate-governance/corporate-governance-overview/.

Role of the Board
Our Board has ultimate responsibility for our long-term success 
and for delivering sustainable shareholder value. There is a clear 
division of responsibilities between the Board and the executive 
responsibility for the running of our business, with certain matters 
specifically reserved for the Board’s decision.

Key tasks of the Board include:

 – providing entrepreneurial leadership within the Company’s 

control and risk management framework;

 – determining the long-term business strategy and objectives of 
the Group and monitoring the implementation of the strategy 
and the achievement of those objectives;

 – reviewing and approving the annual business plan;

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 – setting appropriate risk parameters and monitoring to ensure 
that effective risk management and internal control processes 
are in place;

 – assessing the principal risks to the Company’s business model, 

future performance, solvency and liquidity;

 – assessing the longer-term viability of the Company;
 – reviewing and approving periodic financial reports;
 – performing Board and senior management succession planning;
 – setting the Company’s culture, values, and standards and 

ensuring that its obligations to shareholders are understood 
and met;

 – monitoring the Group’s compliance programmes to ensure 

effective corporate governance; and

 – supervising management.

In addition, the Swiss Ordinance against Excessive Compensation 
in Listed Companies imposes certain obligations on the Board, 
including a requirement to prepare a remuneration report pursuant 
to Swiss law. The remuneration report must be made available for 
inspection, together with the Swiss business report and audit 
report, no later than 20 days prior to the ordinary shareholders’ 
meeting at the offices of the Company. Any shareholder may 
request a copy of these reports when available.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Summary of key Board activities for 2017 and priorities for 2018
Topic
Strategy

2017 activity
•  Reviewed our total beverage portfolio together 
with The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC), including 
product, activation and distribution initiatives
•  reviewed our revenue growth management and 

route-to-market strategies

•  held deep-dive discussions concerning our 
digital and e-commerce programmes; and
•  reviewed progress against the Company’s 

2018 priority
•  Support the acceleration of product and 

package innovation

•  continue optimisation of costs and investments, 

driving process efficiency while improving 
customer satisfaction

•  continue playing an industry-leading role on 

sustainability

•  continue ensuring effective alignment 

Performance

2020 targets

with TCCC

•  Reviewed business performance, including key 
business indicators for talent, engagement, 
sales, cost optimisation, profitability and 
sustainability

•  Periodic performance reviews with a focus on 

the Company’s key business indicators

•  deep-dive reviews of each of the Company’s 

regions

•  held deep-dive reviews of the Company’s 

•  monitoring of external factors such as 

largest markets, including Nigeria, Russia, Italy, 
Poland and Romania

macroeconomic conditions, FX volatility and 
commodities markets

•  held periodic reviews of macroeconomic 

indicators, FX volatility and commodities prices 

Risk management  
and internal control

•  Risk discussions with the Audit and Risk 
Committee four times during the year

•  ongoing oversight of regulatory and compliance 

risks

•  periodic reviews of currency and 

commodities risks

•  detailed review of cyber-security and risks

•  Continued review of the principal risks and 

mitigation programmes reported on pages: 55 
to 63

Operational

•  Periodic reviews of the Company’s main 

•  Continued review of the Company’s cost 

operations performance

•  visit by Board members to a Group 

manufacturing facility and market visit in 
Belgrade, Serbia

•  detailed review and approval of CapEx 

investments

Culture and values

•  Reviewed the results of the Company’s annual 

Employee Engagement, Values and 
Ambassadorship survey

•  discussed talent and capabilities plans
•  reviewed the Group’s #YouthEmpowered 
programme which involved more than 450 
employee volunteers and approximately 6,000 
young people

optimisation and investment programmes to 
ensure efficiency improvements and improved 
customer satisfaction

•  monitoring of the effectiveness of the 

Company’s acceleration plan for cold drink 
equipment

•  Continue shaping the culture, values and 
employee engagement of the Company 
through the Board’s interaction with 
management and employees

Succession planning  
and diversity

•  Reviewed succession planning and bench 

•  Ongoing succession planning work for Board 

strength initiatives for managers

•  developed a succession plan for Antonio 

D’Amato and recruited Charlotte Boyle as a new 
Board member

•  activated the Board’s succession plan for the 
CEO and appointed Zoran Bogdanovic as our 
new CEO

and senior management positions

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Board effectiveness

Information and training
The practices and procedures adopted by our Board ensure that 
the Directors are supplied on a timely basis with comprehensive 
information on the business development and financial position of 
the Company, the form and content of which is expected to enable 
the Directors to discharge their duties and carry out their 
responsibilities. All Directors have access to our General Counsel, 
as well as independent professional advice at the expense of the 
Company. All Directors have full access to the Chief Executive 
Officer and senior management, as well as the external auditors 
and internal audit team.

The Board has in place an induction programme for new Directors, 
which was followed this past year by Charlotte Boyle. She met 
individually with the Chairman, Anastassis David, Operating 
Committee members, and other senior executives and received 
orientation training from the relevant senior executives in relation 
to the Group and its corporate governance practices. The induction 
programme also included meetings with representatives of our 
sales force, customers and major shareholders, and visits to our 
production plants.

 Charlotte Boyle was also appropriately briefed on Coca-Cola HBC’s 
strategy, financials, operations, risks and procedures in order to 
achieve the necessary insight into our activities.

All Directors are given the opportunity to attend training to ensure 
that they are kept up to date on relevant legal, accounting and 
corporate governance developments. The Directors individually 
attend seminars, forums, conferences and working groups on 
relevant topics. The Nomination Committee reviews our Director 
training activities regularly. Finally, as part of the continuing 
development of the Directors, the Company Secretary ensures 
that our Board is kept up to date with key corporate governance 
developments. The Board appoints the Company Secretary, who 
acts as secretary to the Board.

Following Dimitris Lois’ untimely death, Zoran Bogdanovic was 
appointed as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). 
He will also be nominated as an Executive Director at the 
Company’s next Annual General Meeting. Zoran Bogdanovic was 
a part of the Company‘s internal succession plan for the CEO 
position. The Nomination Committee led a thorough process and 
benchmarking exercise for the CEO succession. Further details 
on the CEO succession are set out in the Nomination Committee 
Report on page 98. There were no other changes to Board or 
committee membership during 2017.

Board, committee and Director performance 
evaluation
At least annually, on the basis of an assessment conducted by the 
Nomination Committee, the Board reviews its own performance as 
well as the performance of each of the Board committees. This 
review seeks to determine whether the Board and its committees 
function effectively and efficiently. During the year, the Chairman 
meets with the Directors to receive feedback on the functioning of 
the Board and its committees, the boardroom dynamics, and the 
Group’s strategy. Particular focus is given to areas where a Director 
believes the performance of the Board and its committees could be 
improved. A report is prepared for the Board on its effectiveness 
and that of its committees. For the past two years, the evaluation 
of the Board’s effectiveness has been facilitated by Lintstock, and 
details of the 2017 Lintstock Report are set out on page 85. A 
summary of the Board evaluation findings for 2016, the actions 
taken in response to improve Board effectiveness in 2017, the 
Board evaluation findings for 2017, and the resulting priorities for 
2018 is as follows:

2016 Board evaluation findings
 – Devote more time to 

discussions on 
strategic issues

 – Succession planning, 
particularly for top 
management

 – Focus on monitoring 
performance of the 
Group 

2017 actions
 – More time was dedicated to strategy 
discussions and the Board reviewed 
performance of business against the 
Group’s 2020 growth objectives
 – Developed a robust succession plan 

for the retirement of one of our Board 
members

 – Activated the contingency plans for an 

interim CEO and successfully 
appointed the new CEO from our 
talent pool

 – Reviewed dedicated presentations on 

Regional performance

2017 Board evaluation findings
 – Focus on strategy
 – Risk oversight 
 – Focus on CEO 

transition

2018 priorities
 – Evolving our total beverage portfolio 

in close alignment with TCCC

 – Ongoing monitoring of the Group’s 

principal risks 

The independent Directors meet separately at every regular Board 
meeting to discuss a variety of issues, including the effectiveness 
of the Board. An evaluation of each Director (other than the 
Chairman) is conducted by the Chairman and the Senior 
Independent Director. The Senior Independent Director leads the 
evaluation of the Chairman in conjunction with the non-Executive 
Directors (taking into account the views of the Chief Executive 
Officer) and, as a matter of practice, meets with the other 
independent non-Executive Directors when each Board meeting is 
held to discuss issues together, without the Chief Executive Officer 
or other non-Executive Directors present.

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Lintstock Report
In 2017, we once again engaged advisory firm Lintstock to undertake an evaluation of the performance of the Board. Lintstock 
specialises in Board performance reviews and has no other connection with Coca-Cola HBC.

Process
The first stage of the review involved Lintstock engaging with 
the corporate secretariat to set the context for the evaluation, 
and to tailor survey content to the specific circumstances of 
Coca-Cola HBC. All Board members were then requested to 
complete an online survey on the performance of the Board, its 
committees, and the Chairman. The anonymity of respondents 
was ensured throughout the process in order to promote an 
open and frank sharing of views. 

Lintstock subsequently produced a report addressing the 
following areas of Board performance:

 – The appropriateness of the Board’s composition was 
reviewed, and respondents were asked to identify any 
changes that ought to be made to the profile of the Board.
 – The Board’s understanding of the views of key stakeholders, 
and of the markets in which the Company operates, was 
considered, and the extent to which the experience of Board 
members is drawn upon was reviewed.

 – The Board’s engagement with management in providing 

effective support and constructive challenge was assessed. 

The management of, and atmosphere in, meetings was also 
considered, as was the quality of the Board packs and the 
presentations given by management.

 – The Board’s agenda, and in particular the balance of time 

between strategic and operational issues, was reviewed, and 
respondents were asked to identify the areas upon which 
they felt the Board ought to spend more or less time focusing 
over the next year.

 – The Board’s oversight of strategy was considered, as was the 
capacity of the organisation to deliver strategy, and opinions 
on the top strategic issues facing the Company over the next 
three to five years were sought.

 – The Board’s focus on risk was assessed, and the 

effectiveness with which the Board monitors culture and 
behaviours throughout the organisation was considered. The 
Company’s processes for attracting, developing and retaining 
talent were also reviewed.

 – The performance of the committees of the Board was 

assessed, as was the performance of the Chairman and 
individual Board members.

As a result of the review, among other things the Board agreed to focus on the CEO transition, continue delivering against the 
Group’s strategy towards our 2020 targets, and continue focusing on risk oversight.

Conflicts of interest
In accordance with the Organisational Regulations, Directors are 
required to arrange their personal and business affairs so as to 
avoid a conflict of interest with the Group.

Board appointments and succession planning
Our Board has in place plans to ensure the progressive renewal 
of the Board and appropriate succession planning for senior 
management.

Each Director must disclose to the Chairman the nature and extent 
of any conflict of interest arising generally or in relation to any 
matter to be discussed at a Board meeting, as soon as the Director 
becomes aware of its existence. In the event that the Chairman 
becomes aware of a Director’s conflict of interest, the Chairman 
is required to contact that Director promptly and discuss with him 
or her the nature and extent of such a conflict of interest. Subject 
to exceptional circumstances in which the best interests of the 
Company dictate otherwise, the Director affected by a conflict 
of interest is not permitted to participate in discussions and 
decision-making involving the interest at stake.

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, the Board consists of 
a minimum of seven and a maximum of 15 members and the 
Directors are elected annually for a term of one year by the 
Company’s shareholders. Accordingly, all Directors are subject 
to annual re-election by shareholders in accordance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code. In case of resignation or death of any 
member of the Board, the Board may elect a permanent guest, 
whom the Board will propose for election by the shareholders at the 
next Annual General Meeting.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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In accordance with the Organisational Regulations, the Board 
proposes for election at the shareholders’ meeting new Directors 
who have been recommended by the Nomination Committee after 
consultation with the Chairman. In making such recommendations, 
the Nomination Committee and the Board must consider criteria 
including the overall balance of skills, experience, independence and 
knowledge of the Board member, as well as diversity considerations 
including gender. See the Nomination Committee report on page 
98 for further information on the role and work of the Nomination 
Committee, including the Board Diversity Policy. Through this 
process, the Board is satisfied that the Board and its committees 
have the appropriate balance of experience, diversity, 
independence and knowledge of the Company to enable them to 
discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively.

At the Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2017, Charlotte Boyle 
was appointed as a non-Executive Director, and as a member 
of the Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee, 
following the retirement of Antonio D’Amato. Following Dimitris 
Lois’ untimely death, Zoran Bogdanovic was appointed as the 
Company’s Chief Executive Officer. He will also be nominated as an 
Executive Director at the Company’s next Annual General Meeting. 
Zoran Bogdanovic was a part of the Company’s internal succession 
plan for the CEO position. The Nomination Committee led a 
thorough process and benchmarking exercise for the CEO 
succession. Further details on the CEO succession are set out in 
the Nomination Committee Report on page 98. There were no 
other changes to Board or committee membership during 2017.

Key investor relations activities in 2017

Dec

Jan

Nov

Feb

December

 – Citi Global Consumer 
conference, London

November

 – Investor roadshow in UK, 

USA and Canada

September

 – Barclays Global Consumer 
Staples conference, Boston

Oct

Sept

Aug

May

July

June

June

 – Deutsche Bank Access Global Consumer 

conference, Paris 

 – Annual General Meeting, Zug
 – Investor roadshow in London

February

 – Investor roadshow in UK

March

 – The Consumer Analyst 

Group of Europe conference, 
London

 – Investor roadshow in London

April

 – Investor roadshow in the 

USA and Canada

May

 – JP Morgan Global Consumer 

and Retail conference, 
London

Mar

Apr

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Shareholder engagement
The Chairman, the Senior Independent Director, the Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee and the Chairman of the Audit and Risk 
Committee will be available at the Annual General Meeting of the 
Company to answer questions from shareholders. The Board 
encourages shareholders to attend as it provides an opportunity to 
engage with the Board.

Pursuant to Swiss law and the Articles of Association, shareholders 
annually elect an independent proxy and we have adopted an 
electronic proxy voting system for our Annual General Meetings.

The Company has a dedicated investor relations function which 
reports to the Chief Financial Officer. Through the investor 
relations team, the Company and Board maintain a dialogue with 
institutional investors and financial analysts on operational financial 
performance and strategic direction items. As evident in the 
graphic on page 86, to reflect our commitment to our strong 
shareholder base, members of our management and the investor 
relations team held numerous meetings with investors and 
shareholders during 2017. The feedback from shareholders has 
been regularly considered by the Board and where necessary 
appropriate action to further engage with shareholders was taken.

Wider stakeholder engagement
The Board is regularly updated on wider stakeholder engagement 
feedback to stay abreast of stakeholder insights into the issues 
that matter most to them and our business, and to enable the 
Board to understand and consider these issues in decision-making. 
Engaging with our stakeholders strengthens our relationships 
and helps us make better business decisions to deliver on 
our commitments.

Employees are one of our most important stakeholder groups and 
the Board therefore closely monitors and reviews the results of the 
Company’s annual Employee Engagement, Values and 
Ambassadorship surveys as well as a number of other metrics to 
ensure alignment of interests. For more information about these 
surveys, see the People section on page 28.

The Company also engages extensively with external stakeholders 
through a variety of different channels including our annual Material 
Issues survey in which 460 stakeholders provide feedback. 
We also work, among others, with our customers, consumers, 
suppliers, local community representatives and other business 
partners across the value chain every day. The infographic on the 
following page sets out the different channels we use to engage 
stakeholders, which in turn is reported on to the Board.

As part of our engagement programme we also partner with 
people, businesses and organisations that share our interest 
in a sustainable future and have a stake in our business. This is 
essential for our success. We therefore engage in the following 
manner:

 – Our business leaders engage with a variety of international 
organisations and business associations such as the UN 
Global Compact and the Union of European Soft Drinks 
Associations (UNESDA).

 – As organisational stakeholders of the Global Reporting Initiative 
(GRI), we can share experiences and learn from people from 
other companies and industries. 

 – We are active members of the Corporate Leadership Group on 
Integrated Reporting, shaping the future of integrated reporting 
standards and stakeholder engagement.

 – Our leaders are active members of local business alliances such 
as business leaders’ forums, local UN Global Compact networks, 
business councils for sustainable development and other 
industry associations. This work includes participating at 
conferences, working with civil organisations and influencing 
public policy related to key sustainability issues such as health 
and well-being, packaging, water and climate, and matters 
concerning social sustainability such as labour relations and 
talent attraction and retention. 

 – We work with local communities on sustainable solutions that 
support local and global sustainable development goals, and 
we actively contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals 
(SDGs) adopted by the UN. 

 – Through our partnership with The Coca-Cola Company, we have 
access to consumer insights globally and locally, and we also 
make sure our partnerships and actions related to sustainable 
development are in synergy with theirs.

Considering stakeholders in decision-making 
The Board considers the impact on stakeholders when taking 
a number of key decisions. Examples of these include:

 – Shaping choice – in developing our product portfolio and our 
marketing efforts, together with The Coca-Cola Company, 
we consider consumer health and nutrition. This means that we 
are focusing on shaping choice across our portfolio of sparkling 
and still beverages, emphasising on low- or no-sugar variants. 
 – Cooler technology – cold drinks equipment (CDE) is an essential 
part of our engagement with customers and our consumer 
experience. When investing in cooling technology we carefully 
weigh up meeting the demands of customers and the 
environmental impact of our technology and thus since 2015 
we have been investing in new ‘smart’ cooler technology. 
 – Infrastructure optimisation – during the year we consolidated 
production and distribution centres in several of our countries 
including Russia and Nigeria. In doing so we considered the 
impact on the social and economy scales of the local 
communities we operate. 

 – Price pack architecture – we considered consumer affordability 

in our Emerging segments with weaker local currencies and have 
changed our price pack architecture to provide consumers with 
affordable options by adjusting pack sizes, list prices and 
promotions to serve our consumers in ways that also protect 
the viability of our business.

 – Route-to-market solutions – our Every Dealer Survey considers 
the changing needs of our customers, allowing us to adjust the 
structure of our sales force and ensure that our capabilities 
address these needs through improved service to existing 
customers.

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How we engage with our stakeholders

The Coca-Cola 
Company
Day-to-day interaction as 
business partners, joint projects, 
joint business planning, 
functional groups on strategic 
issues, ‘top-to-top’ senior 
management meetings

Communities
Plant visits, community 
meetings, partnerships on 
common issues, sponsorship 
activities, lectures 
at universities

Shareholders
Annual General Meetings, 
investor roadshows and results 
briefings, webcasts, ongoing 
dialogue with analysts 
and investors

Customers
Regular visits, dedicated 
account teams, joint business 
planning, joint value creation 
initiatives, customer care 
centres, customer 
satisfaction surveys

Consumers
Consumer hotlines, local 
websites, plant tours, research, 
surveys, focus groups

Non-
governmental and 
intergovernmental 
organisations
Dialogue, policy work, 
partnerships on common issues, 
membership of business and 
industry associations

Governments 
and regulatory 
authorities
Recycling and recovery 
initiatives, EU Platform for Action 
on Diet, Physical Activity and 
Health, foreign investment 
advisory councils, chambers 
of commerce

Suppliers
Joint value creation 
initiatives, annual supplier 
conference, sustainable 
sourcing, Supplier Guiding 
Principles, packaging 
associations, whistle-
blower hotline

Every year we ask over 460 stakeholders from the above 
groups to provide online feedback via our material issues survey. 
These surveys give our stakeholders the opportunity to prioritise 
our material issues based on their own interests and the relevance 
of these to our business.

We also ask for their opinions by providing open-ended questions, 
so they can share with us anything we might have missed or that 
needs more attention.

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UK Corporate Governance Code
As a Swiss corporation listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) 
with a secondary listing on the Athens Exchange, we aim to ensure 
that our corporate governance systems remain in line with 
international best practices. Our corporate governance standards 
and procedures are continuously reviewed in light of current 
developments and rulemaking processes in the UK, Switzerland and 
also the EU.

As a premium listed company, we are required to comply with the 
provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code or explain any 
instances of non-compliance to shareholders. Our Board believes 
that, except as set out in the paragraphs below, the Company is in 
compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code and complied with such provisions throughout 2017. 
Pursuant to our obligations under the Listing Rules, we intend to 
continually comply with the provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code or to explain any instances of non-compliance in 
our Annual Report.

The UK Corporate Governance Code is available online at https://
www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Publications/Corporate-Governance/
UK-Corporate-Governance-Code-April-2016.pdf.

Certain differences between the Company’s 
corporate governance practices and the UK 
Corporate Governance Code
The Swiss Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Listed 
Companies further limits the authority of the Remuneration 
Committee and the Board to determine compensation. The 
effective limitations include requiring that the Annual General 
Meeting approve the maximum total compensation of each of the 
Board and the Operating Committee, requiring that certain 
compensation elements be authorised in the Articles of 
Association and prohibiting certain forms of compensation, such as 
severance payments and financial or monetary incentives for the 
acquisition or disposal of firms. We are in compliance with the 
requirements of the Swiss Ordinance against Excessive 
Compensation in Listed Companies and have amended our Articles 
of Association to that effect.

Anastassis G. David was originally appointed at the request of 
Kar-Tess Holding and was not, at the time of his appointment as 
Chairman, independent as defined by the UK Corporate 
Governance Code. In view of Anastassis David’s strong 
identification with the Company and its shareholder interests, 
combined with his deep knowledge and experience of the Coca-
Cola System, the Board deemed it to be in the best interests of the 
Group and its shareholders for him to be appointed as Chairman, to 
continue to promote an effective and appropriately balanced 
leadership of the Group. In accordance with the established policy 
of appointing all Directors for one year at a time, the Board intends 
to continue to keep all positions under regular review and subject to 
annual election by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

Application of governance codes 

Other corporate governance codes
There is no mandatory corporate governance code under Swiss law 
applicable to us. The main source of law for Swiss governance rules 
is the company law contained in articles 620 ff. of the Swiss Code of 
Obligations, as well as the Ordinance against Excessive 
Compensation in Listed Companies.

In addition, the UK’s City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the ‘City 
Code’) does not apply to the Company by operation of law, as the 
Company is not incorporated under English law. The Articles of 
Association include specific provisions designed to prevent any 
person acquiring shares carrying 30% or more of the voting rights 
(taken together with any interest in shares held or acquired by the 
acquirer or persons acting in concert with the acquirer) except if 
(subject to certain exceptions) such acquisition would not have 
been prohibited by the City Code or if such acquisition is made 
through an offer conducted in accordance with the City Code. For 
further details, please refer to the Company’s Articles of 
Association, which are available on our website.

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THE OPERATING 
COMMITTEE 
REPRESENTS 
THE EXECUTIVE 
LEADERSHIP OF 
THE COMPANY.

From left to right

Row one
Michalis Imellos, Zoran Bogdanovic, 
Naya Kalogeraki, Alain Brouhard, Keith Sanders

Row two
Marcel Martin, Sotiris Yannopoulos 

Row three
Jan Gustavsson, Sanda Parezanovic

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Zoran Bogdanovic
(46) Chief Executive Officer
Senior management tenure: Appointed December 2017 (less 
than 1 year)

Previous Group roles: Zoran Bogdanovic’s previous roles include: 
Member of the Finance Team of Coca Cola HBC Croatia from 1996 
to 1998; CFO and then General Manager of Croatian operations 
from 1998 to 2004; Country General Manager of Coca-Cola HBC 
Croatia from 2004 to 2008; Country General Manager for Coca-
Cola HBC Switzerland from 2008 to 2011; Country General 
Manager for Coca-Cola HBC Greece from 2011 to 2013; and 
Region Director, responsible for operations in 12 countries, and a 
Member of Coca-Cola HBC’s Operating Committee since 2013.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Zoran Bogdanovic started his 
career as an auditor with Arthur Andersen before joining Coca-Cola 
HBC Croatia in 1996.

Nationality: Croatian 

Michalis Imellos
(49) Chief Financial Officer
Senior management tenure: Appointed April 2012 (5 years)

Previous Group roles: Region Finance Director responsible for 
Nigeria, Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Serbia and 
Montenegro; General manager, Romania and Moldova.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Michalis Imellos held a number of 
finance positions in the UK-based European headquarters of Xerox, 
including those of European Mergers & Acquisitions Director and 
Finance Director of the Office Europe Division. He managed the 
financial, tax and legal aspects of Xerox’s sponsorship of the Athens 
2004 Olympic Games as well as the finance function of the 
company’s operations in Greece. He is a Fellow of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and started his 
career at Ernst & Young.

Nationality: Greek

Naya Kalogeraki
(48) Group Chief Customer and Commercial Officer
Senior management tenure: Appointed July 2016 (1 year)

Previous Group roles: Director of Strategy, CEO office. From 
1998, when Naya Kalogeraki joined the Company she built her 
career assuming roles of increased scale and scope including 
Marketing Director, Trade Marketing Director, Sales Director 
and Country Commercial Director, Greece. She has been heavily 
involved in Group strategic projects and task forces addressing 
mission-critical business imperatives. In September 2013, Naya 
Kalogeraki was appointed to the role of General Manager, 
Greece and Cyprus.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Naya Kalogeraki joined the 
Company in 1998 from The Coca-Cola Company where she held 
a number of marketing positions up to Marketing Manager.

Nationality: Greek

Alain Brouhard
(55) Business Solutions and Systems Director
Senior management tenure: Appointed June 2010 (7 years)

Previous Group roles: Region Director responsible for Nigeria, 
Romania, Moldova, Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro (2010 to 
2013), and Water and Juice Business Director.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Alain Brouhard began his career 
with Procter & Gamble, where he worked in four different countries 
and in a variety of commercial and management roles leading up to 
Global Customer Team Leader in 2000, when he oversaw the global 
account management of Delhaize and the European management 
of new channels, including discounters (such as Aldi, Lidl and Dia) 
and convenience retailing (such as petrol stations). From 2002 to 
2010, Alain Brouhard held positions at Adidas, including managing 
Director, Italy and Southeast Europe, from 2007 until 2010. Prior 
to that, he was Vice-President for commercial operations, EMEA, 
from 2002 to 2005, and, from 2005, took the role of Managing 
Director, Iberia, based in Spain, with responsibility for Spain 
and Portugal.

Nationality: French

Keith Sanders
(57) Region Director: Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, 
Poland, Russian Federation, Ukraine and Moldova
Senior management tenure: Appointed August 2009 (8 years)

Previous Group roles: General Manager of the Company’s 
operations in Russia (2004).

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Prior to joining the Group, Keith 
Sanders spent 11 years within the Coca-Cola System. He started 
his career with The Coca-Cola Company in a regional marketing 
role within the Gulf Region. In 1993, he was appointed Human 
Resources and Training Manager for the Gulf Region. In 1994, he 
assumed his first Bottling General Manager role in Bahrain, and then 
moved through a series of larger country general management 
roles until 2001, when he was appointed Director for Bottling 
Operations in the Eurasia & Middle East Division with responsibility 
for Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. Prior to 
joining the Coca-Cola System, Keith Sanders spent six years with 
Procter & Gamble in the United States in a variety of sales and 
marketing roles.

Nationality: American

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(53) Group Human Resources Director
Senior management tenure: Appointed June 2015 (2 years)

Previous Group roles: Sanda Parezanovic’s previous roles in the 
Group include: Public Affairs & Communications Manager, Serbia 
and Montenegro from 2003 to 2006; Country Human Resources 
and Public Affairs & Communications Manager, Serbia and 
Montenegro from 2006 to 2010; and Region Human Resources 
Director Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, FYROM, 
Greece, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Moldova, 
Montenegro, Nigeria, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia from 2010 to 
2015.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Sanda Parezanovic started in 1989 
as Market Researcher and later Strategic Planner working for 
various local research and marketing agencies in SFR Yugoslavia. 
Sanda Parezanovic joined Saatchi & Saatchi Balkans in 1994, holding 
various senior management positions in several Balkan countries, 
including Managing Director of two start-up agencies, first in 
FYROM and later in Serbia. In 1999 she relocated to London, where 
she worked for Saatchi & Saatchi and Marketing Drive on a number 
of pan-European and business development projects, before she 
joined our Group in 2003.

Nationality: Serbian

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT CONTINUED

Sotiris Yannopoulos
(50) Region Director: Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, 
Italy and Switzerland
Senior management tenure: Appointed July 2014 (3 years)

Previous Group roles: Sotiris Yannopoulos was general manager in 
Serbia and Montenegro from 2009 to 2012 and Country General 
Manager in Italy from 2012 to 2014.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Prior to joining the Group, Sotiris 
Yannopoulos spent 12 years working at PepsiCo in various roles. He 
also spent five years with Star Foods, where he was the East 
Balkans Business Unit Manager, and seven years with Tasty Foods 
in Greece, where his roles included Business Development Director, 
Marketing and Trade Marketing Director, Marketing Manager and 
Group Brand Manager. He started his career as an Assistant 
Product Manager (USA/South Africa) with Colgate-Palmolive.

Nationality: Greek

Marcel Martin
(59) Group Supply Chain Director
Senior management tenure: Appointed January 2015 (3 years)

Previous Group roles: Marcel Martin joined the Group in 1993, 
holding positions with increasing responsibility in the supply chain 
and commercial functions. Since 1995, Marcel Martin has held 
general management assignments in several of our markets, 
including as General Manager for Eastern Romania, Regional 
Manager Russia, Country General Manager Ukraine and General 
Manager Nigeria. Marcel Martin became General Manager of 
our Irish operations in 2010 and is now our Group Supply 
Chain Director.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Nationality: Romanian

Jan Gustavsson
(52) General Counsel, Company Secretary and Director of 
Strategic Development
Senior management tenure: Appointed August 2001 (16 years)

Previous Group roles: Jan Gustavsson served as Deputy General 
Counsel for Coca-Cola Beverages plc from 1999-2001.

Outside interests: No external appointments

Previous relevant experience: Jan Gustavsson started his career 
in 1993 with the law firm of White & Case in Stockholm, Sweden. In 
1995, he joined The Coca-Cola Company as Assistant Division 
Counsel in the Nordic and Northern Eurasia Division. From 1997 to 
1999, Jan Gustavsson was Senior Associate in White & Case’s New 
York office, practicing securities law and M&A.

Nationality: Swedish

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Operating Committee key activities and decisions in 2017

Business case reviews  
and approvals
 – Strategic revenue-

generating initiatives 
and product launches
 – Strategic transformation 
of supply chain, human 
resources, commercial, 
finance and business 
solutions and systems 
departments

 – Optimisation of our logistics 

and manufacturing 
infrastructure

 – Development of our business 

services organisation

Policy formulation  
and reviews
 – Commercial policy

Priority projects
 – Revenue growth 
management
 – Route to market
 – Renewing category growth
 – Right Execution Daily
 – Engagement
 – Business Performance 

Management System (BPMS)

Dec

Jan

Nov

Feb

Oct

Sept

Mar

Apr

Aug

May

July

June

Risk, safety and business resilience
 – Evaluating the Group’s business resilience 

strategies

 – Reviewing the Group’s health and safety 

policies and material incidents

Long-term  
direction-setting
 – Defining Group strategic 

priorities and performance 
parameters

 – Reviewing and adjusting the 
Group’s revenue growth 
management framework 
and aligning with local 
commercialisation plans
 – Aligning our sustainability 
priorities on the way to 
delivering 2020 
commitments

 – Reviewing our route-
to-market approach

Business planning
 – Evaluating and updating 
the Group’s long-range 
business plan

 – Reviewing and approving 
annual business plans for 
2017 for all operations and 
central functions

 – Approving Group and 

country talent, capabilities 
development and 
succession plans

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A WELL-DEFINED FRAMEWORK 
FOR RISK MANAGEMENT

Letter from the Chair of the Audit 
and Risk Committee

Dear Shareholder
The Audit and Risk Committee focused its work during 2017 on 
enhancing and strengthening the Group’s existing financial 
controls and risk management and compliance systems, 
including in relation to its financial reporting process and in 
relation to the process for preparing consolidated accounts, 
which the Board recognises as essential components of 
effective corporate governance.

During 2017, the Audit and Risk Committee also worked closely 
with the internal audit and finance teams in implementing the 
Group’s internal control framework. The Committee also 
considered developments in accounting and regulatory matters 
including changes to IFRS accounting standards, initiatives 
around human rights and gender diversity, and the new EU Data 
Protection Regulation.

The Audit and Risk Committee Report describes in more detail 
the work and the achievements of the Audit and Risk 
Committee during 2017 and we are proud to report that the 
Committee addressed the challenges the business faced during 
the year and ensured that we have a well-defined framework for 
financial controls and risk management that meets best practice 
standards.

William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Committee Chair

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Role and responsibilities
The Audit and Risk Committee monitors the effectiveness of our 
financial reporting, internal control and risk management systems 
and processes. The role of the Audit and Risk Committee is set out 
in the charter for the committees of the Board of Directors in 
Annex C to the Company’s Organisational Regulations. This is 
available at http://coca-colahellenic.com/en/about-us/corporate-
governance/corporate-governance-overview/.

The key responsibilities of and elements of the Audit and Risk 
Committee’s role are set out on page 81.

Members
William W. (Bill) Douglas III (Chairman)

John P. Sechi
Olusola (Sola) David-Borha

Membership status 
Member since 2016, 
Chairman since 2016
Member since 2014
Member since 2015

The Audit and Risk Committee comprises three independent 
non-Executive Directors, Bill Douglas (Chairman), Olusola (Sola) 
David-Borha, and John P. Sechi, who were each re-elected for a 
one-year term by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting 
on 20 June 2017. 

The Board remains satisfied that Bill Douglas,John Sechi, and Sola 
David-Borha possess recent and relevant financial and sector 
experience in compliance with the UK Corporate Governance 
Code. Bill Douglas was formerly Executive Vice President and Chief 
Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President, Supply Chain of 
Coca-Cola Enterprises, and John Sechi and Sola David-Borha have 
held a number of senior financial positions. Further details on their 
experience are set out in their respective biographies on pages 
75 and 73 respectively. 

The Chief Financial Officer, as well as the General Counsel, external 
auditors, the Director of Internal Audit, and the Group Chief 
Accountant normally attend all meetings of the Audit and Risk 
Committee. Other officers and employees are invited to attend 
meetings when appropriate. The Director of Internal Audit, and, 
separately, the external auditors, meet regularly with the Audit and 
Risk Committee without the presence of management to discuss 
the adequacy of internal controls over financial reporting and any 
other matters deemed relevant to the Audit and Risk Committee.

Work and activities
The Audit and Risk Committee met eight times during 2017 and 
discharged the responsibilities defined under Annex C of the 
Organisational Regulations. The work of the Audit and Risk 
Committee during the accounting year included consideration of:

 – the annual financial statements and the annual financial report 

for the year ended 31 December 2016 prior to their submission 
to the Board for approval, including consideration of the Group 
on a going concern basis, and compliance with Group policies;

 – the interim financial statements and interim results 

announcement for the six-month period ending 30 June 2017, 
prior to their submission to the Board for approval;

 – the trading updates for the three-month period ended 31 March 
2017 and the nine-month period ended 29 September 2017;
 – areas of significance in the preparation of the financial statements;

 – the internal control environment, principal risks and risk 

management systems and the Group’s statement on the 
effectiveness of its internal controls prior to endorsement by 
the Board;

 – review of the Viability Statement scenarios and underlying 
assumptions and recommendations to the Board that the 
Viability Statement be approved;

 – review and approval of the internal audit plan, quarterly reports 
on the results of internal audit work and an internal and external 
independent quality assessment of the internal audit function in 
accordance with the Institute of Internal Auditors Attribute 
Standard 1312, including the following:
 – reassessment of the overall financial risk management 

of the Group’s operations and review of internal financial 
control procedures;

 – review of regulatory changes and developments and impact 

on risk management processes; 

 – review and approval of changes to the corporate audit 

department, including training and development programmes;
 – matters arising under the Group’s Code of Business Conduct 
and the actions taken to address any identified issues; and
 – revisions to and compliance with treasury policies, including 
risk limits, hedging programmes and counterparty limits;
 – the geopolitical developments in Greece, Russia, Ukraine and 
Nigeria, and their implications for the Group’s operations;

 – regular reports on quality assurance, health and safety, 

environmental protection, asset protection, treasury and financial 
risks, security and security enterprise risk management processes;

 – reports from the external auditor on the annual and interim 
financial statements, approval of the external audit plan and 
pre-approval of audit fees for 2017; and

 – the results of the Audit and Risk Committee self-assessment 

process.

Areas of key significance in the preparation 
of the financial statements 
The Audit and Risk Committee considered a number of areas of key 
significance in the preparation of the financial statements in 2017 
including the following:

 – critical accounting judgements and estimates that affect the 

reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, 
and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the 
consolidated financial statements including income taxes (detailed 
in Notes 5, 10 and 28 to the consolidated financial statements);
 – contingencies, legal proceedings, competition law and regulatory 
procedures, including cases involving the national competition 
authorities of Greece and Switzerland and litigation matters in 
Nigeria, Russia, Italy and Greece, and the impact of these on the 
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes;
 – the impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible 
assets with a particular emphasis on reviewing and challenging 
the key assumptions used in the value-in-use calculation and the 
sensitivity analysis performed for the material operations with 
reduced financial headroom. These assumptions, and a 
discussion of how they are established as well as the sensitivity 
analysis, are described in Note 13 to the consolidated financial 
statements; and

Priorities for 2018
The key priorities for 2018 are the following:

 – monitoring the developments in accounting and regulatory 
matters including potential changes to IFRS accounting 
standards;

 – implementation of the new EU Data Protection Regulation; and
 – ongoing monitoring of risks as well impairment testing of goodwill 

and intangible assets.

External auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, Birchstrasse 160, CH 8050 Zurich, 
Switzerland (‘PwC AG’) has been elected by the shareholders as the 
statutory auditor for the Group’s statutory consolidated and 
stand-alone financial statements. Signing partner for the statutory 
financial statements on behalf of PwC AG is Mike Foley, who has 
held this role since the year ended 31 December 2016. 

The Board, at the recommendation of the Audit and Risk 
Committee, has retained PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A., 268 
Kifissias Avenue – 15232 Halandri, Greece (‘PwC S.A.’), an affiliate of 
PwC AG, to act as the Group’s independent registered public 
accounting firm for the purposes of reporting under the UK rules 
for the year ended 31 December 2017. Signing partner for the 
financial statements on behalf of PwC S.A. is Marios Psaltis, who has 
held this role for five years. 

The appointment of PwC has been approved by the shareholders 
until the next Annual General Meeting by way of advisory vote. 
‘PwC’ refers to PwC AG or PwC S.A., as applicable, in this 
Annual Report.

During the accounting period, the members of the Audit and Risk 
Committee met separately with PwC on a regular basis and the 
Audit and Risk Committee took an active role in reviewing the 
scope of the audit, the independence, objectivity and effectiveness 
of PwC, and the negotiations relating to audit fees. The Audit and 
Risk Committee also met with the management team, which led 
the discussions with PwC, including the Director of Internal Audit, to 
discuss the performance of PwC without PwC being present. 
Following this review process, the Audit and Risk Committee has 
recommended to the Board that a proposal to reappoint PwC be 
put to a shareholders’ vote at the next Annual General Meeting.

PwC has acted as the Group’s sole external auditor since 2003. The 
Company ran a competitive tender for the external auditor services 
in 2015 which was overseen by the Audit and Risk Committee. 
Following the evaluation of the proposals, the Audit and Risk 
Committee concluded in 2015 that the best interests of the Group 
and its shareholders would be served by retaining PwC as external 
auditor and made such recommendation to the Board. PwC was 
reappointed by the Board as the Group’s external auditor with 
effect from 11 December 2015. Currently, the Audit and Risk 
Committee anticipates that the audit contract will be put out to 
tender again in 2025. There are no contractual or other obligations 
restricting the Group’s choice of external auditor.

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Non-audit services provided by the external auditor
The Audit and Risk Committee considers the independence, in 
both fact and appearance, of the external auditor as critical and has 
long had an auditor independence policy providing definitions of the 
services that the external auditor may and may not provide. The 
policy requires the Audit and Risk Committee’s pre-approval of all 
audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the external 
auditor. Such services include audit, work directly related to audit, 
and certain tax and other services as further explained below. In 
practice, the Audit and Risk Committee applies the policy 
restrictively and approval for work other than audit and audit-
related services is rarely granted.

Under the policy, pre-approval may be provided for work associated 
with: statutory or other financial audit work under IFRS or according 
to local statutory requirements; attestation services not required 
by statute or regulation; accounting and financial reporting 
consultation and research work necessary to comply with generally 
accepted accounting and auditing standards; internal control 
reviews and assistance with internal control reporting 
requirements; review of information systems security and controls; 
tax compliance and related tax services, excluding any tax services 
prohibited by regulatory or other oversight authorities; expatriates’ 
and other individual tax services; and assistance and consultation 
on questions raised by regulatory agencies. For each proposed 
service, the external auditor is required to provide detailed back-up 
documentation at the time of approval to permit the Audit and Risk 
Committee to make a determination whether the provision of such 
services would impair the external auditor’s independence.

PwC has complied with the policy for the financial year ended on 
31 December 2017 and there have been no changes to the policy 
during the year.

Audit fees and all other fees

Audit fees
The total fees for audit services paid to PwC and affiliates were 
approximately €4.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2017, 
compared to approximately €4.5 million for the year ended 31 
December 2016. The total fees for 2017 include fees associated 
with the annual audit and reviews of the Group’s half-year reports, 
prepared in accordance with IFRS and local statutory audits.

Audit-related fees
Fees for audit-related services paid to PwC and affiliates for the 
year ended 31 December 2017 were €0.4 million compared to €0.4 
million for the year ended 31 December 2016.

Tax-related fees
Fees for tax services to PwC and affiliates for the year ended 31 
December 2017 were €nil million compared to €0.1 million for the 
year ended 31 December 2016.

All other fees
Fees for non-audit services paid to PwC or affiliates for the year 
ended 31 December 2017 were €nil million. There were €0.1 million 
in fees for non-audit services paid to PwC or affiliates during the 
year ended 31 December 2016.

Risk management
During 2017, the Company continued to revise and strengthen its 
approach to risk management as described in detail on pages 55 to 
63. The primary aim of this framework is to minimise our exposure 
and ensure that the nature and significance of all risks we are facing 
are properly identified, reviewed, managed and, where necessary, 
escalated. A quarterly risk assessment is undertaken by the 
countries and corporate office support functions, and significant 
risks are then reported to the Region Directors and the Chief Risk 
Officer. The Company’s Group Risk Forum reviews the identified 
risks biannually and presents issues of critical exposure to the 
Operating Committee. The latter, after careful review, reports to 
the Audit and Risk Committee material risks and mitigating actions. 
This process is both top-down and bottom-up and is designed 
to ensure that risks arising from business activities are 
appropriately managed.

Finally, we have in place third-party insurance to cover residual 
insurable risk exposure such as property damage, business 
interruption and liability protection, including Directors’ and officers’ 
insurance for our Directors and officers as well as for the officers 
and directors of certain subsidiaries. 

Internal control
The Board has ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the 
Company has adequate systems of financial control. Systems of 
financial control can provide only reasonable and not absolute 
assurance against material misstatements or loss. In certain of the 
countries in which we operate, our businesses are exposed to a 
heightened risk of loss due to fraud and criminal activity. We review 
our systems of financial control regularly in order to minimise 
such losses.

The Board has adopted a chart of authority defining financial and 
other authorisation limits and setting procedures for approving 
capital and investment expenditure. The Board also approves 
detailed annual budgets. It subsequently reviews quarterly 
performance against targets set forth in these plans and budgets. A 
key focus of the financial management strategy is the protection of 
our earnings stream and management of our cash flow.

The Board and its committees have conducted an annual review of 
the effectiveness of our risk management system and internal 
control systems in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance 
Code. Part of this review involves regular review of our financial, 
operational and compliance controls by the Audit and Risk 
Committee, which then reports back to the Board on its work and 
findings as described above. The Board confirms that it has 
concluded that our risk management and internal control systems 
are effective.

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In 2017, we received 292 allegations (2016: 186) of which 98 
(2016: 48) were received through the whistle-blower hotline. 
All allegations involving potential Code of Business Conduct 
violations were investigated in accordance with the Group Code 
of Business Conduct Handling Guidelines. Of those investigated, 
124 (2016: 79) matters were substantiated as code violations 
of which 35 (2016: 20) involved an employee in a management 
position or involved a loss greater than €10 thousand. For 
details concerning the handling of allegations received in 2017 
see our website.

Disclosure Committee
A Disclosure Committee has been established and disclosure 
controls and procedures have been adopted to ensure the 
accuracy and completeness of our public disclosures. The 
Disclosure Committee is composed of the Chief Financial Officer, 
the General Counsel, the Director of Investor Relations and the 
Group Chief Accountant.

Performance reporting
Reports on our annual performance and prospects are presented in 
the Annual Report following recommendation by the Audit and Risk 
Committee. We also prepare a half-yearly financial report on our 
performance during the first six months of the financial year. In 
2015, the Group discontinued the practice of quarterly reporting. In 
line with UK practice, we have adopted half-year and full-year 
reports, and Q1 and Q3 trading updates effective from Q1 2015. 
Internally, our financial results and key performance indicators are 
reviewed by the Operating Committee on a monthly basis. This 
information includes comparisons against business plans, forecasts 
and prior year performance. The Board of Directors receives 
updates on performance at each Board meeting, as well as a 
monthly report on our business and financial performance.

Internal audit
Our internal audit function reports directly to the Audit and Risk 
Committee, which reviews and approves the internal audit plan for 
each year. The internal audit function consists of approximately 40 
full-time professional audit staff based in Athens, Budapest, Sofia, 
Moscow and Lagos, covering a range of disciplines and business 
expertise. One of the responsibilities of the internal audit function is 
to confirm to the Board the effective operation of our internal 
control framework. For this purpose, the Director of Internal Audit 
makes quarterly presentations to the Audit and Risk Committee 
and meets regularly with the Audit and Risk Committee without the 
presence of our management.

In addition, the internal audit function reviews the internal financial, 
operational, and compliance control systems across all the 
jurisdictions in which we operate and reports its findings to 
management and the Audit and Risk Committee on a regular basis. 
The internal audit function focuses its work on the areas of greatest 
risk to us, as determined by a risk-based approach to audit planning. 
As part of our commitment to maintaining and strengthening best 
practice in corporate governance matters, we also consistently 
seek to enhance our internal control environment and risk 
management capability.

The internal audit function prepares audit reports and 
recommendations following each audit and appropriate measures 
are then taken to ensure that all recommendations are 
implemented. Status reports on our management’s 
implementation of internal audit recommendations are provided to 
the Audit and Risk Committee on a quarterly basis. Significant 
issues, if any, are raised at once. There were no such issues in 2017. 
The Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the General 
Counsel, the Group Chief Accountant and the region and country 
managers have access to the implementation status of the 
recommendations at all times. 

Whistle-blowing measures
We operate a hotline to receive, retain, investigate and act on 
employee complaints or concerns regarding accounting, internal 
control or ethical matters. This includes any matters regarding the 
circumvention or attempted circumvention of internal controls 
including matters that would constitute a violation of our Code of 
Business Conduct or matters involving fraudulent behaviour by 
officers or employees of the Group. All such allegations, complaints 
or concerns may be communicated in a variety of ways, in local 
languages and on an anonymous basis, to our Director of Internal 
Audit. Communications received by the Director of Internal Audit, 
or directly through the hotline, are kept confidential and, where 
requested, anonymous. The Director of Internal Audit liaises 
regularly with the General Counsel and communicates all significant 
allegations to the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee. 

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FOCUS ON THE COMPOSITION 
OF THE BOARD

Letter from the Chair of the 
Nomination Committee

Following the untimely death of Dimitris Lois, Chief Executive 
Officer from 2011 until he passed away in October 2017, the 
Nomination Committee led a thorough process that resulted in 
the appointment of Zoran Bogdanovic as the Company’s new 
Chief Executive Officer. Zoran Bogdanovic brings a track record 
of delivering results across our territories and demonstrating 
the values that are the foundation of our Company culture. He 
will also be nominated as an Executive Director on the Board at 
the Annual General Meeting in 2018.

In 2018, the Committee will continue to review the balance of 
skills, experience and diversity on the Board and will also focus 
on the talent development, employee engagement and gender 
diversity initiatives necessary to ensure that the Group has the 
people and skills to deliver on its strategy. The Committee will 
also oversee an internally facilitated self-assessment process.

A summary of the Group’s Nomination Policy for the 
recruitment of Board members is available online at: https://
coca-colahellenic.com/media/1549/summary-of-nomination-
policy-for-recruitment-of-board-members.pdf. The Board 
Diversity Policy is described on page 100.

Reto Francioni
Committee Chair

Dear Shareholder
The work of the Nomination Committee has continued to focus 
on the composition of the Board and the important task of 
succession planning.

As a result of our 2017 review to ensure an appropriate balance 
of skills, experience, independence and knowledge, we 
recommended Charlotte Boyle as a new non-Executive Director 
following the retirement of Antonio D’Amato in June 2017. 
Charlotte Boyle brings significant skills and experience in the areas 
of people, talent, succession and executive remuneration to the 
Board, Nomination Committee and Remuneration Committee.

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Role and responsibilities
The function of the Nomination Committee is to support the Board 
in fulfilling its duty to conduct a Board self-assessment, to establish 
and maintain a process for appointing new Board members and to 
manage, in consultation with the Chairman, the succession of the 
Chief Executive Officer. The formal role of the Nomination 
Committee is set out in the charter for the committees of the 
Board of Directors in Annex C of the Company’s Organisational 
Regulations. This is available online at http://coca-colahellenic.
com/en/about-us/corporate-governance/corporate-governance-
overview/.

Work and activities
The Nomination Committee met four times during 2017 and 
discharged the responsibilities defined under Annex C of the 
Company’s Organisational Regulations. The Chief Executive 
Officer and the Group Human Resources Director regularly attend 
meetings of the Nomination Committee. In addition, the Chairman 
is actively involved in the work of the Nomination Committee 
concerning succession planning and the selection of key people. 
In 2017, the General Counsel also met with the Nomination 
Committee on several occasions. During 2017, the work of the 
Nomination Committee included consideration of:

Key elements of the Nomination Committee’s role are set out on 
page 81.

 – leading the process for the appointment of the new Chief 

Executive Officer

Members
Reto Francioni (Chairman)

Charlotte J. Boyle
Alexandra Papalexopoulou

Membership status 
Member since 2016, 
Chairman since 2016
Member since 2017
Member since 2015

 – succession planning and development of plans for the 

recruitment of new Board members;

 – composition of the Board, including the appropriate balance of 

skills, knowledge, experience and diversity;

 – agreeing the process for the recruitment and nomination of new 

The members of the Nomination Committee are Reto Francioni, 
Charlotte Boyle, and Alexandra Papalexopoulou. At the Annual 
General Meeting on 20 June 2017, Antonio D’Amato retired as a 
member of the Board and member of the Nomination Committee 
and the Board appointed Charlotte Boyle to replace him. At the 
Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2017, Reto Francioni and 
Alexandra Papalexopoulou were also re-elected for a one-year 
term by the shareholders. Since June 2015 all members of the 
Nomination Committee have been independent non-Executive 
Directors and the Nomination Committee is chaired by 
Reto Francioni.

Board members;

 – review of the talent management framework;
 – compilation of a list of potential candidates to fill roles on the 

Board in conjunction with executive search consultants;
 – recommendation to the Board of proposed candidates for 

appointment to the Board;

 – the performance evaluation and annual assessments of the 

committees and the Board;

 – review of the Director induction process and training 

programmes; and

 – review of the Group’s Inclusion and Diversity Policy.

Committee at work – Recruitment process

Succession 
planning

Board 
composition

Recruitment

Shortlisting

Interview

Balance 
of skills

Appointment

Introduction

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As the result of the Nomination Committee’s review of the 
composition of the Board in 2017, the Nomination Committee 
recommended Charlotte Boyle to be appointed as a new 
non-Executive Director, and as a member of the Nomination 
Committee and Remuneration Committee following the retirement 
of Antonio D’Amato. The Nomination Committee used the services 
of Lygon Group, an external search consultant, to help with the 
appointment of Charlotte Boyle. Lygon specialises in senior 
recruitment assignments and has no other connections with 
the Company.

Following the untimely death of Dimitris Lois in October 2017, the 
Nomination Committee led a thorough process and benchmarking 
exercise that resulted in the appointment of Zoran Bogdanovic as 
the Group’s new Chief Executive Officer. He will also be nominated 
as an Executive Director on the Board at the Annual General 
Meeting in 2018.

The Nomination Committee and the Board undertook a formal 
process to find an appropriate candidate for the CEO position. 
Egon Zehnder International supported the Committee to design 
and implement a robust succession process.

Egon Zehnder International provides recruitment and career 
development services to the Company from time-to-time, but 
does not have any other connection with the company. The main 
steps of the succession process in summary were as follows:

 – a Chief Executive Officer role profile for the Group was prepared 

and agreed by the Committee;

 – the Committee conducted initial reviews and assessed a list of 
internal and external candidates against the agreed profile to 
produce a shortlist of potential candidates;

 – after due consideration, the Committee concluded that Zoran 
Bogdanovic was the lead candidate for the position, based, 
among other things, on the Company’s pre-existing succession 
planning work and his strong track record with the Company;
 – with the support of the external consultant, the Committee 

conducted a very extensive interview and assessment process, 
which confirmed Zoran Bogdanovic as a qualified and suitable 
candidate for the position;

 – Zoran Bogdanovic was benchmarked against external 

candidates;

 – the Committee considered all available facts and concluded that 

due to his proven leadership skills, strategic agility, industry 
expertise and cultural fit, Zoran Bogdanovic was the best 
qualified candidate for the position; and 

 – the Board unanimously approved the Committee’s 

recommendation.

Priorities for 2018
The Nomination Committee’s priorities for 2018 include:

 – successful onboarding of the new CEO;
 – continuous work on succession plans for Board and senior 

management positions; and

 – internal Board and committee assessments.

Performance evaluation of the Board
The Nomination Committee led the annual assessment of the 
performance of the Board and its committees during the year with 
the support of Lintstock, an external advisory firm. The key areas 
included in the assessment were Board structure and diversity, 
timeliness and quality of information, Board discussions, 
committees and their operation, succession planning, risk appetite 
and risk management, and remuneration and performance. The 
scores were overall high and the results of the evaluation were 
presented at the December 2017 Board meeting. Further details 
on the internal board evaluation are set out on page 84.

As with all employees, the Group offers training opportunities to the 
Board and senior management in order to improve their skills, and 
encourages all Board members and senior management to gain 
relevant experience and knowledge to fulfil their position’s duties.

Diversity
The Group continues to be deeply committed to policies 
promoting diversity, equal opportunity and talent development at 
every level throughout the Group, including at Board and 
management level, and is constantly seeking to attract and recruit 
highly qualified candidates for all positions in its business. The 
Group’s Inclusion and Diversity Policy applies to all people who work 
for us. Further details on the Group’s Inclusion and Diversity Policy 
are set out on page 31 in the Strategic Report.

The Group believes that diversity at Board level acts as a key driver 
of Board effectiveness, helps to ensure that the Group can achieve 
its overall business goals, especially in light of our geographical 
footprint, and is critical in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture 
across the whole Group. The Board has now adopted a formal 
Board Diversity Policy.

The Group’s Board Diversity Policy guides the Nomination 
Committee and the Board in relation to their approach to diversity 
in respect of succession planning and the selection process for the 
appointment of new Board members. The Nomination Committee 
is responsible for implementing this policy and for monitoring 
progress towards the achievement of its objectives. 

Under the Board Diversity Policy, the Nomination Committee is 
required to take into account all aspects of diversity, including age, 
ethnicity, gender, educational and professional background when 
considering succession planning and new Board appointments. 
Board appointments are evaluated on merit against objective 
criteria with due regard for diversity to ensure that candidates 
contribute to the balance of skills, experience, knowledge and 
diversity of the Board.

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Since 31 December 2016, there has been an increase in the 
number of women on the Board from 15% to 25% following the 
appointment of Charlotte Boyle (reducing to 23% if Zoran 
Bogdanovic is elected at the Annual General Meeting of the 
Company as proposed (see page 78)). The percentage of 
managers who were women has also increased from 33% as at 31 
December 2016 to 35% as at 31 December 2017, while the 
percentage of women among executive leaders remained 30%.

The Nomination Committee, in conjunction with the Operating 
Committee, will continue to monitor the proportion of women at all 
levels of the Group and ensure that all appointments are made with 
a view to having a high level of diversity within the workplace and in 
leadership positions.

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FOCUS ON ACHIEVING OUR 
2020 SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Letter from the Chair of the Social 
Responsibility Committee

The Committee also oversaw the Group’s continued efforts 
to align and integrate its sustainability priorities to its overall 
business strategy, particularly in the areas of use of clean and 
renewable energy, carbon emissions, packaging light-weighting, 
recovery for recycling, and sustainable sourcing. We are 
particularly pleased that in 2017 the CDP (formerly the Carbon 
Disclosure Project) recognised these efforts, considering 
Coca-Cola HBC as a global leader in the areas of climate 
and water.

We are especially proud that in addition to being named the 
industry leader on both the Dow Jones World and Europe 
Sustainability Indices for a record four consecutive years, 
Coca-Cola HBC has now also taken the lead within the food, 
beverage and tobacco industry group as a whole. 

The Committee will continue to promote the sustainability 
agenda within the organisation, and ensure that this remains 
a key driver of our corporate reputation as a leader in the field.

Anastasios I. Leventis
Committee Chair

Dear Shareholder
In 2017, the Committee continued its overview and monitoring of 
the implementation of our sustainability strategy. During the year, 
particular emphasis was placed on the progress made against the 
targets associated with the Group’s 2020 sustainability 
commitments, details of which are set out on page 25.

At the same time, we continued monitoring regulatory 
developments in the area of sustainability, with an emphasis on 
the circular economy, within the framework of the related 
European Union policy package.

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Notably, the Social Responsibility Committee reviewed, and 
endorsed, the process for the annual assessment of material 
issues, which combined input from both business leaders and 
internal stakeholders, in accordance with the framework of the 
International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), the GRI 
Sustainability Report Standards, and the guidance of the 
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board for the beverage 
industry.

Priorities for 2018
The Social Responsibility Committee’s priorities for 2018 include:

 – overseeing a review of our 2020 commitments in order to 

identify the key themes and priorities within a longer time frame;

 – reviewing and endorsing the Group’s sustainability reporting 

according to the GRI and IIRC frameworks; and

 – addressing potential sparkling soft drinks and plastic 

packaging taxation.

Role and responsibilities
The Social Responsibility Committee is responsible for the 
development and supervision of procedures and systems to ensure 
the pursuit of the Group’s social and environmental goals. The 
formal role of the Social Responsibility Committee is set out in the 
charter for the committees of the Board of Directors in Annex C of 
the Company’s Organisational Regulations. This is available online 
at https://coca-colahellenic.com/en/about-us/corporate-
governance/corporate-governance-overview/.The key elements 
of the Social Responsibility Committee’s role and responsibilities 
are set out on page 81.

Members
Anastasios I. Leventis

Alexandra Papalexopoulou
José Octavio Reyes

Membership status 
Member since 2016, 
Chairman since 2016
Member since 2016
Member since 2014

Work and activities
The Social Responsibility Committee met four times during 2017 
and discharged its responsibilities as defined under Annex C of the 
Company’s Organisational Regulations. In addition to the members 
of the Social Responsibility Committee, the Director of Public 
Affairs and Communication attends all meetings of the Committee.

During 2017 the Social Responsibility Committee reviewed and 
provided guidance and insights to advance the Group’s 
sustainability approach in the following areas:

 – assessment of the Group’s progress regarding the level of 
disclosure and reporting across all three dimensions of 
sustainability (economic, environmental and social), with 
particular focus on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices and 
recently introduced GRI Standards;

 – monitoring of the rate of implementation and progress made 
against the 12 publicly communicated 2020 sustainability 
commitments; and

 – assessment of emerging trends in sustainability and potential 
implications for Coca-Cola HBC, particularly in the areas of 
packaging, and health and nutrition.

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DRIVING SUSTAINABLE 
PERFORMANCE

Letter from the Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee

Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Dear Shareholder
As the Chair of the Remuneration Committee, I am pleased to 
present our Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 
December 2017. Our primary listing is on the London Stock 
Exchange and our Company is domiciled in Switzerland. We 
therefore ensure that we comply fully with UK regulations, except 
where these conflict with Swiss law. The format of our 2017 
Remuneration Report is consistent with last year's format as there 
were no significant changes in relevant regulations or internal 
policies.

The Group’s remuneration philosophy and policies are designed  
to attract, motivate and retain the talented people we need to  
meet the Company’s strategic objectives, and to give them  
due recognition. To this end, the Remuneration Committee  
has worked to ensure that the remuneration policy of the Group 
remains fair, transparent and competitive in comparison with  
our peers, and that remuneration is linked to business strategy  
and drives sustainable performance.

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2017 performance outcomes
2017 saw the business performing well, with a clear strategic 
direction. With this in mind we are delighted to announce strong 
results for the 2017 financial year, delivering net sales revenue 
growth of 5.9% on an FX-neutral basis (an improvement on 2016 
performance of 3.0%) and volume growth of 2.2% with positive 
performance in all segments. Our comparable EBIT margin also 
improved this year, now at 9.5%. We have sustained our ability to 
improve cost-efficiency with our operating expenditure at 27.9% of 
revenue, which is a positive step towards our 2020 target range of 
26%-27%. We also saw an improvement in our overall ROIC 
performance, which reached 12.4% this year. This exceptional 
performance demonstrates our significant progress towards our 
2020 targets.

The table below illustrates Company performance achieved against 
key performance indicators, and highlights those that are used in 
our Management Incentive Plan (MIP) and Performance Share Plan 
(PSP) variable pay arrangements.

Volume (m unit cases)
2,104
2016: 2,058

FX-neutral NSR 
generated per case (€)
3.10
2016: 3.02 

Comparable EBIT (€m)
621
2016: 518

ROIC
12.4%
2016: 10.3%

Net sales revenue (€m)
6,522
2016: 6,219

Operating expense as 
% of NSR (excl. DME)
25.5%
2016: 25.8%

Free cash flow (€m)
426
2016: 431

Comparable EPS (€)
1.233
2016: 0.972

Included in MIP

Included in PSP

Other key performance indicators

Applying the remuneration policy for Directors 
in 2017
Dimitris Lois, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2011, 
went on extended leave for medical treatment last year. It was with 
great sadness that we had to announce his passing on 2 October 
2017. The Remuneration Committee deemed that all death in 
service payments be made in line with the termination policy 
contained within the approved Executive Director's Remuneration 
Policy. In line with this policy, no base salary was paid out in lieu of 
notice and all outstanding awards under the MIP and PSP were 
pro-rated for time and subject to performance assessment. Under 
Swiss law, share awards are considered annual compensation and 
as such when time pro-rating is required, the year of grant (12 
months) and not the vesting period (36 months) for time pro-rating 
calculations is considered. The Remuneration Committee made 
the decision that the vesting of these pro-rated PSP awards be 
accelerated and vest as soon as reasonably practicable to Dimitris 
Lois’ heirs. Full details of these awards can be found on page 118.

The Remuneration Committee will continue to keep policies under 
review so as to ensure that plans and programmes relating to 
remuneration support the Company’s business strategy and are 
closely linked to shareholders’ interests. We value the dialogue with 
shareholders and welcome views on this Remuneration Report. We 
were pleased with the positive vote for the Company’s 
remuneration policy and the Annual Report on Remuneration at the 
2017 Annual General Meeting and trust we shall have your support 
again in 2018.

The role of the Remuneration Committee
The main tasks of our Remuneration Committee are to establish 
the remuneration strategy for the Group and to approve 
compensation packages for Directors and other select senior 
management. The Remuneration Committee operates under the 
Charter for the Committees of the Board of the Company set forth 
in Annex C to the Organisational Regulations of the Company, 
available on the Group’s website at: http://coca-colahellenic.com/
en/about-us/corporate-governance/corporate-governance-
overview/.

Members
Alexandra Papalexopoulou (Chair)

Reto Francioni
Charlotte J. Boyle

Membership status 
Member since 2015
Chair since June 2016
Appointed June 2016
Appointed June 2017

In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the 
Remuneration Committee consists of three independent non-
Executive Directors: Alexandra Papalexopoulou (Chair), Reto 
Francioni and Charlotte J. Boyle, who were each elected by the 
shareholders for a one-year term on 20 June 2017. The 
Remuneration Committee met four times in 2017: March, June, 
September and December. Please refer to the Board and 
Committee attendance in 2017 section of the Corporate 
Governance Report on page 82 for details on the Remuneration 
Committee meetings.

Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

During the period from 15 September leading up to 7 December, 
our Chief Financial Officer, Michalis Imellos, took on the role of 
Acting Chief Executive Officer. During this period, he was not 
appointed to the Board. The Remuneration Committee made no 
additional interim payments for his interim role.

Zoran Bogdanovic, previously a Region Director and member of 
the Operating Committee since 2013, was appointed to the role 
of Chief Executive Officer on 7 December 2017. His formal 
appointment to the Board will be put forward for shareholder 
approval at the next Annual General Meeting in June 2018. 
Remuneration arrangements for Zoran Bogdanovic have been 
determined by the Remuneration Committee and are aligned to 
the remuneration policy for Executive Directors. Full details can be 
found on page 107.

In accordance with our remuneration policy, the base salary of 
Dimitris Lois had been reviewed earlier this year. In light of 
consideration of base salary increases across the organisation and 
market positioning, as well as business and individual performance, 
we decided to recommend increasing his annual base salary by 
2.5%, which was effective 1 May 2017. The Remuneration 
Committee considered business and individual performance 
criteria when recommending the increase. 

Further, in March 2017 Dimitris Lois received a third grant under the 
PSP. The award represented 330% of his base salary at the date of 
grant. These shares were originally subject to a three-year 
performance period, aligned to the Company’s financial year, with 
performance measured to the end of the financial year 2019, and 
vesting anticipated in March 2020. The treatment of this award is 
provided on page 118.

We continue to commit to disclosing MIP targets retrospectively 
and you will find the 2017 performance targets and outcomes 
reported on page 119.

Policy changes 
Every year, the Remuneration Committee reassesses the Group’s 
remuneration policy. In 2017, we believed that the remuneration 
policy could be enhanced to be brought more in line with UK best 
practice and become more aligned to the long-term strategy of the 
business. As such, the Remuneration Committee focused on 
reviewing and approving the implementation of:

 – bonus deferral within the MIP whereby the Chief Executive 

Officer will receive half of any bonus as deferred shares which will 
vest after three years, subject to continued service; and 

 – an additional holding period within the PSP whereby any vested 

shares held by the Chief Executive Officer are subject to a 
no-sale commitment for two years following the three-year 
performance period.

We believe that these changes support the alignment 
of management with our business strategy and our 
shareholders’ interests.

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Remuneration throughout the 
organisation – a snapshot

Attracting
Finding the people we want 
and need

Motivating
Achieving financial, business 
and non-financial targets

A competitive 
winning team

Retaining
Continuing to attract the  
best talent

Retaining
Continuing to attract the  
best talent

Recognising
Adopting behaviours that 
produce exceptional 
performance

How we implement our reward strategy

Reward strategy and objective 
The objective of the Group’s remuneration philosophy is to 
attract, retain and motivate employees who are curious, agile 
and committed to perform. Our reward strategy seeks to promote 
a growth mindset and reinforce desirable behaviours, ensuring 
that employees are fairly rewarded and that they recognise their 
individual contributions are directly linked to the success of 
the Company.

Variable pay is an important element of our reward philosophy. 
A significant proportion of total remuneration for top managers 
(including the Chief Executive Officer and the members of the 
Operating Committee) is tied to the achievement of our business 
objectives. These objectives are defined by key business metrics 
that are consistent with our growth strategy and will deliver 
long-term shareholder value. The variable pay element increases 
or decreases based on the achieved business performance. 
Through equity-related long-term compensation, we seek to 
ensure that the financial interests of the Chief Executive Officer, 
the members of the Operating Committee and other top 
managers are aligned with those of shareholders.

All of our remuneration plans, both fixed and variable, are designed 
to be cost-effective, taking into account market practice, business 
performance and individual performance and experience where 
relevant. We pay close attention to our shareholders’ views in 
reviewing our remuneration policy and programmes.

The chart below illustrates how we put our reward strategy into practice, with the different remuneration arrangements that apply to 
different employee groups.

Chief Executive Officer and Operating 
Committee

Shareholding 
guidelines

Support the alignment with shareholder interests ensuring sustainable 
performance:
 – Chief Executive Officer – required to hold shares in the Company 

equal in value to 200% of annual base salary within a five-year period.

 – Operating Committee – required to hold shares in the Company 

equal in value to 100% of annual base salary within a five-year period.

Chief Executive Officer and Operating 
Committee and selected senior management

Performance  
Share Plan

Performance share awards vest over three years. PSP awards are 
cascaded down to top managers, promoting a focus on long-term 
performance and aligning them to shareholders’ interests.

Selected middle and senior management

All management

All employees

Cash long-term incentive awards vest over three years. LTIP awards are 
cascaded down to select middle and senior management to promote 
a high-performance culture.

Management employees may be eligible to receive an award under the 
annual bonus scheme. Performance conditions are bespoke to the role 
and business unit.

The Employee Share Purchase Plan encourages share ownership 
and aligns the interests of our employees with those of shareholders.

Base salaries may reflect the market value of each role as well as the 
individual’s performance and potential. Retirement and other benefits 
are subject to local market practice.

Long-Term 
Incentive Plan

Management 
Incentive Plan

Employee Share  
Purchase Plan 
(dependent on 
country practice)

Fixed pay 
and benefits 
(base salary, retirement 
and other benefits 
– dependent on 
country practice)

Note: Participants in the PSP are not eligible to participate in the Long-Term Incentive Plan.

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At a glance – remuneration arrangements for the Chief Executive Officer

The table below summarises the remuneration arrangements in place for Zoran Bogdanovic, our new Chief Executive Officer. See page 
118 for total compensation received in the 2017 financial year.

Base salary

Retirement 
benefits

Other 
benefits

ESPP

+

MIP

PSP

=

Total 
compensation

Fixed pay

Variable pay subject 
to performance

Pay element
Base salary

Detail
The annual base salary of the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer is €750,000. 

Retirement benefits

Other benefits

ESPP
(Employee Share Purchase Plan)

MIP
(Management Incentive Plan)

The salary is reviewed annually and any increase is typically effective 1 May each year.
The Chief Executive Officer participates in a defined benefit pension plan under Swiss law. 
Employer contributions are 15% of annual base salary.
Other benefits include (but are not limited to) medical insurance, housing allowance, Company car/
allowance, cost of living adjustment, trip allowance, partner allowance, exchange rate protection, 
tax equalisation and tax filing support and advice. Benefit levels vary each year depending on need.
The Chief Executive Officer may participate in the Company’s Employee Share Purchase Plan. 
As a scheme participant, the Chief Executive Officer has the opportunity to invest a portion 
of his salary and/or MIP payments in shares. The Company matches employee contributions 
on a one-to-one basis up to 3% of salary and/or MIP payout.

Awards are subject to potential application of malus and clawback provisions. 
The MIP consists of a maximum annual bonus opportunity of up to 130% of base salary.

Payout is based on business performance targets (up to 120% of base salary) and individual 
performance (up to 10% of base salary).

No bonus will be paid out if the Chief Executive Officer has achieved less than 50% of his 
individual objectives.

50% of any bonus will be deferred into shares for a further three-year period.

PSP
(Performance Share Plan)

Payments are subject to potential application of malus and clawback provisions.
The PSP is an annual share award which vests after three years and is subject to two equally 
weighted performance conditions:

(i) comparable earnings per share (EPS) and;

(ii) return on invested capital (ROIC), each measured over a three-year period.

An additional two-year holding period will apply following vesting.

Awards are subject to potential application of malus and clawback provisions.

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Remuneration policy

Introduction
The following section (pages 108 to 110) sets out our Directors’ remuneration policy which was approved by the Remuneration 
Committee in December 2017, following revisions to incorporate annual bonus deferral within the MIP and add an additional holding period 
to the PSP. This remuneration policy will be put forward to shareholders on a voluntary basis at the next Annual General Meeting in June 
2018. Remuneration continues to be structured in a way that attracts, motivates and retains the talented people we need to achieve the 
Company’s strategic objectives and give them due recognition, whilst driving sustainable performance. It is intended that this 
remuneration policy will apply from the next Annual General Meeting.

As a Swiss-incorporated company, we are not required to put forward our remuneration policy for a shareholder vote, but we intend to do 
so voluntarily at least every three years (or when there are changes). We continue to endeavour to make sure that our disclosure complies 
fully with UK regulations, except when these conflict with Swiss law.

Policy table – Chief Executive Officer
The Company currently has a single Executive Director, being the Chief Executive Officer. Therefore, for simplicity, this section refers only 
to the Chief Executive Officer. This remuneration policy would, however, apply for any new Executive Director role, in the event that one 
were created during the life of this remuneration policy. In that case, references in this section to the Chief Executive Officer should be 
read as being to each Executive Director.

  Retirement benefits
  Purpose and link to strategy

To provide competitive, cost-effective post-retirement benefits.
Operation
The Chief Executive Officer participates in a defined benefit 
pension plan under Swiss law. There is no obligation for employee 
contributions.
Normal retirement age for the Chief Executive Officer’s plan is 
65 years. In case of early retirement, which is possible from the 
age of 58, the Chief Executive Officer is entitled to receive the 
amount accrued under the plan as a lump sum.
Malus and clawback provisions do not apply to retirement benefits.
Maximum opportunity
The contributions to the pension plan are calculated as a 
percentage of annual base salary (excluding any incentive 
payments or other allowance/benefits provided) based on age 
brackets as defined by federal Swiss legislation. This percentage 
is currently 15% of base salary and increases to 18% for age 
above 55.
Performance metrics
None.

Fixed
Base salary
Purpose and link to strategy
To provide a fixed level of compensation appropriate to the 
requirements of the role of Chief Executive Officer and to support 
the attraction and retention of the talent able to deliver the 
Group’s strategy.
Operation
Salary is reviewed annually, with salary changes normally effective 
on 1 May each year.
The following parameters are considered when reviewing base 
salary level:
•  the Chief Executive Officer’s performance, skills and 

responsibilities;

•  economic conditions and performance trends;
•  experience of the Chief Executive Officer;
•  pay increases for other employees; and
•  external comparisons based on factors such as: the industry 
of the business, revenue, market capitalisation, headcount, 
geographical footprint, stock exchange listing (FTSE) and other 
European companies.

Malus and clawback provisions do not apply to base salary. 
Maximum opportunity
Whilst there is no maximum salary level, any increases awarded to 
the Chief Executive Officer will normally be broadly aligned with 
the broader employee population. The salary increase made to 
the Chief Executive Officer may exceed the average salary 
increase under certain circumstances at the Remuneration 
Committee’s discretion. For example, this may be due to: business 
and individual performance; material changes to the business; 
internal promotions; accrual of experience; changes to the role; or 
other material factors.
Performance metrics
Individual and business performance are key factors when 
determining any base salary changes.
The annual base salary for the Chief Executive Officer is set out 
on page 107.

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Other benefits
Purpose and link to strategy
To provide benefits to the Chief Executive Officer which are 
consistent with market practice.
Operation
Benefit provisions are reviewed by the Remuneration Committee 
which has the discretion to recommend the introduction of 
additional benefits where appropriate. 
Typical provisions for the Chief Executive Officer include benefits 
related to relocation such as: housing allowance, Company car/
allowance, cost of living adjustment, trip allowance, partner 
allowance, exchange rate protection, tax equalisation and tax filing 
support and advice. For all benefits, the Company will bear any 
income tax and social security contributions arising from such 
payments.
Malus and clawback provisions do not apply to benefits.
Maximum opportunity
There is no defined maximum as the cost to the Company 
of providing such benefits will vary from year to year.
Performance metrics
None.

Variable pay
MIP (Management Incentive Plan)
Purpose and link to strategy
To support profitable growth and reward annually for contribution 
to business performance. The plan aims to promote a high-
performance culture with stretched individual and business 
targets linked to our key strategies.
Operation
Annual cash bonus awarded under the MIP is subject to business 
and individual performance metrics and is not part of the base for 
calculating pension.
The Chief Executive Officer’s individual objectives are regularly 
reviewed to ensure relevance to business strategy and are set and 
approved annually by the Chair of the Remuneration Committee 
and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Stretched targets for business performance are set annually 
based on the business plan of the Group as approved by the Board 
of Directors.
Performance against these targets and bonus outcomes are 
assessed by the Remuneration Committee, which may 
recommend an adjustment to the payout level where it considers 
the overall performance of the Company or the individual’s 
contribution warrants a higher or lower outcome. 
Malus and clawback provisions apply. Further details may be found 
in the Additional notes to the Executive Director’s remuneration 
policy table section on page 111.

  ESPP (Employee Share Purchase Plan)
  Purpose and link to strategy

The ESPP is an employee share purchase plan, encouraging broader 
share ownership, and is intended to align the interests of employees 
including the Chief Executive Officer with those of shareholders.
Operation
The ESPP is a voluntary share purchase scheme across many of 
the Group’s countries. The Chief Executive Officer as a scheme 
participant has the opportunity to invest from 1% to 15% of his 
salary and/or MIP payout to purchase the Company’s shares by 
contributing to the plan on a monthly basis.
The Company matches the contributions on a one-to-one basis 
up to 3% of the employee’s salary and /or MIP payout. Matching 
contributions are used to purchase shares one year after the 
matching. Matching shares are immediately vested.
Dividends received in respect of shares held under the ESPP are 
used to purchase additional shares and are immediately vested.
The Chief Executive Officer is eligible to participate in the ESPP 
operated by the Company on the same basis as other employees. 
Malus and clawback provisions apply. Further details may be found 
in the Additional notes to the Executive Director's remuneration 
policy table section on page 111.
Maximum opportunity
Maximum investment is 15% of gross base salary and MIP payout. 
The Company matches contributions up to 3% of gross base 
salary and MIP payout. Matching contributions are used to 
purchase shares one year after the matching. Matching shares are 
immediately vested.
Performance metrics
The value is directly linked to the share price performance. 
It is therefore not affected by other performance criteria.

  PSP (Performance Share Plan)
  Purpose and link to strategy

To align the Chief Executive Officer’s interests with the interests 
of shareholders and increase the ability of the Group to attract and 
reward individuals with exceptional skills.
Operation
The Chief Executive Officer is granted conditional awards of 
shares which vest after three years, subject to the achievement 
of performance metrics and continued service. Grants take place 
annually, normally every March.
Performance metrics and the associated targets are reviewed and 
determined at the beginning of each performance period to 
ensure that they support the long-term strategies and objectives 
of the Group and are aligned with shareholders’ interests.
Dividends may be paid on vested shares where the performance 
metrics are achieved at the end of the three-year period.
Malus and clawback provisions apply. Further details may be found 
in the Additional notes to the Executive Director’s remuneration 
policy table section on page 111.

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Variable pay
MIP (Management Incentive Plan)
Maximum opportunity
The Chief Executive Officer’s maximum MIP 
opportunity is set at 130% of annual base salary.
Threshold, target and maximum bonus opportunity 
levels are as follows:
•  Threshold: 5% of base salary
•  Target: 70% of base salary
•  Maximum: 130% of base salary. 

Maximum payout is based on business performance 
targets (up to 120% of salary) and individual 
performance (up to 10% of salary).
Performance metrics
The MIP awards are based on business metrics linked 
to our business strategy. These may include but are 
not limited to measures of volume, revenue, profit, 
cash and operating efficiencies. The weighting of 
individual performance metrics shall be determined 
by the Remuneration Committee at the beginning of 
the MIP performance period. Details related to the 
key performance indicators and individual objectives 
can be found in the Annual Report on Remuneration 
on page 122.
Deferral of MIP
50% of any MIP award is to be deferred in shares 
which will be made available after a three-year deferral 
period which commences on the first day of the fiscal 
year in which the deferred share award is made.
Deferred shares may be subject to malus and 
clawback (for a period of two years following the 
incentive award) to the extent deemed appropriate 
by the Remuneration Committee, in line with  
best practice.

  PSP (Performance Share Plan)
  Maximum opportunity

Awards (normally) have a face value up to 330% of base salary. In exceptional 
circumstances only, the Remuneration Committee has the discretion to grant 
awards up to 450% of base salary.
Performance metrics
Vesting of awards is subject to the three-year Group performance metrics 
based on two equally-weighted measures which have been selected as they are 
aligned to long-term growth and also measure the efficient use of capital, both 
of which are aligned to our strategic plan: comparable earnings per share 
(Comparable EPS); and the percentage of net operating profit after tax divided 
by the capital employed (ROIC). Capital employed is calculated as the average 
of net borrowings and shareholders’ equity through the year.
Following the end of the three-year period, the Remuneration Committee will 
determine the extent to which performance metrics have been met and, in 
turn, the level of vesting. Participants may receive vested awards in the form 
of shares or a cash equivalent.
For both performance metrics, achieving threshold performance results in 
vesting of 25% of the award and maximum performance results in vesting 
of 100% of the award.
Performance share awards will lapse if the Remuneration Committee 
determines that the performance metrics have not been met. 
Holding period 
Any vested award (net of shares sold to cover tax liability) is subject to a further 
two-year holding period following the end of the three-year performance 
period. During this two-year period these beneficially owned shares are subject 
to a no-sale commitment. Any shares subject to the holding period count 
towards the shareholding requirement.
Adjustments
In the event of an equity restructuring, the Remuneration Committee may 
make an equitable adjustment to the terms of the performance share award by 
adjusting the number and kind of shares which have been granted or may be 
granted and/or making provision for payment of cash in respect of any 
outstanding performance share award.
Change in control
In the event of change of control, unvested performance share awards held by 
participants vest immediately on a pro-rated basis if the Remuneration 
Committee determines that the performance metrics have been satisfied 
or would have been likely to be satisfied at the end of the performance period, 
unless the Remuneration Committee determines that substitute performance 
share awards may be used in place of the previous awards. For vested shares 
subject to the additional holding period, the holding period will lapse and the 
participants are no longer subject to the no-sale commitment.

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Additional notes to the Executive Director's remuneration policy table

Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration policy illustration

Maximum

16%

10%

2%

4%

20%

52% 4,779

Target

23%

14%

16%

43% 3,202

Minimum

58%

33%

1,300

9%

Base pay

Cash and non-cash benefits

Pension

MIP

PSP

Fixed

Variable

Total

Component
Base salary1
Pension
Cash and non-cash benefits2, 3
MIP
PSP

Minimum (€ 000s)
750
113
437
– 
–
1,300

Target (€ 000s)
750
113
453 
525
1,361
3,202

Maximum (€ 000s)
750
113
466
975
2,475
4,779

1.  Represents the annual base salary for the new Chief Executive Officer effective 7 December 2017.
2.  Represent the annual cash and non-cash benefits for the new Chief Executive Officer effective 7 December 2017. 
3.  ESPP employer contributions may vary depending on the MIP payout and whether the Chief Executive Officer decides to contribute a portion. The figures provided 

have been calculated on the basis of the applicable MIP payout and the Chief Executive Officer deciding to contribute 3% to the ESPP.

ESOP (Employee Stock Option Plan)
The ESOP was replaced by the PSP in 2015 and the last grant under the ESOP took place in December 2014. Although the Remuneration 
Committee does not intend to award under the ESOP going forward, there are still outstanding share option awards which may be 
exercised in future years. Awards vest in one-third increments each year for three years and can be exercised for up to 10 years from the 
date of the award.

Malus and clawback provision for variable pay plans 
The MIP, PSP, ESOP and ESPP plans include malus provisions which give the Remuneration Committee and/or the Board discretion to 
judge that an award should lapse wholly or partly in the event of material misstatement of financial results and/or misconduct. 

The Remuneration Committee and/or Board also has the discretion to determine that clawback should be applied to awards under the 
MIP, PSP, ESOP and ESPP plans for the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Operating Committee. Clawback can potentially be 
applied to payments or vested awards for up to a two-year period following the payment or vesting.

Changes from previous policy in respect of Executive Directors
The Remuneration Committee has updated the policy to provide for:

 – bonus deferral within the MIP, whereby the Chief Executive Officer will receive half of any bonus as deferred shares which will vest after 

three years, subject to continued service; and 

 – an additional holding period within the PSP whereby any vested shares held by the Chief Executive Officer are subject to a no-sale 

commitment for two years following the three-year performance period.

The Remuneration Committee considers that these changes support the alignment of management with our business strategy and our 
shareholders’ interests.

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Shareholding guidelines
In order to strengthen the link with shareholders’ interests, the Chief Executive Officer is required to hold shares in the Company equal in 
value to 200% of annual base salary. Members of the Operating Committee are required to hold 100% of annual base salary. The required 
shareholdings are to be achieved within a five-year period starting from the date of the first PSP grant (10 December 2015) or later based 
on the date of the appointment. 

Remuneration arrangements across the Group
The remuneration approach for the Chief Executive Officer, the members of the Operating Committee and senior management is similar. 
The Chief Executive Officer’s total remuneration has a significantly higher proportion of variable pay in comparison with the rest of our 
employees. The Chief Executive Officer’s remuneration will increase or decrease in line with business performance, aligning it with 
shareholders’ interests.

The structure of the remuneration package for the wider employee population takes into account local market practice and is intended to 
attract and retain the right talent, be competitive and remunerate employees for promoting a growth mindset, while contributing to the 
Group’s performance.

Policy table – non-Executive Directors
Base fees
Purpose and link to strategy 

To provide a fixed level of compensation appropriate to the requirements of the role of non-Executive Director and to attract and retain 
high-quality non-Executive Directors with the right talent, values and skills necessary to provide oversight and support to management 
to grow the business, support the Company’s strategic framework and maximise shareholder value.
Operation

Non-Executive Directors’ pay is set at a level that will not call into question the objectivity of the Board. When considering market levels, 
comparable companies typically include those in the FTSE 100 Index with similar positioning as the Company, other Swiss companies with 
similar market caps and/or revenues, and other relevant European listed companies. 

The Group’s compensation of non-Executive Directors includes an annual fixed fee plus additional fees for serving on any  
Board committees.
Maximum opportunity

Fee levels for non-Executive Directors include an annual fixed fee plus additional fees for membership of Board committees when 
applicable, as summarised below:

•  Base non-Executive Director’s fee: €70,000
•  Senior Independent Director’s fee: €15,000
•  Audit and Risk Committee Chairman fee: €27,500
•  Audit and Risk Committee member fee: €13,800
•  Remuneration, Nomination and Social Responsibility Committee Chair fees: €11,000
•  Remuneration, Nomination and Social Responsibility Committee member fees: €5,500
Other benefits

Non-Executive Directors do not receive any benefits in cash or in kind. They are not entitled to severance payments in the event of 
termination of their appointment. They are entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred in the interests of the Group.
Variable remuneration

Non-Executive Directors do not receive any form of variable compensation. 

Legacy arrangements
For the avoidance of doubt, it is noted that the Company will honour any commitments entered into that have previously been 
disclosed to shareholders. 

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Policy on recruitment/appointment

Executive Directors
Annual base salary arrangements for the appointment of an Executive Director will be set considering market relevance, skills, experience, 
internal comparisons and cost. The Remuneration Committee may recommend an appropriate initial annual base salary below relevant 
market levels. In such situations, the Remuneration Committee may make a recommendation to realign the level of base salary in 
subsequent years. As highlighted above, annual base salary ‘gaps’ may result in exceptional rates of salary increase in the short term, 
subject to an individual’s performance. The discretion is retained to offer an annual base salary necessary to meet the individual 
circumstances of the recruited Executive Director and to enable the hiring of an individual with the necessary skills and expertise. 

The maximum level of variable pay that may be offered will follow the rules of the MIP and is capped at 130% of the relevant individual’s 
annual base salary. The maximum level of equity-related pay that may be offered will follow the PSP rules and is capped at 450% of the 
relevant individual’s annual base salary. The typical PSP award is not expected to surpass 330% of base salary. Different performance 
measures may be set initially for the annual bonus taking into consideration the point in the financial year that a new Executive Director 
joins. The above limits do not include the value of any buyout arrangements.

Benefits will be provided in line with those offered according to the Group’s policy for other employees. If an Executive Director is required 
to relocate, benefits may be provided as per the Group’s international transfer policy which may include transfer allowance, tax 
equalisation, tax advice and support, housing, cost of living, schooling, travel and relocation costs. Retirement benefits will be in line with 
the policy table.

The Remuneration Committee may consider recommending the buying out of incentive awards that an individual would forfeit by 
accepting the appointment up to an equivalent value in shares or in cash. In the case of a share award, the Remuneration Committee may 
approve a grant of shares under the PSP. When deciding on a potential incentive award buyout and in particular the level and value thereof, 
the Remuneration Committee will be informed of the time and performance pro-rated level of any forfeited award.

It is expected that Executive Directors appointed during the remuneration policy period will be appointed on similar notice provisions to the 
Chief Executive Officer, allowing for termination of office by either party on six months’ notice.

Non-Executive Directors
It is expected that non-Executive Directors appointed during the remuneration policy period will receive the same basic fee and, as 
appropriate, committee fee or fees as existing non-Executive Directors and will be entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses 
incurred in the interests of the Group.

It is expected that non-Executive Directors appointed during the remuneration policy period will be appointed on a one-year term of 
appointment, in the same manner as existing non-Executive Directors. 

The Company does not compensate new non-Executive Directors for any forfeited share awards in previous employment. 

Termination payments
The Swiss Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Listed Companies limits the authority of the Board to determine compensation. 
Limitations include the prohibition on certain types of severance compensation.

Our governance framework ensures that the Group uses the right channels to support reward decisions. In the case of early termination, a 
non-Executive Director would be entitled to his/her fees accrued as of the date of termination, but not any additional compensation. The 
Chief Executive Officer’s employment contract does not contain any provisions for payments on termination. Notice periods are set for up 
to six months and non-compete clauses are 12 months, effective in 2017. The notice period anticipates that up to six months' paid garden 
leave may be provided. Similarly, up to 12 months of base salary may be paid out in relation to the non-compete period.

In case of future terminations, payments will be made in accordance with the termination policy on page 114.

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Good leaver  
(retirement at 55 or later/at  
least 10 years' continued service)

Good leaver  
(redundancy, injury, disability)

Bad leaver  
(resignation, dismissal)

  Death in service

  Payment in lieu of notice is not permissible. The Company could ask the Chief Executive Officer to be on paid 

garden leave for up to six months.

Pay element
Base salary and  
other benefits / 
non-Executive 
Directors’ fees
ESPP

  Unvested shares held in the ESPP will vest 

upon termination

MIP

  A pro-rated payout as 

  A pro-rated payout as 

of the date of retirement 
will be applied.

of the date of leaving will 
be applied.

Deferred shares will 
continue to vest as normal.

Deferred shares will 
continue to vest as normal.

PSP/ESOP

  All unvested options and 

  Unvested shares under 
the ESPP are forfeited
In the event of resignation 
or dismissal, as per Swiss 
law, the Chief Executive 
Officer is entitled to a 
pro-rated MIP payout.

  Available ESPP shares will 
be transferred to heirs
  A pro-rated payout will 

be applied and will be paid 
immediately to heirs 
based on the latest 
rolling estimate.

Any outstanding deferred 
shares will lapse.

Deferred shares will 
continue to vest as normal.

  All unvested options and 

  All unvested options and 

  Unvested performance 
shares and options are 
retained and will continue 
to vest as normal subject 
to performance conditions 
as set out in the award 
agreement.

For vested shares which 
are subject to the 
additional holding period, 
they will continue to be 
subject to the no-sale 
commitment until the 
end of the relevant 
two-year period.

performance share awards 
immediately vest to the 
extent that the 
Remuneration Committee 
determines that the 
performance conditions 
have been met, or are 
likely to be met at the end 
of the three-year 
performance period.

Any options which vest 
are exercisable within 12 
months of the date 
of termination.

For vested shares which 
are subject to the additional 
holding period, they will 
continue to be subject to 
the no-sale commitment 
until the end of the relevant 
two-year period.

performance share awards 
immediately lapse without 
any compensation.

In the event of resignation, 
all vested options must be 
exercised within six months 
of the date of termination.

Upon dismissal, all vested 
options must be exercised 
within 30 days of the date 
of termination.

For vested shares which are 
subject to the additional 
holding period, they will 
continue to be subject to 
the no-sale commitment 
until the end of the relevant 
two-year period.

performance share awards 
immediately vest subject 
to time and performance 
pro-rating.

Any options which vest 
are exercisable within 
12 months of the date 
of termination.

For vested shares which 
are subject to the 
additional holding period, 
the no-sale commitment 
will cease immediately.

Under Swiss law, share 
awards are considered 
annual compensation 
and as such when time 
pro-rating is required, the 
year of grant (12 months) 
and not the vesting period 
(36 months) for time 
pro-rating calculations 
is considered.

Corporate events
In the event of an equity restructuring, the Remuneration Committee may make an equitable adjustment to the terms of the performance 
share award by adjusting the number and kind of shares which have been granted or may be granted and/or making provision for payment 
of cash in respect of any outstanding performance share award.

In the event of a change of control, unvested performance share awards held by participants vest immediately on a pro-rated basis if the 
Remuneration Committee determines that the performance condition(s) have been satisfied or would have been likely to be satisfied at 
the end of the performance period, unless the Remuneration Committee determines that substitute performance share awards may be 
used in place of the previous awards.

Service contracts
Zoran Bogdanovic, the new Chief Executive Officer, has an employment contract with the Company, effective 7 December 2017, that 
contains a six-month notice period. As noted in the termination payments, the Chief Executive Officer’s employment contract does not 
include any termination benefits, other than as mandated by Swiss law. The Swiss Code of Obligations requires employers to pay 
severance when an employment relationship ends with an employee of at least 50 years of age after 20 years or more of service.

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The Chief Executive Officer is also entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred in the interests of the Company. In 
accordance with the Swiss Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Listed Companies, there are no sign-on policies/provisions for 
the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer.

The table below provides details of the current service contracts and terms of appointment for the Chief Executive Officer and  
other Directors.

Name
Anastassis G. David

Zoran Bogdanovic

Title
Chairman and 
non-Executive Director
Chief Executive Officer

Ahmet C. Bozer
Charlotte J. Boyle1
Antonio D’Amato2 
Olusola (Sola) David-Borha
William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Reto Francioni

Anastasios I. Leventis
Christo Leventis
Alexandra Papalexopoulou
José Octavio Reyes 
Robert Ryan Rudolph
John P. Sechi

Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Senior Independent 
non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director 
Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director

Date originally appointed to the 
Board of the Company
27 July 2006

Date appointed to the  
Board of the Company
20 June 2017

NA – to be appointed 
to the Board at the 
next AGM in June 2018
21 June 2016
20 June 2017
1 January 2002 
24 June 2015
21 June 2016
21 June 2016

NA – to be appointed 
to the Board at the 
next AGM in June 2018
20 June 2017
20 June 2017
– 
20 June 2017
20 June 2017
20 June 2017

25 June 2014
25 June 2014
24 June 2015
25 June 2014 
21 June 2016
25 June 2014

20 June 2017
20 June 2017
20 June 2017
20 June 2017 
20 June 2017
20 June 2017

Unexpired term of service 
contract or appointment as 
non-Executive Director
One year

Indefinite, terminable 
on six months’ notice

One year
One year
– 
One year
One year
One year

One year
One year
One year
One year 
One year
One year

1.  Charlotte J. Boyle was appointed to the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee at the 2017 AGM on 20 June 2017.
2.  Antonio D’Amato retired from the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee at the 2017 AGM on 20 June 2017.

The Chief Executive Officer’s service contract and the terms and conditions of appointment of the non-Executive Directors are open for 
inspection by the public at the registered office of the Group.

Consideration of employee views
The Remuneration Committee does not currently consult specifically with employees on policy for the remuneration of the  
Chief Executive Officer. Pay movement for the wider employment group is considered when making pay decisions for the  
Chief Executive Officer.

Consideration of shareholder views
Shareholder views and the achievement of the Group’s overall business strategies have been taken into account in formulating the 
remuneration policy. Following shareholder feedback before and after the Annual General Meeting, the Remuneration Committee and 
the Board consult with shareholders and meet with the largest institutional investors to gather feedback on the Company’s remuneration 
strategy and corporate governance. The Company would be happy to engage with shareholders in the future to discuss the outcomes 
of the remuneration policy.

In reviewing and determining remuneration, the Remuneration Committee takes into account the following:

 – the business strategies and needs of the Company; 
 – the views of shareholders on Group policies and programmes of remuneration; 
 – market comparisons and the positioning of the Group’s remuneration relative to comparable companies; 
 – input from employees regarding our remuneration programmes;
 – the need for similar, performance-related principles for the determination of executive remuneration and the remuneration of other 

employees; and 

 – the need for objectivity. Board members, the Chief Executive Officer and Operating Committee members play no part in determining 

their own remuneration. The Chair of the Remuneration Committee and the Chief Executive Officer are not present when the 
Remuneration Committee and the Board discuss matters that pertain to their remuneration. 

This ensures that the same performance-setting principles are applied for executive remuneration and other employees 
in the organisation.

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Annual Report on Remuneration

Introduction
This section of the Report provides detail on how we have implemented our remuneration policy in 2017 which, in accordance with the UK 
remuneration reporting regulations, will be subject to an advisory shareholder vote at our 2018 Annual General Meeting.

Activities of the Remuneration Committee during 2017
During 2017, the key Remuneration Committee activities were to:

 – review and sign off the 2016 Directors’ Remuneration Report;
 – review and recommend the 2017 base salary for the former Chief Executive Officer;
 – review and approve 2017 base salaries for the Operating Committee members and general managers;
 – review and approve the 2016 MIP payout for the former Chief Executive Officer;
 – review and approve payout levels for the 2016 MIP in relation to Operating Committee members and general managers;
 – set and approve 2017 PSP targets;
 – review award levels for 2017 PSP awards;
 – review the Company's Irish pension plans;
 – review and approve changes to the Executive Director's remuneration policy – a three-year annual bonus deferral within the MIP and an 

additional two-year holding period within the PSP;

 – following the untimely death of Dimitris Lois in October 2017, determine the payments due to his beneficiaries under the MIP and PSP; 

and

 – review and approve the remuneration arrangements for the new Chief Executive Officer.

Advisors to the Remuneration Committee
The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Group Human Resources Director, the Group Rewards Director and the 
General Counsel regularly attend meetings of the Remuneration Committee.

While the Remuneration Committee does not have external advisors, in 2017 it authorised management to work with external consultancy 
firm Willis Towers Watson to provide independent advice on ad hoc remuneration issues during the year. These services are considered to 
have been independent and relevant to the market. Other than employee engagement benchmarking services, Willis Towers Watson does 
not provide any other services to the Company. The total cost in connection with providing advice on remuneration issues was €46,328. 
Willis Towers Watson are members of the Remuneration Consultants Group and provide advice in line with its Code of Business Conduct. 

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP provide the Company with legal advice. Advice from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is made available to the 
Remuneration Committee, where it relates to matters within its remit.

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Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016 (EUR)

Anastassis G. David

Ahmet C. Bozer

Charlotte J. Boyle3

Antonio D’Amato4

Olusola (Sola) David-Borha

William W. (Bill) Douglas lll

Reto Francioni

Anastasios I. Leventis 

Christo Leventis5

Alexandra Papalexopoulou

José Octavio Reyes

Robert Ryan Rudolph

John P. Sechi

Financial 
Base fee1
year
70,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
FY2016
35,000
FY2017 35,000
–
FY2016
35,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
35,000
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
35,000
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
35,000
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
35,000
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
35,000
FY2016
70,000
FY2017
67,500
FY2016

Audit and Risk 
Committee
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
13,800
13,150
27,500
13,750
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
13,800
13,150

Remuneration 
Committee
–
–
–
–
2,750
–
2,750
5,250
–
–
–
–
5,500
2,750
–
–
–
–
11,000
8,000
–
–
–
–
–
–

Nomination 
Committee
–
–
–
–
2,750
–
2,750
5,250
–
–
–
–
11,000
5,500
–
–
–
–
5,500
5,250
–
–
–
–
–
–

Social 
Responsibility 
Committee
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
11,000
5,500
–
–
5,500
2,750
5,500
5,250
–
–
–
–

Senior 
Independent 
Director 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
15,000
7,500
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Social security 
contributions2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
6,584
6,344
–
–
7,974
3,992
–
–
2,179
2,753
–
–
4,560
5,722
5,499
2,753
–
–

Total
 70,000
 67,500
70,000
35,000
40,500
–
40,500
78,000
90,384
86,994
97,500
48,750
109,474
54,742
81,000
40,500
72,179
37,753
92,000
83,500
80,060
78,472
75,499
37,753
83,800
80,650

1.  Non-Executive Director fees for 2017 are in line with the fees that were revised in 2016.
2.  Social security employer contributions as required by Swiss legislation.
3.  Charlotte Boyle was appointed to the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017. The Group has applied 

a half-year period base fee.

4.  Antonio D’ Amato retired from the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017. The Group has applied 

a half-year period base fee.

5.  In June 2017 social security contributions of EUR 2,179, withheld in December 2016, were returned to Christo Leventis, on top of his fees, as he was deemed not 

subject to Swiss social security.

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Single figure table

Single total figure of remuneration for the Chief Executive Officer for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016

Base pay5  
€ 000s

Cash and 
non-cash benefits6  
€ 000s

2017
852
58

2016 
899  
0  

2017
498 
35 

2016 
502  
0  

Annual bonus7  
€ 000s

2017
643 
47 

2016 
647  
0  

Employee Share 
Purchase Plan 8
€ 000s

Long-term incentives  
€ 000s

Retirement 
benefits  
€ 000s

Total single figure  
€ 000s

2017
40
2

2016 
2017
53   13,227
262

0  

2016 
665  
0  

2017
118
6

2016 
2017
157   15,378
410 

0  

2016 
2,923
0

Dimitris Lois1,2,3
Zoran Bogdanovic4

1.  2017 base salary and all benefits for Dimitris Lois reflect the period 1 January to 2 October 2017, including 2 months' salary and benefits to the heirs as per Swiss law. 

Relevant payments did not include any variable pay.

2.  The annual bonus payout for Dimitris Lois reflects the pro-rated period to 2 October 2017. 
3.  Long-term incentives reflect the 2015, 2016 and 2017 awards made under the Performance Share Plan, the dividend equivalent shares paid on PSP shares that 

vested in 2017 and share options that vested to Dimitris Lois in 2017 under the Employee Stock Option Plan. In line with the Performance Share Plan rules, awards 
were pro-rated for time and performance up to 2 October 2017. For the share options, the value reflects the number of share options multiplied by the market price 
at vesting minus the exercise price at grant. Further details are included in the table under ‘Arrangements for Dimitris Lois, former Chief Executive Officer’ below.

4.  For Zoran Bogdanovic, 2017 base salary and all benefits reflect his role as Chief Executive Officer and hence the period from the date of his appointment, 7 

December 2017, to the end of the financial year. Long-term incentives reflect the share options that vested to Zoran Bogdanovic in 2017 under the Employee Stock 
Option Plan. The value reflects the number of share options multiplied by the market price at vesting minus the exercise price at grant.

5.  Base pay includes the monthly instalments linked with the base salary for 2017. A salary increase was applied to the base salary effective from 1 May.
6.  Under Cash and non-cash benefits we include the value of all benefits paid during 2017. These are outlined in the Cash and non-cash benefits section below. 
7.  Annual bonus for 2017 includes the MIP payout, receivable early in 2018 for the 2017 performance year. 
8.  Employee Share Purchase Plan was previously reported under Cash and non-cash benefits. From 2017 onwards, it is reported separately.

Arrangements for Dimitris Lois, former Chief Executive Officer
In line with the provisions for death in service as set out in the relevant compensation plan policies (as outlined on page 114), no base salary 
in lieu of notice was paid out. The MIP award of 130% of base salary for the 2017 financial year, was pro-rated for time and performance up 
to 2 October 2017. This pro-rated payment of € 643,208 (69% of base salary), made under the MIP, was paid in March 2018 to his heirs. 
The performance targets and outcomes can be found in the MIP payout section on page 119. In line with the death-in-service provisions, 
all available plan shares under the ESPP, 56,379 shares, were immediately transferred to his heirs.

 In line with the PSP rules, all of Dimitris Lois’ outstanding PSP awards were pro-rated for time and performance up to 2 October 2017. 
The Remuneration Committee deemed it appropriate for all outstanding PSP awards to vest immediately to Dimitris Lois’ heirs – the 
number of shares that vested is summarised in the table below. The Remuneration Committee deemed that the vesting portion of all 
outstanding share awards should attract the value of dividend equivalent shares. These dividend equivalent shares vested at the same 
time as the vesting of the outstanding share awards. The performance targets and outcomes can be found on page 121.

Award
2015 award

2016 award

2017 award

2016 Dividend equivalent shares 
2017 Dividend equivalent shares 

Original performance period
1 January 2015 –  
31 December 2017
1 January 2016 –  
31 December 2018
1 January 2017 –  
31 December 2019

Time for pro-rating
1 January 2015 –  
31 December 2015
1 January 2016 –  
31 December 2016
1 January 2017 –  
2 October 2017

Face value of award 
(number of shares)
138,476 

Time pro-rating  
– % vesting
100%

Performance 
pro-rating – % 
vesting
100%

Number of shares to 
vest (following time 
and performance 
pro-rating)
138,476 

159,876 

100%

100%

159,876 

128,421 

75% 

 88%

84,757 

6,608 
6,685 

Under Swiss law, share awards are considered annual compensation and as such when time pro-rating is required, the year of grant 
(12 months) and not the vesting period (36 months) for time pro-rating calculations is considered.

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Fixed pay for 2017

Base salary
During the year, the Remuneration Committee recommended to the Board for approval a salary increase for Dimitris Lois of 2.5%, 
resulting in a base salary of €932,000, effective 1 May 2017. When approving this increase, the Remuneration Committee took into 
consideration base salary increases across the organisation, and alignment and competitiveness versus peers in the FTSE. The salary 
increase rate for the Swiss-based employees is 1.7%. As described above, upon Dimitris Lois’ death, no base salary in lieu of notice was 
paid out.

Following the appointment of Zoran Bogdanovic to Chief Executive Officer, the Remuneration Committee recommended and the Board 
approved a base salary of €750,000, effective 7 December 2017. When determining the base salary level, the Remuneration Committee 
considered alignment and competitiveness versus peers in the FTSE, internal relativities and the experience of the individual.

Retirement benefits
Dimitris Lois received a retirement benefit of 18% of base salary during 2017, which is aligned to the retirement benefit provided under 
Swiss law and based on the age brackets defined by federal Swiss legislation. 

Zoran Bogdanovic is to receive an annual retirement benefit of 15% of base salary, aligning to the retirement benefit provided under Swiss 
law and based on the age brackets defined by federal Swiss legislation. During the year, €5,801 of retirement benefit was received, 
reflecting the period 7 December 2017 to 31 December 2017.

Cash and non-cash benefits
Dimitris Lois received additional benefits during the financial year until his passing on 2 October 2017. This included cost of living and 
foreign exchange rate adjustment (€299,387), private medical insurance (€22,865), Company car allowance (€23,084), housing allowance 
(€113,786), trip allowance (€8,268), tax assistance and filing support (€35,777), Company matching contribution related to the ESPP 
(€40,306 – reflecting the maximum match of 3% under the plan), tax equalisation (€ -162,136), payout of untaken leave days (€36,244) and 
the value of social security contributions (€121,201). The decrease in tax equalisation in comparison to the prior year is driven by changes 
in effective tax rates. Cash and non-cash benefits for Dimitris Lois reflect the period 1 January to 2 October 2017 and include two months' 
payment made to his heirs as per Swiss law.

Zoran Bogdanovic received additional benefits during the period 7 December to 31 December 2017. This included cost of living and 
foreign exchange rate adjustment (€17,928), private medical insurance (€402), Company car allowance (€1,201), housing allowance 
(€8,260), tax assistance and filing support (€517), Company matching contribution related to the ESPP (€1,750 – reflecting the maximum 
match of 3% under the plan), tax equalisation (€ -350) and the value of social security contributions (€6,583).

Variable pay for 2017

MIP performance outcomes – 2017

As outlined above, the annual bonus award in respect of the 2017 financial year for the former Chief Executive Officer was €643,208 
reflecting 69% of base salary and this was paid out to his heirs in March 2018. This value reflects time and performance pro-rating up to 
2 October 2017. This cash bonus reflects the financial and individual performance achieved during the period 1 January 2017 to 2 October 
2017. The financial metrics, the associated targets and level of achievement are set out below (time pro-rating results in a payout of 61% 
of base salary).

Threshold (0%)

Target (15%)

Maximum (30%)

Payout (% of base salary)

Volume (m unit cases)

Comparable EBIT (€ m)

OpEx % of NSR

NSR (€ m)

Total Working Capital Days 
Qualifier to Volume performance measure

1,928

529

27.3

5,869

6.67

2,095

2,104

2,200

575

621

621

25.5

25.3

24.6

16.3%

30.0%

13.7%

21.7%

6,380

6.08

6,522

6,699

5.63

4.86

Achieved

Threshold

Target

Maximum

Actual

Total financial performance measures payout

81.7%

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Following strong performance against the individual objectives set at the beginning of the year, where for all three segments revenue grew 
faster than 2016 and volume increased, engagement scores were maintained across the business, the EBIT margin grew and CCHBC 
maintained its industry-leading status as the beverage industry leader on the DJSI, the Remuneration Committee deemed there to be 
100% achievement against the individual objectives, resulting in a maximum payout of 7.5% of base salary (time pro-rated amount).

Achievement against the Group targets and the respective payout is outlined in the table on page 119. Note that the payout levels have 
been pro-rated to reflect the period 1 January 2017 to 2 October 2017.

Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) outcomes – 2017
The Remuneration Committee will no longer make awards under this plan. Under the grants made in December 2014, a total of 120,000 
share options vested this year for Dimitris Lois and 23,334 for Zoran Bogdanovic. Share options vested for Zoran Bogdanovic do not relate 
to his appointment as a CEO. We have reflected the value of stock option awards that vested during 2017 for both employees, being the 
number of options multiplied by the market price at vest minus exercise price at grant.

In December 2017, the exercise period for certain existing options under the ESOP which were awarded in December 2007 was extended 
by the Remuneration Committee for a six month period from 13 December 2017 to 13 June 2018 in order to allow option holders the 
ability to exercise the options outside of closed periods.

Performance Share Plan (PSP) awards – 2017
Since the discontinuation of the ESOP in late 2015, the PSP is now the primary long-term incentive vehicle. In March 2017 the Chief 
Executive Officer was granted a performance share award over 128,421 shares under the PSP, representing 330% of base salary at date 
of grant. The award was originally subject to a three-year performance period, aligned to the Company’s financial year, with performance 
measured to the end of financial year 2019, and vesting anticipated in March 2020.

The following table sets out the details of the performance share award made to the former Chief Executive Officer under the PSP for 
2017.

Type of award made
Share price at date of grant
Date of grant
Performance period
Face value of the award
(The maximum number of shares that would vest if all 
performance measures and targets are met, multiplied 
by the share price at the date of grant)
Face value of the award as a % of annual base salary
Percentage that would be distributed if threshold performance 
was achieved in both PSP key performance indicators
Percentage that would be distributed if threshold performance 
was achieved only in one PSP key performance indicator

Performance share award over 128,421 shares, receivable for nil cost
€23.36 (£19.81)
16 March 2017
1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019
€2,999,700

330% 
25% of maximum award

12.5% of maximum award

Similar to the award made in March 2016, the 2017 award was subject to comparable earnings per share (EPS) and return on invested 
capital (ROIC), as outlined below.

Measure
Comparable EPS

Return on invested 
capital (ROIC)

Description
Calculated by dividing the comparable net profit attributable 
to the owners of the parent by the weighted average number 
of outstanding shares during the period.
ROIC is the percentage return that a company makes over its 
invested capital. More specifically, we define ROIC as the 
percentage of net operating profit after tax divided by the capital 
employed. Capital employed is calculated as the average of net 
borrowings and shareholders’ equity through the year.

Threshold

Maximum

Weighting
50%

Target
1.24

Vesting 
(% of max)

25%  

Target
1.50

Vesting (% 
of max)
100%

50%

13%

25%  

15.8%

100%

The vesting schedule for PSP performance conditions is not a straight line between the threshold and maximum performance levels. 
The Remuneration Committee considers that it is appropriate to place greater emphasis on achieving the target performance level than 
the outperformance of this level.

Zoran Bogdanovic did not receive an award under the PSP in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer during 2017.

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Performance Share Plan (PSP) outcomes – 2017
As outlined on page 118, all of Dimitris Lois’s outstanding awards, including the 2017 award detailed above, were pro-rated for both time 
and performance. The Remuneration Committee deemed that the vesting of these pro-rated awards be accelerated and that they should 
vest as soon as reasonably practicable following his passing. Under Swiss law, share awards are considered annual compensation and as 
such when time pro-rating is required, the year of grant (12 months) and not the vesting period (36 months) for time pro-rata calculations 
is considered. As such, there is no time pro-rating applied to the 2015 and 2016 PSP awards and we have applied a 75% time pro-rating 
to the 2017 PSP award to reflect the period January 2017 – October 2017. 

Where the full three-year performance period had not been completed, the Committee considered levels of performance over the 
shortened period, assessing 2017 performance against shortened period targets that were used when calibrating the three-year targets 
and are in line with the original three-year targets. In these circumstances, the Committee deemed this the fairest way to measure 
performance to 2017 for these outstanding share awards. Full disclosure of these original performance targets, the shortened period 
performance targets against which performance was measured and the 2017 outcomes are provided below.

2015 award

2016 award

2017 award

Measure
EPS
ROIC
EPS
ROIC
EPS
ROIC

Weighting
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%

Threshold

Target
1.08 
10.1% 
1.08 
10.1% 
1.11 
12.0% 

Vesting 
(% of max)

25%  
25%  
25%  
25%  
25%  
25%  

Original 
three-year 
target
1.31 
12.1% 
1.31 
12.1% 
1.50 
15.8% 

Maximum

Shortened 
period target
1.16
10.8%
1.16
10.8%
1.19
12.9%

Actual to 
the year ending 2017

Vesting 
(% of max)

100%  
100%  
100%  
100%  
100%  
100%  

Achievement
1.23 
12.4% 
1.23 
12.4% 
1.23 
12.4% 

Vesting  
(% of max)
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
100% 
75% 

Total  
(% of max)

100% 

100% 

88% 

The 2015 award was made in December 2015 and as such the performance period commenced on 1 January 2016 and hence the 
performance targets are the same as the 2016 award.

Dilution limit
Usage of shares under all share plans and executive share plans adheres to the dilution limits set by the Investment Association Principles 
of Remuneration (10% for all share plans and 5% for all executive share plans, in any 10-year period).

Implementation of policy in 2018
For 2018, we will continue to apply our approved remuneration policy outlined on pages 108 to 110 as described above.

Arrangements for Zoran Bogdanovic, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer
The Remuneration Committee approved a base salary of €750,000 effective from Bogdanovic's date of appointment as Chief Executive 
Officer on 7 December 2017. His remaining remuneration will be in line with our Executive Director's remuneration policy. The normal 
maximum bonus potential under the MIP will be 130% of base salary and under the PSP will be 330% of base salary. Additional benefits will 
include private medical insurance, housing allowance, Company car/allowance, schooling allowance, trip allowance, partner allowance, 
exchange rate protection, tax equalisation and tax filing support and advice. Any retirement benefit will align to the retirement benefit 
provided under Swiss law and based on the age brackets defined by federal Swiss legislation. For all benefits, the Company will bear any 
income tax and social security contributions arising from such payments.

Base salary and fees
Bogdanovic’s base salary will be reviewed in March 2018 at the same time as that of the Operating Committee members and the 
general managers. Any base salary increase will be effective 1 May 2018 and is anticipated to be broadly in line with the increase provided 
to other employees.

The fee levels for the Chairman and other non-Executive Directors were last reviewed in 2016 and remained consistent in 2017, 
as outlined on page 112. Fee levels were reviewed in early 2018 and it was determined that the current base and committee fees are 
increased by 5% with effect from June 2018.

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Management Incentive Plan (MIP)
The annual bonus award levels for 2018 are expected to be in line with those for 2017. 2018 awards will however now be subject to bonus 
deferral, whereby 50% of any award will be awarded as deferred bonus shares which will vest three years from their date of grant. The 
performance measures have been set by the Remuneration Committee to align to our KPIs and are summarised below.

Performance measure
Business measures
Annual sales volume. Incentivises sustainable growth. TWCD (total working capital days) acts as a qualifier  
(i.e. if TWCD achievement is below threshold there is no volume payout).
Net sales revenue (NSR). Incentivises the Group’s revenue growth objectives.
Comparable earnings before interest and tax (Comparable EBIT). Defined as comparable operating profit,  
this key performance indicator incentivises profitable growth.
Operating expenditure (OpEx) excluding DME as a percentage of NSR. This key performance indicator, which 
excludes direct marketing expenses (DME), incentivises effective cost management and competitiveness.
Individual measures

Weighting at maximum  
opportunity levels  
(% of base salary)
120%

30%
30%

30%

30%
10%

The Remuneration Committee is unable to provide the 2018 bonus award performance targets on a forward-looking basis as they are 
deemed commercially sensitive. However, the targets will be disclosed in next year’s Remuneration Report once the actual performance 
against these targets has been realised.

Performance Share Plan (PSP)
The levels of PSP awards for 2018 are anticipated to be in line with those awarded in 2017. The performance measures will be consistent 
with those detailed for the 2017 award outlined in this report and these are summarised below.

Measure
Comparable EPS Calculated by dividing the comparable net profit 

Description

Weighting
50%

Target
1.51

Vesting 
(% of max)

25%  

Target
1.82

Vesting 
(% of max)
100%

Threshold

Maximum

Return on 
invested capital 
(ROIC)

attributable to the owners of the parent by the weighted 
average number of outstanding shares during the period.
ROIC is the percentage return that a company makes 
from its invested capital. More specifically, we define 
ROIC as the percentage of net operating profit after tax 
divided by the capital employed. Capital employed is 
calculated as the average of net borrowings and 
shareholders’ equity through the year.

50%

13.7%

25%  

16.4%

100%

The Remuneration Committee expects to recommend an award of 330% of base salary to the Chief Executive Officer in March 2018, with 
performance running to the end of December 2020 and vesting occurring in March 2021. These vested shares will then be subject to a 
further two-year holding period, whereby the Chief Executive Officer agrees to a no sale commitment during this time.

Changes to Chief Executive Officer and employee pay
The table below sets out the percentage change in base salary, taxable benefits and annual bonus for the Chief Executive Officer and the 
average Swiss-based employee. We have chosen to make a comparison with employees in Switzerland as this is the market in which our 
Chief Executive Officer is based. MIP payouts for the Swiss workforce are primarily based on Swiss business unit results. Benefits include 
Company matching contributions under the Employee Share Purchase Plan.

Chief Executive Officer % change from 2016 to 2017
Average employee % change for the Swiss workforce from 2016 to 2017

Annual base salary 
1.2%
1.7%

Benefits
3.6%
4.7%

Annual bonus
6.7%
29.5%

The salary increase rate is broadly in line with the salary increase for Swiss-based employees.

Chief Executive Officer pay and performance comparison
The graph on page 123 shows the total shareholder return (TSR) of the Company compared with the FTSE 100 Index over a nine-year 
period to 31 December 2017. The Remuneration Committee believes that the FTSE 100 Index is the most appropriate index to compare 
historic performance due to the size of the Company and our listing location.

122

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Total shareholder return versus FTSE 100

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

Dec 08

Dec 09

Dec 10

Dec 11

Dec 12

Dec 13

Dec 14

Dec 15

Dec 16

Dec 17

FTSE 100

CCH

Total remuneration 
– single figure (€ 000s)
MIP (% of maximum)
PSP 
(% of maximum)

2009  

Doros 

2010  

Doros 

Constantinou  

Constantinou  

2011

2012  

2013  

2014  

2015  

2016  

2017

Doros 
Constantinou

Dimitris  

Dimitris  

Dimitris  

Dimitris  

Dimitris  

Dimitris  

Lois  

Lois  

Lois  

Lois  

Lois  

Lois  

Dimitris  
Lois

Zoran 
Bogdanovic

2,887  
63%  

3,752  
65%  

4,708

711   1,524   1,928   1,918   3,012   2,923   15,378
53% 
45%  

55%  

68%  

75%  

49%  

9% 24%  

410 
5% 

–  

–  

–

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–   

90% 

–

On 4 July 2011, Doros Constantinou retired from service, and Dimitris Lois succeeded him. The amounts for 2011 include the 
remuneration of Doros Constantinou up to the retirement date and the remuneration of Dimitris Lois for the remainder of the year. For 
2011, the remuneration of Doros Constantinou includes termination benefits due to retirement.

As the Company listed on the London Stock Exchange in April 2013, the amounts included in respect of the period before that date relate 
to the remuneration the Chief Executive Officer received in his capacity as Chief Executive Officer of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling 
Company S.A.

On 15 September 2017, Dimitris Lois went on leave to seek medical treatment and sadly passed away on 2 October 2017. The 2017 base 
salary values above reflect the period 1 January 2017 to 2 October 2017. The total remuneration value for Zoran Bogdanovic reflects the 
period from his appointment as Chief Executive Officer to the end of the financial year, 7 December 2017 to 31 December 2017.

Until 2017 there were no PSP awards that vested. PSP % of maximum reflects the average of all three awards (2015, 2016 & 2017) where 
vesting was accelerated.

Relative importance of spend on pay (€m)

2017

2016

992.3

162.0

984.0

146.1

Total employee costs

Distribution to shareholders

Compared to the prior year, the total staff costs increased by 1%, while the dividends distributed to shareholders have increased by 11%.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Shareholder voting outcomes
The table below sets out the result of the votes on the remuneration-related resolutions at the Annual General Meeting held in June 2017:

Resolution
Advisory vote on the UK Remuneration Report

Advisory vote on the Swiss Remuneration Report

Advisory vote on the remuneration policy

Approval of the maximum aggregate amount of 
remuneration for the Board until the next Annual 
General Meeting
Approval of the maximum aggregate amount of 
remuneration for the Operating Committee for the next 
financial year

Votes for
246,074,548
98.83%
247,193,583
99.29%
244,288,071
98.12%
248,653,337

Votes against
2,762,647
1.11%
1,748,622
0.70%
4,654,134
1.87%
195,828

99.92%
248,048,728

0.08%
608,447

Abstentions
141,690
0.06%
36,680
0.01%
36,680
0.01%
129,720

0.0%
321,710

Total votes cast
248,978,885

Voting rights 
represented
68.31%

248,978,885

68.31%

248,978,885

68.31%

248,849,165

68.31%

248,657,175

68.31%

99.76%

0.24%

0.0%

The Remuneration Committee was pleased that shareholders supported our remuneration-related resolutions so strongly. We value our 
ongoing dialogue with shareholders and welcome any views on this report.

Payments to past Directors and payments for loss of office
Following the death of Dimitris Lois in October 2017, all outstanding share awards were pro-rated for time and performance and paid out 
as soon as reasonably practicable to his heirs. Full details on the treatment of these awards and payout levels can be found on page 118. 

No compensation for loss of office was paid to any Director.

Payments to appointed Directors
Charlotte Boyle joined the Board in 2017. As per the recruitment policy for non-Executive Directors, new non-Executive Directors are not 
compensated for any forfeited share awards or other incentives related to previous employment. Non-Executive Directors do not receive 
any form of variable compensation, nor any other benefits in cash or in kind. 

Zoran Bogdanovic was appointed Chief Executive Officer on 7 December 2017, and his remuneration arrangements, which are in line with 
the shareholder-approved remuneration policy for Executive Directors, are outlined on page 121. His formal appointment to the Board will 
be put forward for shareholder approval at the next Annual General Meeting in June 2018.

Outside appointments for the Chief Executive Officer
Zoran Bogdanovic does not hold any appointments outside the Company.

Total Directors’ and Operating Committee members’ remuneration
The table below outlines the aggregated total remuneration figures for Directors and Operating Committee members in the year.

Total remuneration paid to or accrued for Directors, the Operating Committee and the 
Chief Executive Officer
Salaries and other short-term benefits
Amount accrued for stock option and performance share awards
Pension and post-employment benefits for Directors, the Operating Committee and the 
Chief Executive Officer

2017  
(€ million)

2016  
(€ million)

27.1 
13.8 
12.6 

0.7 

24.4
18.7
4.9

0.8

Credits and loans granted to governing bodies
In 2017, no credits or loans were granted to active or former members of the Company’s Board, members of the Operating Committee or 
any related persons.

124

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Share ownership 
The table below summarises the total shareholding as of 31 December 2017, including any outstanding shares awarded through our 
incentive plans, for the Chief Executive Officer and other Directors.

With performance measures

Without performance measures

PSP

ESOP

Name
Dimitris Lois2, 3
Zoran Bogdanovic
Anastassis G. David4
Ahmet C. Bozer 
Charlotte J. Boyle 
Antonio D’Amato 
Olusola (Sola) David-Borha 
William W. (Bill) Douglas III5 
Reto Francioni 
Anastasios I. Leventis6
Christo Leventis7 
Alexandra Papalexopoulou 
José Octavio Reyes
Robert Ryan Rudolph 
John P. Sechi 

Share 
interests

Performance 
shares 
granted in 
year 2017

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance 
conditions
Yes  128,421  426,773 
84,841 
Yes 
–
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

25,473 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Number of 
stock options 
outstanding
– 

Fully  
Vested  
vested
–   
– 
–    236,750  236,750  
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
 –
–   
– 
–   
 –
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   
– 
–   

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

ESPP  

Number of 
outstanding 
shares held1 as 
at 31-Dec-17  
57,379   
19,869   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   

Vesting at  
the end  
of 2018  
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
 –  
–   
 –  
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   
–   

Current 
shareholding 
as % of base 
salary1
179%
72% 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

Shareholding 
guideline 
met1
No
No 
– 
 –
– 
 –
 –
 –
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

1.  The shareholding requirement was introduced from the date of the 2015 PSP award, 10 December 2015. The CEO has a period of five years from his appointment to 

December 2022 to build up a 200% of base salary shareholding.

2.  The number of shares held by Dimitris Lois includes the amount of purchased and vested shares held under the ESPP on 31 December 2017 and 1,000 shares held 

by Dimitris Lois’s spouse. Dimitris Lois’ heirs exercised 1,700,000 options under ESOP between 2 October and 31 December 2017.

3.  As more fully set out at page 118 of the report and following the passing of Dimitris Lois, the Remuneration Committee determined at its meeting in March 2018 that, 
in line with the terms of the PSP, PSP awards granted to Dimitris Lois in 2015, 2016 and 2017 should vest pro-rated for time and performance up to 2 October 2017. 
PSP awards therefore vested over in aggregate 396,402 shares. The remainder of the shares subject to PSP awards granted to Dimitris Lois lapsed. 
The Remuneration Committee further determined that these awards should vest immediately to Dimitris Lois’ heirs.

4.  Anastassis David is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar-Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 823,008 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.

5.  William W. (Bill) Douglas III owns 10,000 Company shares.
6.  Anastasios I. Leventis is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar- Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 386,879 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.
(c) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Christodoulos Papaneokleus Leventis, of which 
Mervail Company (PTC) Limited is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 623,664 shares held by Carlcan Holding Limited.

7.  Christo Leventis is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar- Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 498,545 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.
(c) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Christodoulos Papaneokleus Leventis, of which 
Mervail Company (PTC) Limited is the trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 757,307 shares held by Carlcan Holding Limited.

Approval of the Directors’ Remuneration Report
The Directors’ Remuneration Report set out on pages 104 to 125 was approved by the Board of Directors on 15 March 2018 and signed 
on its behalf by Alexandra Papalexopoulou, Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

15 March 2018

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report, 
including the consolidated financial statements, and the Corporate 
Governance Report including the Remuneration Report and the 
Strategic Report, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The Directors, whose names and functions are set out on pages 
72 to 75, confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

(a) The Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 

understandable, and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, 
business model and strategy.

(b) The consolidated financial statements, which have been 

prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as issued by the IASB, give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the 
Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation of 
the Group taken as a whole. 

(c) The Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and the position of the Company 
and the undertakings included in the consolidated Coca-Cola 
HBC Group taken as a whole, together with a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

The activities of the Group, together with the factors likely to affect 
its future development, performance, financial position, cash flows, 
liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the 
Strategic Report (pages 1 to 70). In addition, Notes 23 ‘Financial risk 
management and financial instruments’, 24 ‘Net debt’ and 25 
‘Equity’ include the Company’s objectives, policies and processes 
for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; 
details of its financial instruments and hedging activities; and its 
exposures to credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group has 
considerable financial resources together with long-term contracts 
with a number of customers and suppliers across different 
countries. The Directors have also assessed the principal risks 
and the other matters discussed in connection with the Viability 
Statement on page 70. The Directors considered it appropriate 
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 
annual financial statements and have not identified any material 
uncertainties to the Group’s ability to continue to do so over a 
period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of these 
financial statements.

By order of the Board

Anastassis G. David 
Chairman of the Board

16 March 2018

Disclosure of information required under Listing Rule 9.8.4R
For the purposes of Listing Rule 9.8.4C, the information required to be disclosed by premium listed companies in the United Kingdom 
is as follows:

Listing Rule
9.8.4(1)
9.8.4(2)
9.8.4(4)
9.8.4(5)
9.8.4(6)
9.8.4(7)
9.8.4(8)
9.8.4(9)
9.8.4(10) Details of any contracts of significance involving a Director 
9.8.4(11) Details of any contract for the provision of services to the Company by a controlling shareholder
9.8.4(12) Details of any arrangement under which a shareholder has waived or agreed to waive any dividends
9.8.4(13) Details of any arrangement under which a shareholder has agreed to waive future dividends
9.8.4(14)

Information to be included
Reference in report
Interest capitalised by the Group and an indication of the amount and treatment of any associated tax relief Not applicable
Not applicable 
Details of any unaudited financial information required by LR 9.2.18
Not applicable 
Details of any long-term incentive scheme described in LR 9.4.3
Not applicable 
Details of any arrangement under which a Director has waived any emoluments
Not applicable 
Details of any arrangement under which a Director has agreed to waive future emoluments
Not applicable 
Details of any allotments of shares by the Company for cash not previously authorised by shareholders 
Not applicable 
Details of any allotments of shares for cash by a major subsidiary of the Company
Not applicable 
Details of the participation by the Company in any placing made by its parent company 
Not applicable 
Not applicable 
Not applicable 
Not applicable 
Not applicable

Agreements with a controlling shareholder

126

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Contents

Financial Statements
128

Independent Auditor’s Report
Consolidated Financial Statements

133 Consolidated Income Statement
134 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
135 Consolidated Balance Sheet
136 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
138 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Basis of reporting
1. Description of business
2. Basis of preparation and consolidation
3. Foreign currency and translation
4. Accounting pronouncements
5. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
Results for the year
6. Segmental analysis
7. Net sales revenue
8. Operating expenses
9. Finance costs, net
10. Taxation
11. Earnings per share
12. Components of other comprehensive income
Operating assets and liabilities
13. Intangible assets
14. Property, plant and equipment
15. Interests in other entities
16. Inventories
17. Trade, other receivables and assets
18. Assets classified as held for sale
19. Trade and other payables
20. Provisions and employee benefits
21. Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities
22. Business combinations
Risk management and capital structure
23. Financial risk management and financial instruments
24. Net debt
25. Equity
Other financial information
26. Related party transactions
27. Share based payments
28. Contingencies
29. Commitments
30. Post balance sheet events

139
139
139
140
141

142
146
146
148
148
151
151

152
155
158
161
162
165
165
166
171
172

173
184
188

190
192
195
196
196

FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

Independent auditor’s report to Coca-Cola HBC AG

Report on the audit of the consolidated financial statements

Our opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of Coca-Cola HBC AG’s 
(the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) as at 31 December 2017, and of its consolidated financial performance and its 
consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

What we have audited
The Group’s consolidated financial statements included within the 2017 Integrated Annual Report comprise:

 – the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December 2017;
 – the consolidated income statement for the year then ended;
 – the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended;
 – the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year then ended;
 – the consolidated cash flow statement for the year then ended; and
 – the notes to the consolidated financial statements, which include a summary of significant accounting policies. 

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs). Our responsibilities under those standards are 
further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements section of our report. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Independence
We are independent of the Group in accordance with applicable laws and regulations regarding independence relevant to our audit of the 
consolidated financial statements, including the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’ Code of Ethics for Professional 
Accountants (IESBA Code). We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the IESBA Code and other applicable 
laws and regulations.

Our audit approach

Overview

Materiality

Group 
scoping

Overall group materiality: €28.2 million, which represents 5% of profit before tax.

 – We audited the complete financial information of the Company and of subsidiary undertakings 

in 16 countries.

 – Taken together, the undertakings of which an audit of their complete financial information was 

performed accounted for 87% of consolidated net sales revenue, 93% of consolidated profit before tax 
and 88% of consolidated total assets of the Group.

 – We also conducted specified audit procedures and analytical review procedures for other Group 

undertakings and functions.

Key audit matters, which remain the same as the prior year, comprised:

Key audit 
matters

 – Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessment.
 – Uncertain tax positions.
 – Provisions and contingent liabilities.

As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the consolidated financial 
statements. In particular, we looked at where the Directors made subjective judgements; for example, in respect of significant accounting 
estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of our audits, we also 
addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including among other matters consideration of whether there was 
evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

128

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. An audit is designed to obtain reasonable assurance whether the 
financial statements are free from material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if 
individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the 
consolidated financial statements.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined certain quantitative thresholds for materiality, including the overall group materiality 
for the consolidated financial statements as a whole as set out in the table below. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped 
us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of 
misstatements, both individually and in aggregate, on the financial statements as a whole.

Overall group materiality
How we determined it

Rationale for the materiality 
benchmark applied

€28.2 million (2016: €22.9 million)
5% of profit before tax
We chose profit before tax as the benchmark because, in our view, it is one of the principal 
measures considered by users, and is a generally accepted benchmark. We chose 5% which is within 
the range of acceptable quantitative materiality thresholds in generally accepted auditing practice.

We agreed with the Audit and Risk Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above €1.0 million 
as well as misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial 
statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements 
as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key audit matter
Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets 
impairment assessment 
Refer to Note 13 for intangible assets including goodwill.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as at 31 December 
2017 amount to €1,621.2 million and €199.9 million, respectively.

The above noted amounts have been allocated to individual 
cash-generating units (‘CGUs’). The impairment assessment must 
be performed at least annually and involves the determination of the 
recoverable amount, being the higher of the value-in-use and the 
fair value less costs to dispose. 

This area was a key matter for our audit due to the size of goodwill 
and indefinite-lived intangible assets and because the determination 
of whether elements of goodwill and of indefinite-lived intangible 
assets are impaired involves complex and subjective estimates and 
judgements by management about the future results of the CGUs. 
These estimates and judgements include assumptions surrounding 
revenue growth rates, direct costs, foreign exchange rates and 
discount rates. 

Furthermore, macroeconomic volatility, competitor activity and 
regulatory/fiscal developments can adversely affect each CGU and 
potentially the carrying amount of goodwill and indefinite-lived 
intangible assets.

No impairment charge was recorded in 2017. Goodwill and franchise 
agreements held by the Nigeria CGU have been determined by 
management to remain sensitive to changes in the key drivers of 
cash flow forecasts given the macroeconomic volatility in Nigeria.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We evaluated the appropriateness of management’s identification 
of the Group’s CGUs and the process by which management 
prepared the CGUs value-in-use calculations which we found to be 
satisfactory for the purposes of our audit. We tested the 
mathematical accuracy of the CGUs value-in-use calculations and 
compared them to the latest budget approved by the Directors and 
assessed the quality of the budgeting process by comparing the 
prior year budget with actual data.

With the support of our valuation specialists, we challenged 
management’s analysis around the key drivers of cash flow 
forecasts including selling price increases, short-term and long-
term volume growth and the level of direct costs by comparing them 
with either the Group’s historical information or market data, as 
appropriate. We also evaluated the appropriateness of other key 
assumptions including discount rates and foreign exchange rates 
by comparing them to relevant market data. We found the 
assumptions to be consistent and in line with our expectations.

We also performed sensitivity analyses on the key drivers of cash 
flow forecasts for the CGUs with significant balances of goodwill and 
indefinite-lived intangible assets as well as for CGUs which remain 
sensitive to changes in the key drivers, including the goodwill and 
franchise agreements held by the Nigeria CGU. 

We assessed the appropriateness and completeness of the related 
disclosures in Note 13, and consider them to be reasonable. As a 
result of our work, we found that the determination by management 
that no impairment was required for goodwill and indefinite-lived 
intangible assets was supported by assumptions within 
reasonable ranges.

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Key audit matter
Uncertain tax positions
Refer to Note 10 for taxation and Note 28 for contingencies.

The Group operates in a complex multinational tax environment 
which gives rise to uncertain tax positions in relation to corporation 
tax, transfer pricing and indirect taxes. As at 31 December 2017, the 
Group has current tax liabilities of €97.5 million which include €69.2 
million of provisions for tax uncertainties.

The Group establishes provisions based on management’s 
judgements of the probable amount of the liability. Given the 
number of judgements involved in estimating the provisions relating 
to uncertain tax positions and the complexities of dealing with tax 
rules and regulations in numerous jurisdictions, this was considered 
as a key audit matter.

Provisions and contingent liabilities
Refer to Note 20 for provisions and Note 28 for contingencies.

The Group faces a number of threatened and actual legal and 
regulatory proceedings. The determination of the provision and/or 
the level of disclosure required involves a high degree of judgement 
resulting in provisions and contingent liabilities being considered 
as a key audit matter.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We evaluated the related accounting policy for provisioning for tax 
exposures and found it to be appropriate.

In conjunction with our tax specialists, we evaluated management’s 
judgements in respect of estimates of tax exposures and 
contingencies in order to assess the adequacy of the Group’s tax 
provisions. In order to understand and evaluate management’s 
judgements, we considered the status of current tax authority 
audits and enquiries, the outcome of previous tax authority audits, 
judgemental positions taken in tax returns and current year 
estimates and recent developments in the tax environments in 
which the Group operates. 

We challenged management’s key assumptions, in particular on 
cases where there had been significant developments with tax 
authorities, noting no significant deviation from our expectations.

From the evidence obtained and in the context of the consolidated 
financial statements, taken as a whole, we consider the provisions 
in relation to uncertain tax positions as at 31 December 2017 to 
be appropriate.
We evaluated the design of, and tested, key controls in respect 
of litigation and regulatory procedures, which we found to be 
satisfactory for the purposes of our audit.

Our procedures included the following:

 – where relevant, reading external legal advice obtained by 

management;

 – discussing open matters with the Group general counsel;
 – meeting with local management and reading subsequent 

correspondence;

 – assessing and challenging management’s conclusions through 

understanding precedents set in similar cases; and 

 – circularising relevant third-party legal representatives and follow 
up discussions, where appropriate, on certain material cases.

On the basis of the work performed, whilst noting the inherent 
uncertainty with such legal and regulatory matters, we determined 
the relevant provisions as at 31 December 2017 to be appropriate. 

We assessed the appropriateness of the related disclosures 
in Note 28 and considered these to be reasonable. 

How we tailored our group audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit in order to perform sufficient work to enable us to provide an opinion on the consolidated financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the geographic structure of the Group, the accounting processes and controls, and the 
industry in which the Group operates.

The Group operates through its trading subsidiary undertakings in 28 countries, as set out on page 142 of the 2017 Integrated Annual 
Report. The processing of the accounting entries for these entities is largely centralised in a shared services centre in Bulgaria, except 
for the subsidiary undertakings in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, which process their accounting entries locally. The Group also 
operates a centralised treasury function in the Netherlands and in Greece and a centralised procurement function in Austria. We 
considered the nature of the work that needed to be performed on these entities and functions by us, as the group engagement team 
and by component auditors from other PwC network firms. Where work was performed by component auditors, we determined the level 
of involvement we needed to have in the audit work at those entities or functions to be able to conclude whether appropriate audit 
evidence had been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the consolidated financial statements as a whole.

Based on the significance to the consolidated financial statements and in light of the key audit matters as noted above, we identified 
subsidiary undertakings in 16 countries (including the trading subsidiary undertakings in Russia, Nigeria and Italy) which in our view, required 
an audit of their complete financial information. Furthermore, the Company’s complete financial information was subject to audit. 
Specified audit procedures on certain balances and transactions were also performed on one joint venture and the corporate service 
centres in Greece and Austria. In addition, audit procedures were performed with respect to the centralised treasury function by the 
group engagement team and by the component audit team in Austria as regards to the centralised procurement function. The group 
engagement team also performed analytical review and other procedures on balances and transactions of subsidiary undertakings not 
covered by the procedures described above. 

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Our group engagement team’s involvement with respect to audit work performed by component auditors included site visits (to Russia, 
Nigeria, Italy, Switzerland, Romania, Poland, Austria Bulgaria and Greece), conference calls with component audit teams, meetings with 
local management, review of component auditor work papers, attendance at component audit clearance meetings, and other forms of 
interactions as considered necessary depending on the significance of the component and the extent of accounting and audit issues 
arising. The group engagement team was also responsible for planning, designing and overseeing the audit procedures performed at the 
shared services centre in Bulgaria. The Group consolidation, financial statement disclosures and a number of areas of significant 
judgement, including goodwill and intangible assets, material provisions and contingent liabilities, were audited by the group engagement 
team. We also performed work centrally on IT general controls. This year, we held a two-day audit planning workshop in Bulgaria focusing 
on planning and risk assessment activities, auditor independence, centralised testing procedures and implementation of new IFRSs. 
This audit planning workshop was attended by the component teams responsible for the subsidiaries requiring an audit of their complete 
financial information.

Based on the above, the undertakings of which an audit of their complete financial information was performed accounted for 87% 
of consolidated net sales revenue, 93% of consolidated profit before tax and 88% of consolidated total assets of the Group.

Other information 
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises Coca-Cola HBC AG’s 2017 Integrated Annual 
Report (but does not include the consolidated financial statements, our auditor’s report thereon and the Swiss statutory reporting), which 
we obtained prior to the date of this auditor’s report. 

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit 
opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our 
knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required 
to report that fact. We have nothing to report on these responsibilities. 

UK Corporate Governance Code provisions
We have nothing to report in respect of our responsibility to report when the Directors’ statement relating to the Company’s compliance 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) does not properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the Code 
specified, under the Listing Rules, for review by the auditor.

The Directors’ statement on going concern
We have reviewed the statement on going concern, included in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, in Coca-Cola HBC AG’s 2017 
Integrated Annual Report on page 126, as if the Company were a UK incorporated premium listed entity. We have nothing to report having 
performed our review.

As noted in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, the Directors have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the consolidated 
financial statements using the going concern basis of accounting. The going concern basis presumes that the Group has adequate 
resources to remain in operation, and that the Directors intend it to do so, for at least one year from the date the consolidated financial 
statements were signed. As part of our audit we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis is appropriate.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, these statements are not a guarantee as to the Group’s ability 
to continue as a going concern.

The Directors’ assessment of the prospects of the Group
We have also reviewed the Directors’ statement in relation to the longer-term viability of the Group, set out on page 70, of the Coca-Cola 
HBC’s 2017 Integrated Annual Report as if the Company were a UK incorporated premium listed entity. Our review was substantially less 
in scope than an audit and only consisted of making inquiries and considering the Directors’ process supporting their statement; checking 
that the statement is in alignment with the relevant provisions of the Code; and considering whether the statement is consistent with the 
knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing our audit. We have nothing to report having performed our review.

Responsibilities of the Directors for the consolidated financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out in the 2017 Integrated Annual Report on page 126, the 
Directors are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements 
that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors 
either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

131

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level 
of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs will always detect a material misstatement when it 
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements. 

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the 
audit. We also:

 – Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design 
and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis 
for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as 
fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. 

 – Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design 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. 

 – Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures 

made by the Directors. 

 – Conclude on the appropriateness of the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence 

obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to 
the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our 
conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may 
cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern. 

 – Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether 

the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
 – Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Group to 
express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the 
group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. 

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and 
significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit. Those charged with 
governance are responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process.

We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding 
independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our 
independence, and where applicable, related safeguards. 

From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the 
audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in 
our auditor’s report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we 
determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be 
expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication. 

Use of this report
This report, including the opinion, has been prepared for and only for Coca-Cola HBC AG for the purpose of the Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules sourcebook and the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and for no other purpose.

Marios Psaltis
the Certified Auditor, Reg. No. 38081
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A.
Certified Auditors, Reg. No. 113
Athens, Greece

16 March 2018

Notes:
(a) The maintenance and integrity of the Coca-Cola HBC AG website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve 
consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the consolidated financial 
statements since they were initially presented on the website.

(b) Legislation in UK and Switzerland governing the preparation and dissemination of consolidated financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

132

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December

Net sales revenue
Cost of goods sold
Gross profit

Operating expenses
Operating profit

Finance income
Finance costs
Finance costs, net
Share of results of equity method investments
Profit before tax

Tax
Profit after tax

Attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Basic earnings per share (€)
Diluted earnings per share (€)

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

Note
6,7

8
6

9
15

10

11
11

2017 
€ million
6,522.0
(4,083.0)
2,439.0

(1,849.2)
589.8

10.6
(47.3)
(36.7)
11.8
564.9

(138.4)
426.5

426.0
0.5
426.5

1.17
1.16

2016 
€ million
6,219.0
(3,920.2)
2,298.8

(1,792.5)
506.3

7.4
(69.7)
(62.3)
13.8
457.8

(113.8)
344.0

343.5
0.5
344.0

0.95
0.95

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 

Profit after tax
Other comprehensive income:
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
Available-for-sale financial assets:
Valuation gain / (loss) during the year
Cash flow hedges:

Net losses during the year
Net losses reclassified to income statement for the year
Transfers to inventory for the year

Foreign currency translation
Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investments
Income tax relating to items that may be subsequently reclassified to 
income statement (refer to Note 12)

Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to income statement:
Actuarial gains / (losses)
Income tax relating to items that will not be subsequently reclassified to 
income statement (refer to Note 12)

Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax (refer to Note 12)
Total comprehensive income for the year

Total comprehensive income attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

2017
€ million
426.5

2016
€ million
344.0

0.1

(0.1)

(7.0)
6.3
9.3

8.6
(219.2)
(5.3)

(0.3)
(216.1)

6.9

(2.2)
4.7
(211.4)
215.1

214.6
0.5
215.1

(48.2)
12.8
4.1

(31.3)
(112.9)
(7.5)

1.1
(150.7)

(41.7)

7.0
(34.7)
(185.4)
158.6

158.1
0.5
158.6

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

134

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December

Assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Equity method investments
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax assets
Other non-current assets
Total non-current assets

Inventories
Trade, other receivables and assets
Other financial assets
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Assets classified as held for sale
Total current assets
Total assets

Liabilities
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Trade and other payables
Provisions and employee benefits
Current tax liabilities
Total current liabilities

Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Deferred tax liabilities
Provisions and employee benefits
Other non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Group reorganisation reserve
Treasury shares
Exchange equalisation reserve
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
Total equity and liabilities

Note

2017
€ million 

2016
€ million 

13
14
15
23
10
17

16
17
24
23

24

18

24
23
19
20

24
23
10
20

25
25
25
25
25
25

1,829.9
2,322.0
96.8
4.4
59.1
32.4
4,344.6

416.8
966.8
150.9
12.0
12.3
723.5
2,282.3
3.3
2,285.6
6,630.2

166.4
4.5
1,544.4
83.6
97.5
1,896.4

1,459.8
0.9
134.0
120.2
6.7
1,721.6
3,618.0

2,015.1
4,739.3
(6,472.1)
(71.3)
(1,026.3)
271.2
3,551.5
3,007.4
4.8
3,012.2
6,630.2

1,885.7
2,406.6
117.0
8.1
57.5
28.7
4,503.6

431.5
1,030.8
–
7.9
6.1
573.2
2,049.5
11.8
2,061.3
6,564.9

156.5
14.2
1,587.3
118.6
91.5
1,968.1

1,468.1
1.3
124.1
125.0
8.2
1,726.7
3,694.8

1,990.8
4,854.6
(6,472.1)
(70.7)
(801.8)
245.1
3,119.7
2,865.6
4.5
2,870.1
6,564.9

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

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Balance as 1 January 2016
Shares issued to employees 
exercising stock options
Share-based compensation:
Options and performance 
shares
Movement in shares held for 
equity compensation plan

Sale of own shares
Cancellation of shares
Appropriation of reserves
Dividends

Attributable to owners of the parent

Share 
capital
€ million

Share 
premium
€ million
2,000.1 5,028.3

Group 
reorganisation 
reserve
€ million
(6,472.1)

Treasury 
shares
€ million
(132.0)

Exchange 
equalisation 
reserve
€ million
(681.4)

Other 
Retained 
reserves
earnings
Total
€ million
€ million
€ million
260.4 2,816.5 2,819.8

Non- 
controlling 
interests
€ million

Total 
equity
€ million
4.3 2,824.1

9.1

12.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

8.1

–

–

21.6

8.1

–
–
(18.4)
–
–

–
–
(40.1)
–
(146.1)
1,990.8 4,854.6
–

–
–
–
–
–
(6,472.1)
–

–
–
–
–
–
(681.4)

(0.4)
3.1
58.5
0.1
–
(70.7)
–

–
–
–
6.9
–

–
–
–
(7.0)
1.4

(0.4)
3.1
–
–
(144.7)
275.4 2,810.9 2,707.5
343.5
343.5

–

–

21.6

8.1

–
(0.4)
–
3.1
–
–
–
–
(0.3)
(145.0)
4.0 2,711.5
0.5
344.0

Profit for the year net of tax
Other comprehensive loss for 
the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income 
for the year, net of tax1
–
Balance as at 31 December 2016 1,990.8 4,854.6

–

–

–

(120.4)

(30.3)

(34.7)

(185.4)

–

(185.4)

–
(6,472.1)

–
(70.7)

(120.4)
(801.8)

(30.3)
308.8
158.1
245.1 3,119.7 2,865.6

0.5
158.6
4.5 2,870.1

1.  The amount included in the exchange equalisation reserve of €120.4m loss for 2016 represents the exchange loss attributed to the owners of the parent, including 

€7.5m loss relating to share of other comprehensive income of equity method investments. 

  The amount included in other reserves of €30.3m loss for 2016 consists of loss on valuation of available-for-sale financial assets of €0.1m, cash flow hedges losses of 

€31.3m and the deferred tax income thereof amounting to €1.1m.

  The amount of €308.8m gain comprises profit for the year of €343.5m, less actuarial losses of €41.7m, plus a deferred tax income of €7.0m.
  The amount of €0.5m gain included in non-controlling interests for 2016 represents the share of non-controlling interests in profit for the year.

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

136

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Balance as at 1 January 2017
Shares issued to employees 
exercising stock options
Share-based compensation:
Options and performance 
shares
Movement in shares held for 
equity compensation plan

Appropriation of reserves
Dividends

Attributable to owners of the parent

Share 
capital
€ million

Share 
premium
€ million
1,990.8 4,854.6

Group 
reorganisation 
reserve
€ million
(6,472.1)

Treasury 
shares
€ million
(70.7)

Exchange 
equalisation 
reserve
€ million
(801.8)

Other 
Retained 
reserves
earnings
Total
€ million
€ million
€ million
245.1 3,119.7 2,865.6

Non- 
controlling 
interests
€ million

Total 
equity
€ million
4.5 2,870.1

24.3

46.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

17.2

–

–

71.0

17.2

–
–
–

–
–
(162.0)
2,015.1 4,739.3
–

–

–
–
–
(6,472.1)
–

(0.6)
–
–
(71.3)
–

–
–
–
(801.8)
–

0.1
0.4
–

–
(0.4)
1.5

(0.5)
–
(160.5)
262.8 3,120.8 2,792.8
426.0
426.0

–

–

–

71.0

17.2

–
(0.5)
–
–
(0.2)
(160.7)
4.3 2,797.1
0.5
426.5

Profit for the year net of tax
Other comprehensive loss for the 
year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income for 
the year, net of tax2
–
Balance as at 31 December 2017 2,015.1 4,739.3

–

–

–

–

–

(224.5)

8.4

4.7

(211.4)

–

(211.4)

–
(6,472.1)

–

(224.5)
(71.3) (1,026.3)

8.4

430.7
214.6
271.2 3,551.5 3,007.4

0.5
215.1
4.8 3,012.2

2.  The amount included in the exchange equalisation reserve of €224.5m loss for 2017 represents the exchange loss attributed to the owners of the parent, including 

€5.3m loss relating to share of other comprehensive income of equity method investments.

  The amount included in other reserves of €8.4m gain for 2017 consists of gain on valuation of available-for-sale financial assets of €0.1m, cash flow hedges gains of 

€8.6m and the deferred tax expense thereof amounting to €0.3m.

  The amount of €430.7m gain comprises profit for the year of €426.0m, plus actuarial gains of €6.9m, minus deferred tax expense of €2.2m.
  The amount of €0.5m gain included in non-controlling interests for 2017 represents the share of non-controlling interests in profit for the year.

For further details, refer to: Note 25 Equity and Note 27 Share based payments.

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

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December

Operating activities
Profit after tax
Finance costs, net
Share of results of equity method investments
Tax charged to the income statement
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
Employee stock options and performance shares
Amortisation of intangible assets
Other non-cash items

Gain on disposals of non-current assets
(Increase) / Decrease in inventories
Decrease / (Increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables
Tax paid
Net cash inflow from operating activities

Investing activities
Payments for purchases of property, plant and equipment
Payments for purchases of intangible assets
Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment
Net receipts from equity investments
Net payments for investments in financial assets
Proceeds from loans to related parties
Interest received
Payments for acquisition of subsidiary
Net cash outflow from investing activities

Financing activities
Proceeds from shares issued to employees exercising stock options
Purchase of shares from non-controlling interests
Proceeds from sale of own shares
Dividends paid to owners of the parent
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments of borrowings
Principal repayments of finance lease obligations
Payments for settlement of derivatives and forward starting swaps
Interest paid
Net cash outflow from financing activities
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Movement in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Effect of changes in exchange rates
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

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

138

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Note

9
15
10
14
14
27
13

8

13

23 

22

25

25

24

2017
€million

426.5
36.7
(11.8)
138.4
300.7
16.1
20.8
0.4
(0.3)
927.5
(4.3)
(13.1)
11.7
10.1
(128.4)
803.5

(409.9)
(1.8)
39.5
24.4
(151.0)
1.6
7.1
–
(490.1)

71.0
(0.5)
–
(160.5)
(0.2)
82.2
(83.8)
(7.2)
(3.1)
(36.9)
(139.0)
174.4

573.2
174.4
(24.1)
723.5

2016
€million

344.0
62.3
(13.8)
113.8
305.5
26.9
8.1
0.4
(1.3)
845.9
(2.9)
3.8
(122.6)
131.2
(92.1)
763.3

(347.8)
–
35.9
17.8
–
2.8
7.3
(19.5)
(303.5)

21.6
(0.7)
3.1
(144.7)
(0.3)
679.6
(738.2)
(20.2)
(55.4)
(72.8)
(328.0)
131.8

487.4
131.8
(46.0)
573.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Description of business
Coca-Cola HBC AG and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’ or ‘Coca-Cola HBC’ or ‘the Company’) are principally engaged in the production, sales 
and distribution of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages, under franchise from The Coca-Cola Company. The Company distributes its 
products in Nigeria and 27 countries in Europe. Information on the Company’s operations by segment is included in Note 6.

On 11 October 2012, Coca-Cola HBC, a Swiss stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft/Société Anonyme) incorporated by Kar-Tess Holding 
(a related party of the Group, see Note 26), announced a voluntary share exchange offer to acquire all outstanding ordinary registered 
shares and all American depositary shares of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. As a result of the successful completion of this 
offer, on 25 April 2013 Coca-Cola HBC acquired 96.85% of the issued Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. shares, including shares 
represented by American depositary shares, and became the new parent company of the Group. On 17 June 2013, Coca-Cola HBC 
completed its statutory buy-out of the remaining shares of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. that it did not acquire upon 
completion of its voluntary share exchange offer. Consequently, Coca-Cola HBC acquired 100% of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company 
S.A. which was eventually delisted from the Athens Exchange, from the London Stock Exchange where it had a secondary listing and from 
the New York Stock Exchange where American depositary shares were listed.

The shares of Coca-Cola HBC started trading in the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange (Ticker symbol: CCH), on the 
Athens Exchange (Ticker symbol: EEE) and regular way trading in Coca-Cola HBC ADS commenced on the New York Stock Exchange 
(Ticker symbol: CCH) on 29 April 2013. On 24 July 2014 the Group proceeded to the delisting of its American Depository Receipts from 
the New York Stock Exchange and terminated its reporting obligations under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The deregistration 
of Coca-Cola HBC shares under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the termination of its reporting obligations became effective 
on 3 November 2014.

2. Basis of preparation and consolidation

Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements included in this document are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (‘IFRS’) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’).

The consolidated financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, as modified by the 
revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets and derivative financial instruments.

These consolidated financial statements were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 15 March 2018 and are expected to be 
verified at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 11 June 2018.

Basis of consolidation
Subsidiary undertakings are those companies over which the Group, directly or indirectly, has control. The Group controls an entity when 
the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns 
through power over the entity. Subsidiary undertakings are consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group and 
cease to be consolidated from the date on which control is transferred out of the Group.

Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions – that is, as 
transactions with the owners in their capacity as owners. The difference between fair value of any consideration paid and the relevant 
share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity.

Inter-company transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated. The subsidiaries’ accounting policies are consistent 
with policies adopted by the Group.

When the Group ceases to have control, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value at the date when such control is 
lost, with the change in carrying amount recognised in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of 
subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously 
recognised in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related 
assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.

3. Foreign currency and translation
The individual financial statements of each Group entity are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which the 
entity operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each 
entity are expressed in Euro, which is the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements. 

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The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into Euro at the exchange rate ruling at the balance sheet date. The results 
of foreign subsidiaries are translated into Euro using the average monthly exchange rate (being a reasonable approximation of the rates 
prevailing on the transaction dates). The exchange differences arising on translation are recognised in other comprehensive income. 
On disposal of a foreign entity, accumulated exchange differences are recognised as a component of the gain or loss on disposal.

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in 
foreign currencies are remeasured at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All gains and losses arising on remeasurement 
are included in the income statement, except for exchange differences arising on assets and liabilities classified as cash flow hedges which 
are deferred in equity until the occurrence of the hedged transaction, at which time they are recognised in the income statement. 
Share capital denominated in a currency other than the functional currency is initially stated at spot rate of the date of issue but is 
not retranslated.

The principal exchange rates used for translation purposes in respect of one Euro are:

US dollar
UK sterling
Polish zloty
Nigerian naira
Hungarian forint
Swiss franc
Russian rouble
Romanian leu
Ukrainian hryvnia
Czech koruna
Serbian dinar

Average
2017
1.13
0.88
4.26
378.60
309.20
1.11
65.87
4.57
29.97
26.34
121.45

Average
2016
1.11
0.82
4.36
279.97
311.40
1.09
74.36
4.49
28.27
27.03
123.08

Closing
2017
1.19
0.89
4.19
428.75
310.12
1.17
68.67
4.65
33.12
25.93
118.29

Closing
2016
1.04
0.85
4.40
317.95
309.22
1.07
64.72
4.54
27.97
27.02
123.30

4. Accounting pronouncements

a) Accounting pronouncements adopted in 2017
In the current period, the Group has adopted the following amendments which were issued by the IASB, that are relevant to its operations 
and effective for accounting periods beginning on 1 January 2017:

 – Amendments to IAS 7: Disclosure initiative
 – Amendments to IAS 12: Recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses
 – Amendments to IFRS 12: Disclosure of interests in other entities

The adoption of these amendments did not have any impact on amounts recognised in the current period or any prior period and are not 
likely to affect future periods. However, the amendment to IAS 7 requires disclosure of changes in liabilities arising from financing activities, 
refer to Note 24.

b) Accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
At the date of approval of these consolidated financial statements, the following standards and interpretations relevant to the Group’s 
operations were issued but not yet effective and not early adopted. 

IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers that will replace IAS 18, which covers contracts for goods and services, and IAS 11, which 
covers construction contracts. The new standard is based on the principle that revenue is recognised when control of a good or service is 
transferred to a customer. IFRS 15 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. Management has carried out an 
assessment of the impact of adopting the new standard focusing on areas such as: identification of material rights that should be 
accounted for as performance obligations and consideration paid to customers. Management has concluded that adoption of the new 
standard will not have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

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IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, which reflects all phases of the financial instruments project and replaces IAS 39, Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement. The standard introduces new requirements for classification and measurement, impairment, and hedge 
accounting. IFRS 9 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018. Management has assessed the effect of adopting 
the new standard on the Group’s financial statements and has concluded that neither the new requirements related to the classification 
and measurement nor the ones related to impairment will have a material impact to the financial statements although may impact 
disclosures. The new hedge accounting requirements will align the accounting for hedging instruments more closely with the Group’s risk 
management practices and therefore more hedge relationships are expected to be eligible for hedge accounting. Furthermore, changes in 
time value of option contracts will in future be deferred in a new ‘costs of hedging’ reserve within equity. The deferred amounts will be 
recognised against the related hedged transaction when it occurs. The Group will apply the new rules retrospectively from 1 January 2018, 
with the practical expedients permitted under the standard.

IFRS 16, Leases. The new standard supersedes IAS 17 and its objective is to ensure that lessees and lessors provide relevant information in 
a manner that faithfully represents those transactions. IFRS 16 introduces a single lessee accounting model and requires a lessee to 
recognise assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value. IFRS 16 is 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. The Group is currently evaluating the impact IFRS 16 will have on its 
consolidated financial statements.

In addition, the following amendments have been issued by the IASB but are not yet effective. The Group is currently evaluating the impact 
these amendments will have on its consolidated financial statements:

 – Amendments to IFRS 2: Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions 
 – Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28: Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture
 – Interpretation 22: Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration
 – Annual improvements to IFRSs: 2014-2016 Cycle – IAS 28 
 – Annual improvements to IFRSs: 2015-2017 Cycle
 – Interpretation 23: Uncertainty over income tax treatments

5. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In conformity with IFRS, the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for Coca-Cola HBC requires management to make 
estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent 
assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates and judgements are 
based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions that may be undertaken in the future, actual results may ultimately differ 
from estimates.

Estimates
 – Income taxes (Refer to Note 10)
 – Impairment of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets (Refer to Note 13)
 – Employee benefits – defined benefit pension plans (Refer to Note 20)

Judgements
 – Joint arrangements (Refer to Note 15) 

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The Group has one business, being the production, sale and distribution of ready-to-drink, primarily non-alcoholic, beverages. The Group 
operates in 28 countries which are aggregated in reportable segments as follows:

Established markets:

Developing markets:

Emerging markets:

Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Northern Ireland, 
the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.
Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, 
Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, FYROM, Moldova, Montenegro, Nigeria, 
Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia 
(including the Republic of Kosovo) and Ukraine.

The Group’s operations in each of the three reportable segments have been aggregated on the basis of their similar economic 
characteristics, assessed by reference to their net sales revenue per unit case as well as disposable income per capita, exposure to political 
and economic volatility, regulatory environments, customers and distribution infrastructures. The accounting policies of the reportable 
segments are the same as those adopted by the Group. The Group’s chief operating decision maker is its Operating Committee, which 
evaluates performance and allocates resources based on volume, net sales revenue and operating profit.

a) Volume and net sales revenue
The Group sales volume in million unit cases1 for the years ended 31 December was as follows:

Established
Developing
Emerging
Total volume

2017
613.3
394.2
1,096.6
2,104.1

2016
606.6
383.5
1,067.8
2,057.9

1.  One unit case corresponds to approximately 5.678 litres or 24 servings, being a typically used measure of volume. Volume data is derived from unaudited 

operational data.

Net sales revenue per reportable segment for the years ended 31 December is presented in the graphs below:

2017
€6,522.0m

2016
€6,219.0m

Established: €2,436.3m
Developing: €1,173.4m
Emerging: €2,912.3m

Established: €2,407.8m
Developing: €1,094.2m
Emerging: €2,717.0m

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
There are no material amounts of sales or transfers between the Group’s segments nor are there any customers who represent more 
than 10% of net sales revenue for the Group.

In addition to non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages (‘NARTD’), the Group sells and distributes premium spirits. An analysis of volume 
and net sales revenue per product type for the years ended 31 December is presented below:

Volume in million unit cases1:
NARTD2
Premium Spirits1
Total volume

Net sales revenue in € million:
NARTD
Premium Spirits
Total net sales revenue

2017
2,101.3
2.8
2,104.1

6,295.2
226.8
6,522.0

2016
2,055.5
2.4
2,057.9

6,040.6
178.4
6,219.0

1.  One unit case corresponds to approximately 5.678 litres or 24 servings, being a typically used measure of volume. Volume data is derived from unaudited operational 

data. For premium spirits volume, one case corresponds to 5.678 litres. 

2.  NARTD: non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink beverages.

Net sales revenue from external customers attributed to Switzerland (the Group’s country of domicile), Russia, Italy and Nigeria was as 
follows for the years ended 31 December:

Switzerland
Russia
Italy
Nigeria 
All countries, other than Switzerland, Russia, Italy and Nigeria
Total net sales revenue from external customers

2017
€ million
416.3
1,117.6
880.6
532.8 
3,574.7
6,522.0

2016
€ million
423.6
983.0
897.7
583.3 
3,331.4
6,219.0

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6. Segmental analysis continued

b) Other income statement items

Year ended 31 December
Operating profit:
Established
Developing
Emerging
Total operating profit

Interest expense and other finance costs:
Established
Developing
Emerging
Corporate3
Inter-segment interest expense
Interest expense and other finance costs

Finance income:
Established
Developing
Emerging
Corporate3
Inter-segment finance income
Total finance income

Income tax expense:
Established
Developing
Emerging
Corporate3
Total income tax expense

Reconciling items:
Share of results of equity method investments
Profit after tax

Note

9

9

10

15

2017
€ million

238.3
91.6
259.9
589.8

(25.4)
(4.3)
(12.9)
(99.4)
94.7
(47.3)

0.6
1.3
23.9
79.5
(94.7)
10.6

(57.6)
(17.2)
(45.4)
(18.2)
(138.4)

2016
€ million

236.8
92.9
176.6
506.3

(40.1)
(4.9)
(8.9)
(133.2)
117.4
(69.7)

0.5
1.7
21.5
101.1
(117.4)
7.4

(49.7)
(19.0)
(35.7)
(9.4)
(113.8)

11.8
426.5

13.8
344.0

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment and amortisation of intangible assets included in the measure of operating 
profit, are as follows:

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment:
Established
Developing
Emerging
Total depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets:
Emerging
Total amortisation of intangible assets

3. Corporate refers to holding, finance and other non-operating subsidiaries of the Group. 

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 Note

14

13

2017
€ million

(93.4)
(52.2)
(171.2)
(316.8)

(0.4)
(0.4)

2016
€ million

(95.8)
(56.6)
(180.0)
(332.4)

(0.4)
(0.4)

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
c) Other items
The balance of non-current assets4 attributed to Switzerland (the Group’s country of domicile), Russia, Italy and Nigeria was as follows for 
the year ended 31 December:

Switzerland
Russia
Italy
Nigeria 
All countries, other than Switzerland, Russia, Italy and Nigeria
Total non-current assets4

2017
€ million
497.9
542.2
979.4
388.7 
1,768.8
4,177.0

4. Excluding financial instruments, equity method investments and deferred tax assets.

Expenditure of property, plant and equipment per reportable segment was as follows for the year ended 31 December:

Established
Developing
Emerging
Total expenditure of property, plant and equipment

2017
€ million
89.7
63.2
257.0
409.9

2016
€ million
546.0
578.0
990.7
439.9 
1,759.3
4,313.9

2016
€ million
94.7
44.3
208.8
347.8

During 2016 and 2017 the Nigerian naira was significantly devalued against the Euro, resulting in foreign currency translation losses which 
were recognised within other comprehensive income of the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in both 2016 and 2017 
(refer to Note 12). The Group continues to monitor the situation in Nigeria in order to ensure that timely actions and initiatives are 
undertaken to minimise potential adverse impact on its performance, particularly in relation to the currency volatility.

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7. Net sales revenue

Accounting policy
Net sales revenue is recognised when all of the following conditions are met: when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured; 
when it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group; and when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the 
products have passed to the buyer, usually on delivery of goods.

Net sales revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and is stated net of sales discounts, as well 
as listing fees and marketing and promotional incentives provided to customers. Net sales revenue includes excise and other duties 
where the Group pays as principal but excludes amounts collected on behalf of third parties, such as value added taxes. Listing fees are 
incentives provided to customers for carrying the Group’s products in their stores. Listing fees that are subject to contract-based term 
arrangements are capitalised and amortised over the term of the contract as a reduction to revenue. All other listing fees as well as 
marketing and promotional incentives are a reduction of revenue as incurred. 

Coca-Cola HBC receives contributions from The Coca-Cola Company in order to promote sales of their brands. Contributions for price 
support, marketing and promotional campaigns in respect of specific customers are recognised as an offset to promotional incentives 
provided to those customers to which the contributions contractually relate. These contributions are accrued and matched to the 
expenditure to which they relate (refer to Note 26).

Refer to Note 6 for an analysis of net sales revenue per reportable segment.

Listing fees and marketing and promotional incentives provided to customers recognised as a reduction to net sales revenue for the year 
ended 31 December are presented below:

Listing fees
Marketing and promotional incentives
Total listing fees, marketing and promotional incentives

2017
€ million
474.2
210.2
684.4

2016
€ million
485.9
216.6
702.5

The amount of listing fees capitalised at 31 December 2017 was €7.9m (31 December 2016: €11.0m). Of this balance, €6.0m (31 
December 2016: €7.9m) was classified as current prepayments and the remainder as non-current prepayments.

8. Operating expenses

Accounting policy
Restructuring expenses are recorded in a separate line item within operating expenses and comprise costs arising from significant 
changes in the way the Group conducts its business such as significant supply chain infrastructure changes, outsourcing of activities 
and centralisation of processes. Redundancy provisions are recognised only when the Group has a present constructive obligation, 
which is when a detailed formal plan identifies the business or part of the business concerned, the location and number of employees 
affected, a detailed estimate of the associated costs, as well as an appropriate timeline and the employees affected have been notified 
of the plan’s main features.

a) Operating expenses
Operating expenses for the year ended 31 December comprised:

Selling expenses
Delivery expenses
Administrative expenses
Restructuring expenses
Operating expenses

2017
€ million
917.2
495.7
407.4
28.9
1,849.2

2016
€ million
869.9
483.1
401.8
37.7
1,792.5

In 2017, operating expenses included net gains on disposal of property, plant and equipment of €4.3m (2016: €2.9m net gains).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
Restructuring expenses
As part of the effort to optimise its cost base and sustain competitiveness in the marketplace, the Company undertakes restructuring 
initiatives. The restructuring concerns mainly employees’ costs and impairment of property, plant and equipment (refer to Note 14). 
Restructuring expenses per reportable segment for the years ended 31 December are presented below: 

2017
€28.9m

2016
€37.7m

Established: €13.1m
Developing: €1.6m
Emerging: €14.2m

Established: €9.4m
Developing: €6.3m
Emerging: €22.0m

b) Employee costs
Employee costs for the years ended 31 December comprised:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension and other employee benefits
Termination benefits
Total employee costs

2017
€ million
697.2
148.7
128.2
18.2
992.3

2016
€ million
707.1
143.0
112.8
21.1
984.0

The average number of full-time equivalent employees in 2017 was 29,427 (2016: 31,083).

Employee costs for 2017 included in operating expenses and cost of goods sold amounted to €760.1m and €232.2m respectively 
(2016: €746.2m and €237.8m respectively).

c) Directors’ and senior management remuneration
The total remuneration paid or accrued for Directors and the senior management team for the years ended 31 December comprised:

Salaries and other short-term benefits
Stock option and perfomance share awards
Pension and post-employment benefits
Total renumeration

2017
€ million
13.8
12.6
0.7
27.1

d) Fees and other services of the auditor
Audit and other fees charged in the income statement concerning the auditor of the consolidated financial statements, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers S.A. and affiliates, were as follows, for the years ended 31 December:

Audit fees
Audit-related fees
Other fees
Total audit and all other fees

2017
€ million
4.3
0.4
–
4.7

2016
€ million
18.7
4.9
0.8
24.4

2016
€ million
4.5
0.4
0.2
5.1

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9. Finance costs, net

Accounting policy
Interest income and interest expense are recognised using the effective interest rate method, and are recorded in the income 
statement within ‘Finance income’ and ‘Finance cost’ respectively.

Finance costs, net for the years ended 31 December comprised:

Interest income
Interest expense
Finance charges incurred with respect to finance leases
Other finance costs
Finance costs
Finance costs, net

2017
€ million
10.6
(39.9)
(6.0)
(1.4)
(47.3)
(36.7)

2016
€ million
7.4
(60.6)
(7.7)
(1.4)
(69.7)
(62.3)

Other finance costs include commitment fees on loan facilities (for the part not yet drawn down) and other similar fees.

10. Taxation

Accounting policy
Tax is recognised in the income statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or 
in equity. In this case, the tax is recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

The current income tax expense is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date in 
the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax 
returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and establishes provisions where 
appropriate, on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred tax is provided using the liability method for all temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and 
their carrying values for financial reporting purposes. However, the deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if they arise from the initial 
recognition of goodwill; deferred tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other 
than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Tax rates enacted 
or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date are those that are expected to apply when the deferred tax asset is realised or 
deferred tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the 
temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward to the extent that realisation of 
the related tax benefit through the reduction of the future taxes is probable.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except where 
the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference can be controlled by the Group, and it is probable that the temporary difference 
will not reverse in the foreseeable future. This includes taxation in respect of the retained earnings of overseas subsidiaries only to the 
extent that, at the balance sheet date, dividends have been accrued as receivable or a binding agreement to distribute past earnings in 
future periods has been entered into by the subsidiary.

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to offset current tax assets against current 
income tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable 
entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

Critical accounting estimates
The Group is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax 
determination cannot be assessed with certainty in the ordinary course of business. The Group recognises a provision for potential 
cases that might arise in the foreseeable future based on assessment of the probabilities as to whether additional taxes will be due. 
Where the final tax outcome on these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact 
the income tax provision in the period in which such determination is made. The income tax provision amounted to €69.2m as at 31 
December 2017 (2016: €56.7m) and is included in the line ‘Current tax liabilities’ of the consolidated balance sheet.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
The income tax charge for the years ended 31 December is as follows:

Current tax expense
Deferred tax
Income tax expense

2017
€ million
130.6
7.8
138.4

2016
€ million
116.4
(2.6)
113.8

The tax on the Group’s profit before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the weighted average tax rate applicable 
to profits of the consolidated entities as follows:

Profit before tax

Tax calculated at domestic tax rates applicable to profits in the respective countries
Additional local taxes in foreign jurisdictions
Tax holidays in foreign jurisdictions
Expenses non-deductible for tax purposes
Income not subject to tax
Changes in tax laws and rates
Movement in utilisation of accumulated tax losses
Movement of deferred tax asset not recognised
Recognition of previously unrecognised post-acquisition tax losses
Other
Income tax expense

2017
€ million
564.9

130.1
8.8
(11.9)
15.4 
(8.9)
–
0.3
2.0
(0.3)
2.9
138.4

2016
€ million
457.8

105.0
8.9
0.7
14.9
(12.5)
(2.3)
(2.3)
(0.7)
1.5
0.6
113.8

Non-deductible expenses for tax purposes include marketing and advertising expenses, service fees, bad debt provisions, entertainment 
expenses, certain employee benefits and stock options expenses and other items that, partially or in full, are not deductible for tax 
purposes in certain of our jurisdictions.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities presented in the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 December, can be further analysed as follows:

Deferred tax assets:
To be recovered after 12 months
To be recovered within 12 months
Gross deferred tax assets
Offset of deferred tax
Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:
To be recovered after 12 months
To be recovered within 12 months
Gross deferred tax liabilities
Offset of deferred tax
Net deferred tax liabilities

A reconciliation of net deferred tax is presented below:

As at 1 January
Taken to the income statement
Taken to other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December

2017
€ million
47.1
67.2
114.3
(55.2)
59.1

(167.1)
(22.1)
(189.2)
55.2
(134.0)

 2017
€ million
(66.6)
(7.8)
(2.5)
2.0
(74.9)

2016
€ million
48.0
86.0
134.0
(76.5)
57.5

(181.9)
(18.7)
(200.6)
76.5
(124.1)

2016
€ million
(75.7)
2.6
8.1
(1.6)
(66.6)

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10. Taxation continued
The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year, without taking into consideration the offsetting of balances within the 
same tax jurisdiction where applicable, are as follows:

Deferred tax assets
As at 1 January 2016
Taken to the income statement
Taken to other comprehensive income
Transfers between assets/liabilities
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2016
Taken to the income statement
Taken to other comprehensive income
Transfers between assets/liabilities
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2017

Deferred tax liabilities
As at 1 January 2016
Taken to the income statement
Taken to other comprehensive income
Transfers between assets/liabilities
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2016
Taken to the income statement
Taken to other comprehensive income
Transfers between assets/liabilities
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2017

 Provisions
€ million
46.3
7.7
0.3
6.0
3.2
63.5
(12.1)
–
(0.3)
(1.3)
49.8

Pensions and 
benefit plans
€ million
27.0
(6.0)
6.0
(1.0)
(3.9)
22.1
(0.1)
(2.1)
0.3
(1.5)
18.7

Tax losses 
carry-forward
€ million
24.4
(9.1)
–
–
1.4
16.7
(6.1)
–
–
(0.2)
10.4

Book in excess of 
tax depreciation 
€ million
7.8
0.3
–
0.2
–
8.3
13.5
–
(0.1)
(1.5)
20.2

Leasing
€ million
12.1
(3.3)
–
–
(0.2)
8.6
(0.9)
–
–
–
7.7

Other deferred 
tax assets
€ million
21.3
3.2
0.3
(6.0)
(4.0)
14.8
1.7
(0.1)
(10.5)
1.6
7.5

Tax in excess of 
book depreciation
€ million
(203.8)
13.6
–
(0.2)
2.0
(188.4)
7.9
–
(0.1)
4.6
(176.0)

Derivative 
instruments
€ million
(1.9)
(1.5)
1.5
–
–
(1.9)
0.2
(0.2)
–
(0.1)
(2.0)

Other deferred 
tax liabilities
€ million
(8.9)
(2.3)
–
1.0
(0.1)
(10.3)
(11.9)
(0.1)
10.7
0.4
(11.2)

Total
€ million
138.9
(7.2)
6.6
(0.8)
(3.5)
134.0
(4.0)
(2.2)
(10.6)
(2.9)
114.3

Total
€ million
(214.6)
9.8
1.5
0.8
1.9
(200.6)
(3.8)
(0.3)
10.6
4.9
(189.2)

Deferred tax assets recognised for tax losses carry-forward in accordance with the relevant local rules applying in our jurisdictions, can be 
analysed as follows:

Attributable to tax losses that expire within five years
Attributable to tax losses that expire after five years
Attributable to tax losses that can be carried forward indefinitely
Recognised deferred tax assets attributable to tax losses

2017
€ million
5.5
0.1
4.8
10.4

2016
€ million
9.8
–
6.9
16.7

The Group has unrecognised deferred tax assets attributable to tax losses that are available to carry forward against future taxable income 
of €12.6m (2016: €13.0m). These are analysed as follows:

Attributable to tax losses that expire within five years
Attributable to tax losses that expire after five years
Unrecognised deferred tax assets attributable to tax losses

2017
€ million
12.6
–
12.6

2016
€ million
12.3
0.7
13.0

The aggregate amount of distributable reserves arising from the realised earnings of the Group’s operations was €2,071.6m in 2017 (2016: 
€1,871.9m). No deferred tax liabilities have been recognised on such reserves given that their distribution is controlled by the Group, or in 
the event of plans to remit overseas earnings of subsidiaries, such distribution would not give rise to a tax liability.

150

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
11. Earnings per share

Accounting policy
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to the owners of the parent by the weighted average number 
of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. The weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year is the 
number of ordinary shares outstanding at the beginning of the year, adjusted by the number of ordinary shares bought back or issued 
during the year multiplied by a time-weighting factor. Diluted earnings per share incorporates stock options for which the average share 
price for the year is in excess of the exercise price of the stock option and there is a dilutive effect.

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to the owners of the parent entity is based on the following data:

Net profit attributable to the owners of the parent (€ million)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share (million)
Effect of dilutive stock options (million)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share (million)
Basic earnings per share (€)
Diluted earnings per share (€)

2017
426.0
364.7
2.9
367.6
1.17
1.16

2016
343.5
362.1
1.4
363.5
0.95
0.95

Outstanding stock options that have an anti-dilutive effect and therefore were excluded from diluted earnings per share in 2017 were 
€1.0m (2016: €4.3m).

12. Components of other comprehensive income
The components of other comprehensive income for the years ended 31 December comprise:

Available-for-sale financial assets
Cash flow hedges
Foreign currency translation
Actuarial gains / (losses)
Share of other comprehensive income 
of equity method investments
Other comprehensive loss

Before-tax
€ million
0.1
8.6
(219.2)
6.9

(5.3)
(208.9)

2017

Tax expense
€ million
–
(0.3)
–
(2.2)

–
(2.5)

Net-of-tax
€ million
0.1
8.3
(219.2)
4.7

(5.3)
(211.4)

Before-tax
€ million
(0.1)
(31.3)
(112.9)
(41.7)

(7.5)
(193.5)

2016

Tax income
€ million
–
1.1
–
7.0

–
8.1

Net-of-tax
€ million
(0.1)
(30.2)
(112.9)
(34.7)

(7.5)
(185.4)

The majority of foreign currency translation impact for 2017 is related to the Nigerian naira as well as the Russian rouble and the Swiss 
franc, while the majority of the impact for 2016 related to the Nigerian naira and the Russian rouble.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

151

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13. Intangible assets

Accounting policy
Intangible assets consist of goodwill, franchise agreements, trademarks and water rights. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible 
assets are carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses, while intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over their useful 
economic lives. The useful lives, both finite and indefinite, assigned to intangible assets are evaluated on an annual basis.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives (‘not subject to amortisation’)

Intangible assets not subject to amortisation consist of goodwill, franchise agreements and trademarks.

Goodwill is the excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of the share of net assets acquired. Goodwill and fair value 
adjustments arising on the acquisition of subsidiaries are treated as the assets and liabilities of those subsidiaries. These balances are 
denominated in the functional currency of the subsidiary and are translated to Euro on a basis consistent with the other assets and 
liabilities of the subsidiary.

The useful life of franchise agreements is usually based on the term of the respective franchise agreements. The Coca-Cola Company 
does not grant perpetual franchise rights outside the United States. However, given the Group's strategic relationship with The 
Coca-Cola Company and consistent with past experience, the Group believes that franchise agreements will continue to be renewed at 
each expiration date with no significant costs. The Group has concluded that the franchise agreements are perpetual in nature and they 
have therefore been assigned indefinite useful lives.

The Group’s trademarks are assigned an indefinite useful life when they have an established sales history in the applicable region. 
It is the intention of the Group to receive a benefit from them indefinitely and there is no indication that this will not be the case.

Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication 
of impairment.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units expected to benefit from the 
business combination in which the goodwill arose. Other indefinite-lived intangible assets are also allocated to the Group’s cash-
generating units expected to benefit from those intangibles. The cash-generating units (‘unit’) to which goodwill and other indefinite-
lived intangible assets have been allocated are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the 
unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount (i.e. the higher of the value-in-use and fair value less costs to sell) of the cash-
generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any 
goodwill allocated to the unit and then pro-rata to the other assets of the unit on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the 
unit. Impairment losses recognised against goodwill are not reversed in subsequent periods.

Intangible assets with finite lives

Intangible assets with finite lives mainly consist of water rights and are amortised over their useful economic lives and are carried at cost 
less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

Critical accounting estimates
Determining whether goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets are impaired requires an estimation of the value-in-use of the 
cash-generating units to which they have been allocated in order to determine the recoverable amount of the cash-generating units. 
The value in use calculation requires the Group to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash-generating unit and a 
suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value.

152

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDThe movements in intangible assets by classes of assets during the year are as follows:

Goodwill
€ million

Franchise
agreements
€ million

Trademarks
€ million

Other intangible 
assets
€ million

Total
€ million

Cost
As at 1 January 2016
Intangible assets arising on current year acquisitions 
(refer to Note 22)
Reclassified to assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2016
Amortisation
As at 1 January 2016
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2016
Net book value as at 1 January 2016
Net book value as at 31 December 2016
Cost
As at 1 January 2017
Additions
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2017
Amortisation
As at 1 January 2017
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2017
Net book value as at 1 January 2017
Net book value as at 31 December 2017

1,882.6

155.7

3.2
–
(31.5)
1,854.3

182.4
–
182.4
1,700.2
1,671.9

1,854.3
–
(50.7)
1,803.6

182.4
–
182.4
1,671.9
1,621.2

–
–
(6.3)
149.4

–
–
–
155.7
149.4

149.4
–
(3.5)
145.9

–
–
–
149.4
145.9

56.9

7.8
(7.8)
9.0
65.9

8.9
–
8.9
48.0
57.0

65.9
1.8
(3.0)
64.7

8.9
–
8.9
57.0
55.8

26.2

2,121.4

8.8
(8.8)
0.1
26.3

18.5
0.4
18.9
7.7
7.4

26.3
–
–
26.3

18.9
0.4
19.3
7.4
7.0

19.8
(16.6)
(28.7)
2,095.9

209.8
0.4
210.2
1,911.6
1,885.7

2,095.9
1.8
(57.2)
2,040.5

210.2
0.4
210.6
1,885.7
1,829.9

Intangible assets not subject to amortisation amounted to €1,821.1m (2016: €1,878.3m), and are presented in the chart below:

2017
€1,821.1m

2016
€1,878.3m

Goodwill: €1,621.2m
Franchise agreements: €145.9m
Trademarks: €54.0m

Goodwill: €1,671.9m
Franchise agreements: €149.4m
Trademarks: €57.0m

The carrying value of intangible assets subject to amortisation amounted to €8.8m (2016: €7.4m) and comprise primarily of water rights.

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153

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13. Intangible assets continued

Impairment tests for goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets
The recoverable amount of each cash-generating unit was determined through a value-in-use calculation. That calculation uses cash flow 
projections based on financial budgets approved by the Board of Directors covering a one-year period and cash projections for four 
additional years. Cash flows for years two to five were projected by management based on operation and market specific high-level 
assumptions including growth rates, discount rates and forecasted selling prices and direct costs. Management determined gross margins 
based on past performance, expectations for the development of the market and expectations about raw material costs. The growth rates 
used in perpetuity reflect the forecasts in line with management beliefs. These forecasts exceeded, in certain cases, those expected for 
the industry in general, due to the strength of our brand portfolio. Management estimates discount rates using rates that reflect current 
market assessments of the time value of money and risks specific to the countries of operation.

No impairment of goodwill and other indefinite lived assets was indicated from the impairment tests of 2017 and 2016.

The following table sets forth the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite lived intangible assets for those cash-generating units 
whose carrying value is greater than 10% of the total, as at 31 December 2017.

Italy
Switzerland
The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland
All other cash-generating units
Total

Goodwill
€ million
625.2
393.0
240.4
362.6
1,621.2

Franchise
agreements
€ million
126.9
–
–
19.0
145.9

Trademarks
€ million
–
–
–
54.0
54.0

Total
€ million
752.1
393.0
240.4
435.6
1,821.1

For the above cash-generating units, cash flows beyond the five-year period (the period in perpetuity) have been extrapolated using the 
following estimated growth and discount rates:

Intangible assets not subject to 
amortisation as at 31 December 2017 (%)

Italy: 41%
Switzerland: 22%
The Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland: 13%
Other: 24%

Italy 
Switzerland 
The Republic of Ireland 
and Northern Ireland 

Growth rate in perpetuity
(%)

Discount rate
(%)

2017 
2.5 
1.1 

2.9 

2016 
2.5 
1.5 

3.1 

2017 
6.7 
6.7 

6.8 

2016 
6.5 
6.7 

6.8 

Sensitivity analysis
In the cash-generating unit of Nigeria, which held €20.1m of goodwill and franchise agreements as at 31 December 2017, possible changes 
in certain key assumptions of the 2017 impairment test would remove the remaining headroom. As at 31 December 2017, the recoverable 
amount of the Nigerian CGU calculated based on value in use exceeded carrying value by €605.1m; changes per assumption that would 
eliminate remaining headroom are summarised in the table below:

Nigeria

Average gross
profit margin

Growth rate in
 perpetuity

6.0%

6.6%

Discount
rate

5.3%

154

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
14. Property, plant and equipment

Accounting policy
All property, plant and equipment is initially recorded at cost and subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and 
impairment losses. Subsequent expenditure is added to the carrying value of the asset when it is probable that future economic 
benefits, in excess of the original assessed standard of performance of the existing asset, will flow to the operation and the costs can be 
measured reliably. All other subsequent expenditure is expensed in the period in which it is incurred. 

Assets under construction are recorded as part of property, plant and equipment and depreciation on these assets commences when 
the assets are available for use.

The Coca-Cola Company, at its sole discretion, provides the Group with contributions towards the purchase of cold drink equipment. 
Payments are made on placement of coolers and are based on franchise incentive arrangements. The terms and conditions of these 
arrangements require reimbursement if certain conditions stipulated in the agreements are not met, including minimum volume 
through-put requirements. Support payments received from The Coca-Cola Company for the placement of cold drink equipment are 
deducted from the cost of the related asset. 

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to allocate the depreciable amount over the estimated useful life of the assets 
as follows:

Freehold buildings and improvements
Leasehold buildings and improvements
Production equipment
Vehicles
Computer hardware and software
Marketing equipment
Fixtures and fittings
Returnable containers

40 years
Over the lease term, up to 40 years
4 to 20 years
5 to 8 years
3 to 10 years
3 to 10 years
8 years
3 to 12 years

Freehold land is not depreciated as it is considered to have an indefinite life.

Deposits received for returnable containers by customers are accounted for as deposit liabilities (refer to Note 19).

Residual values and useful lives of assets are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate at each balance sheet date.

Property, plant and equipment and other non-financial assets that are subject to depreciation are reviewed for impairment whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the 
amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its recoverable amount, which is the higher of the asset’s fair value less cost 
to sell and its value-in-use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest level of separately identifiable 
cash flows.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

155

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information14. Property, plant and equipment continued
The movements of property, plant and equipment by class of assets are as follows:

Cost
As at 1 January 2016
Additions
Arising on acquisitions (refer to Note 22)
Disposals
Reclassified from assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Reclassified to assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Reclassifications
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2016
Depreciation and impairment
As at 1 January 2016
Charge for the year
Impairment
Disposals
Reclassified from assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Reclassified to assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2016
Net book value as at 31 December 2016
Cost
As at 1 January 2017
Additions
Disposals
Reclassified to assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Reclassifications
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2017
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2017
Charge for the year
Impairment
Disposals
Reclassified to assets held for sale (refer to Note 18)
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December 2017
Net book value as at 31 December 2017

Land and
buildings
€ million

1,441.6
4.1
1.5
(25.0)
10.4
(48.5)
43.0
(20.5)
1,406.6

423.9
39.5
13.8
(9.5)
6.3
(34.3)
0.8
440.5
966.1

1,406.6
6.0
(18.9)
(40.7)
89.1
(58.1)
1,384.0

440.5
37.7
6.7
(11.5)
(28.8)
(13.2)
431.4
952.6

Plant and
equipment
€ million

3,671.0
119.5
1.3
(210.0)
3.0
(3.0)
102.0
(61.7)
3,622.1

2,451.4
229.5
10.8
(202.9)
2.8
(2.8)
(22.6)
2,466.2
1,155.9

3,622.1
142.2
(205.8)
(14.4)
138.6
(157.6)
3,525.1

2,466.2
235.3
7.5
(202.8)
(12.1)
(85.7)
2,408.4
1,116.7

Returnable 
containers
€ million

Assets under 
construction
€ million

427.7
43.0
–
(14.2)
–
–
–
(62.4)
394.1

206.2
36.5
1.7
(11.7)
–
–
(21.7)
211.0
183.1

394.1
34.7
(17.1)
–
–
(35.7)
376.0

211.0
27.7
1.7
(14.8)
–
(10.7)
214.9
161.1

87.0
173.1
–
(0.1)
–
–
(145.0)
(12.6)
102.4

0.3
–
0.6
–
–
–
–
0.9
101.5

102.4
232.6
–
–
(227.7)
(14.6)
92.7

0.9
–
0.2
–
–
–
1.1
91.6

Total
€ million

5,627.3
339.7
2.8
(249.3)
13.4
(51.5)
–
(157.2)
5,525.2

3,081.8
305.5
26.9
(224.1)
9.1
(37.1)
(43.5)
3,118.6
2,406.6

5,525.2
415.5
(241.8)
(55.1)
–
(266.0)
5,377.8

3,118.6
300.7
16.1
(229.1)
(40.9)
(109.6)
3,055.8
2,322.0

Assets under construction at 31 December 2017 include advances for equipment purchases of €22.6m (2016: €12.5m). Depreciation 
charge for the year included in operating expenses amounted to €141.9m (2016: €135.0m). Depreciation charge for the year included in 
cost of goods sold amounted to €158.8m (2016: €170.5m).

156

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDImpairment of property, plant and equipment
In 2016 the Group recorded an impairment loss of €3.9m, €6.1m and €20.2m and recorded reversals of impairment of €0.9m, €nil and 
€2.4m relating to property, plant and equipment in the Established, Developing and Emerging segments respectively. This resulted in a net 
impairment loss of €3.0m, €6.1m and €17.8m in the Established, Developing and Emerging segments respectively. Impairment recorded 
mainly relates to restructuring initiatives (refer to Note 8). The impaired assets, being mainly buildings and production equipment, were 
written off based mainly on value-in-use calculations.

In 2017 the Group recorded an impairment loss of €6.6m, €1.9m and €13.6m and recorded reversals of impairment of €0.9m, €1.4m and 
€3.7m relating to property, plant and equipment in the Established, Developing and Emerging segments respectively. This resulted in a net 
impairment loss of €5.7m, €0.5m and €9.9m in the Established, Developing and Emerging segments respectively. Impairment recorded 
mainly relates to restructuring initiatives (refer to Note 8). The impaired assets, being mainly buildings and production equipment, were 
written off based mainly on value-in-use calculations.

Leased assets

Accounting policy
Leases of property, plant and equipment, where the Group has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership, are classified as 
finance leases. 

Finance leases are capitalised at the inception of the lease at the lower of the fair value of the leased assets and the present value of the 
minimum lease payments. Each lease payment is allocated between liability and finance charges to achieve a constant rate on the 
finance balance outstanding. The corresponding lease obligations, net of finance charges, are included in current and non-current 
borrowings. The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the income statement over the lease period, so as to produce a 
constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period (refer to Note 24). Property, plant and 
equipment acquired under finance lease is depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the lease term. The useful life 
for leased assets corresponds with the Group policy for the depreciable life of property, plant and equipment.

Included in property, plant and equipment are assets held under finance leases, where the Group is the lessee, as follows:

Cost
Accumulated depreciation
Net book value

Net book value of assets held under finance leases by classes of assets is as follows:
Plant and equipment
Land and buildings
Net book value

2017
€ million
175.7
(80.3)
95.4

61.1
34.3
95.4

2016
€ million
184.9
(82.4)
102.5

67.4
35.1
102.5

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

157

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information15. Interest in other entities

List of principal subsidiaries
The following are the principal subsidiaries of the Group as at 31 December:

  Country of registration

Estonia
Austria
Armenia
Bulgaria
Guernsey
Bulgaria
Austria
Belarus
Ukraine 
Moldova 
Bosnia and Herzegovina 
Czech Republic 
Slovakia 
The Netherlands
Greece
The Netherlands 
Croatia 
Hungary 
Republic of Ireland 
Italy 
Kosovo 
Northern Ireland 
Poland 
Romania 
Slovenia
Slovakia
Switzerland
Serbia 

AS Coca-Cola HBC Eesti
CCB Management Services GmbH
CCHBC Armenia CJSC
CCHBC Bulgaria AD
CCHBC Insurance (Guernsey) Limited
CCHBC IT Services Limited
Coca-Cola Beverages Austria GmbH
Coca-Cola Beverages Belorussiya
Coca-Cola Beverages Ukraine Ltd 
Coca-Cola Bottlers Chisinau S.R.L. 
Coca-Cola HBC B-H d.o.o. Sarajevo 
Coca-Cola HBC Česko a Slovensko, s.r.o.1 
Coca-Cola HBC Česko a Slovensko, s.r.o. – organizačná zložka2 
Coca-Cola HBC Finance B.V.
Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C.
Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. 
Coca-Cola HBC Hrvatska d.o.o. 
Coca-Cola HBC Hungary Ltd
Coca-Cola HBC Ireland Limited
Coca-Cola HBC Italia S.r.l. 
Coca-Cola HBC Kosovo L.L.C. 
Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland Limited 
Coca-Cola HBC Polska sp. z o.o. 
Coca-Cola HBC Romania Ltd 
Coca-Cola HBC Slovenija d.o.o. 
Coca-Cola HBC Slovenska republica, s.r.o.2 
Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland Ltd
Coca-Cola HBC-Srbija d.o.o.  
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company-Crna Gora d.o.o., Podgorica  Montenegro 
Coca-Cola Hellenic Business Service Organisation  
Coca-Cola Hellenic Procurement GmbH 
CC Beverages Holdings II B.V. 
Lanitis Bros Ltd 
LLC Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia 
Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd  
SIA Coca-Cola HBC Latvia 
Star Bottling Limited. 
UAB Coca-Cola HBC Lietuva 

Bulgaria 
Austria 
The Netherlands 
Cyprus 
Russia 
Nigeria 
Latvia 
Cyprus 
Lithuania 

% of voting rights

% ownership

2017

2016

2017

90.0%
99.4%

90.0%
99.4%

90.0%
99.4%

2016
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
90.0%
99.4%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 
100.0% 
100.0%
100.0%
–
– 
99.9%
99.9%
99.9%
99.9%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

1.  Effective 4 January 2017 Coca-Cola HBC Ceska republica, s.r.o. was renamed Coca-Cola HBC Česko a Slovensko, s.r.o.
2.  Effective 1 April 2017 Coca-Cola HBC Slovenska republica, s.r.o was merged with Coca-Cola HBC Česko a Slovensko, s.r.o. – organizačná zložka, branch 

of Coca-Cola HBC Ceska republica, s.r.o.

158

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
Associates and joint arrangements

Accounting policies

Investments in associates

Investments in associated undertakings are accounted for by the equity method of accounting. Associated undertakings are all entities over 
which the Group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% to 50% of the voting rights.

The equity method of accounting involves recognising the Group’s share of the associates’ post-acquisition profit or loss and 
movements in other comprehensive income for the period in the income statement and other comprehensive income respectively. 
Unrealised gains and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and the associate are eliminated to the extent of the 
interest in the associate.

The Group’s interest in each associate is carried in the balance sheet at an amount that reflects its share of the net assets of the associate 
and includes goodwill on acquisition. When the Group’s share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, the 
Group does not recognise further losses, unless the Group has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Investments in joint arrangements

Joint arrangements are arrangements in which the Group has contractually agreed sharing of control, which exists only when decisions 
about the relevant activities require unanimous consent. Joint arrangements are classified as joint ventures or joint operations 
depending upon the rights and obligations arising from the joint arrangement.

The Group classifies a joint arrangement as a joint venture when the Group has rights to the net assets of the arrangement. The Group 
accounts for its interests in joint ventures using the equity method of accounting as described in the section above.

The Group classifies a joint arrangement as a joint operation when the Group has the rights to the assets, and obligations for the 
liabilities, of the arrangement and accounts for each of its assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, including its share of those held or 
incurred jointly, in relation to the joint operation.

If facts and circumstances change, the Group reassesses whether it still has joint control and whether the type of joint arrangement in 
which it is involved has changed.

Critical accounting judgements
The Group participates in several joint arrangements. Judgement is required in order to determine their classification as a joint venture 
where the Group has rights to the net assets of the arrangement, or a joint operation where the Group has rights to the assets and 
obligations for the liabilities of the arrangement. In making this judgement, consideration is given to the legal form of the arrangement, 
and the contractual terms and conditions, as well as other facts and circumstances (including the economic rationale of the 
arrangement and the impact of the legal framework).

a) Equity method investments
Changes in the carrying amounts of equity method investments are as follows:

As at 1 January 2016
Capital increase
Additions (refer to Note 22)
Share of results of equity method investments
Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investments
Share of total comprehensive income
Dividends
As at 31 December 2016
Share of results of equity method investments
Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investments
Share of total comprehensive income
Disposals (refer to Note 22)
Return of capital
Dividends
As at 31 December 2017

Associates
€ million
23.2
–
–
7.8
(7.4)
0.4
(1.1)
22.5
5.2
(5.2)
–
–
–
(0.5)
22.0

Joint ventures
€ million
90.6
7.9
7.1
6.0
(0.1)
5.9
(17.0)
94.5
6.6
(0.1)
6.5
(3.5)
(17.7)
(5.0)
74.8

Total
€ million
113.8
7.9
7.1
13.8
(7.5)
6.3
(18.1)
117.0
11.8
(5.3)
6.5
(3.5)
(17.7)
(5.5)
96.8

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159

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15. Interests in other entities continued
Included in investment in associates is the Group’s investment in Frigoglass Industries Limited and Frigoglass West Africa Ltd. Nigerian 
Bottling Company Ltd holds an interest in Frigoglass Industries Limited of 23.9% (2016: 23.9% respectively). The Group has a 100% (2016: 
100%) interest in Nigeria Bottling Company Ltd, therefore the Group has an effective interest of 23.9% in both Frigoglass Industries 
Limited (2016: 23.9%) and Frigoglass West Africa Ltd (2016: 23.9%).

In 2017, Frigoglass Industries Nigeria Limited and Frigoglass West Africa Ltd, became guarantors under the amended banking facilities and 
notes issued by the Frigoglass Group, as part of the debt restructuring of the latter. The Group has no direct exposure arising from these 
guarantee arrangements, but the Group’s investment in these associates, which stood at €16.8m as at 31 December 2017, would be at 
potential risk if there was a default under the terms of the amended banking facilities or the notes and the Frigoglass Group (including the 
guarantors) were unable to meet their obligations there under.

Investments in joint ventures
The Group has a significant joint venture with Heineken that is conducted through a number of legal entities being the BrewTech B.V. 
Group of companies, which is engaged in the bottling and distribution of soft drinks and beer in FYROM and the Brewinvest S.A. Group of 
companies which has minimal activity. BrewTech B.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands and the Group owns 50% (2016: 50%) of its share 
capital. Brewinvest S.A., parent company of Brewinvest S.A. Group of companies, which has minimal other activities, is incorporated in 
Greece and the Group owns 50% (2016: 50%) of its share capital. The structure of the joint venture provides the Group with rights to their 
net assets.

Summarised financial information of the Group’s significant joint venture is as follows (the information below reflects the amount 
presented in the IFRS financial statements of the joint venture, and not the Group’s share in those amounts):

2017
€ million

2016
€ million

Summarised balance sheet:
Non-current assets 
Cash and cash equivalents
Other current assets
Total current assets
Other current liabilities (including trade payables)
Total current liabilities
Non-current other liabilities
Net assets

Summarised statement of comprehensive income:
Revenue
Depreciation and amortisation
Interest income
Interest expense
Profit before tax
Income tax expense
Profit after tax
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Dividends received and capital returns (refer to Note 26)

Reconciliation of net assets to carrying amount:
Closing net assets
Interest in joint venture at 50%
Goodwill
Non-controlling interest
Carrying value

160

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

56.1 
5.4
7.8
13.2
(11.2)
(11.2)
(0.1)
58.0

61.8
(5.0)
0.2
–
13.9
(1.7)
12.2
0.1
12.3
19.3

58.0
29.0
16.9
(1.7)
44.2

46.9 
31.1
16.8
47.9
(10.9)
(10.9)
(0.2)
83.7

57.8
(4.7)
0.6
(0.1)
13.2
(1.6)
11.6
–
11.6
16.5

83.7
41.8
16.9
(1.7)
57.0

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Summarised financial information of the Group’s investment in other joint venture is as follows:

Carrying amount
Share of profit
Share of other comprehensive income
Share of total comprehensive income

2017
€ million
30.6
0.5
(0.1)
0.4

2016
€ million
37.5
0.2
(0.1)
0.1

The Group’s share of profit in other joint ventures includes restructuring initiatives within joint ventures of €0.2m (2016: €0.1m)

At 31 December 2017, the Group’s share of its joint ventures’ capital commitments and long-term commitments to purchase raw 
materials and receive services amounted to €nil (2016: €0.4m and €nil respectively).

b) Joint operations with TCCC
The Group has a 50% interest in the Multon Z.A.O. group of companies (‘Multon’). Multon is engaged in the production and distribution of 
juices in Russia and is classified as a joint operation as the arrangement gives the Group rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities 
relating to the joint arrangement. Other joint operations of the Group comprise mainly a 50% interest in each of the water businesses 
depicted below, which are engaged in the production and distribution of water in the respective countries.

Country
Austria
Italy
Romania
Baltics

16. Inventories

Joint operation
Römerquelle
Fonti del Vulture
Dorna
Neptuno Vandenys

Accounting policy
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

Country
Poland
Switzerland
Serbia

Joint operation
Multivita
Valser
Vlasinka

Cost for raw materials and consumables is determined on a weighted average basis. Cost for work in progress and finished goods is 
comprised of the cost of direct materials and labour plus attributable overhead costs. Cost includes all costs incurred to bring the 
product to its present location and condition.

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less the estimated costs necessary to complete 
and sell the inventory.

Inventories consisted of the following at 31 December:

Finished goods
Raw materials and work in progress
Consumables
Total inventories

2017
€ million
197.7
151.4
67.7
416.8

2016
€ million
199.8
158.3
73.4
431.5

The amount of inventories recognised as an expense during 2017 was €3,154.6m (2016: €2,990.3m). During 2017 provision of obsolete 
inventories recognised as an expense amounted to €10.6m (2016: €11.4m), whereas provision reversed in the year amounted to €1.2m 
(2016: €0.5m).

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17. Trade, other receivables and assets

Accounting policies
Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. A provision for doubtful debts is 
established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due, according to the original terms 
of the trade receivable. Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter into bankruptcy or financial 
reorganisation and default or delinquency in payments (over 90 days) are considered indicators that the trade receivable could be 
uncollectible. The amount of the provision is the difference between the receivable’s carrying amount and the present value of its 
estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the receivable is reduced by the 
amount of the provision, which is recognised as part of operating expenses. If a trade receivable ultimately becomes uncollectible, it is 
written off initially against any provision made in respect of that receivable with any excess recognised as part of operating expenses. 
Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off or provisions no longer required are credited against operating expenses.

Loans are initially recognised at the fair value net of transaction costs incurred.

After initial recognition, all interest-bearing loans are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Amortised cost is calculated using the 
effective interest rate method whereby any discount, premium or transaction costs associated with a loan are amortised to the income 
statement over the borrowing period.

Financial assets

The Group classifies its investments in debt and equity securities into the following categories: held-to-maturity and available-for-sale. 
The classification depends on the purpose for which the investment was acquired. Investments with a fixed maturity that management 
has the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are included in non-current assets, except for those 
with maturities within 12 months from the balance sheet date, which are classified as current assets. Investments intended to be held 
for an indefinite period of time, which may be sold in response to need for liquidity or changes in interest rates, are classified as 
available-for-sale and are classified as non-current assets, unless they are expected to be realised within 12 months of the balance 
sheet date. Available-for-sale financial assets are carried at fair value. Held-to-maturity investments are carried at amortised cost using 
the effective interest rate method.

The Group derecognises a financial asset when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the rights 
to receive the contractual cash flows in a transaction in which substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset 
are transferred, or it neither transfers nor retains substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership and does not retain control over 
the transferred asset. When the Group has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, nor 
transferred control of the asset, the Group continues to recognise the transferred asset to the extent of the Group’s continuing 
involvement. In that case, the Group also recognises an associated liability. The transferred asset and the associated liability are 
measured on a basis that reflects the rights and obligations that the Group has retained.

Unrealised gains and losses on available-for-sale financial assets are recognised in other comprehensive income, except for 
impairment losses and foreign exchange gains and losses on monetary financial assets that are recognised in the income statement, 
until the financial assets are derecognised, at which time the cumulative gains or losses previously recognised in equity are reclassified 
to the income statement.

Gains and losses on held-to-maturity investments are recognised in the income statement, when the investments are derecognised 
or impaired.

162

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDTrade, other receivables and assets consisted of the following as at 31 December:

Current assets

Non-current assets

Trade and other receivables:
Trade receivables
Receivables from related parties (refer to Note 26)
Loans to related parties (refer to Note 26)
Loans receivable
Receivables from sale of property, plant and equipment
Non-current income tax receivable
VAT and other taxes receivable
Loans and advances to employees
Other receivables
Total trade and other receivables
Other assets:
Prepayments
Held-to-maturity investments
Pension plan assets (refer to Note 20)
Available-for-sale financial assets
Total other assets
Total trade, other receivables and assets

2017
€ million

688.7
89.8
3.6
1.2
2.8
–
30.0
5.5
72.3
893.9

72.9
–
–
–
72.9
966.8

2016
€ million

727.6
117.0
5.2
0.1
0.5
–
35.5
5.7
63.2
954.8

76.0
–
–
–
76.0
1,030.8

2017
€ million

2016
€ million

2.0
–
–
0.7
–
8.5
–
–
–
11.2

14.6
0.9
2.0
3.7
21.2
32.4

2.2
–
–
0.4
–
8.4
–
–
–
11.0

13.2
0.9
–
3.6
17.7
28.7

Non-current trade receivables relate to re-negotiated receivables, which are expected to be settled within the new contractual due date. 

Current assets classified within the category ‘held-to-maturity’ are recorded as ‘Other financial assets’ in the consolidated balance sheet, 
refer to Note 23 – ‘Financial instruments categories’.

Trade receivables classified as current assets consisted of the following at 31 December:

Trade receivables
Less: Provision for doubtful debts
Total trade receivables

Trade receivables classified as current assets, are as follows:

Within due date
Less: Provision for doubtful debts within due date
Past due
Less: Provision for doubtful debts past due
Total trade receivables

2017
€ million
792.3
(103.6)
688.7

2017
€ million
576.8
(3.4)
215.5
(100.2)
688.7

2016
€ million
819.6
(92.0)
727.6

2016
€ million
588.9
(2.5)
230.7
(89.5)
727.6

The carrying amount of the trade receivables include €0.3m which are subject to a factoring agreement (2016: €15.3m). The Group 
continues to recognise the factored receivables in their entirety as it has retained the significant risks of ownership. The amount payable 
under the factoring agreement is presented within borrowings (refer to Note 24).

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17. Trade, other receivables and assets continued
The ageing analysis of past due trade receivables is as follows:

Trade receivables past due but not impaired
Trade receivables past due and impaired
Total trade receivables past due

Trade receivables past due but not impaired
Trade receivables past due and impaired
Total trade receivables past due

Up to three
months
103.8
4.4
108.2

Up to three
months
114.6
4.1
118.7

Three to six 
months
2.3
7.5
9.8

Three to six
months
12.6
7.3
19.9

2017
€ million

Six to nine
months
2.0
5.0
7.0

2016
€ million

Six to nine
months
3.5
3.4
6.9

More than nine 
months
7.2
83.3
90.5

More than nine 
months
10.5
74.7
85.2

The movement in the provision for doubtful debts during the year is as follows:

As at 1 January
Amounts written off during the year
Amounts recovered during the year
Increase in allowance recognised in income statement
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December

Receivables from related parties
The related party receivables, net of the provision for doubtful debts, are as follows:

Within due date
Past due
Less: Provision for doubtful debts
Total related party receivables

2017
€ million
(92.0)
5.3
6.0
(23.6)
0.7
(103.6)

2017
€ million
85.7
4.4
(0.3)
89.8

Total
115.3
100.2
215.5

Total
141.2
89.5
230.7

2016
€ million
(78.9)
7.7
2.2
(22.8)
(0.2)
(92.0)

2016
€ million
114.0
3.3
(0.3)
117.0

As at 31 December 2017, related party receivables of €4.1m (2016: €3.0m) were past due but not impaired. The ageing analysis of these 
receivables is as follows:

Up to three months
Three to six months
Six to nine months
More than nine months
Total

2017
€ million
3.3
0.2
0.1
0.5
4.1

2016
€ million
1.3
0.3
0.3
1.1
3.0

164

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18. Assets classified as held for sale

Accounting policy
Non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if it is considered highly probable that their carrying amount will be 
principally recovered through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. This condition is regarded as met only when the 
sale is highly probable and the asset (or disposal group) is available for immediate sale in its present condition. In order for a sale to be 
considered highly probable, management must be committed to a plan to sell the asset, an active programme to locate a buyer and 
complete the plan must have been initiated, and the sale expected to be completed within one year from the date of classification. 
In the event that the criteria for continued classification as held for sale are no longer met, the assets are reclassified to property, plant 
and equipment and the depreciation charge is adjusted for the depreciation that would have been recognised had the assets not been 
classified as held for sale. 
Non-current assets and disposal groups classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of the individual assets’ previous carrying 
amount and their fair value less costs to sell.

Changes in carrying amounts of assets classified as held for sale for the years ended 31 December are as follows:

As at 1 January
Reclassified from property, plant and equipment (refer to Note 14)
Other assets classified as held for sale
Disposals
Reclassified to property, plant and equipment (refer to Note 14)
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December

2017
€ million
11.8
14.2
–
(22.5)
–
(0.2)
3.3

2016
€ million
5.5
14.4
14.0
(17.1)
(4.3)
(0.7)
11.8

In 2016, it was agreed that 50% of the Group’s share in its subsidiary Neptūno Vandenys, UAB, would be sold to European Refreshments, 
a subsidiary of TCCC. Accordingly, 50% of the net assets of Neptūno Vandenys, UAB amounting to €14.0m, mainly relating to intangible 
assets of €16.6m (refer to Note 13), net of the relevant deferred tax liability, were classified as assets held for sale. The transaction was 
completed in December 2016 (refer to Note 22). Total assets classified as held for sale as at 31 December 2016 amounted to €11.8m 
comprising property, plant and equipment in our Established, Developing and Emerging markets, measured at the lower of the carrying 
amount and fair value less costs to sell. The fair value of held for sale assets was determined through the use of a sales comparison 
approach and is a non-recurring fair value measurement within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Total assets classified as held for sale as at 31 December 2017 amounted to €3.3m comprising the net book value of property, plant and 
equipment in our Established, Developing and Emerging markets that have been written down to fair value less cost to sell. The fair value of 
assets classified as held for sale was determined through the use of a sales comparison approach and is a non-recurring fair value 
measurement within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

19. Trade and other payables

Accounting policy
Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Trade and other payables consisted of the following at 31 December:

Trade payables
Accrued liabilities
Payables to related parties (refer to Note 26)
Deposit liabilities
Other tax and social security liabilities
Salaries and employee-related payables
Deferred income
Other payables
Total trade and other payables

2017 
€ million
569.5
428.1
300.9
94.0
84.8
41.8
1.0
24.3
1,544.4

2016 
€ million
536.7
471.2
303.4
100.6
98.1
43.6
1.0
32.7
1,587.3

The amount due to pension funds as at 31 December 2017 was €0.9m (2016: €1.3m).

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20. Provisions and employee benefits
Provisions and employee benefits consisted of the following at 31 December:

Current:
Employee benefits
Restructuring provisions
Other provisions
Total current provisions and employee benefits

Non-current:
Employee benefits
Other provisions
Total non-current provisions and employee benefits
Total provisions and employee benefits

a) Provisions

2017
€ million

61.8
7.7
14.1
83.6

118.7
1.5
120.2
203.8

2016
€ million

96.0
8.5
14.1
118.6

123.0
2.0
125.0
243.6

Accounting policy
Provisions are recognised when: the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event; it is probable that 
an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation; and a reliable estimate can be made of 
the amount of the obligation.

Where the Group expects a provision to be reimbursed, for example under an insurance contract, the reimbursement is recognised as a 
separate asset only when such reimbursement is virtually certain. If the effect of the time value of money is material, provisions are 
determined by discounting the expected future cash flows at a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value 
of money and the risks specific to the liability.

The movements in restructuring and other provisions comprise:

As at 1 January
Arising during the year
Utilised during the year
Unused amount reversed
Foreign currency translation
As at 31 December

2017
€ million

2016
€ million

Restructuring
provisions
8.5
19.3
(17.3)
(2.5)
(0.3)
7.7

Other
provisions
16.1
5.4
(4.2)
(1.6)
(0.1)
15.6

Restructuring
provisions
15.8
22.7
(26.8)
(2.5)
(0.7)
8.5

Other
provisions
10.1
11.8
(4.3)
(1.5)
–
16.1

Other provisions comprise a provision for employee litigation of €3.2m (2016: €4.2m) and other items of €12.4m (2016: €11.9m).

166

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b) Employee benefits

Accounting policies

Employee benefits

The Group operates a number of defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans in its territories.

The defined benefit plans are made up of both funded and unfunded pension plans and employee leaving indemnities. The assets of 
funded plans are generally held in separate trustee-administered funds and are financed by payments from employees and/or the 
relevant Group companies.

The liability recognised in the balance sheet in respect of defined benefit plans is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at 
the balance sheet date less the fair value of the plan assets. 

For defined benefit pension plans, pension costs are assessed using the projected unit credit method. Actuarial gains and losses arising 
from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited to equity in other comprehensive income 
in the period in which they arise. Such actuarial gains and losses are not reclassified to the income statement in subsequent periods. 
The defined benefit obligations are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of 
high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid, and that have terms approximating 
to the terms of the related obligation. In countries where there is no deep market in such bonds, the market rates on government 
bonds are used. Past service cost is recognised immediately in the income statement. A number of the Group’s operations have other 
long-service benefits in the form of jubilee plans. These plans are measured at the present value of the estimated future cash outflows 
with immediate recognition of actuarial gains and losses in the income statement.

The Group’s contributions to the defined contribution pension plans are charged to the income statement in the period to which the 
contributions relate.

Termination benefits

Termination benefits are payable whenever an employee’s employment is terminated before the normal retirement date or whenever 
an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group recognises termination benefits at the earlier of 
the following dates: a) when the Group can no longer withdraw the offer of those benefits and b) when the Group recognises costs for a 
restructuring that is within the scope of IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets and involves the payment of 
termination benefits. In the case of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy, the termination benefits are measured based on 
the number of employees expected to accept the offer.

Critical accounting estimates
The Group provides defined benefit pension plans as an employee benefit in certain territories. Determining the value of these plans 
requires several actuarial assumptions and estimates about discount rates, future salary increases and future pension increases. Due 
to the long-term nature of these plans, such estimates are subject to significant uncertainty.

Employee benefits consisted of the following at 31 December:

Defined benefit plans:
Employee leaving indemnities
Pension plans
Long service benefits – jubilee plans
Total defined benefits plans
Other employee benefits:
Annual leave
Other employee benefits
Total other employee benefits
Total employee benefits obligations

2017
€ million

68.9
27.7
7.4
104.0

7.5
69.0
76.5
180.5

2016
€ million

76.0
39.8
8.4
124.2

7.4
87.4
94.8
219.0

Other employee benefits are primarily comprised of employee bonuses including a management incentive plan which is a cash variable 
plan that operates over a three-year period.

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20. Provisions and employee benefits continued
Employees of Coca-Cola HBC’s subsidiaries in Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Nigeria, Poland, Romania, Serbia and 
Slovenia are entitled to employee leaving indemnities, generally based on each employee’s length of service, employment category and 
remuneration. These are unfunded plans where the Company meets the payment obligation as it falls due.

Coca-Cola HBC’s subsidiaries in Austria, Greece, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland sponsor defined benefit pension 
plans. Of the three plans in the Republic of Ireland, two have plan assets, as do the two plans in Northern Ireland, one plan in Greece and 
two plans in Switzerland. The Austrian plans do not have plan assets and the Company meets the payment obligation as it falls due. The 
defined benefit plans in Austria, Greece, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are closed to new members.

Coca-Cola HBC provides long-service benefits in the form of jubilee plans to its employees in Austria, Croatia, Nigeria, Poland, Slovenia 
and Switzerland.

Defined benefit obligation by segment is as follows for the years ended 31 December:

2017

2016

Established

Developing

Emerging

€2.7m

€85.6m

€15.7m

Total €104.0m

€2.5m

€101.2m

€20.5m

Total €124.2m

The average duration of the defined benefit obligations is 19 years and the total employer contributions expected to be paid in 2018 
are €16.8m.

Reconciliation of defined benefit obligation:

Present value of defined benefit obligation at 1 January
Current service cost
Interest cost
Plan participants’ contributions
Past service cost
Curtailment/settlement
Benefits paid
Loss from change in demographic assumptions
Loss from change in financial assumptions
Experience adjustments
Foreign currency translation
Present value of defined benefit obligation at 31 December

Reconciliation of plan assets: 

Fair value of plan assets at 1 January
Interest income on plan assets
Return on plan assets excluding interest income
Actual employer’s contributions
Actual participants’ contributions
Actual benefits paid
Settlement
Admin expenses
Foreign currency translation
Fair value of plan assets at 31 December

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2017
€ million
525.6
8.8
9.0
4.4
(0.2)
(6.8)
(26.5)
–
6.1
(3.5)
(27.3)
489.6

2017
€ million
401.4
5.3
18.9
12.9
4.4
(18.6)
(5.7)
(0.3)
(22.4)
395.9

2016
€ million
496.4
10.5
11.2
4.5
(8.8)
(1.3)
(25.3)
0.4
56.2
3.2
(21.4)
525.6

2016
€ million
380.7
7.1
18.6
16.2
4.5
(15.4)
(1.1)
(0.3)
(8.9)
401.4

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
The present value and funded status of defined benefit obligations were as follows at 31 December:

Present value of funded obligations
Fair value of plan assets
Defined benefit obligations of funded plans
Present value of unfunded obligations
Unrecognised asset due to asset ceiling
Defined benefit obligations
Plus: amounts recognised within non-current assets (refer to Note 17)
Total defined benefit obligations

2017
€ million
411.3
(395.9)
15.4
78.3
8.3
102.0
2.0
104.0

2016
€ million
439.1
(401.4)
37.7
86.5
–
124.2
–
124.2

Funding levels are monitored in conjunction with the agreed contribution rate. The funding level of the funded plans as at 31 December 
2017 was 94% (2016: 91%).

Two of the plans have funded status surplus of €2.0m as at 31 December 2017 (31 December 2016: € nil) that is recognised as an asset on 
the basis that the Group has an unconditional right to future economic benefits either via a refund or a reduction in future contributions.

The movement in the defined benefit obligation recognised on the balance sheet was as follows:

Defined benefit obligation as at 1 January
Expense recognised in the income statement
Remeasurements recognised in OCI
Employer contributions
Benefits paid
Foreign currency translation
Defined benefit obligation as at 31 December
Plus: amounts recognised within non-current assets (refer to Note 17)
Total defined benefit obligation as at 31 December

The expense recognised in the income statement comprised the following for the years ended 31 December:

Service cost
Net interest cost on defined benefit liability / (asset)
Actuarial gain
Administrative expenses
Total

2017
€ million
124.2
10.4
(6.9)
(12.9)
(7.9)
(4.9)
102.0
2.0
104.0

2017
€ million
7.5
3.7
(1.1)
0.3
10.4

2016
€ million
115.7
5.4
41.7
(16.2)
(9.9)
(12.5)
124.2
–
124.2

2016
€ million
1.5
4.1
(0.5)
0.3
5.4

Defined benefit plan expense is included in staff costs and presented in cost of goods sold and operating expenses.

The assumptions (weighted average for the Group) used in computing the defined benefit obligation comprised the following for the years 
ended 31 December:

Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase
Rate of pension increase
Life expectancy for pensioners at the age of 65 in years:
Male
Female

2017
%
1.8
2.7
1.1

22
24

2016
%
1.9
2.7
1.0

22
24

Asset liability matching: Plan assets allocated to growth assets are monitored regularly to ensure they remain appropriate and in line with 
the Group’s long-term strategy to manage the plans. As the plans mature, the level of investment risk will be reduced by investing more in 
assets such as bonds that better match the liabilities.

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20. Provisions and employee benefits continued
Pension plan assets are invested in different asset classes in order to maintain a balance between risk and return. Investments are well 
diversified to limit the financial effect of the failure of any individual investment. Through its defined benefit plans the Group is exposed to a 
number of risks, as outlined below:

Asset volatility: The liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if assets underperform this 
yield, a deficit will be created. The Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Swiss plans hold a significant proportion of growth assets 
(equities) which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long term while providing volatility and risk in the short term.

Changes in bond yields: A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase the plan liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an 
increase in the value of the plans’ bond holdings. Whereas an increase in corporate bond yields will decrease the plan liabilities, although this 
will be partially offset by a decrease in the value of the plans’ bond holdings.

Inflation: The Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Swiss plans’ benefit obligations are linked to inflation, and higher inflation will 
lead to higher liabilities (although, in most cases, caps on the level of inflationary increases are in place to protect against extreme inflation). 
The majority of the assets are either unaffected by or loosely correlated with inflation, meaning that an increase in inflation will also 
increase the deficit.

Life expectancy: The majority of the pension plans’ obligations are to provide benefits for the life of the member, so increases in life 
expectancy will result in an increase in the liabilities. 

The sensitivity analysis presented below is based on a change in assumption while all other assumptions remain constant.

Discount rate

Rate of compensation increase

Rate of pension increase

Life expectancy

Plan assets are invested as follows:

Impact on defined benefit obligation as at
31 December 2017

Change in 
assumptions

Increase in 
assumption

Decrease in 
assumption

0.50%

0.50%

0.50%

1 year

8.7%

2.2%

4.6%

2.7%

10.1 %

2.0 %

2.6 %

2.6 %

The assets of funded plans are generally held in separately administered trusts, either as specific assets or as a proportion of a general 
fund, or are insurance contracts. Plan assets held in trust are governed by local regulations and practice in each country. The category 
‘other’ mainly includes investments in funds holding a portfolio of assets. Plan assets relate predominantly to quoted financial instruments.

Equity securities were not invested in ordinary shares of the Company as at 31 December 2017 or 31 December 2016.

Assets category 2017 (%)

Assets category 2016 (%)

Equity securities – Eurozone: 6%
Equity securities – Non-Eurozone: 28%
Government bonds – Eurozone: 21%
Corporate bonds – Eurozone: 6%
Corporate bonds – Non-Eurozone: 16%
Real estate: 11%
Cash: 3%
Other: 9%

Equity securities – Eurozone: 4%
Equity securities – Non-Eurozone: 22%
Government bonds – Eurozone: 19%
Corporate bonds – Eurozone: 7%
Corporate bonds – Non-Eurozone: 20%
Real estate: 10%
Cash: 3%
Other: 15%

Defined contribution plans
The expense recognised in the income statement in 2017 for the defined contribution plan is €16.9m (2016: €19.0m). This is included in 
employee costs and recorded in cost of goods sold and operating expenses.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
21. Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities

Accounting policy
The Group offsets financial assets and financial liabilities to the net amount reported in the balance sheet when it currently has a legally 
enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts and it intends to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability 
simultaneously. The legally enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal course of 
business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the company or the counterparty.

The Group enters into derivative transactions under International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) master netting agreements or 
other similar agreements. In general, under such agreements the counterparties can elect to settle into one single net amount the 
aggregated amounts owed by each counterparty on a single day with respect of all outstanding transactions of the same currency and the 
same type of derivative. In the event of default or early termination all outstanding transactions under the agreement are terminated and 
subject to any set-off. These agreements do not meet all of the IAS 32 criteria for offsetting in the balance sheet as the Group does not 
have any current legally enforceable right to offset amounts since the right can only be applied if elected by both counterparties.

The financial assets and financial liabilities presented below are subject to offsetting, enforceable master netting or similar agreements. 
The column ‘Net amount’ shows the impact on the Group’s balance sheet if all set-off rights were exercised.

a) Financial assets
As at 31 December 2017

Derivative financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Other financial assets
Trade receivables
Total

As at 31 December 2016

Derivative financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Total

b) Financial liabilities
As at 31 December 2017

Derivative financial liabilities
Trade payables
Total

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
assets
€ million
16.4
723.5
150.9
757.2
1,648.0

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
liabilities set off in the 
balance sheet
€ million
–
–
–
(68.5)
(68.5)

Net amounts of financial 
assets presented in the 
balance sheet
€ million
16.4
723.5
150.9
688.7
1,579.5

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
assets
€ million
16.0
573.2
780.7
1,369.9

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
liabilities set off in the 
balance sheet
€ million
–
–
(53.1)
(53.1)

Net amounts of financial 
assets presented in the 
balance sheet
€ million
16.0
573.2
727.6
1,316.8

Related amounts not set 
off in the balance sheet

Financial
instruments
€ million
(5.0)
–
–
–
(5.0)

Related amounts not set 
off in the balance sheet

Financial
instruments
€ million
(8.3)
–
–
(8.3)

Related amounts not set 
off in the balance sheet

Net amount
€ million
11.4
723.5
150.9
688.7
1,574.5

Net amount
€ million
7.7
573.2
727.6
1,308.5

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
liabilities
€ million
5.4
638.0
643.4

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
assets set off in the 
balance sheet
€ million
–
(68.5)
(68.5)

Net amounts of financial 
liabilities presented in 
the balance sheet
€ million
5.4
569.5
574.9

Financial
instruments
€ million
(5.0)
–
(5.0)

Net amount
€ million
0.4
569.5
569.9

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21. Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities continued
As at 31 December 2016

Related amounts not set 
off in the balance sheet

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
liabilities
€ million
15.5
589.8
605.3

Gross amounts of 
recognised financial 
assets set off in the 
balance sheet
€ million
–
(53.1)
(53.1)

Net amounts of financial 
liabilities presented in the 
balance sheet
€ million
15.5
536.7
552.2

Financial
instruments
€ million
(8.3)
–
(8.3)

Net amount
€ million
7.2
536.7
543.9

Derivative financial liabilities
Trade payables
Total

22. Business combinations

Accounting policy
The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred is the fair value of 
any asset transferred, shares issued and liabilities assumed. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability 
resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed 
are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The excess of the consideration transferred and the fair value of 
non-controlling interest over the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. All acquisition-related costs are 
expensed as incurred.

For each business combination, the Group elects whether it measures the non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or 
at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets.

Acquisition of controlling interest
On 1 April 2016, the Group acquired 100% of Neptūno Vandenys, UAB, the leading bottled water company in Lithuania, for a consideration 
of €19.5m, including the assumption of debt of €1.0m. The acquisition includes the mineral water brand ‘Neptūnas’ and is expected to 
increase the Group’s market share in the still drinks category in Lithuania. Details of the acquisition are as follows:

Trademark
Water rights
Property, plant and equipment
Inventories
Other current assets
Short-term borrowings
Other current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Net identifiable assets acquired
Goodwill arising on acquisition
Cash paid to former shareholders

Acquiree’s carrying 
amount before 
acquisition
€ million
–
–
2.4
0.1
1.1
(1.0)
(0.7)
–
1.9

Fair value 
adjustments
€ million
7.8
8.8
0.4
–
–
–
–
(2.6)
14.4

Fair value
€ million
7.8
8.8
2.8
0.1
1.1
(1.0)
(0.7)
(2.6)
16.3
3.2
19.5

The acquisition resulted in the Group recording €3.2m of goodwill, €7.8m of trademark and €8.8m of water rights in its Developing markets 
segment. The goodwill arising from the acquisition of Neptūno Vandenys, UAB is attributed to expected future cash flows (including the 
effect of synergies) in excess of the value of net identifiable assets.

The acquired business contributed net sales revenue of €3.8m and net profit of €1.4m to the Group for the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 
December 2016. If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2016, consolidated Group revenue and consolidated Group profit after tax 
for year ended 31 December 2016 would have been higher by €1.0m and €0.5m respectively.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In December 2016, TCCC acquired 50% of the share capital of Neptūno Vandenys, UAB for a total consideration of €10.3m, of which 
€9.8m was received in 2016 and the remaining in 2017 and is included in line ‘Net receipts from equity investments’ in the consolidated 
cash flow statement. This transaction resulted in a joint venture between the Group and TCCC. The gain on the transaction 
was immaterial.

During 2017, following the successful completion of the reorganisation of Neptūno Vandenys, UAB joint venture with TCCC, the Group 
obtained control over net assets of the joint venture amounting to €3.5m, with a corresponding decrease in the carrying amount of the 
investment in the joint venture (refer to Note 15a).

23. Financial risk management and financial instruments

Accounting policies

Derivative financial instruments

The Group uses derivative financial instruments, including currency, commodity and interest rate derivatives, to manage currency, 
commodity price and interest rate risk associated with the Group’s underlying business activities. The Group does not enter into 
derivative financial instruments for trading activity purposes.

All derivative financial instruments are initially recognised on the balance sheet at fair value and are subsequently remeasured at their 
fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments are recognised at each reporting date either in the income 
statement or in equity, depending on whether the derivative financial instrument qualifies for hedge accounting, and if so, whether 
it qualifies as a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge.

Derivatives embedded in host contracts are accounted for as separate derivatives and recorded at fair value if: 

a) their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to those of the host contracts; 

b) the host contracts are not designated as at fair value through profit or loss, and 

c) a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative meets the definition of a derivative.

These embedded derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss. Reassessment only 
occurs if there is either a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modifies the cash flows that would otherwise be required 
or a reclassification of a financial asset out of the fair value through profit or loss.

All derivative financial instruments that are not part of an effective hedging relationship (undesignated hedges) are classified as assets 
or liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (‘FVTPL’).

At the inception of a hedge transaction the Group documents the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, 
as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction. This process includes linking the derivative 
financial instrument designated as a hedging instrument to the specific asset, liability, firm commitment or forecast transaction. Both at 
the hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, the Group assesses and documents whether the derivative financial instrument used in 
the hedging transaction is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flow of the hedged item.

Changes in the fair values of derivative financial instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges and are effective, are 
recorded in the income statement, together with the changes in the fair values of the hedged items that relate to the hedged risks. 
Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedges of future cash flows are 
recognised directly in other comprehensive income and the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the income statement. 
Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled to the income statement as the related asset acquired or liability assumed affects the 
income statement. Changes in the fair values of derivative financial instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised 
in the income statement as they arise.

Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated, exercised, or no longer qualifies for 
hedge accounting. At that time, any cumulative gain or loss on the hedging instrument recognised in equity is retained in equity until the 
forecast transaction occurs. If a hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, the net cumulative gain or loss recognised in equity 
is transferred to the income statement.

Regular purchases and sales of investments are recognised on the trade date, which is the day the Group commits to purchase or sell. 
The investments are recognised initially at fair value plus transaction costs, except in the case of FVTPL. For investments traded 
in active markets, fair value is determined by reference to stock exchange quoted bid prices. For other investments, fair value is 
estimated by reference to the current market value of similar instruments or by reference to the discounted cash flows of the 
underlying net assets.

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Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign currency risk, commodity price risk, interest rate 
risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and capital risk. The Group’s overall risk management programme focuses on the volatility of financial markets 
and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group’s cash flows. The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge 
certain risk exposures. Risk management is carried out by Group Treasury in a controlled manner, consistent with the Board of Directors’ 
approved policies. Group Treasury identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks in close co-operation with the Group’s subsidiaries. 
The Board of Directors has approved the Treasury Policy which provides the control framework for all treasury and 
treasury-related transactions.

Market risk

a) Foreign currency risk
The Group is exposed to the effect of foreign currency risk on future transactions, recognised monetary assets and liabilities that are 
denominated in currencies other than the local entity’s functional currency, as well as net investments in foreign operations. Foreign 
currency forward, option and future contracts are used to hedge a portion of the Group’s foreign currency risk. The majority of the foreign 
currency forward, option and future contracts have maturities of less than one year after the balance sheet date. The foreign currency risk 
arising from the investment in foreign operations is not hedged. 

Management has set up a policy that requires Group companies to manage their foreign exchange risk against their functional currency. 
To manage their foreign exchange risk arising from future transactions and recognised monetary assets and liabilities, entities in the Group 
use foreign currency forward, option and future contracts transacted by Group Treasury. Group Treasury’s risk management policy is to 
hedge, on an average coverage ratio basis, between 25% and 80% of anticipated cash flows for the next 12 months by using a layer 
strategy and 100% of balance sheet re-measurement risk in each major foreign currency for which hedging is applicable. Each subsidiary 
designates contracts with Group Treasury as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges, as appropriate. External foreign exchange contracts 
are designated at Group level as hedges of foreign exchange risk on specific monetary assets, monetary liabilities or future transactions on 
a gross basis. 

The following tables present details of the Group’s sensitivity to reasonably possible increases and decreases in the Euro and US dollar 
against the relevant foreign currencies. In determining reasonable possible changes, the historical volatility over a 12-month period of the 
respective foreign currencies in relation to the Euro and the US dollar has been considered. The sensitivity analysis determines the 
potential gains and losses in the income statement or equity arising from the Group’s foreign exchange positions as a result of the 
corresponding percentage increases and decreases in the Group’s main foreign currencies relative to the Euro and the US dollar. The 
sensitivity analysis includes outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items, external loans, and loans between operations 
within the Group where the denomination of the loan is in a currency other than the functional currency of the local entity.

2017 exchange risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the Euro against relevant other currencies

Euro strengthens againstlocal currency

Euro weakens against local currency

Armenian dram
Bulgarian lev
Croatian kuna
Czech koruna
Hungarian forint
FYROM dinar
Moldovan leu
Nigerian naira
Polish zloty
Romanian leu
Russian rouble
Serbian dinar
Swiss franc
UK sterling
Ukrainian hryvnia
US dollar

% historical
volatility over a 
12-month period
7.26%
0.59%
1.95%
3.46%
3.54%
4.06%
7.76%
22.76%
4.56%
2.83%
12.10%
2.24%
4.89%
8.17%
10.25%
7.34%

Loss/(gain) in income 
statement
€ million
(0.5)
(0.1)
0.1
(1.1)
0.4
–
(0.2)
4.4
(0.2)
0.4
0.6
0.1
0.6
0.2
1.0
(0.5)
5.2

(Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
–
(0.1)
(0.3)
(0.3)
–
0.6
–
(1.9)
(1.2)
(3.3)
–
(1.1)
0.2
–
0.3
(7.1)

(Gain)/loss in income
statement
€ million
0.6
0.1
(0.1)
1.2
(0.4)
0.1
0.2
(6.9)
0.2
–
2.0
–
(0.6)
(0.2)
(1.3)
0.6
(4.5)

Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
–
0.1
0.3
0.3
–
(0.7)
–
2.1
0.4
0.7
–
1.2
(0.2)
–
(0.3)
3.9

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
2017 exchange risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the US dollar against relevant other currencies

US dollar strengthens against local currency

US dollar weakens against local currency

Bulgarian lev
Euro
Hungarian forint
Nigerian naira
Romanian leu
Russian rouble
Serbian dinar
Ukrainian hryvnia

% historical
volatility over a
12-month period
7.28%
7.34%
8.74%
21.07%
7.65%
11.04%
7.49%
6.68%

Loss/(gain) in income
statement
€ million
0.1
1.6
0.1
(1.7)
0.2
2.7
(0.1)
0.1
3.0

(Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
–
–
(9.7)
–
–
(9.7)

Loss/(Gain) in income
statement
€ million
(0.1)
(1.8)
(0.1)
2.0
(0.3)
1.1
0.1
(0.1)
0.8

Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
–
–
5.1
–
–
5.1

2016 exchange risk sensitivity sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the Euro against relevant other currencies

Euro strengthens against local currency

Euro weakens against local currency

Armenian dram
Belarusian rouble
Bulgarian lev
Croatian kuna
Czech koruna
Hungarian forint
Moldovan leu
Nigerian naira
Polish zloty
Romanian leu
Russian rouble
Serbian dinar
Swiss franc
UK sterling
Ukrainian hryvnia
US dollar

% historical
volatility over a
12-month period
8.94%
14.59%
0.70%
1.63%
0.69%
4.91%
9.90%
43.27%
7.29%
2.58%
20.12%
2.73%
4.47%
11.91%
14.84%
8.29%

Loss/(gain) in income
statement
€ million
(0.3)
(1.0)
(0.2)
–
(0.1)
0.2
–
11.1
0.1
0.1
(2.2)
0.2
0.3
1.2
1.3
(0.5)
10.2

(Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
(0.1)
–
(0.5)
0.7
–
(1.8)
(0.5)
(4.0)
–
(1.5)
0.4
–
0.2
(7.1)

(Gain)/loss in income
statement
€ million
0.3
1.4
0.2
–
0.1
(0.3)
–
(28.0)
(0.1)
(0.1)
3.2
(0.3)
(0.3)
(1.5)
(1.7)
0.6
(26.5)

Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
0.2
–
0.5
(0.9)
–
2.1
0.6
6.5
–
1.6
(0.5)
–
(0.2)
9.9

2016 exchange risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the US dollar against relevant other currencies

US dollar strengthens against local currency

US dollar weakens against local currency

Euro
Hungarian forint
Nigerian naira
Russian rouble
Serbian dinar
Ukrainian hryvnia

% of historical
volatility over a
12-month period
8.29%
9.79%
38.95%
19.53%
8.46%
11.80%

Loss/(gain) in income
statement
€ million
1.8
0.1
(1.9)
(0.1)
0.1
0.4
0.4

(Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
(9.3)
–
–
(9.3)

(Gain)/loss in income
statement
€ million
(2.1)
(0.2)
1.0
(0.6)
(0.1)
(0.5)
(2.5)

Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
–
–
15.4
–
–
15.4

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23. Financial risk management and financial instruments continued

b) Commodity price risk
The Group is affected by the volatility of certain commodity prices (being mainly sugar, aluminium, aluminium premium, PET and gas oil) in 
relation to certain raw materials necessary for the production of the Group’s products. 

Due to the significantly increased volatility of commodity prices, the Group’s Board of Directors has developed and enacted a risk 
management strategy regarding commodity price risk and its mitigation. Although the Group continues to contract prices with suppliers in 
advance, to reduce its exposure to the effect of short-term changes in the price of sugar, aluminium, aluminium premium, gas oil and PET 
the Group hedges the market price of sugar, aluminium, aluminium premium and gas oil using commodity swap contracts based on a 
rolling 36-month forecast. The Group Treasury’s Risk management policy is to hedge a minimum of 25% and a maximum of 80% of 
commodity exposure for the next 12 months except for PET where no minimum coverage is required and the maximum is at 50% for the 
first year.

The following table presents details of the Group’s income statement and equity sensitivity to increases and decreases in sugar, 
aluminium, aluminium premium and gas oil prices. The table does not show the sensitivity to the Group’s total underlying commodity 
exposure or the impact of changes in volumes that may arise from increase or decrease in the respective commodity prices. The 
sensitivity analysis determines the potential effect on profit or loss and equity arising from the Group’s commodity swap contract positions 
as a result of the reasonably possible increases or decreases of the respective commodity price.

2017 commodity price risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the commodity price of relevant commodities

Sugar
Aluminium
Aluminium Premium
Gas oil

% historical
volatility over a
12-month period per 
contract maturity
19.3%
15.4%
18.0%
22.7%

Commodity price increases with
all other variables held constant

Commodity price decreases with
all other variables held constant

(Gain)/loss
in income
statement
€ million
(8.8)
(5.2)
(0.3)
(2.2)
(16.5)

(Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
(1.1)
–
–
(1.1)

Loss/(gain)
in income
statement
€ million
8.8
5.2
0.3
2.2
16.5

Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
1.1
–
–
1.1

2016 commodity price risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in the commodity price of relevant commodities

Sugar
Aluminium
Aluminium Premium
Gas oil

 % historical
volatility over a
12-month period per 
contract maturity
19.2%
16.4%
19.2%
41.0%

Commodity price increases with
all other variables held constant

Commodity price decreases with
all other variables held constant

(Gain)/loss
in income
statement
€ million
(12.4)
(6.7)
(0.4)
(6.5)
(26.0)

 (Gain)/loss
in equity
€ million
–
(1.1)
–
–
(1.1)

Loss/(gain)
in income
statement
€ million
12.4
6.7
0.4
6.5
26.0

 Loss/(gain)
in equity
€ million
–
1.1
–
–
1.1

c) Interest rate risk
The sensitivity analysis in the following table has been determined based on exposure to interest rates of both derivative and non-
derivative instruments existing at the balance sheet date and assuming constant foreign exchange rates. For floating rate liabilities, the 
analysis is prepared assuming the amount of liability outstanding at the balance sheet date was outstanding for the whole year. A 50 basis 
point increase or decrease for 2017 (2016:50 basis point) represents management’s assessment of a reasonably possible change in 
interest rates.

Interest rate risk sensitivity to reasonably possible changes in interest rates

Increase in basis points
Decrease in basis points

176

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

2017
€ million

Loss/(gain)
in income
statement
0.1
(0.1)

(Gain)/loss
In equity
–
–

2016
€ million

Loss/(gain)
in income
statement
–
–

(Gain)/loss
In equity
–
–

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its obligations under 
the contract or arrangement. The Group has limited concentration of credit risk across trade and financial counterparties. Credit policies 
are in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. 

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk in the event that counterparties fail to perform their obligations at 31 December 2017 in 
relation to each class of recognised financial asset is the carrying amount of those assets as indicated on the balance sheet.

Under the credit policies, before accepting any new credit customers, the Group investigates the potential customer’s credit quality, using 
either external agencies and in some cases bank references and/or historic experience, and defines credit limits for each customer. 
Customers that fail to meet the Group’s benchmark credit quality may transact with the Group only on a prepayment or cash basis. 
Customers are reviewed on an ongoing basis and credit limits are adjusted accordingly. There is no significant concentration of credit risk 
with regards to loans, trade and other receivables as the Group has a large number of customers which are internationally dispersed.

The Group has policies that limit the amount of credit exposure to any single financial institution. The Group only undertakes investment 
and derivative transactions with banks and financial institutions that have a minimum credit rating of ‘BBB-’ from Standard & Poor’s and 
‘Baa3’ from Moody’s. The Group also uses Credit Default Swaps of a counterparty in order to measure in a timelier way the 
creditworthiness of a counterparty and set up its counterparties in tiers in order to assign maximum exposure and tenor per tier. If the 
Credit Default Swaps of certain counterparty exceed 400 basis points the Group will stop trading derivatives with that counterparty and will 
try to cancel any deposits on a best-effort basis. In addition, the Group regularly makes use of time deposits to invest excess cash balances 
and to diversify its counterparty risk. As at 31 December 2017, an amount of €476.8m (2016: € 243.5m) is invested in time deposits (refer 
to Note 24).

Liquidity risk 
The Group actively manages liquidity risk to ensure there are sufficient funds available for any short-term and long-term commitments. 
Bank overdrafts and bank facilities, both committed and uncommitted, are used to manage this risk.

The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves and committed banking facilities, access to the debt and equity 
capital markets, and by continuously monitoring forecasted and actual cash flows. In Note 24, the undrawn facilities that the Group has at 
its disposal to manage liquidity risk are discussed under the headings ‘commercial paper programme’ and ‘committed credit facilities’.

The following tables detail the Group’s remaining contractual maturities for its financial liabilities. The tables include both interest and 
principal undiscounted cash flows, assuming that interest rates remain constant from 31 December 2017.

Borrowings
Derivative liabilities
Trade and other payables
As at 31 December 2017

Borrowings
Derivative liabilities
Trade and other payables
As at 31 December 2016

Up to
one year
€ million
203.3
4.5
1,458.8
1,666.6

Up to
one year
€ million
193.4
14.2
1,488.2
1,695.8

One to
two years
€ million
41.6
0.9
0.2
42.7

One to
two years
€ million
43.7
1.0
1.3
46.0

Two to
five years
€ million
887.7
–
1.0
888.7

Two to
five years
€ million
903.6
0.3
0.2
904.1

Over
five years
€ million
668.6
–
5.3
673.9

Over
five years
€ million
691.9
–
6.7
698.6

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23. Financial risk management and financial instruments continued

Capital risk

The Group monitors its financial capacity and credit ratings by reference to a number of key financial ratios including net debt to 
comparable adjusted EBITDA, which provides a framework within which the Group's capital base is managed. This ratio is calculated as 
net debt divided by comparable adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back to operating profit the depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment, the 
amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, the employee share option and performance share costs and other non-cash items, 
if any. Comparable adjusted EBITDA refers to adjusted EBITDA excluding restructuring expenses and the unrealised gains or losses 
resulting from the mark-to-market valuation of derivatives and embedded derivatives related to commodity hedging.

Refer to Note 24 for definition of net debt.

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and to maintain an 
optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may increase or decrease debt, issue or buy back shares, adjust the amount 
of dividends paid to shareholders, or return capital to shareholders.

The Group’s goal is to maintain a conservative financial profile. This is evidenced by the credit ratings maintained with Standard & Poor’s 
and Moody’s. In April 2017, Standard & Poor’s affirmed Coca-Cola HBC’s ‘BBB+’ long-term, ‘A2’ short-term corporate credit ratings and 
positive outlook. The corporate credit ratings by Moody’s remained unchanged, ‘Baa1’ long-term, ‘P2’ short-term and stable outlook after 
the latest assessment in October 2017.

The Group’s medium-to long-term target is to maintain the net debt to comparable adjusted EBITDA ratio within a 1.5 to 2.0 range.

The ratios as at 31 December were as follows:

Net debt (refer to Note 24)
Operating profit
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets
Employee share options and performance shares
Other non-cash items included in operating income
Adjusted EBITDA
Restructuring expenses
Unrealised commodity derivatives
Total comparable adjusted EBITDA
Net debt / comparable adjusted EBITDA ratio

Hedging activity

a) Cash flow hedges

2017
€ million
751.8
589.8
316.8
0.4
20.8
(0.3)
927.5
19.5
2.3
949.3
0.79

2016
€ million
1,051.4
506.3
332.4
0.4
8.1
(1.3)
845.9
19.9
(26.5)
839.3
1.25

The fair values of derivative financial instruments as at 31 December designated as cash flow hedges were:

Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Commodity swap contracts
Total contracts

Contracts with positive fair values

Contracts with negative fair values

2017
€ million
0.7
2.3
0.6
3.6

2016
€ million
1.0
0.3
0.4
1.7

2017
€ million
(1.6)
–
–
(1.6)

2016
€ million
(4.0)
–
(0.1)
(4.1)

Cash flows from the Group’s foreign currency cash flow hedges at 31 December 2017 are expected to occur and, accordingly, affect profit 
or loss in 2018; cash flows from the Group’s commodity swap contracts, are expected to occur and affect profit or loss between 2018 and 
2020.The net amount reclassified from other comprehensive income to the income statement for the year amounted to a €6.3m loss 

178

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
(2016: €12.8m loss), out of which €6.4m loss was recorded in interest expense (2016: €5.2m loss) and €0.1m gain was recorded in cost of 
goods sold (2016: €7.6m loss).

b) Fair value hedges

As at 31 December 2017, the fair values of derivative financial instruments were €nil (2016: €1.7m liability). The fair value net loss of the 
foreign currency forward and option contracts used as fair value hedging instruments was €0.5 loss in 2017 (2016: €4.2m net loss).

c) Undesignated hedges

The fair values of derivative financial instruments as at 31 December which economically hedge Group’s risks and for which hedge 
accounting has not been applied, were:

Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Foreign currency future contracts
Embedded derivatives
Commodity swap contracts
Total contracts

Contracts with positive fair values

Contracts with negative fair values

2017
€ million
0.9
0.9
1.2
2.6
7.2
12.8

2016
€ million
1.5
–
0.3
3.3
9.2
14.3

2017
€ million
(1.6)
–
–
–
(2.2)
(3.8)

2016
€ million
(4.6)
–
–
–
(5.1)
(9.7)

The net gains on foreign currency and commodity derivative contracts at fair value through profit and loss (for which hedge accounting 
was not applied) amounted to a €1.7m gain (2016: €59.1m gain) of which a €4.6m loss was recorded in cost of goods sold (2016: €17.4m 
gain) and a €6.3m gain in operating expenses (2016: €41.7m gain).

Derivative financial instruments
The derivative financial instruments are included in the Group’s balance sheet as follows:

Current
Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Foreign currency future contracts
Commodity swap contracts
Total current
Non-current
Commodity swap contracts
Embedded derivatives
Total non-current

Assets

2017
€ million

2016
€ million

Liabilities

2017
€ million

1.6
3.2
1.2
6.0
12.0

1.8
2.6
4.4

2.5
0.3
0.3
4.8
7.9

4.8
3.3
8.1

(3.2)
–
–
(1.3)
(4.5)

(0.9)
–
(0.9)

2016
€ million

(10.3)
–
–
(3.9)
(14.2)

(1.3)
–
(1.3)

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23. Financial risk management and financial instruments continued

Financial instruments categories
Categories of financial instruments as at 31 December were as follows (in € million):

2017

Assets
Investments
Derivative financial instruments
Trade and other receivables excluding 
prepayments
Cash and cash equivalents
Total

Loans and 
receivables
–
–

896.6
723.5
1,620.1

Assets at 
FVTPL
–
12.8

–
–
12.8

Liabilities
Trade and other payables excluding provisions 
and deferred income
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Total

2016

Assets
Investments
Derivative financial instruments
Trade and other receivables excluding 
prepayments
Cash and cash equivalents
Total

Loans and 
receivables
–
–

957.4
573.2
1,530.6

Assets at 
FVTPL
–
14.3

–
–
14.3

Liabilities
Trade and other payables excluding provisions 
and deferred income
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Total

Foreign currency derivatives

Derivatives 
designated 
as hedging 
instruments
–
3.6

–
–
3.6

Liabilities 
held at 
amortised 
cost

1,465.3
1,626.2
–
3,091.5

Derivatives 
designated 
as hedging 
instruments
–
1.7

–
–
1.7

Held-to-
maturity
151.8
–

–
–
151.8

Analysis of total assets

Available-
for-sale
3.7
–

Total 
current and 
non-current
155.5
16.4

Current
150.9
12.0

Non-current
4.6
4.4

–
–
3.7

896.6
723.5
1,792.0

893.9
723.5
1,780.3

2.7
–
11.7

Analysis of total liabilities

Derivatives 
designated 
as hedging 
instruments

Total 
current and 
non-current

Liabilities 
at FVTPL

Current

Non-current

–
–
3.8
3.8

–
–
1.6
1.6

1,465.3
1,626.2
5.4
3,096.9

1,458.6
166.4
4.5
1,629.5

6.7
1,459.8
0.9
1,467.4

Analysis of total assets

Available-
for-sale
3.6
–

Total 
current and 
non-current
4.5
16.0

Current
–
7.9

Non-current
4.5
8.1

–
–
3.6

957.4
573.2
1,551.1

954.8
573.2
1,535.9

2.6
–
15.2

Held-to-
maturity
0.9
–

–
–
0.9

Liabilities held 
at amortised 
cost

Liabilities 
at FVTPL

Derivatives 
designated 
as hedging 
instruments

Total 
current and 
non-current

Analysis of total liabilities

Current

Non-current

1,496.4
1,624.6
–
3,121.0

–
–
9.7
9.7

–
–
5.8
5.8

1,496.4
1,624.6
15.5
3,136.5

1,488.2
156.5
14.2
1,658.9

8.2
1,468.1
1.3
1,477.6

The net notional principal amounts of the outstanding foreign currency forward contracts at 31 December 2017 totalled €190.5m (2016: 
€289.9m). The net notional principal amounts of the outstanding foreign currency option contracts at 31 December 2017 totalled €91.2m 
(2016: €13.8m). The net notional principal amounts of the outstanding foreign currency future contracts at 31 December 2017 totalled 
€5.6m (2016: €7.6m).

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commodity swap contracts

The notional principal amounts of the outstanding commodity swap contracts at 31 December 2017 totalled €92.6m (2016: €125.2m).

Forward starting swap contracts

The Group entered into forward starting swap contracts of €500.0m in 2014 to hedge the interest rate risk related to its Euro denominated 
forecasted issuance of fixed rate debt in March 2016. In August 2015 the Group entered into additional forward starting swap contracts of 
€100.0m. In March 2016 the forward starting swap contracts were settled and at the same time the new note was issued, the accumulated 
loss of €55.4m recorded in other comprehensive income is being amortised to the income statement over the term of the new note (refer 
to Note 24). 

Embedded derivatives

During 2015 the Group recognised embedded derivatives whose risks and economic characteristics were not considered to be closely 
related to the commodity contract in which they were embedded. The fair value of the embedded derivatives as at 31 December 2017 
amounted to a financial asset of €2.6m (2016: €3.3m).

Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
For financial instruments such as cash, deposits, debtors and creditors, investments, loans payable to related parties, short-term 
borrowings (excluding the current portion of bonds and notes payable) and other financial liabilities (other than bonds and notes payable), 
carrying values are a reasonable approximation of their fair values. According to the fair value hierarchy, the financial instruments measured 
at fair value are classified as follows:

Level 1
The fair value of available-for-sale listed equity securities is based on quoted market prices at the reported date. The fair value of bonds is 
based on quoted market prices at the recorded date.

Level 2
The fair value of foreign currency forward, option and future contracts, commodity swap contracts, bonds and notes payable, interest rate 
swap contracts, forward starting swap contracts, embedded foreign currency derivatives and cross currency swap contracts is determined 
by using valuation techniques. These valuation techniques maximise the use of observable market data. The fair value of the foreign 
currency forward, option and future contracts, commodity swap contracts, embedded foreign currency derivatives and cross currency 
swap contracts is calculated by reference to quoted forward exchange, deposit rates and forward rate curve of the underlying commodity 
at the reported date for contracts with similar maturity dates. The fair value of interest rate option contracts is calculated by reference to 
the Black-Scholes valuation model and implied volatilities. The fair value of interest rate swap contracts is determined as the difference in 
the present value of the future interest cash inflows and outflows based on observable yield curves.

Level 3
The fair value of available-for-sale unlisted investments is determined through the use of estimated discounted cash flows.

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The following table provides the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements are categorised for assets and liabilities measured at 
fair value as at 31 December 2017:

Level 1
€ million

Level 2
€ million

Level 3
€ million

Total
€ million

Financial assets at FVTPL

Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Embedded derivatives
Foreign currency futures contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Derivative financial assets used for hedging
Cash flow hedges

Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Available-for-sale financial assets

Equity securities
Total financial assets
Financial liabilities at FVTPL

Foreign currency forward contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Derivative financial liabilities used for hedging
Cash flow hedges

Foreign currency forward contracts

Total financial liabilities

There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 in the period.

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

1.0
1.0

–
–

–
–

0.9
0.9
2.6
1.2
7.2

0.7
2.3
0.6

–
16.4

(1.6)
(2.2)

(1.6)
(5.4)

–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–

2.7
2.7

–
–

–
–

0.9
0.9
2.6
1.2
7.2

0.7
2.3
0.6

3.7
20.1

(1.6)
(2.2)

(1.6)
(5.4)

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides the fair value hierarchy in which fair value measurements are categorised for assets and liabilities measured at 
fair value as at 31 December 2016:

Level 1
€ million

Level 2
€ million

Level 3
€ million

Total
€ million

Financial assets at FVTPL

Foreign currency forward contracts
Embedded derivatives
Foreign currency future contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Derivative financial assets used for hedging
Cash flow hedges

Foreign currency forward contracts
Foreign currency option contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Available-for-sale financial assets

Equity securities
Total financial assets
Financial liabilities at FVTPL

Foreign currency forward contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Derivative financial liabilities used for hedging
Fair value hedges

Foreign currency forward contracts

Cash flow hedges

Foreign currency forward contracts
Commodity swap contracts

Total financial liabilities

–
–
–
–

–
–
–

0.9
0.9

–
–

–

–
–
–

1.5
3.3
0.3
9.2

1.0
0.3
0.4

–
16.0

(4.6)
(5.1)

(1.7)

(4.0)
(0.1)
(15.5)

–
–
–
–

–
–
–

2.7
2.7

–
–

–

–
–
–

1.5
3.3
0.3
9.2

1.0
0.3
0.4

3.6
19.6

(4.6)
(5.1)

(1.7)

(4.0)
(0.1)
(15.5)

During 2016 the Group acquired an equity investment of €2.2m classified within Level 3. There were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 
and Level 3 in the period.

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24. Net debt

Accounting policy
Borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value net of transaction costs incurred.

After initial recognition, all interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost. Amortised cost is calculated 
using the effective interest rate method whereby any discount, premium or transaction costs associated with a borrowing are 
amortised to the income statement over the borrowing period.

Refer also to Note 14 for accounting policy on finance leases.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known 
amounts of cash and which are subject to insignificant risk of change in value. Bank overdrafts are classified as short-term borrowings 
in the balance sheet and for the purpose of the cash flow statement. Time deposits which do not meet the definition of cash and cash 
equivalents are classified as short-term investments, in the held-to-maturity category.

Net debt is defined as current borrowings plus non-current borrowings less cash and cash equivalents, and time deposits classified 
as other financial assets.

Net debt for the year ended 31 December comprised:

Current borrowings
Non-current borrowings
Less: Cash and cash equivalents
Less: Other financial assets – time deposits
Net debt

a) Borrowings
The Group held the following borrowings as at 31 December:

Commercial paper
Loan payable to related parties (refer to Note 26)
Other Borrowings

Obligations under finance leases falling due within one year
Total borrowings falling due within one year
Borrowings falling due within two to five years

Bonds, bills and unsecured notes

Borrowings falling due in more than five years

Bonds, bills and unsecured notes

Obligations under finance leases falling due in more than one year
Total borrowings falling due after one year
Total borrowings

184

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

2017
€ million
166.4
1,459.8
(723.5)
(150.9)
751.8

2016
€ million
156.5
1,468.1
(573.2)
–
1,051.4

2017
€ million
120.0
4.3
34.5
158.8
7.6
166.4

797.2

596.3
1,393.5
66.3
1,459.8
1,626.2

2016
€ million
108.5
4.1
36.4
149.0
7.5
156.5

796.0

595.8
1,391.8
76.3
1,468.1
1,624.6

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of liabilities to cash flows arising from financing activities: 

Balance at 1 January 2017
Cash flows
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments of borrowings
Principal repayments of finance lease obligations
Interest paid
Payments for settlement of derivatives
Total cash flows
Finance leases increase
Effect of changes in exchange rates
Other non-cash movements
Balance at 31 December 2017

Borrowings

Finance leases

due within 
one year
149.0

due in more 
than one year
1,391.8

due within 
one year
7.5

due in more 
than one year
76.3

Derivative 
assets/ 
(liabilities) 
–

82.2
(83.8)
–
(30.7)
–
(32.3)
–
(0.4)
42.5
158.8

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1.7
1,393.5

–
–
(7.2)
(6.2)
–
(13.4)
0.1
(0.2)
13.6
7.6

–
–
–
–
–
–
0.8
(3.5)
(7.3)
66.3

–
–
–
–
(3.1)
(3.1)
–
–
3.1
–

Total
1,624.6

82.2
(83.8)
(7.2)
(36.9)
(3.1)
(48.8)
0.9
(4.1)
53.6
1,626.2

Other non-cash movements include the impact from interest expense and remeasurement of derivatives.

Commercial paper programme 

In October 2013 the Group established a €1.0bn Euro-commercial paper programme (‘CP programme’) which was updated in September 
2014 and then in May 2017, to further diversify its short-term funding sources. The Euro-commercial paper notes may be issued either as 
non-interest-bearing notes sold at a discount or as interest-bearing notes at a fixed or floating rate. All commercial paper issued under the 
CP programme must be repaid within 7 to 364 days. The CP programme has been granted the Short Term Euro Paper label (‘STEP’) and 
commercial paper is issued through Coca-Cola HBC’s 100%-owned subsidiary Coca-Cola HBC Finance B.V. and is fully, unconditionally 
and irrevocably guaranteed by Coca-Cola HBC AG. The outstanding amount under the CP programme as at 31 December 2017 was 
€120.0m (2016: €108.5m).

Committed credit facilities

In June 2015, the Group replaced its then existing €500.0m syndicated revolving credit facility with a new €500.0m syndicated loan facility, 
provided by various financial institutions, expiring on 24 June 2020, with the option to be extended for one more year. In June 2016, the 
Company exercised its option and the banks agreed to extend the facility for one more year until 24 June 2021. This facility can be used for 
general corporate purposes and carries a floating interest rate over EURIBOR and LIBOR. No amounts have been drawn under the 
syndicated loan facility since inception. The borrower in the syndicated loan facility is Coca-Cola HBC’s 100%-owned subsidiary Coca-Cola 
HBC Finance B.V. and it is fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Coca-Cola HBC AG and Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. and 
not subject to any financial covenants.

Euro medium-term note programme

In June 2013, the Group established a new €3.0bn Euro medium-term note programme (the ‘EMTN programme’). The EMTN programme 
was updated in September 2014 and again in September 2015. Notes are issued under the EMTN programme through Coca-Cola HBC’s 
100%-owned subsidiary Coca-Cola HBC Finance B.V. and are fully, unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by Coca-Cola HBC AG.

In June 2013, Coca Cola HBC Finance B.V. completed the issue of €800 million, 2.375%, seven-year fixed rate, Euro-denominated notes. 
The net proceeds of the new issue were used to repay the US$500m notes due in September 2013 and partially repay €183.0m of the 
7.875% five-year fixed rate notes due in January 2014.

In March 2016, Coca-Cola HBC Finance B.V. completed the issue of a €600 million Euro-denominated fixed rate bond maturing in 
November 2024. The coupon rate of the new bond is 1.875% which, including the amortisation of the loss on the forward starting swap 
contracts over the term of the fixed rate bond, results in an effective interest rate of 2.99% (refer to Note 23). The net proceeds of the 
new issue were used to partially repay €214.6 million of the 4.25% seven-year fixed rate notes due in November 2016, the remaining 
€385.4m was repaid in November 2016 upon its maturity.

As at 31 December 2017, a total of €1.4bn in notes issued under the EMTN programme were outstanding.

The EMTN Programme has not been updated since September 2015 so further issues under the EMTN Programme are currently not 
possible pending a further update.

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24. Net debt continued

Summary of notes outstanding as at 31 December

Notes
€800m
€600m
Total

Start date
18 June 2013
10 March 2016

Maturity date
18 June 2020
11 November 2024

Fixed coupon
2.375%
1.875%

The fair values are within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Obligations under finance leases

Book value

Fair value

2017
€ million
797.2
596.3
1,393.5

2016
€ million
796.0
595.8
1,391.8

2017
€ million
841.5
643.6
1,485.1

2016
€ million
855.9
634.8
1,490.7

Future minimum lease payments under finance leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease payments as at 
31 December, were as follows:

Less than one year
Later than one year but less than two years
Later than two years but less than three years
Later than three years but less than four years
Later than four years but less than five years
Later than five years
Total minimum lease payments
Future finance charges on finance leases
Present value of minimum lease payments

Total borrowings at 31 December were held in the following currencies:

Euro
US dollar
UK sterling
Polish zloty
Croatian kuna
Russian rouble
Other
Total borrowings

2017
€ million

2016
€ million

Minimum
payments
14.3
11.3
12.6
12.5
12.6
49.9
113.2
(39.3)
73.9

Present value
of payments
7.6
6.5
6.8
7.3
7.8
37.9
73.9
–
73.9

Minimum
payments
13.7
13.5
11.9
11.9
11.9
62.6
125.5
(41.7)
83.8

Current

Non-current

2017
€ million
152.0
11.0
1.3
1.0
0.3
–
0.8
166.4

2016
€ million
122.8
4.5
1.3
0.9
15.3
11.6
0.1
156.5

2017
€ million
1,414.1
24.1
9.2
12.4
–
–
–
1,459.8

Present value
of payments
7.5
7.7
6.7
7.1
7.5
47.3
83.8
–
83.8

2016
€ million
1,416.1
28.4
10.9
12.7
–
–
–
1,468.1

The carrying amounts of interest bearing borrowings held at fixed and floating interest rate as at 31 December 2017, as well as the 
weighted average interest rates and maturities of fixed rate borrowings, were as follows:

Euro
US dollar
Polish zloty
UK sterling
Other
Total interest bearing borrowings

Fixed
interest rate
€ million
1,537.3
31.2
–
–
0.7
1,569.2

Floating
interest rate
€ million
28.8
3.9
13.4
10.5
0.1
56.7

Total
€ million
1,566.1
35.1
13.4
10.5
0.8 
1,625.9

Other borrowings of €0.3m (2016: €15.3m) are subject to factoring agreements, based on which the customers are liable to the interest 
being charged (refer to Note 17).

186

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial liabilities represent fixed and floating rate borrowings held by the Group. The Group’s policy is to hedge exposures to changes in 
the fair value of debt and interest rates by using a combination of cross-currency swap contracts, fixed-to-floating-rate interest rate swap 
contracts and interest rate option contracts. The weighted average interest rate of the fixed Euro liabilities is 2.4% and the weighted 
average maturity for which the interest is fixed is 4.1 years.

b) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December comprise the following:

Cash at bank, in transit and in hand
Short-term deposits
Total cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are held in the following currencies:

Euro
Nigerian naira
UK sterling
Hungarian forint
Romanian leu
Russian rouble
Serbian dinar
Swiss franc
Ukrainian hryvnia
Czech koruna
Croatian kuna
US dollar
Moldovan leu 
Belarusian rouble 
Other
Total cash and cash equivalents

2017 
€ million
397.6 
325.9 
723.5 

2017
€ million
568.6
82.8
14.5
10.6
9.9
9.8
7.2
6.3
3.0
2.3
1.8
1.7
1.2
1.1
2.7
723.5

2016 
€ million
329.7 
243.5 
573.2 

2016
€ million
400.7
110.7
6.6
6.1
5.6
11.7
9.1
4.6
2.5
2.1
0.7
3.3
0.8
1.4
7.3
573.2

Time deposits of €150.9m, which do not meet the definition of cash and cash equivalents, are recorded as other financial assets.

Cash and cash equivalents include an amount of €83.9m held by the Group’s subsidiary, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, (€82.8m 
equivalent in Nigerian naira and €1.1m equivalent in other currencies). Furthermore, this amount includes €12.9m equivalent Nigerian naira, 
which relates to the outstanding balance of the bank account held for the repayment of its former minority shareholders, following the 
2011 acquisition of non-controlling interests.

Cash and cash equivalents held by our subsidiaries in Greece of €16.6m were subject to capital controls as at 31 December 2017.

The amount of dividends payable to the Company by its operating subsidiaries is subject to, among other restrictions, general limitations 
imposed by the corporate laws and exchange control restrictions of the respective jurisdictions where those subsidiaries are organised 
and operate. Also, there are fund transfer restrictions in certain countries in which we operate, in particular Belarus, Greece, Serbia and 
Ukraine, where these restrictions do not have a material impact on the Group’s liquidity, as the amounts of cash and cash equivalents held 
in such countries are generally retained for capital expenditure, working capital and dividend distribution purposes. Fund transfer 
restrictions are also applicable in Nigeria; furthermore, the tight liquidity in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 in the foreign exchange 
market in Nigeria has significantly limited our ability to execute payments in foreign currency, leading to a temporarily high Nigerian naira 
cash balance. We expect all this excess cash to be fully utilised to fund capital expenditure in 2018. Intra group dividends paid by certain of 
our subsidiaries are also subject to withholding taxes.

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25. Equity

Accounting policies

Share capital

Coca-Cola HBC has only one class of shares, ordinary shares. When new shares are issued, they are recorded in share capital at their 
par value. The excess of the issue price over the par value is recorded to the share premium reserve. Incremental external costs directly 
attributable to the issue of new shares or to the process of returning capital to shareholders are recorded in equity as a deduction, net 
of tax, in the share premium reserve.

Dividends

Dividends are recorded in the Group’s consolidated financial statements in the period in which they are approved by the Group’s 
shareholders.

a) Share capital, share premium and Group reorganisation reserve

Balance as at 1 January 2016
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options (refer to Note 27)
Cancellation of shares
Dividends
Balance as at 31 December 2016
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options (refer to Note 27)
Dividends
Balance as at 31 December 2017

Number
of shares
(authorised
and issued)
368,141,297
1,499,341
(3,000,000)
–
366,640,638
4,122,401
–
370,763,039

Share
capital
€ million
2,000.1
9.1
(18.4)
–
1,990.8
24.3
–
2,015.1

Share
premium
€ million
5,028.3
12.5
(40.1)
(146.1)
4,854.6
46.7
(162.0)
4,739.3

Group
reorganisation
reserve
€ million
(6,472.1)
–
–
–
(6,472.1)
–
–
(6,472.1)

The Group reorganisation reserve relates to the impact from adjusting share capital, share premium and treasury shares to depict the 
respective statutory amounts of Coca-Cola HBC on 25 April 2013, together with the transaction costs incurred by the latter, relating 
primarily to the re-domiciliation of the Group and its admission to listing in the premium segment of the London Stock Exchange, following 
successful completion of the voluntary share exchange offer (refer also to Note 1). These transactions were treated as a reorganisation of 
an existing entity that has not changed the substance of the reporting entity.

On 23 June 2015, the Annual General Meeting adopted a proposal for share buy-back of up to 3,000,000 ordinary shares of Coca-Cola 
HBC for the purpose of neutralising the dilution resulting from shares issues under Coca-Cola HBC’s equity compensation plans. The 
programme was completed in full during 2015 for a consideration of €58.5m. On 21 June 2016, the Annual General Meeting approved the 
proposal to reduce the share capital of Coca-Cola HBC AG by cancelling the 3,000,000 treasury shares acquired as part of the share 
buy-back programme described above. The respective reduction of the share capital was completed in September 2016.

In 2017, the share capital of Coca-Cola HBC increased by the issue of 4,122,401 (2016: 1,499,341) new ordinary shares following the 
exercise of stock options pursuant to the Coca-Cola HBC AG’s employees’ stock option plan. Total proceeds from the issuance of the 
shares under the stock option plan amounted to €71.0m (2016: €21.6m).

Following the above changes, as at 31 December 2017 the share capital of the Group amounted to €2,015.1m (2016: €1,990.8m) and 
comprised 370,763,039 shares with a nominal value of CHF 6.70 each.

b) Dividends
The shareholders of Coca-Cola HBC AG approved the 2015 dividend distribution of €0.40 per share at the Annual General Meeting held on 
21 June 2016. The total dividend amounted to €146.1m and was paid on 26 July 2016. Of this, an amount of €1.4m related to shares held 
by the Group. 

The shareholders of Coca-Cola HBC AG approved the 2016 dividend distribution of €0.44 per share at the Annual General Meeting held on 
20 June 2017. The total dividend amounted to €162.0m and was paid on 25 July 2017. Of this, an amount of €1.5m related to shares held 
by the Group.

The Board of Directors of Coca-Cola HBC AG has proposed a €0.54 dividend per share in respect of 2017. If approved by the shareholders 
of Coca-Cola HBC AG, this dividend will be paid in 2018.

188

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDc) Reserves
The reserves of the Group at 31 December were as follows:

Treasury shares
Exchange equalisation reserve
Other reserves

Hedging reserve, net
Tax-free reserve
Statutory reserves
Stock option reserve
Available-for-sale financial assets valuation reserve, net
Other

Total other reserves
Total reserves

Treasury shares

2017
€ million
(71.3)
(1,026.3)

(47.0)
163.8
27.3
104.4
0.8
21.9
271.2
(826.4)

2016
€ million
(70.7)
(801.8)

(55.3)
163.8
26.9
87.2
0.7
21.8
245.1
(627.4)

Treasury shares held by the Group represent shares acquired following approval of share buy-back programmes, forfeited shares under 
the equity compensation plan operated by the Group as well as shares representing the initial ordinary shares of Coca-Cola HBC acquired 
from Kar-Tess Holding. In September 2016 the 3,000,000 treasury shares, acquired as part of the 2015 share buy-back programme for a 
consideration of €58.5m, were cancelled (refer also to section a) ‘Share capital, share premium and Group reorganisation reserve’). As at 
31 December 2017, 3,445,060 treasury shares were held by the Group.

Exchange equalisation reserve

The exchange equalisation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of 
entities with functional currencies other than the Euro.

Other reserves

Hedging reserve
The hedging reserve reflects changes in the fair values of derivatives accounted for as cash flow hedges, net of the deferred tax related to 
such balances.

Tax-free and statutory reserves
The tax-free reserve includes investment amount exempt from tax according to incentive legislation, other tax-free income or income 
taxed at source. 

Statutory reserves are particular to the various countries in which the Group operates. The amount of statutory reserves of the parent 
entity, Coca-Cola HBC AG, is €nil. During 2017, an amount of €0.4m (2016: €6.9m) was reclassified to statutory reserves relating to the 
establishment of additional reserves by the Group’s subsidiaries.

Other reserves
Other reserves are particular to the various countries in which the Group operates.

Stock option reserve
The stock option reserve represents the cumulative charge to the income statement for employee stock option and performance share 
awards (refer also to Note 27).

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

189

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary Information26. Related party transactions

a) The Coca-Cola Company
As at 31 December 2017, The Coca-Cola Company indirectly owned 23.0% (2016: 23.2%) of the issued share capital of Coca-Cola HBC. 
The Coca-Cola Company considers Coca-Cola HBC to be a ‘key bottler’ and has entered into bottlers’ agreements with Coca-Cola HBC in 
respect of each of the Group’s territories. All the bottlers’ agreements entered into by The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola HBC are 
Standard International Bottlers’ (‘SIB’) agreements. The terms of the bottlers’ agreements grant Coca-Cola HBC the right to produce and 
the exclusive right to sell and distribute the beverages of The Coca-Cola Company in each of the countries in which the Group operates. 
Consequently, Coca-Cola HBC is obliged to purchase all concentrate for The Coca-Cola Company’s beverages from The Coca-Cola 
Company, or its designee, in the ordinary course of business. On 10 October 2012, The Coca-Cola Company agreed to extend the term of 
the bottlers’ agreements for further 10 years until 2023. 

The Coca-Cola Company owns or has applied for the trademarks that identify its beverages in each of the countries in which the Group 
operates. The Coca-Cola Company has authorised Coca-Cola HBC and certain of its subsidiaries to use the trademark ‘Coca-Cola’ in their 
corporate names.

The below table summarises transactions with The Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries:

Purchases of concentrate, finished goods and other items
Net contributions received for marketing and promotional incentives
Sales of finished goods and raw materials
Other income
Other expenses 

2017 
€ million
1,379.9 
83.9 
14.3 
6.1 
3.6 

2016 
€ million
1,319.4 
91.2 
10.8 
4.4 
3.5 

The Coca-Cola Company makes discretionary marketing contributions to Coca-Cola HBC’s operating subsidiaries. The participation in 
shared marketing agreements is at The Coca-Cola Company’s discretion and, where co-operative arrangements are entered into, 
marketing expenses are shared. Such arrangements include the development of marketing programmes to promote The Coca-Cola 
Company’s beverages. Contributions received from The Coca-Cola Company for marketing and promotional incentives during the year 
amounted to €83.9m (2016: €91.2m): contributions made by The Coca-Cola Company to Coca-Cola HBC for price support and marketing 
and promotional campaigns in respect of specific customers in 2017 totalled €59.6m (2016: €66.0m), while contributions made by The 
Coca-Cola Company to Coca-Cola HBC for general marketing programmes in 2017 totalled €24.3m (2016: €25.2m). The Coca-Cola 
Company has also customarily made additional payments for marketing and advertising directly to suppliers as part of the shared 
marketing arrangements. The proportion of direct and indirect payments made at The Coca-Cola Company’s discretion, will not 
necessarily be the same from year to year. 

Other income primarily comprises rent and other items. Other expenses related to facility costs charged by The Coca-Cola Company and 
shared costs included in operating expenses. 

In December 2016 the Group sold 50% of its share in its subsidiary Neptūno Vandenys, UAB, to European Refreshments, a subsidiary of 
TCCC for a total consideration of €10.3m (refer to Note 22), of which €9.8m was received in 2016 and the remaining in 2017 and is included 
in line ‘Net receipts from equity investments’ in the consolidated cash flow statement.

As at 31 December 2017, the Group had a total amount due from The Coca-Cola Company of €79.3m (2016: €94.3m), and a total amount 
due to The Coca-Cola Company of €260.2m (2016: €234.6m).

190

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
b) Frigoglass S.A. (‘Frigoglass’), Kar-Tess Holding and AG Leventis (Nigeria) Plc
Truad Verwaltungs AG, currently indirectly owns 48.6% of Frigoglass and 50.7% of AG Leventis (Nigeria) Plc and also indirectly controls 
Kar-Tess Holding, which holds approximately 23.0% (2016: 23.3%) of Coca-Cola HBC’s total issued share capital.

The below table summarises transactions with the above entities:

Frigoglass & subsidiaries
Purchases of coolers, cooler parts, glass bottles, crowns, raw materials and plastics
Maintenance and other expenses
AG Leventis (Nigeria) Plc
Purchases of finished goods and other materials
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Rental expenses

2017
€ million
117.3
18.1

8.7
0.2
2.1

2016
€ million
108.1
19.6

11.9
3.0
1.8

Frigoglass, a company listed on the Athens Exchange, is a manufacturer of coolers, cooler parts, glass bottles, crowns and plastics. 
Frigoglass has a controlling interest in Frigoglass Industries Limited, a company in which the Group has a 23.9% effective interest, through 
its investment in Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd. Furthermore, during 2015 the Group acquired through its investment in Nigerian Bottling 
Company Ltd a 23.9% effective interest of Frigoglass West Africa Ltd, a company in which Frigoglass has a controlling interest.

The Group entered into a supply agreement with Frigoglass for the purchase of cooling equipment in 1999. The supply agreement was 
extended in 2004, 2008 and, most recently, in 2013, on substantially similar terms. Coca-Cola HBC has the status of most favoured 
customer of Frigoglass, on a non-exclusive basis, provided that it obtains at least 60% (at prices which are negotiated on an annual basis 
and which must be competitive) of its annual requirements for cooling equipment from Frigoglass. The current agreement expires on 31 
December 2018.

As at 31 December 2017, Coca-Cola HBC owed €14.8m (2016: €32.0m) to and was owed €0.2m (2016: €1.0m) by Frigoglass.

As at 31 December 2017, the Group owed €1.3m (2016: €2.6m) to AG Leventis (Nigeria) Plc.

Capital commitments with Frigoglass and its subsidiaries at 31 December 2017 amounted to €21.9m (2016: €0.4m).

c) Other related parties
The below table summarises transactions with other related parties:

Purchases
Other expenses 

Beverage Partners Worldwide (‘BPW’)

2017 
€ million
79.3 
23.2 

2016 
€ million
90.2 
23.5

BPW is a 50/50 joint venture between The Coca-Cola Company and Nestlé. During 2017, the Group purchased inventory from BPW 
amounting to €77.9m (2016: €88.3m). 

As at 31 December 2017, Coca-Cola HBC owed €4.5m (2016: €5.4m) to and was owed €4.5m (2016: €14.9m) by BPW. Effective 1 January 
2018, TCCC and Nestle have agreed to dissolve BPW.

Other

During 2017, the Group purchased € nil (2016: €0.8m) of raw materials and finished goods and acquired €1.4m (2016: €1.1m) of property, 
plant and equipment from other related parties. Furthermore, during 2017, the Group incurred expenses of €23.2m (2016: €23.5m) mainly 
related to maintenance services for cold drink equipment and installations of coolers, fountains, vending and merchandising equipment 
from other related parties. 

At 31 December 2017, the Group owed €0.4m (2016: €0.1m) to and was owed €0.8m including loans receivable of €nil (2016: €0.1m 
including loans receivable of €0.1m) by other related parties.

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26. Related party transactions continued

d) Joint ventures
During 2017, the Group purchased €19.7m of finished goods (2016: €42.2m). In addition, during 2017 the Group recorded sales of finished 
goods and raw materials of €12.6m (2016: €12.3m) to joint ventures. Furthermore, the Group recorded other income of €1.4m (2016: 
€1.6m) from joint ventures. During 2017, the Group sold property, plant and equipment of € nil (2016: € 2.5m) to joint ventures. 

As at 31 December 2017, the Group owed €24.0m including loans payable of €4.3m (2016: €34.0m including loans payable €4.1m) to and 
was owed €8.6m including loans receivable of €3.6m (2016: €11.9m including loans receivable of €5.1m) by joint ventures. During 2017 the 
Group received dividends and capital returns of €19.3m (2016: €16.5m dividends) from Brewinvest S.A. Group of companies which are 
included in line ‘Net receipts from equity investments’ of the consolidated cash flow statement.

e) Directors
Anastassis G. David, Anastasios I. Leventis, Christo Leventis and Robert Ryan Rudolph have all been nominated by Kar-Tess Holding to the 
Board of Coca-Cola HBC. José Octavio Reyes and Ahmet C. Bozer have been nominated by TCCC to the Board of Coca-Cola HBC. There 
have been no transactions between Coca-Cola HBC and the Directors except for remuneration (refer to Note 8).

27. Share based payments

Accounting policies

Stock option and performance share compensation plans

Coca-Cola HBC issues equity-settled share-based payments to its senior managers in the form of an employee stock option plan 
and a performance share plan.

The employee stock option plan is measured at fair value at the date of grant. Fair value reflects the parameters of the compensation 
plan, the risk-free interest rate, the expected volatility, the dividend yield and the early exercise experience of the Group’s plans. 
Expected volatility is determined by calculating the historical volatility of Coca-Cola HBC’s share price over previous years. The fair value 
determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.

The performance share plan offers a specified number of performance share awards that vest three years after the grant. The fair 
value is determined at the grant date and reflects the parameters of the compensation plan, the dividend yield and the weighted 
average share price. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. At the 
end of each reporting period the Group revises its estimates of the number of shares that are expected to vest based on non-market 
conditions, and recognises the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the income statement with a corresponding 
adjustment to equity.

Employee Share Purchase Plan

The Group operates an employee share purchase plan, the Employee Share Purchase Plan, an equity compensation plan in which 
eligible employees can participate. The Group makes contributions to the plan for participating employees and recognises expenses 
over the vesting period of the contributions.

The charge included in employee costs regarding share-based payments for the years ended 31 December is analysed as follows:

Stock option awards
Performance shares awards
Employee Share Purchase Plan
Total share based payments charge

2017
€ million
0.7
20.1
4.6
25.4

2016
€ million
3.7
4.4
4.6
12.7

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
Terms and conditions

Stock option plan:

Senior managers are granted awards of stock options, based on performance, potentiality and level of responsibility. Options are 
granted at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s shares trading on the London Stock Exchange on the day of the 
grant. Options vest in one-third increments each year for three years and can be exercised for up to 10 years from the date of award. 
When the options are exercised, the proceeds received, net of any transaction costs, are credited to share capital (at the nominal value) 
and share premium.

Performance share plan:

During 2015 the Group adopted a Performance share plan, under which senior managers are granted performance share awards, which 
have a three-year vesting period and are linked with Group specific key performance indicators. Performance share awards are granted at 
a price equal to the closing price of the Company’s shares trading on the London Stock Exchange on the day of the grant.

Employee Share Purchase Plan:

The Employee Share Purchase Plan is administered by a Plan Administrator. Under the terms of this plan, employees have the opportunity 
to invest 1% to 15% of their salary in ordinary Coca-Cola HBC shares by contributing to the plan monthly. Coca-Cola HBC will match up to 
a maximum of 3% of the employee’s salary by way of contribution. Employer contributions, in the form of a cash allocation, take place on a 
monthly basis and are used to purchase matching shares on the open market, which is the London Stock Exchange, at the time of vesting. 
Matching contributions vest one year after the grant. Dividends received in respect of shares under the Plan are used to purchase 
additional shares at the time of vesting. Shares are held under the Plan Administrator. In order to adapt the plan to the Greek legal 
framework Coca-Cola HBC matches the contribution of employees’ resident in Greece with an annual employer contribution, of up to 5% 
of the employee’s salary in December of each year, which vest immediately.

Stock option activity
The Group has not issued any new stock options in 2017 or 2016.

The following table summarises information regarding outstanding stock options exercisable at 31 December 2017:

2005 December Grant
2006 December Grant
2007 December Grant
2008 December Grant
2009 December Grant
2010 December Grant
2011 March Grant
2011 December Grant
2013 June Grant
2013 December Grant
2014 December Grant
Total

Exercise price
(EUR)
13.19
16.37
26.41
9.02
15.70
19.31
18.53
11.98
–
–
–

Exercise price
(GBP)
11.24
13.95
22.51
7.69
13.38
16.46
15.79
10.21
15.00
16.99
13.33

Vesting
status as at
31 Dec 2017
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested
fully vested

End of period
31.12.20201
12.12.20211
31.12.20221
10.12.2018
09.12.2019
08.12.2020
15.03.2021
15.12.2021
20.06.2023
09.12.2023
09.12.2024

Number of
stock options
outstanding
245,001
397,500
537,250
539,500
796,500
1,048,000
18,334
502,168
587,500
763,000
928,904
6,363,657

1.  Relates to stock options granted under the previous stock option plans which expire in December 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively. 

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27. Share based payments continued
A summary of stock option activity in 2017 under all plans is as follows:

Outstanding at 1 January
Exercised
Expired
Forfeited / Cancelled
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

A summary of stock option activity in 2016 under all plans is as follows:

Outstanding at 1 January
Exercised
Expired
Forfeited / Cancelled
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

Number
of stock
options
2017
10,540,809
(4,122,401)
(12,750)
(42,001)
6,363,657
6,363,657

Number
of stock
options
2016
12,337,506
(1,499,341)
(271,687)
(25,669)
10,540,809
10,019,308

Weighted*
average
exercise price
2017 (EUR)
17.38
17.19
25.37
20.98
16.29
16.29

Weighted*
average
exercise price
2016 (EUR)
19.76
14.56
20.29
16.82
17.38
17.46

Weighted
average
exercise price
2017 (GBP)
14.80
15.25
22.51
18.62
14.46
14.46

Weighted
average
exercise price
2016 (GBP)
14.56
12.40
17.28
14.32
14.80
14.87

*  For convenience purposes, the prices are translated with the closing exchange rate.

Total proceeds from the issuance of the shares under the stock option plan in 2017 amounted to €71.0m (2016: €21.6m).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding under the stock option compensation plans at 31 December 
2017 was 4.0 years (2016: 4.8 years).

Performance shares activity
A summary of performance shares activity is as follows:

Outstanding at 1 January
Granted
Forfeited / Cancelled
Outstanding at 31 December

Number of
performance
shares
2017
1,363,992
824,074
(65,776)
2,122,290

Number of
performance
shares
2016
652,159
716,269
(4,436)
1,363,992

The 2017 expense recognised for performance shares awards includes the retrospective adjustment resulting from the reassessment 
of the performance conditions of the plan as well as the impact from the accelerated vesting of 396,402 shares, due to the passing of the 
former CEO. The weighted average remaining contractual life of performance shares outstanding under the performance share plans 
at 31 December 2017 was 1.6 years (2016: 2.2 years). 

The fair value of the 2017 performance share plan amounted to £18.70m (2016: £13.50m). Relevant inputs into the valuation are 
as follows:

Weighted average share price
Dividend yield
Weighted average exercise period

2017
£19.81
1.9%
3.0 years

2016
£14.34
2.0%
3.0 years

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
 
 
 
28. Contingencies
 In relation to the Greek Competition Authority’s decision of 25 January 2002, one of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A.’s 
competitors has filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. claiming damages in an amount of €7.7m. The court of 
first instance heard the case on 21 January 2009 and subsequently rejected the lawsuit. The plaintiff has appealed the judgement and on 9 
December 2013 the Athens Court of Appeals rejected the plaintiff’s appeal. Following the spin-off, Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C. 
substituted Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. as defendant in this lawsuit. Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C. has not provided for 
any losses related to this case. The defendant has not filed for a cessation of the decision within the relevant deadline set by law, therefore 
the decision of the Athens Court of Appeal is final and irrecoverable and the case has closed. On 19 April 2014, the same plaintiff filed a new 
lawsuit against Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. (following the spin-off, Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C.) claiming payment of 
€7.5m as compensation for losses and moral damages for alleged anti-competitive commercial practices of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling 
Company S.A. between 1994 and 2013. The two lawsuits partially overlap in the time period for which damages are sought by the plaintiff. 
The hearing of the new lawsuit is now scheduled for 17 January 2019. Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C. has not provided for any losses 
related to this case.

On 6 September 2016, the Greek Competition Commission initiated an audit of Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C.’s operations as part of an 
investigation into certain commercial practices in the sparkling, juice and water categories. Coca-Cola HBC Greece S.A.I.C. has a policy of 
strict compliance with Greek and EU competition law and it is co-operating fully with the Greek Competition Commission.

In 1992, our subsidiary Nigerian Bottling Company (‘NBC’) acquired a manufacturing facility in Nigeria from Vacunak, a Nigerian company. In 
1994, Vacunak filed a lawsuit against NBC, alleging that a representative of NBC had orally agreed to rescind the sale agreement and 
instead enter into a lease agreement with Vacunak. As part of its lawsuit Vacunak sought compensation for rent and loss of business 
opportunities. NBC discontinued all use of the facility in 1995. On 19 August 2013, NBC received the written judgement of the Nigerian 
court of first instance issued on 28 June 2012 providing for damages of approximately €19.3m. NBC has filed an appeal against the 
judgement. Based on advice from NBC’s outside legal counsel, we believe that it is unlikely that NBC will suffer material financial losses from 
this case. We have consequently not provided for any losses in relation to this case. 

The tax filings of the Group and its subsidiaries are routinely subjected to audit by tax authorities in most of the jurisdictions in which the 
Group conducts business. These audits may result in assessments of additional taxes. The Group provides additional tax in relation to the 
outcome of such tax assessments, to the extent that a liability is probable and estimable. 

The Group is also involved in various other legal proceedings. Management believes that any liability to the Group that may arise as a result 
of these pending legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations, cash flows, or the financial position 
of the Group taken as a whole.

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Accounting policy
Leases of property, plant and equipment not classified as finance leases are classified as operating leases. Rentals paid under operating 
leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

a) Operating leases
The total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases at 31 December was as follows:

Less than one year
Later than one year but less than five years
Later than five years
Future minimum lease payments

2017
€ million
39.1 
89.8 
23.7 
152.6 

2016
€ million
33.3
80.4
12.1
125.8

The total operating lease charges included within operating expenses for the years ended 31 December were as follows:

2017
€60.9m

2016
€86.0m

Plant and equipment: €37.1m
Property: €23.8m

Plant and equipment: €61.7m
Property: €24.3m

b) Capital commitments
As at 31 December 2017, the Group had capital commitments amounting to €76.3m (2016: €84.9m). Of this, €0.6m related to the Group’s 
share of the commitments arising from joint operations (2016: €1.6m). The Group’s share of the commitments arising from joint ventures 
is disclosed in Note 15. 

c) Long-term commitments
As at 31 December 2017 the Group had commitments to purchase raw materials and receive services amounting to €452.8m 
(2016: €510.6m). Of this, €nil related to the Group’s share of the commitments arising from joint operations (2016: €0.5m). The Group’s 
share of the commitments arising from joint ventures is disclosed in Note 15.

30. Post balance sheet events
On 14 March 2018 the Remuneration Committee granted 665,676 performance share plan awards under the performance share plan, 
which have a three-year vesting period.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
SWISS 
STATUTORY 
REPORTING 

Contents

Swiss Statutory Reporting
198

Report of the statutory auditor on Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s 
consolidated financial statements
Report of the statutory auditor on Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s 
financial statements

204

207 Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s financial statements
218

Report of the statutory auditor on the Statutory 
Remuneration Report 
Statutory Remuneration Report

219

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Report of the statutory auditor
to the General Meeting of
Coca‑Cola HBC AG
Steinhausen/Zug

Report on the audit of the consolidated financial statements

Opinion
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Coca‑Cola HBC AG and its subsidiaries (the Group), which comprise the 
consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December 2017 and the consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, 
and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the 
Group as at 31 December 2017 and its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in 
accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and comply with Swiss law.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law, International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and Swiss Auditing Standards. 
Our responsibilities under those provisions and standards are further described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
consolidated financial statements” section of our report.

We are independent of the Group in accordance with the provisions of Swiss law and the requirements of the Swiss audit profession, as 
well as the IESBA Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with 
these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Our audit approach

Overview

Overall Group materiality: € 28.2 million, which represents 5% of profit before tax.

We conducted full scope audit work at subsidiary undertakings in 16 countries. Our audit scope addressed 
87% of the Group’s consolidated net sales revenue and 88% of the Group’s assets. We also conducted 
specified audit procedures and analytical review procedures for other Group undertakings and functions.

Materiality

As key audit matters, the following areas of focus, which are consistent with the prior year, 
have been identified:

 – Goodwill and indefinite‑lived intangible assets impairment assessment
 – Uncertain tax positions
 – Provisions and contingent liabilities

Audit scope

Key audit 
matters

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Audit scope
The Group operates through its trading subsidiary undertakings in 28 countries, as set out on page 142 of the 2017 Integrated Annual 
Report. The processing of the accounting entries for these entities is largely centralised in a shared services centre in Bulgaria, except for 
the subsidiary undertakings in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia, which process their accounting entries locally. The Group also 
operates a centralised treasury function in the Netherlands and in Greece and a centralised procurement function in Austria. 

Mirroring the Group’s set‑up, with the parent entity incorporated in Switzerland and the Group Finance Function located in Greece, we 
structured our audit as a referred reporting assurance engagement and involved PwC Athens as a Performing Firm, while performing 
specific procedures related to our role of Signing Firm of the audit report on the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared for Swiss 
statutory purposes.

In close liaison with the performing firm, we designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the risks of material misstatement 
in the consolidated financial statements. In particular, we considered where subjective judgements were made; for example, in respect of 
significant accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of 
our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including among other matters consideration of 
whether there was evidence of bias that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

We tailored the scope of our audit in order to perform sufficient work to enable us to provide an opinion on the consolidated financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the geographic structure of the Group, the accounting processes and controls, and the 
industry in which the Group operates.

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Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. Our audit opinion aims to provide reasonable assurance that the 
consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are 
considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken 
on the basis of the consolidated financial statements.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined certain quantitative thresholds for materiality, including the overall Group materiality 
for the consolidated financial statements as a whole as set out in the table below. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped 
us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of 
misstatements, both individually and in aggregate, on the consolidated financial statements as a whole.

Overall Group materiality
How we determined it
Rationale for the materiality 
benchmark applied

€ 28.2 million
5% of profit before tax
We chose profit before tax as the benchmark because, in our view, it is the benchmark against 
which the performance of the Group is most commonly measured, and it is a generally accepted 
benchmark

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them misstatements above €1.0 million identified during our audit as well as 
any misstatements below that amount which, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial 
statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

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Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessment
Key audit matter
Refer to Note 13 for intangible assets including goodwill.

Goodwill and indefinite‑lived intangible assets as at 31 December 
2017 amount to €1,621.2 million and €199,9 million, respectively.

The above noted amounts have been allocated to individual 
cash‑generating units (‘CGUs’). The impairment assessment must 
be performed at least annually and involves the determination of the 
recoverable amount, being the higher of the value‑in‑use and the 
fair value less costs to dispose. 

This area was a key matter for our audit due to the size of goodwill 
and indefinite‑lived intangible assets and because the determination 
of whether elements of goodwill and of indefinite‑lived intangible 
assets are impaired involves complex and subjective estimates and 
judgements by management about the future results of the CGUs. 
These estimates and judgements include assumptions surrounding 
revenue growth rates, direct costs, foreign exchange rates and 
discount rates. 

Furthermore, macroeconomic volatility, competitor activity and 
regulatory/fiscal developments can adversely affect each CGU and 
potentially the carrying amount of goodwill and indefinite‑lived 
intangible assets.

No impairment charge was recorded in 2017. Goodwill and franchise 
agreements held by the Nigeria CGU have been determined by 
management to remain sensitive to changes in the key drivers of 
cash flow forecasts given the macroeconomic volatility in Nigeria.

Uncertain tax positions
Key audit matter
Refer to Note 10 for taxation and Note 28 for contingencies.

The Group operates in a complex multinational tax environment 
which gives rise to uncertain tax positions in relation to corporation 
tax, transfer pricing and indirect taxes. As at 31 December 2017, the 
Group has current tax liabilities of €97.5 million which include €69.2 
million of provisions for tax uncertainties.

The Group establishes provisions based on management’s 
judgements of the probable amount of the liability. Given the 
number of judgements involved in estimating the provisions relating 
to uncertain tax positions and the complexities of dealing with tax 
rules and regulations in numerous jurisdictions, this was considered 
as a key audit matter.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We evaluated the appropriateness of management’s identification 
of Group’s CGUs and the process by which management prepared 
the CGUs value‑in‑use calculations which we found to be 
satisfactory for the purposes of our audit. We tested the 
mathematical accuracy of the CGUs value‑in‑use calculations and 
compared them to the latest budget approved by the Directors and 
assessed the quality of the budgeting process by comparing the 
prior year budget with actual data.

With the support of our valuation specialists, we challenged 
management’s analysis around the key drivers of cash flow 
forecasts including selling price increases, short‑term and long‑
term volume growth and the level of direct costs by comparing them 
with either the Group’s historical information or market data, as 
appropriate. We also evaluated the appropriateness of other key 
assumptions including discount rates and foreign exchange rates 
by comparing them to relevant market data. We found the 
assumptions to be consistent and in line with our expectations.

We also performed sensitivity analyses on the key drivers of cash 
flow forecasts for the CGUs with significant balances of goodwill and 
indefinite‑lived intangible assets as well as for CGUs which remain 
sensitive to changes in the key drivers, including the goodwill and 
franchise agreements held by the Nigeria CGU. 

We assessed the appropriateness and completeness of the related 
disclosures in Note 13, and consider them to be reasonable. 
As a result of our work, we found that the determination by 
management that no impairment was required for goodwill and 
indefinite‑lived intangible assets was supported by assumptions 
within reasonable ranges.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We evaluated the related accounting policy for provisioning for tax 
exposures and found it to be appropriate.

In conjunction with our tax specialists, we evaluated management’s 
judgements in respect of estimates of tax exposures and 
contingencies in order to assess the adequacy of the Group’s tax 
provisions. In order to understand and evaluate management’s 
judgements, we considered the status of current tax authority 
audits and enquiries, the outcome of previous tax authority audits, 
judgemental positions taken in tax returns and current year 
estimates and recent developments in the tax environments in 
which the Group operates. 

We challenged management’s key assumptions, in particular on 
cases where there had been significant developments with tax 
authorities, noting no significant deviation from our expectations.

From the evidence obtained and in the context of the consolidated 
financial statements, taken as a whole, we consider the provisions 
in relation to uncertain tax positions as at 31 December 2017 
to be appropriate.

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Provisions and contingent liabilities
Key audit matter
Refer to Note 20 for provisions and Note 28 for contingencies.

The Group faces a number of threatened and actual legal and 
regulatory proceedings. The determination of the provision and/or 
the level of disclosure required involves a high degree of judgement 
resulting in provisions and contingent liabilities being considered 
as a key audit matter.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We evaluated the design of and tested key controls in respect 
of litigation and regulatory procedures, which we found to be 
satisfactory for the purposes of our audit.

Our procedures included the following:

 – where relevant, reading external legal advice obtained by 

management;

 – discussing open matters with the Group general counsel;
 – meeting with local management and reading subsequent 

correspondence;

 – assessing and challenging management’s conclusions through 

understanding precedents set in similar cases; and 

 – circularising relevant third‑party legal representatives and follow 
up discussions, where appropriate, on certain material cases.

On the basis of the work performed, whilst noting the inherent 
uncertainty with such legal and regulatory matters, we determined 
the relevant provisions as at 31 December 2017 to be appropriate. 

We assessed the appropriateness of the related disclosures in Note 
28 and considered these to be reasonable.

Other information in the annual report
The Board of Directors is responsible for the other information in the annual report. The other information comprises all information 
included in the annual report, but does not include the consolidated financial statements, the stand‑alone financial statements and the 
remuneration report of Coca‑Cola HBC AG and our auditor’s reports thereon.

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information in the annual report and we do not express 
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information in the annual report 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our 
knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude 
that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors for the consolidated financial statements
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in 
accordance with IFRS and the provisions of Swiss law, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors determines is necessary 
to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as 
a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 
Board of Directors either intends to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

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Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level 
of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Swiss law, ISAs and Swiss Auditing Standards will always 
detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually 
or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these 
consolidated financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated financial statements is located at the website of 
EXPERTsuisse: http://expertsuisse.ch/en/audit-report-for-public-companies. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal control system exists 
which has been designed for the preparation of consolidated financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.

We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved.

PricewaterhouseCoopers AG

Michael Foley
Audit expert 
Auditor in change

Lausanne, 16 March 2018

Laura Bucur

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Report of the statutory auditor
to the General Meeting of
Coca‑Cola HBC AG
Steinhausen/Zug

Report on the audit of the financial statements

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Coca‑Cola HBC AG, which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2017, Income 
Statement and Notes for the year then ended, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the financial statements (pages 207 to 217) as at 31 December 2017 comply with Swiss law and the Company’s articles 
of incorporation. 

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those provisions and 
standards are further described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements” section of our report.

We are independent of the entity in accordance with the provisions of Swiss law and the requirements of the Swiss audit profession and we 
have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained 
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Our audit approach

Overview

Overall materiality: CHF 42.6 million, which represents 0.5% of net assets.

We tailored the scope of our audit in order to perform sufficient work to enable us to provide an opinion 
on the financial statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the entity, the accounting 
processes and controls, and the industry in which the entity operates.

Materiality

As key audit matter, consistent with the prior year, the following area of focus has been identified:

 – Valuation of investment in subsidiary

Audit scope

Key audit 
matters

Audit scope
We designed our audit by determining materiality and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. In particular, 
we considered where subjective judgements were made; for example, in respect of significant accounting estimates that involved making 
assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of our audits, we also addressed the risk of management 
override of internal controls, including among other matters consideration of whether there was evidence of bias that represented a risk 
of material misstatement due to fraud.

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Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. Our audit opinion aims to provide reasonable assurance that the 
financial statements are free from material misstatement. Misstatements may arise due to fraud or error. They are considered material if, 
individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the 
financial statements.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined certain quantitative thresholds for materiality, including the overall materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole as set out in the table below. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the 
scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually 
and in aggregate, on the financial statements as a whole.

Overall materiality
How we determined it
Rationale for the materiality 
benchmark applied

CHF 42.6 million
0.5% of net assets
We chose net assets as the benchmark because, in our view, it is the benchmark which reflects the 
actual substance of the entity. This is a generally accepted benchmark for ultimate holding entities.

Report on key audit matters based on the circular 1/2015 of the Federal Audit Oversight Authority
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements 
of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our 
opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Valuation of investment in subsidiary
Key audit matter
See Note 1 and 2.2 to the financial statements of the Company for 
the Directors’ disclosures of the related accounting policy and the 
detailed information on the valuation of the investment in subsidiary.

The investment in subsidiary as at 31 December 2017 amounts 
to CHF 8,501 million.

The valuation of the investment in subsidiary is inherently a matter 
of judgement as it relies on forecasts of future profitability and cash 
flows. Macroeconomic volatility, competitor activity and regulatory/
fiscal developments can adversely affect each underlying cash 
– generating unit and potentially the carrying amount the 
total investments. 

The Company’s market capitalization is subject to share 
price volatility. 

Management test the carrying value of the Company’s investment 
annually by comparing the market capitalisation of the group with 
the carrying value of the investment.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter
We reperformed the market capitalisation comparison test 
performed by management

In addition, we took comfort from the evidence obtained while 
reviewing management’s goodwill impairment analysis performed 
for the purposes of the IFRS consolidated financial statements.

As a result of our work, we found management’s assumptions 
and their determination that no impairment was required to be 
reasonable, after having reflected the reduction of the investment 
to reflect the dividend received from Coca Cola HBC Holdings B.V. 
of CHF 203.4 million.

Responsibilities of the Board of Directors for the financial statements
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the provisions of Swiss law and the 
Company’s articles of incorporation, and for such internal control as the Board of Directors determines is necessary to enable the 
preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors 
either intends to liquidate the entity or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

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Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level 
of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards will always detect 
a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the 
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial 
statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the website of EXPERTsuisse: 
http expertsuisse.ch/en/audit-report-for-public-companies. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
In accordance with article 728a paragraph 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm that an internal control system 
exists which has been designed for the preparation of financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.

We further confirm that the proposed appropriation of available earnings complies with Swiss law and the Company’s articles 
of incorporation. We recommend that the financial statements submitted to you be approved.

PricewaterhouseCoopers AG

Michael Foley
Audit expert 
Auditor in change

Zürich, 16 March 2018

Laura Bucur

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Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s financial statements, Zug

Balance sheet

ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Short‑term receivables from direct and indirect participations
Short‑term receivables from third parties
Prepaid expenses and accrued income
Total current assets
Investments in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment
Total non-current assets
Total assets

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Trade payables due to third parties
Short‑term liabilities to direct and indirect participations
Short‑term interest‑bearing liabilities to direct and indirect participations
Accrued expenses
Total short-term liabilities
Long‑term interest‑bearing liabilities to indirect participations
Provisions
Total long-term liabilities
Share capital
Legal capital reserves

Reserves from capital contributions
Reserves for treasury shares

Retained earnings

Results carried forward
Loss for the year

Treasury shares
Total shareholders’ equity
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

Note 

As at 31 December

CHF thousands 

2017 

2016 

2.1

2.2

2.3
2.3
2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.6
2.7

601
37,673
1,126
37
39,437
8,501,197
1,296
8,502,493
8,541,930

1,170
2,168
117
20,002
23,457
–
65
65
2,484,112

1,648
7,354
763
–
9,765
8,704,582
1,465
8,706,047
8,715,812

806
3,493
2,142
15,605
22,046
68,446
–
68,446
2,456,492

5,824,716
85,298

5,948,183
85,298

137,297
(11,065)
(1,950)
8,518,408
8,541,930

144,617
(7,320)
(1,950)
8,625,320
8,715,812

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SWISS STATUTORY REPORTING CONTINUED

Statement of income 

Dividend income
Other operating income
Total operating income

Employee costs
Other operating expenses
Write down of investments
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Total operating expenses

Operating loss

Finance income
Finance costs

Loss before tax
Direct taxes

Loss for the year

 Note

Year ended 31 December

CHF thousands 

2.8

2.2

2017
203,385
34,420
237,805

(27,463)
(15,719)
(203,385)
(197)
(246,764)

2016
160,395
25,333
185,728

(14,728)
(17,198)
(160,395)
(213)
(192,534)

(8,959)

(6,806)

–
(1,835)

(10,794)
(271)

3,568
(3,790)

(7,028)
(292)

(11,065)

(7,320)

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Notes to the financial statements of Coca‑Cola HBC AG, Zug

Introduction
Coca‑Cola HBC AG (‘the Company’) was incorporated on 19 September 2012 by Kar‑Tess Holding. On 11 October 2012, the Company 
announced a voluntary share exchange offer to acquire all outstanding ordinary registered shares and all American depositary shares of 
Coca‑Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A., Maroussi (GR) (‘CCHBC SA’). As a result of the successful completion of this offer, on 25 April 
2013 the Company acquired 96.85% of the issued CCHBC SA shares, including shares represented by American depositary shares, and 
became the new parent company of the Group (the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries). On 17 June 2013, the Company 
completed its statutory buyout of the remaining shares of CCHBC SA that it did not acquire upon completion of its voluntary share 
exchange offer.

1. Accounting principles

Accounting principles applied in the preparation of the financial statements

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions of commercial accounting as set out in the Swiss Code 
of Obligations (Art. 957 to 963b CO). Significant accounting and valuation principles are described below: 

Dividend income

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

Other operating income

The Company provides management services to its principal subsidiaries and acts as guarantor to its principal subsidiary, Coca‑Cola HBC 
Finance B.V. The income from these services is recognised in the accounting period in which the service is provided.

Exchange rate differences

The accounting records of the Company are retained in Euro and translated to Swiss francs (CHF) for presentation purposes. Except for 
investments in subsidiaries, property, plant and equipment, long‑term liabilities and equity, which are translated at historical rates, all assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into CHF using the closing exchange rate as at 31 December 2017. Income 
and expenses are translated into CHF at the average exchange rate of the reporting year except for dividend income and related write 
down of investments (see note 2.2) which are valued at transaction date exchange rate. Net unrealised exchange losses are recorded in 
the income statement, while net unrealised gains are deferred within accrued liabilities.

Exchange rates
EUR
USD
GBP

Investments in subsidiaries

Balance sheet as at

Income statement for the year ended

31 December 2017
1.17
0.99
1.32

31 December 2016  
1.07  
1.03  
1.26  

31 December 2017
1.11

31 December 2016
1.09

Investments in subsidiaries are valued at historical cost and evaluated for impairment if identified triggering events occur. 

Property, plant and equipment

Depreciation is calculated on the basis of the following useful lives and in accordance with the following methods:

Property, plant and equipment
Leasehold improvement (building)
Leasehold improvement (office infrastructure)
Building infrastructure
Furniture and fixtures, office equipment and other tangible fixed assets
Telephony infrastructure
Communication equipment, computers and PCs
Tablets

Treasury shares

Method
Useful life
5% linear
20 years
10% linear
10 years
8.33% linear
12 years
8 years
12.5% linear
7 years 14.29% linear
4 years
25% linear
3 years 33.33% linear

Treasury shares are recognised at acquisition cost and deducted from shareholders’ equity at the time of acquisition. If treasury shares are 
sold, the gain or loss arising is recognised in the income statement as finance income or finance cost as appropriate.

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2. Information relating to the balance sheet and statement of income

2.1. Short-term receivables from direct and indirect participations
The short‑term receivables from direct and indirect participations do not bear interest. 

Name of participation 
Coca‑Cola HBC Schweiz AG, Brüttisellen
CCB Management Services GmbH, Vienna
Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V., Amsterdam
LLC Coca‑Cola Eurasia, Nizhni Novgorod
Coca‑Cola HBC Business Services Organisation, Sofia
Short-term receivables from direct and indirect participations

2.2. Investments in subsidiaries

Direct subsidiary
Coca‑Cola HBC Holdings B.V., Amsterdam1
Write down of investment
Investments in subsidiaries

As at 31 December

CHF thousands 

2017 
14
16,076
21,583
–
–
37,673

2016
–
6,631
703
15
5
7,354

Share of capital
100%

Share of votes
100%

100%

100%

As at 31 December

CHF thousands 

2017
8,704,582
(203,385)
8,501,197

2016
8,864,977
(160,395)
8,704,582

1.  Coca‑Cola HBC Holdings B.V., Amsterdam was incorporated on 26 June 2013.

In 2015 the Company adopted a practice to reduce the value of its investment in Coca‑Cola HBC Holdings B.V. by an amount equal to the 
dividend received from that subsidiary. The amount of the write down in 2017 is equal to the dividend received in July 2017 from Coca‑Cola 
HBC Holdings B.V. of CHF203,385 thousand. 

The principal direct and indirect participations of the Company are disclosed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

2.3. Short-term liabilities to direct and indirect participations and accrued expenses
The short‑term liabilities to the direct and indirect participations do not bear interest except for the liability to Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. 
which is interest bearing.

Name of participation
CCB Management Services GmbH, Vienna
Coca‑Cola Hellenic Business Service Organisation, Sofia
Coca‑Cola HBC Srbija d.o.o., Belgrade
Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. Amsterdam
Coca‑Cola HBC Services, Athens
Coca‑Cola HBC Northern Ireland Ltd., Lisburn
Total short-term non interest-bearing liabilities to direct and indirect participations

Name of participation
Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V., Amsterdam
Total short-term interest-bearing liabilities to direct and indirect participations

Accrued expenses 
Direct taxes
Employee related costs (Management incentive plan and vesting of Performance Shares)
Employee related costs (social security & insurance, payroll taxes)
Other accrued expenses
Net unrealised gains from foreign currency translation 
Total accrued expenses 

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As at 31 December

CHF thousands 

2017 
1,865
50
146
89
–
18
2,168

2017
117
117

2017
359
15,963
1,734
1,205
741
20,002

2016
2,820
4
–
647
17
5
3,493

2016 
2,142
2,142

2016 
313 
2,848
1,149
2,360
8,935
15,605

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee related costs (Management incentive plan and vesting of Performance Shares) as at 31 December 2017 includes an accrual 
of CHF 12,2 million due to the accelerated vesting of the former CEO’s Performance Share Plan of estimated net 374,152 shares 
at GBP 24.64 per share.

2.4. Long-term interest-bearing liabilities to indirect participations

Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V., Amsterdam

As at 31 December

CHF thousands 

2017 
–

2016
68,446

Long‑term interest‑bearing liabilities comprise loans from Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. On 13 August 2015 the Company entered into 
interest bearing long‑term loan agreements with Coca‑Cola Finance B.V. with a nominal amount of EUR 66,000 thousand and maturing on 
31 December 2019. The loan was fully repaid on 28 December 2017.

2.5. Share capital

Share capital as at 1 January 2016
Cancellation of shares 1
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options
Share capital as at 31 December 2016

Share capital as at 1 January 2017
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options
Share capital as at 31 December 2017

Number of shares

Nominal value

Total

368,141,297
(3,000,000)
1,499,341
366,640,638

CHF
6.70
6.70
6.70
6.70

CHF thousands
2,466,547
(20,100)
10,045
2,456,492

Number of shares

Nominal value

Total

366,640,638
4,122,401
370,763,039

CHF
6.70
6.70
6.70

CHF thousands
2,456,492
27,620
2,484,112

2.6. Treasury shares
The number of treasury shares held by Coca‑Cola HBC AG and its subsidiaries qualifying under article 659b SCO and their movements are 
as follows:

Treasury shares (held by subsidiaries)

Total treasury shares at 31 December 2016

Number of shares

Acquisition cost 
per share

Total

3,430,135

CHF
24.8673

CHF thousands
85,298

Total treasury shares at 31 December 2017

3,430,135

24.8673

85,298

Treasury shares held by the Company 

Treasury shares held by the Company as at 1 January 2016
Cancellation of shares1
Treasury shares held by Coca-Cola HBC AG as at 31 December 2016
Treasury shares held by Coca-Cola HBC AG as at 31 December 2017

Number of shares

Acquisition cost
per share

3,014,925
(3,000,000)
14,925
14,925

CHF
21.8404
21.2990
130.6600
130.6600

Total

CHF thousands
(65,847)
63,897
(1,950)
(1,950)

1.  On 23 June 2015, the Annual General Meeting adopted a proposal to buy‑back of up to 3,000,000 ordinary shares. The programme started on 17 August 2015 and 
was completed on 21 December 2015. The Company purchased 3,000,000 of its ordinary shares of CHF 6.70 each at an average price of GBP 1,407.53 per share 
(minimum price of GBP 1,284.67 and maximum price of GBP 1,548.45). On 21 June 2016, the Annual General Meeting approved the proposal to reduce the share 
capital of Coca-Cola HBC AG by cancelling the 3,000,000 treasury shares acquired as part of the share buy-back programme described above. The respective 
reduction of the share capital was completed in September 2016.

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2. Information relating to the balance sheet and statement of income continued

2.7. Equity

Share capital

Legal capital reserves

Retained earnings

Treasury shares

Total

Balance as at 1 January 2016
Shares issued to employees exercising 
stock options
Dividends 
Cancellation of shares
Loss for the year
Balance as at 31 December 2016

Balance as at 1 January 2017
Shares issued to employees exercising 
stock options
Dividends2
Loss for the year
Balance as at 31 December 2017

Reserves from 
capital 
contributions

Reserves for
treasury shares1

CHF thousands

2,466,547

6,137,760

85,298  

144,617

(65,847)

8,768,375

10,045
–
(20,100)
–
2,456,492

13,462
(159,242)
(43,797)
–
5,948,183

–  
–  
–  
–  
85,298  

–
–
–
(7,320)
137,297

–
–
63,897
–
(1,950)

23,507
(159,242)
–
(7,320)
8,625,320

2,456,492

5,948,183

85,298  

137,297

(1,950)

8,625,320

27,620
–
–
2,484,112

53,368
(176,835)
–
5,824,716

–  
–  
–  
85,298  

–
–
(11,065)
126,232

–
–
–
(1,950)

80,988
(176,835)
(11,065)
8,518,408

1.  Represents the book value of treasury shares held by subsidiaries.
2.  On 21 June 2017 the shareholders of the Company at the Annual General Meeting approved the distribution of a €0.44 dividend per each ordinary registered share. 

The dividend was paid on 25 July 2017 and amounted to CHF 176,835 thousand.

2.8. Other operating income

Management fees
Guarantee fee
Total other operating income 

2017

2016

CHF thousands

31,763
2,657
34,420

22,383
2,950
25,333

Management fees relate to service income earned from services provided to the Company‘s direct and indirect participations. 

Guarantee fee is the income the Company receives for the services provided as guarantor to Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V.

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3. Other information

3.1. Net release of hidden reserves
No hidden reserves were released for the years ended 31 December 2017 or 31 December 2016.

3.2. Number of employees
In 2017 and 2016 on an annual average basis, the number of full‑time equivalent employees did not exceed 50.

3.3. Operating lease liabilities (not terminable or expiring within 12 months of balance sheet date)

Office rental, Turmstrasse 26, Zug
Total lease liabilities 

3.4. Contingent liabilities

Euro medium-term note programmes

Residual term (years)

2017

1 to 5 year  

CHF thousands
–
–

2016

500
500

In June 2013 the Group established a new €3.0bn Euro medium‑term note programme (the ‘EMTN Programme’). The EMTN Programme 
was updated in September 2014 and then again in September 2015. Notes are issued under the EMTN Programme through the 
Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V., a private limited liability company established under the laws of the 
Netherlands, and are guaranteed by the Company. 

On 18 June 2013 Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. issued €800m 2.375% notes due 18 June 2020 under the EMTN Programme, which are 
guaranteed by the Company.

On 10 March 2016 Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. issued €600m 1.875% notes due 11 November 2024 under the EMTN Programme, which 
are guaranteed by the Company.

As at 31 December 2017, a total of €1.4bn in notes issued under the EMTN Programme were outstanding.

The EMTN Programme has not been updated since September 2015 so further issues under the EMTN Programme are currently not 
possible pending a further update.

Syndicated multi-currency revolving credit facility

In June 2015, a new syndicated multi‑currency revolving credit facility agreement was signed for €500m. Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. 
is the original borrower, ING Bank N.V., London Branch the facility agent and the Company and Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V are the 
two guarantors.

Commercial paper programme 

In October 2013 the Group established a new €1.0bn Euro commercial paper programme (the ‘CP Programme’). The CP Programme was 
updated in September 2014 and then again in May 2017. Notes are issued under the CP Programme by Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. and 
guaranteed by the Company. The outstanding amount under the CP Programme was €120m as at 31 December 2017 (2016: €108.5m).

Credit support provider

On 18 July 2013 the Company signed as credit support provider to Deutsche Bank AG, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, Credit Suisse 
International, Credit Suisse AG, ING Bank N.V., Societe Generale, Merrill Lynch International and to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc in favour 
of Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreements.1

On 24 July 2013 the Company signed as credit support provider to the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, in favour of 
Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 8 August 2013 the Company signed as credit support provider to Citibank N.A. in favour of CCHBC Bulgaria AD for the obligations as 
defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 8 August 2013 the Company signed as credit support provider to Citibank N.A. in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the 
obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 24 June 2014 the Company signed as credit support provider to Intesa Sanpaolo S.pA. in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the 
obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

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3.4. Contingent liabilities continued
On 5 October 2015 the Company signed as credit support provider to Macquarie Bank International Limited in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC 
Finance B.V. for the obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 22 June 2016 the Company signed as credit support provider to UniCredit Bank AG in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the 
obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 31 August 2016 the Company signed as credit support provider to BNP Paribas in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC Finance B.V. for the 
obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 1 November 2017 the Company signed as credit support provider to Goldman Sachs Global International in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC 
Finance B.V. for the obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

On 22 December 2017 the Company signed as credit support provider to Citigroup Global Markets Limited in favour of Coca‑Cola HBC 
Finance B.V. for the obligations as defined in the ISDA Master Agreement.1

1.  The ISDA (International Swap Dealers Association) Master Agreement is a standardised form issued by the International Swap Dealers Association Inc. to be used for 

credit support transactions.

3.5. Significant shareholders
As at 31 December 2017 and 2016, there were two shareholders exceeding the threshold of 5% voting rights in the Company’s 
share capital.

Total Kar‑Tess Holding
Total Kar‑Tess Holding
Total shareholdings related to The Coca‑Cola Company
Total shareholdings related to The Coca‑Cola Company

Date  Number of shares
85,355,019
85,355,019
85,112,078
85,112,078

31.12.2016
31.12.2017
31.12.2016
31.12.2017

Percentage of 
issued share
capital1
23.3%
23.0%
23.2%
23.0%

Percentage of 
outstanding share
capital2
23.5%
23.2%
23.4%
23.2%

1.  Basis: total issued share capital including treasury shares. Share basis 370,763,039 as at 31 December 2017 (2016: 366,640,638).
2.  Basis: total issued share capital excluding treasury shares. Share basis 367,317,979 as at 31 December 2017 (2016: 363,195,578).

3.6. Shareholdings, conversion and option rights
The table below sets out a comparison of the interests in the Company’s total issued share capital that the members of the Board of 
Directors (‘Directors’) and Operating Committee hold (all of which, unless otherwise stated, are beneficial interests or are interests of a 
person connected with a Director or a member of the Operating Committee) and the interests in the Company’s share capital.

31 December 2017

31 December 2016

Number of shares

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital1

Percentage of 
outstanding 
share capital2  

Number of shares

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital1

Percentage of 
outstanding
share capital2

Directors
Anastassis G. David3
Dimitris Lois
Zoran Bogdanovic10 
Ahmet C. Bozer
Olusola (Sola) David‑Borha
William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Charlotte J. Boyle4
Antonio D’Amato5
Reto Francioni
Anastasios I. Leventis6
Christo Leventis7
José Octavio Reyes
Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Robert Ryan Rudolph
John P. Sechi

–
57,379
19,869
–
–
10,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
0.02%
0.01%
–
–
0.00%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–  
0.02%  
0.01%  
–  
–  
0.00%  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

–
49,142
16,817
–
–
10,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
0.01%
0.00%
–
–
0.00%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
0.01%
0.00%
–
–
0.00%
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

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Operating Committee
Alain Brouhard 
Jan Gustavsson
Keith Sanders
Martin Marcel
Michalis Imellos 
Naya Kalogeraki
Sanda Parezanovic
Sotiris Yannopoulos 

31 December 2017

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital1

Percentage of 
outstanding share 

capital2  

Number of shares

31 December 2016

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital1

Percentage of 
outstanding share 
capital2

Number of shares

17,304
56,633
28,555
9,171
16,650
1,755
2,236
12,385

0.00%
0.02%
0.01%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

0.00%  
0.02%  
0.01%  
0.00%  
0.00%  
0.00%  
0.00%  
0.00%  

14,534
53,027
27,125
5,824
14,649
355
1,477
10,377

0.00%
0.01%
0.01%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

0.00%
0.01%
0.01%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%

The following table sets out information regarding the stock options and performance shares held by members of the Operating 
Committee as at 31 December 2017:

Stock options (‘ESOP’)

Performance shares (‘PSP’)

Dimitris Lois8, 9
Alain Brouhard 
Jan Gustavsson 
Keith Sanders 
Martin Marcel
Michalis Imellos
Naya Kalogeraki
Sanda Parezanovic 
Sotiris Yannopoulos 
Zoran Bogdanovic 

Number of
stock options
–
320,000
726,000
499,000
178,000
286,500
45,000
48,500
150,500
236,750

Already
vested
–
320,000
726,000
499,000
178,000
286,500
45,000
48,500
150,500
236,750

Vesting at the 

end of 2018  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  
–  

Granted in
2017
128,421
24,214
27,211
26,552
23,255
30,148
20,378
20,858
23,675
25,473

Unvested and 
subject to 
performance 
conditions
426,773
81,275
91,190
88,945
76,571
100,755
43,189
62,646
78,144
84,841

Vested
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

1.  Basis: total issued share capital including treasury shares. Share basis 370,763,039 as at 31 December 2017 (2016: 366,640,638).
2.  Basis: total issued share capital excluding treasury shares. Share basis 367,317,979 as at 31 December 2017 (2016: 363,195,578).
3.  Anastassis David is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar‑Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 823,008 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.

4.  Charlotte J. Boyle was appointed to the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017.
5.  Antonio D’ Amato retired from the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017.
6.  Anastasios I. Leventis is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar‑ Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 386,879 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.
(c) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Christodoulos Papaneokleus Leventis, of which 
Mervail Company (PTC) Limited is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 623,664 shares held by Carlcan Holding Limited.

7.  Christo Leventis is a beneficiary of:

(a) a private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Truad 
Verwaltungs AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to the 85,355,019 shares held by Kar‑ Tess Holding S.A.
(b) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Anastasios George Leventis, of which Selene 
Treuhand AG is the Trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 498,545 shares held by Selene Treuhand AG.
(c) a further private discretionary trust for the primary benefit of present and future members of the family of the late Christodoulos Papaneokleus Leventis, of which 
Mervail Company (PTC) Limited is the trustee, whereby he has an indirect interest with respect to 757,307 shares held by Carlcan Holding Limited.

8.  Dimitris Lois’ heirs exercised 1,700,000 options under ESOP between 2 October and 31 December 2017. 
9.  Following the passing of Dimitris Lois, the Remuneration Committee determined at its meeting in March 2018 that, in line with the terms of the PSP, PSP awards 
granted to Dimitris Lois in 2015, 2016 and 2017 should vest pro‑rated for time and performance up to 2 October 2017. PSP awards therefore vested over in 
aggregate 396,402 shares. The remainder of the shares subject to PSP awards granted to Dimitris Lois lapsed. The Remuneration Committee further determined 
that these awards should vest immediately to Dimitris Lois’ heirs.

10.  Zoran Bogdanovic will be formerly appointed to the Board of Directors at the next AGM in June 2018.

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SWISS STATUTORY REPORTING CONTINUED

3.7. Fees paid to the auditor
The audit and other fees paid to the auditor are disclosed in Note 8 of the consolidated financial statements.

3.8. Conditional capital
On 25 April 2013, the shareholders’ meeting agreed to the creation of conditional capital in the maximum amount of CHF 245,601 
thousand, through issuance of a maximum of 36,657 thousand fully paid‑in registered shares with a par value of CHF 6.70 each upon 
exercise of options issued to members of the Board of Directors, members of the management, employees or advisers of the Company, 
its subsidiaries and other affiliated companies. The share capital of CHF 2,484,112 thousand as disclosed in the balance sheet differs from 
the share capital in the commercial register of CHF 2,456,492 thousand as per 31 December 2017 due to the exercise of management 
options in the course of full year 2017.

Conditional capital
Agreed conditional capital as per shareholders’ meeting on 25 April 2013
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options until 31 December 2015
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options in 2016
Remaining conditional capital as at 31 December 2016
Shares issued to employees exercising stock options in 2017
Remaining conditional capital as at 31 December 2017

Number of shares
36,656,843
(1,650,152)
(1,499,341)
33,507,350
(4,122,401)
29,384,949

Book value per 
share CHF 
6.70
6.70
6.70
6.70
6.70
6.70

Total CHF 
thousand
245,601
(11,056)
(10,046)
224,499
(27,620)
196,879

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Proposed appropriation of available earnings and reserves / declaration of dividend

1. Proposed appropriation of available earnings
Available earnings and reserves
Balance brought forward from previous years
Net loss for the year
Total available retained earnings to be carried forward

Reserves from capital contributions before distribution
Total available retained earnings and reserves

CHF thousands
137,297
(11,065)
126,232

5,824,716
5,950,948

2. Proposed declaration of a dividend from reserves
The Board of Directors proposes to declare a gross dividend of EUR 0.54 on each ordinary registered share with a par value of CHF 6.70 
from the general capital contribution reserve. Own shares held directly by the Company are not entitled to dividends. The total aggregate 
amount of the dividends shall be capped at an amount of CHF 300,000 thousand (the ‘Cap’), and thus will reduce the general capital 
contribution reserve of CHF 5,824,716 thousand, as shown in the financial statements as of 31 December 2017, by a maximum of 
CHF 300,000 thousand. To the extent that the dividend calculated on EUR 0.54 per share would exceed the Cap on the day of the Annual 
General Meeting, due to the exchange rate determined by the Board of Directors in its reasonable opinion, the Euro per share amount 
of the dividend shall be reduced on a pro-rata basis so that the aggregate amount of all dividends paid does not exceed the Cap. Payment 
of the dividend shall be made at such time and with such record date as shall be determined by the Annual General Meeting and the Board 
of Directors.

3. Proposed appropriation of reserves/declaration of dividend

Variant 1: Dividend of EUR 0.54 at current exchange ratio
As of 31 December 2017
Reserves from capital contributions before distribution
Proposed dividend of EUR 0.541
Reserves from capital contributions after distribution

1. 

Illustrative at an exchange rate of CHF 1.18 per EUR. Assumes that the shares entitled to a dividend amount to 370,748,114.

Variant 2: Dividend if Cap is triggered
As of 31 December 2017
Reserves from capital contributions before distribution
(Maximum) dividend if Cap is triggered2
(Minimum) Reserves from capital contributions after distribution

2.  Dividend is capped at a total aggregate amount of CHF 300,000 thousand.

CHF thousands
5,824,716
(236,241)
5,588,475

CHF thousands
5,824,716
(300,000)
5,524,716

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SWISS STATUTORY REPORTING CONTINUED

Report of the statutory auditor
to the General Meeting
Coca‑Cola HBC AG
Steinhausen/Zug

Report of the statutory auditor on the statutory remuneration report
We have audited the accompanying remuneration report of Coca‑Cola HBC AG for the year ended 31 December 2017. The audit was 
limited to the information according to articles 14–16 of the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Stock Exchange Listed 
Companies (Ordinance) on pages 220 to 222 of the remuneration report.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The Board of Directors is responsible for the preparation and overall fair presentation of the remunera‑tion report in accordance with 
Swiss law and the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation in Stock Exchange Listed Companies (Ordinance). The Board of Directors 
is also responsible for designing the remuneration system and defining individual remuneration packages.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the accompanying remuneration report. We conducted our audit in accordance with 
Swiss Auditing Standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the remuner‑ation report complies with Swiss law and articles 14–16 of the Ordinance.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence on the disclosures made in the remu‑neration report with regard to 
compensation, loans and credits in accordance with articles 14–16 of the Ordinance. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s 
judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatements in the remuneration report, whether due to fraud or error. 
This audit also includes evaluating the reasonableness of the methods applied to value components of remuneration, as well as assessing 
the overall presentation of the remuneration report.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Opinion
In our opinion, the remuneration report of Coca‑Cola HBC AG for the year ended 31 December 2017 complies with Swiss law and articles 
14–16 of the Ordinance.

PricewaterhouseCoopers SA

Michael Foley
Audit expert 
Auditor in change

Lausanne, 16 March 2018

Laura Bucur

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Statutory Remuneration Report

Additional disclosures regarding the Statutory Remuneration Report

The section below is in line with the Ordinance against excessive pay in stock exchange listed companies, which requires disclosure of the 
elements of compensation paid to the Company’s Board of Directors and the Operating Committee. The numbers relate to the calendar 
years of 2017 and 2016. In the information presented below, the exchange rate used for conversion of 2017 remuneration data from Euro 
to CHF is 1/1.1202 and the exchange rate used for conversion of 2016 remuneration data from Euro to CHF is 1/1.0903.

As the Company is headquartered in Switzerland, it is required for statutory purposes to present compensation data for two consecutive 
years, 2016 and 2017. The applicable methodology used to calculate the value of stock option and performance shares follows Swiss 
standards. In 2017 and 2016, the fair value of performance shares from the 2017 and 2016 grants is calculated based on the performance 
share awards that are expected to vest, and not the stock options that vested in 2017 and 2016 respectively. Below is the relevant 
information for Swiss statutory purposes. 

Compensation for acting members of governing bodies

The Company‘s Directors believe that the level of remuneration offered to Directors and the members of the Operating Committee 
should reflect their experience and responsibility as determined by, among other factors, a comparison with similar multinational 
companies and should be sufficient to attract and retain high‑calibre Directors who will lead the Group successfully. In line with the Group‘s 
commitment to maximise shareholder value, its policy is to link a significant proportion of remuneration for its Operating Committee to the 
performance of the business through short and long‑term incentives. Therefore, the Operating Committee members’ financial interests 
are closely aligned with those of the Company’s shareholders through the equity‑related long‑term compensation plan.

The total remuneration of the Directors and members of the Operating Committee of the Company, including performance share grants, 
during 2017 amounted to CHF 22.5 million. Out of this, the amount relating to the expected value of performance share awards granted in 
relation to 2017 was CHF 7.3 million. Pension and post‑employment benefits for Directors and the Operating Committee of the Company 
during 2017 amounted to CHF 0.8 million. 

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Compensation of the Board of Directors

Anastassis G. David
Ahmet C. Bozer
Olusola (Sola) David‑Borha2
William W. (Bill) Douglas III
Antonio D’Amato 3
Charlotte J. Boyle4
Reto Francioni5
Anastasios I. Leventis
Christo Leventis6
José Octavio Reyes7
Alexandra Papalexopoulou
Robert Ryan Rudolph8
John P. Sechi
Dimitris Lois9
Total Board of Directors

Cash and
non-cash
benefits1
–
–
–
–
–
- 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2017 CHF

Cash
performance 
incentives
–
–
–
–
–
- 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Pension and 
post-employment 
benefits
–
–
–
–
–
- 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Total fair value of 
stock options at 
the date granted
–
–
–
–
–
- 
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Total 
compensation
78,411
78,411
101,285
109,216
45,366
45,366
122,678
90,733
80,790
89,693
103,055
84,605
93,869
–
1,123,478

Fees
78,411
78,411
101,285
109,216
45,366
45,366
122,678
90,733
80,790
89,693
103,055
84,605
93,869
–
1,123,478

1.  Allowances consist of cost of living allowance, housing support, Employee Share Purchase Plan, private medical insurance relocation expenses, home trip allowance, 

lump sum expenses and similar allowances.

2.  For Olusola (Sola) David‑Borha, on top of her fees of CHF 93,869, the Group paid CHF 7,416 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation.
3.  Antonio D’ Amato retired from the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017. The Group has applied 

a half-year period base fee of CHF 45,366.

4.  Charlotte J. Boyle was appointed to the Board of Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 20 June 2017. The Group has applied 

a half‑year period base fee of CHF 45,366.

5.  For Reto Francioni, on top of his fees of CHF 113,696, the Group paid CHF 8,982 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation.
6. 

In June 2017 social security contributions of CHF 2,379, withheld in December 2016, were returned to Christo Leventis, on top of his fees of CHF 78,411, as he was 
deemed not subject to Swiss social security.

7.  For José Octavio Reyes, on top of his fees of CHF 84,572, the Group paid CHF 5,121 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation.
8.  For Robert Ryan Rudolph, on top of his fees of CHF 78,411, the Group paid CHF 6,194 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation.
9.  Dimitris Lois’ compensation was based on his role as CEO, member of the Operating Committee Team, and his employment agreement. Dimitris Lois was not 

entitled and did not receive additional compensation as a Director.

Non‑Executive Directors do not participate in any of the Group’s incentive plans, nor do they receive any retirement benefits.

220

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

 
 
Compensation of the Board of Directors

Anastassis G. David
Ahmet C. Bozer2
George A. David3
Olusola (Sola) David‑Borha4
William W. (Bill) Douglas III5
Irial Finan6
Antonio D’Amato
Reto Francioni7
Sir Michael Llewellyn‑Smith8
Nigel Macdonald9
Anastasios I. Leventis10
Christo Leventis11
José Octavio Reyes12
Alexandra Papalexopoulou13
Robert Ryan Rudolph14
John P. Sechi15
Dimitris Lois16
Total Board of Directors

Cash and
non‑cash
benefits1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

2016 CHF

Cash
performance 
incentives
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Pension and 
post‑employment 
benefits
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Total fair value of 
stock options at the 
date granted
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

Total
compensation
73,490
37,555
–
94,712
52,310
35,935
84,920
58,738
52,522
49,757
43,457
40,509
85,435
90,822
40,509
87,805
–
928,476

Fees
73,490
37,555
–
94,712
52,310
35,935
84,920
58,738
52,522
49,757
43,457
40,509
85,435
90,822
40,509
87,805
–
928,476

1.  Allowances consist of cost of living allowance, housing support, Employee Share Purchase Plan, private medical insurance, relocation expenses, home trip allowance, 

lump sum expenses and similar allowances.

2.  Ahmet C. Bozer was appointed to the Board on 21 June 2016. The Group has applied a half‑year period base fee of CHF 37,555.
3.  George A. David retired from the Board and the Social Responsibility Committee on 21 June 2016. For the first half of 2016, George A. David waived any fee in 

respect to his membership on the Board of Directors or any Board Committee.

4.  For Olusola (Sola) David Borha, on top of the base fee of CHF 73,490 and Audit and Risk Committee membership fee of CHF 14,315, the Group paid CHF 6,907 in 

social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation.

5.  William W. (Bill) Douglas III was appointed to the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee on 21 June 2016. The Group has applied a half‑year period base fee of CHF 

37,555 and CHF 14,755 for the Audit and Risk Committee. 
Irial Finan retired from the Board on 21 June 2016. The Group has applied a half‑year period base fee of CHF 35,935.

6. 
7.  Reto Francioni was appointed to the Board, the Remuneration Committee and the Nomination Committee on 21 June 2016. For Reto Francioni on top of the fees 
of CHF 54,455 the Group paid CHF 4,283 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation. The Group has applied a half-year period base fee of CHF 
37,555, CHF 5,902 for the Nomination Committee, CHF 2,951 for the Remuneration Committee and CHF 8,047 for Senior Independent Director fee.

8.  Sir Michael Llewellyn‑Smith retired from the Board, the Remuneration Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Social Responsibility Committee on 21 June 
2016. For the first half of 2016, Sir Michael Llewellyn‑Smith waived his membership fee on the Social Responsibility Committee. The Group has applied a half‑year 
period fee of CHF 5,529 for the Nomination Committee Chairmanship, CHF 5,529 for the Remuneration Committee Chairmanship, CHF 5,529 for the Senior 
Independent Director fee and a CHF 35,935 base fee.

9.  Nigel Macdonald retired from the Board and the Audit and Risk Committee on 21 June 2016. The Group has applied a half‑year period fee of CHF 13,822 for the 

Audit and Risk Committee Chairmanship and a CHF 35,935 base fee.

10.  For Anastasios I. Leventis, the Group has applied a half‑year period base fee of CHF 37,555 and CHF 5,902 for the Social Responsibility Committee Chairmanship. 

For the first half of 2016, Anastasios I. Leventis waived any fee in respect to his membership on the Board of Directors or any Board Committee.

11.  For Christo Leventis, on top of the base fee of CHF 37,555, the Group paid CHF 2,954 in social security contributions as required by Swiss legislation. The Group has 
applied a half‑year period base fee of CHF 40,509. For the first half of 2016, Christo Leventis waived any fee in respect to his membership on the Board of Directors 
or any Board Committee.

12.  For José Octavio Reyes, on top of the base fee of CHF 73,490 and Social Responsibility Committee membership fee of CHF 5,715, the Group paid a social security 

contribution of CHF 6,230 as required by Swiss legislation.

13.  For Alexandra Papalexopoulou on top of the full year base fees of CHF 73,490 and CHF 5,715 for the Nomination Committee, the Group has applied a half‑year 

period fee of CHF 2,951 for the Social Responsibility Committee as required by Swiss legislation, a half year period membership fee of CHF 2,764 as member of the 
Remuneration Committee and a half‑year period fee of CHF 5,902 as Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

14.  Robert Ryan Rudolph was appointed to the Board on 21 June 2016. For Robert Ryan Rudolph, on top of the base half‑year fee of CHF 37,555, the Group paid, as 

required by Swiss legislation, a social security contribution of CHF 2,954.

15.  For John P. Sechi the Group has applied a full year period fee of CHF 14,315 for the Audit and Risk Committee membership and a CHF 73,490 base fee.
16.  Dimitris Lois’ compensation was based on his role as CEO and member of the Operating Committee, according to his employment contract. Dimitris Lois was not 

entitled to and did not receive additional compensation as a Director.

Non‑Executive Directors do not participate in any of the Group’s incentive plans, nor do they receive any retirement benefits.

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SWISS STATUTORY REPORTING CONTINUED

Compensation of the Operating Committee
The total remuneration paid to or accrued for the Operating Committee for 2017 amounted to CHF 22.5 million.

Dimitris Lois5, 6, Chief Executive Officer 
(highest compensated member of the 
Operating Committee)
Zoran Bogdanovic7, Chief Executive 
Officer
Other members
Total Operating Committee

Base salary

Cash and
non-cash 
benefits1

Cash
performance 
incentives2

Pension and 
post-employment 
benefits3

Total fair value of 
performance 
shares at the 
date granted4

Total 
compensation

2017 CHF

954,005

603,522

724,976

132,354

2,217,695

4,632,552

65,347
4,194,756
5,214,108

40,651
5,066,461
5,710,634

0
2,719,887
3,444,863

6,498
699,118
837,970

48,876
5,057,260
7,323,831

161,372
17,737,482
22,531,406

1.  Cash and non‑cash benefits consist of cost of living allowance, housing support, schooling, Employee Share Purchase Plan, private medical insurance, relocation 

expenses, home trip allowance, employer social security contributions, lump sum expenses and similar allowances.

2.  The cash performance incentives represent the monetary value that was paid under MIP in 2017 reflecting the 2016 business performance, inclusive of the value 

that was paid under LTIP in 2017 reflecting the 2014‑2016 business performance for Naya Kalogeraki, Marcel Martin and Sanda Parezanovic.

3.  Members of the Operating Committee participate in the pension plan of their employing entity, as appropriate.
4.  Values under long‑term incentives represent the fair value of performance shares that are expected to vest for the 2017 grant in order to comply with Swiss 

reporting guidelines.

5.  Dimitris Lois’ compensation was based on his role as CEO, member of the Operating Committee Team, and his employment agreement. Dimitris Lois was not 

entitled to and did not receive the fixed compensation applicable for non‑Executive Directors of the Board of Directors.

6.  Dimitris Lois’ compensation reflects the period 1 January to 2 October 2017 and includes 2 months’ payment made to the heirs as per Swiss law. Total fair value of 

performance shares at the date granted has been prorated for the period 1 January to 2 October 2017.

7.  Zoran Bogdanovic’s compensation as CEO reflects the period 7 December to 31 December 2017. His compensation for the period 1 January to 6 December 2017 
is included under “Other Members”. Total fair value of performance shares at the date granted has been prorated for the period 7 December to 31 December 2017.

The total remuneration paid to or accrued for the Operating Committee for 2016 amounted to CHF 26.6 million.

Dimitris Lois, Chief Executive Officer 
(highest compensated member of the 
Operating Committee)5
Other members6,7
Total Operating Committee

Base salary

Cash and
non‑cash
benefits1

Cash
performance
incentives2

Pension and 
post‑employment 
benefits3

Total fair value of 
stock options at the 

date granted4 Total compensation

2016 CHF

979,959
4,541,369
5,521,328

605,006
8,872,660
9,477,666

934,732
3,551,429
4,486,161

171,448
706,926
878,374

2,191,279
4,064,975
6,256,254

4,882,424
21,737,359
26,619,783

1.  Allowances consist of cost of living allowance, housing, support, schooling, Employee Share Purchase Plan, private medical insurance, relocation expenses, employer 

social security contributions, lump sum expenses and similar allowances.

2.  The bonus represents the monetary value that was paid under MIP in 2016 reflecting the 2015 business performance.
3.  Members of the Operating Committee participate in the pension plan of their employing entity, as appropriate.
4.  Values under long‑term incentives represent the fair value of performance shares that are expected to vest for the 2016 grant in order to comply with Swiss 

reporting guidelines. 

5.  Dimitris Lois’ compensation is based on his role as CEO and member of the Operating Committee, according to his employment contract. Dimitris Lois is not 

entitled to and does not receive the fixed compensation applicable for non‑Executive Directors of the Board of Directors.

6.  John Brady left the Group on 31 December 2016.
7.  Naya Kalogeraki was appointed to the role of Group Commercial Director on 1 July 2016.

Credits and loans granted to governing bodies
In 2017, there were no credits or loans granted to active or former members of the Company’s Board of Directors, members of the 
Operating Committee or to any related persons. There are no outstanding credits or loans.

222

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ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The Group uses certain Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) in making financial, operating and planning decisions as well as in 
evaluating and reporting its performance. These APMs provide additional insights and understanding to the Group’s underlying operating 
and financial performance, financial condition and cash flow. The APMs should be read in conjunction with and do not replace by any means 
the directly reconcilable IFRS line items.

Definitions and reconciliations of Alternative Performance Measures (APMs)

1. Comparable APMs1
In discussing the performance of the Group, “comparable” measures are used, which are calculated by deducting from the directly 
reconcilable IFRS measures the impact of the Group’s restructuring costs, the mark‑to‑market valuation of the commodity hedging 
activity and certain other tax items, which are collectively considered as items impacting comparability, due to their nature. More 
specifically the following items are considered as items that impact comparability:

1. Restructuring costs

Restructuring costs comprise costs arising from significant changes in the way the Group conducts business, such as significant supply 
chain infrastructure changes, outsourcing of activities and centralisation of processes. These costs are included within the income 
statement line ‘Operating expenses’. However, they are excluded from the comparable results in order for the user to obtain a better 
understanding of the Group’s operating and financial performance achieved from underlying activity.

2. Commodity hedging

The Group has entered into certain commodity derivative transactions in order to hedge its exposure to commodity price risk. Although 
these transactions are economic hedging activities that aim to manage our exposure to sugar, aluminium and gasoil price volatility, they 
do not qualify for hedge accounting. In addition, the Group recognises certain derivatives embedded within commodity purchase 
contracts that have been accounted for as stand‑alone derivatives and do not qualify for hedge accounting. The fair value gains and 
losses on the derivatives and embedded derivatives are immediately recognised in the income statement in the cost of goods sold and 
operating expenses line items. The Group’s comparable results exclude the gains or losses resulting from the mark‑to‑market valuation 
of these derivatives and embedded derivatives. These gains or losses are reflected in the comparable results in the year when the 
underlying transactions occur, to match the profit or loss to that of the corresponding underlying transactions. We believe this 
adjustment provides useful information related to the impact of our economic risk management activities.

3. Other tax items

Other tax items represent the tax impact of changes in income tax rates affecting the opening balance of deferred tax arising during the 
year, included in the Tax line item of the income statement. These are excluded from comparable after‑tax results in order for the user 
to obtain a better understanding of the Group’s underlying financial performance.

1.  Comparable APMs refer to comparable cost of goods sold, comparable gross profit, comparable operating expenses, comparable EBIT, comparable EBIT margin, 

comparable Adjusted EBITDA, comparable tax, comparable net profit and comparable EPS.

The Group discloses comparable performance measures to enable users to focus on the underlying performance of the business on a 
basis which is common to both years for which these measures are presented.

The reconciliation of comparable measures to the directly related measures calculated in accordance with IFRS is as follows:

Reconciliation of comparable financial indicators (numbers in € million except per share data)

As reported
Restructuring costs
Commodity hedging
Other tax items
Comparable

As reported
Restructuring costs
Commodity hedging
Other tax items
Comparable

Cost of
goods sold
(4,083)
–
3
–
(4,080)

Cost of
goods sold
(3,920)
–
(25)
–
(3,945)

Gross profit
2,439
–
3
–
2,443

Gross profit
2,299
–
(25)
–
2,274

Operating 
expenses
(1,849)
29
(1)
–
(1,822)

Operating 
expenses
(1,793)
38
(2)
–
(1,757)

2017

EBIT
590
29
2
–
621

2016

EBIT
506
38
(27)
–
518

Adjusted 
EBITDA
928
20
2
–
949

Adjusted 
EBITDA
846
20
(27)
–
839

Tax
(138)
(7)
(1)
–
(146)

Tax
(114)
(8)
8
(2)
(117)

Net profit1
426
22
1
–
450

Net profit1
344
30
(19)
(2)
352

EPS (€)
1.168
0.061
0.004
–
1.233

EPS (€)
0.949
0.082
(0.052)
(0.007)
0.972

Figures are rounded.
1.  Net profit and comparable net profit refer to net profit and comparable net profit respectively after tax attributable to owners of the parent.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Reconciliation of Comparable EBIT per reportable segment (numbers in € million)

EBIT
Restructuring costs
Commodity hedging
Comparable EBIT

EBIT
Restructuring costs
Commodity hedging
Comparable EBIT

Figures are rounded.

Established
238
13
(1)
250

Established
237
9
(4)
242

2017

Developing
92
2
(1)
92

2016

Developing
93
6
(2)
97

Emerging
260
14
4
278

Emerging
177
22
(21)
178

Consolidated
590
29
2
621

Consolidated
506
38
(27)
518

2. FX-neutral APMs
A business like ours, operating in 28 countries and with many different currencies, is bound to be affected by foreign exchange 
movements, and we report our financial results to reflect this. However, we manage the business against targets which are set to be 
comparable between years and within them, for otherwise foreign currency movements would undermine our ability to drive the business 
forward and control it. Through this Report, as in previous years, we will highlight comparable results and foreign‑exchange‑neutral results 
as well as the audited results which reflect the actual foreign currency effects experienced. It is through the relentless focus on managing 
by using comparable figures that we have succeeded in delivering significantly improved performance, although we recognise that in the 
shorter term currency movements may distort the underlying trends.

The Group therefore also evaluates its operating and financial performance on an FX‑neutral basis (i.e. without giving effect to the impact 
of variation of foreign currency exchange rates from year to year). FX‑neutral APMs are calculated by adjusting prior year amounts for the 
impact of exchange rates applicable to the current year. FX‑neutral measures enable users to focus on the performance of the business 
on a basis which is not affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates applicable to the Group’s operating activities from year to 
year. The most common FX-neutral measures used by the Group are:

1. FX‑neutral net sales revenue and FX‑neutral net sales revenue per unit case

FX‑neutral net sales revenue and FX‑neutral net sales revenue per unit case are calculated by adjusting prior‑year net sales revenue for 
the impact of changes in exchange rates applicable in the current year.

2. FX‑neutral comparable input costs per unit case

FX‑neutral comparable input costs per unit case is calculated by adjusting prior‑year commodity costs and more specifically, sugar, 
resin, aluminium and fuel commodity costs, excluding commodity hedging as described above; and other raw materials costs for the 
impact of changes in exchange rates applicable in the current year.

The calculations of the FX‑neutral APMs and the reconciliation to the most directly related measures calculated in accordance with IFRS 
are as follows:

Reconciliation of FX-neutral net sales revenue per unit case (numbers in € million unless otherwise stated)

Net sales revenue
Currency impact
FX‑neutral net sales revenue
Volume (m unit cases)
FX-neutral net sales revenue per unit case (€)

Net sales revenue
Currency impact
FX‑neutral net sales revenue
Volume (m unit cases)
FX‑neutral net sales revenue per unit case (€)

Figures are rounded.

224

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Established
2,436
–
2,436
613
3.97

Established
2,408
(15)
2,392
607
3.94

2017

Developing
1,173
–
1,173
394
2.98

2016

Developing
1,094
18
1,112
383
2.90

Emerging
2,912
–
2,912
1,097
2.66

Emerging
2,717
(64)
2,653
1,068
2.48

Consolidated
6,522
–
6,522
2,104
3.10

Consolidated
6,219
(62)
6,157
2,058
2.99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Other APMs

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adding back to operating profit the depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment, the 
amortisation and impairment of intangible assets, the employee share option and performance share costs and items, if any, reported in 
the line ‘Other non‑cash items’ of the consolidated cash flow statement. Adjusted EBITDA is intended to provide useful information to 
analyse the Group’s operating performance excluding the impact of operating non‑cash items as defined above. It is also intended to 
measure the level of financial leverage of the Group by comparing Adjusted EBITDA to Net debt.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of profitability and liquidity under IFRS and has limitations, some of which are as follows: Adjusted 
EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; Adjusted 
EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and although depreciation and amortisation are 
non‑cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortised will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not 
reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a 
measure of discretionary cash available to us and should be used only as a supplementary APM.

Free cash flow

Free cash flow is an APM used by the Group and defined as cash generated by operating activities after payments for purchases of 
property, plant and equipment net of proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment and including principal repayments of finance 
lease obligations. Free cash flow is intended to measure the cash generation from the Group’s business, based on operating activities, 
including the efficient use of working capital and taking into account its net payments for purchases of property, plant and equipment. 
The Group considers the purchase and disposal of property, plant and equipment as ultimately non-discretionary since ongoing 
investment in plant, machinery, technology and marketing equipment, including coolers, is required to support the day‑to‑day operations 
and the CCHBC Group’s growth prospects. The Group presents free cash flow because it believes the measure assists users of the 
financial statements in understanding the Group’s cash‑generating performance as well as availability for interest payment, dividend 
distribution and own retention. The free cash flow measure is used by management for its own planning and reporting purposes since it 
provides information on operating cash flows, working capital changes and net capital expenditure that local managers are most directly 
able to influence.

Free cash flow is not a measure of cash generation under IFRS and has limitations, some of which are as follows: free cash flow does not 
represent the Group’s residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since the Group has debt payment obligations that are 
not deducted from the measure; free cash flow does not deduct cash flows used by the Group in other investing and financing activities; 
and free cash flow does not deduct certain items settled in cash. Furthermore, other companies in the industry in which the Group 
operates may calculate free cash flow differently, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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Capital expenditure

The Group uses capital expenditure as an APM to ensure that its cash spending is in line with its overall strategy for the use of cash. Capital 
expenditure is defined as payments for purchases of property, plant and equipment plus principal repayments of finance lease obligations 
less proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment.

The following table illustrates how Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and capital expenditure are calculated:

Operating profit (EBIT)
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Employee share options and performance shares
Other non‑cash items included in operating income
Adjusted EBITDA
Gains on disposal of non‑current assets
Decrease in working capital
Tax paid
Net cash from operating activities

Payments for purchases of property, plant and equipment
Principal repayments of finance lease obligations
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Capital expenditure

Net cash from operating activities
Capital expenditure
Free cash flow

Figures are rounded.

Net debt

2017
€ million
590
317
21
–
927
(4)
9
(128)
804

(410)
(7)
39
(378)

804
(378)
426

2016
€ million
506
332
8
(1)
846
(3)
12
(92)
763

(348)
(20)
36
(332)

763
(332)
431

Net debt is an APM used by management to evaluate the Group’s capital structure and leverage. Net debt is defined as current borrowings 
plus non-current borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and time deposits classified as other financial assets, as illustrated below:

Current borrowings
Non‑current borrowings
Other financial assets – time deposits
Cash and cash equivalents
Net debt

Figures are rounded.

As at 31 December

2017
€ million
166
1,460
(151)
(724)
752

2016
€ million
157
1,468
–
(573)
1,051

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ASSURANCE STATEMENT

Independent Assurance Statement on the 2017 Integrated Annual Report 

To the management and stakeholders of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company AG:
denkstatt GmbH was commissioned by Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company AG (hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) to provide 
independent third‑party assurance, in accordance with the AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS) for the printed and downloadable 
pdf versions of the Company’s 2017 Integrated Annual Report (hereinafter referred to as “the Report”). We have reviewed all 
sustainability‑related content and data included in the Report. Financial data were not reviewed as part of this process. The assurance 
engagement covered the nature and extent of the Company’s incorporation of the principles of inclusivity, materiality and responsiveness 
for stakeholder dialogue contained in the AA1000 Series. The application level of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI Standards) has 
been verified. 

denkstatt is an independent professional services company. Our team of experts has extensive professional experience of assurance 
engagements related to non‑financial information and sustainability management, meaning it is qualified to conduct this independent 
assurance engagement. denkstatt has implemented a certified quality and environmental management system which complies with the 
requirements of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and accordingly maintains a comprehensive quality control system.

Management responsibilities
The Company’s management is responsible for preparing the Report, statements within it and related website content. Management 
is also responsible for identifying stakeholders and material issues, defining commitments with respect to sustainability performance, 
and establishing and maintaining appropriate performance management and internal control systems from which reported information 
is derived.

The Company’s management is also responsible for establishing data collection and internal control systems to ensure reliable reporting, 
specifying acceptable reporting criteria and selecting data to be collected for the purposes of the Report. Management responsibilities 
also extend to preparing the Report in accordance with the GRI Standards.

Assurance provider’s responsibilities
Our responsibilities are to:

 – express our conclusions and make recommendations on the nature and extent of the Company’s adherence to the AA1000 

Accountability Principles Standard (APS);

 – express our conclusions on the reliability of the information in the Report, and whether it is in accordance with the criteria in the 

GRI Standards.

During 2017 we did not perform any tasks or services for the Company or other clients which would lead to a conflict of interest, nor were 
we responsible for the preparation of any part of the Report. 

Scope, standards and criteria used
We have fulfilled our responsibilities to provide appropriate assurance that the information in the Report is free of material misstatements. 
We planned and carried out our work based on the GRI Standards and the AA1000 Series. We used the criteria in AA1000APS to perform 
a Type 2 engagement and to provide high assurance regarding the nature and extent of the Company’s adherence to the principles 
of inclusivity, materiality and responsiveness.

Methodology, approach, limitations and scope of work
We planned and carried out our work in order to obtain all the evidence, information and explanations that we considered necessary in 
relation to the above responsibilities. Our work included the following procedures, which involved a range of evidence‑gathering activities. 

 – Gathering information and conducting interviews with members of the Executive Management, staff from the Sustainability 

Department, the Human Resources Department, the Procurement Department, the Product Quality and Safety Department and 
the Public Affairs and Communication Department, as well as various Group-level functional managers, regarding the Company’s 
adherence to the principles of inclusivity, materiality, sustainability context, completeness and responsiveness as required by GRI and 
AA1000. This includes the commitment of the Company’s management to these principles, the existence of systems and procedures 
to support adherence to these principles, and the embedding of the principles at country level. The key topics of the interviews 
conducted at Group level were: the materiality process, employee wellbeing and engagement, corporate governance, business ethics 
and anti‑corruption, sustainable sourcing, responsible marketing, packaging, recycling and recovery, climate, carbon and water, as well 
as health and nutrition.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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 – Conducting further interviews at national headquarters in Belarus, Croatia, Cyprus, Italy, Nigeria, Romania and Russia in order 

to guarantee the completeness of the information required for the audit.

 – Site visits to nine bottling plants, with a focus on developing markets: 

 – Established markets: Kykkos (Cyprus), Marcianise (Italy)
 – Developing markets: Zagreb (Croatia)
 – Emerging markets: Vlanpak (Belarus), Ikeja, Owerri (both Nigeria), Ploiesti (Romania), Davydovskoe and Yekatarinburg (both Russia)

 – Making enquiries and conducting spot checks to assess implementation of the Company’s policies (at plant, country and 

corporate level).

 – Making enquiries and conducting spot checks with regard to documentation required to assess current data collection systems 

and procedures in place to ensure reliable and consistent reporting from the plants to the corporate level.

 – Conducting additional interviews with six representatives of the following external stakeholder groups: customers, academia, 

non‑governmental organisations and employee representatives. The interviews were conducted during the Joint Annual Stakeholder 
Forum of the Company and The Coca‑Cola Company in Vienna. 

 – Verifying all three inventory scopes (scopes 1, 2 and 3) as defined by the GHG Protocol, including progress against emission reduction 

targets, reported changes in emissions compared with base years (2004 and 2010) and emissions intensity figures for 2017.

 – Verifying the GRI content index, which was published separately to the Report, to ensure consistency with the requirements of the 

GRI Standards (comprehensive).

The scope of the assurance covered all of the information relevant to sustainability in the Report and focused on Company systems 
and activities during the reporting period. The following chapters were not covered in the sustainability assurance process:

 – Financial Statements, Supplementary Information, and Swiss Statutory Reporting.

Conclusions
On the basis of our work, we found nothing to suggest that the information in the Integrated Annual Report 2017 is inaccurate or 
contains material misstatements. Any errors or misstatements identified during the engagement were corrected prior to the Report 
being published.

Positive developments
 – As a member of the Union of European Soft Drinks Associations (UNESDA), CCHBC has developed a clear commitment regarding 

health and nutrition in EU countries and Switzerland to reduce sugar in sparkling soft drinks by 10% between 2015 and 2020. 
A sugar reduction of 5% was achieved in 2017 by realigning the portfolio in favour of sugar-free variants and re-formulations with 
lower sugar content.

 – CCHBC is signatory of the Task Force on Climate‑related Financial Disclosures, which develops voluntary, consistent climate‑related 

financial risk disclosures for use by companies to provide information to investors, lenders, insurers and other stakeholders.

 – CCHBC has made excellent progress in all environmental dimensions covering energy, carbon, water, packaging and waste. In addition, 

the internal carbon and water pricing system as well as top 10 support efficiency projects for water deserve to be mentioned. 
The documentation of environmental data is highly sophisticated in most operations.

 – Diversity and inclusion: CCHBC has developed a new Inclusion and Diversity Policy to ensure that diversity, which is essential to the 
Company, is properly implemented in the Group. For the Company, diversity and inclusion means being able to serve customers as 
effectively as possible. CCHBC strives to ensure that no one is treated inappropriately or disrespectfully in the workplace, which is why 
diversity and inclusion are also defined as core leadership values.

 – Sustainable sourcing: a third-party assessment tool was introduced in 2017 to evaluate CCHBC suppliers’ performance in terms of 

corporate social responsibility. More than 120 critical suppliers have already been assessed using the tool. In addition, CCHBC piloted 
three sustainability day events with strategic suppliers. These events provided an opportunity to share information about corporate 
social responsibility policies and sustainability commitments, as well as achievements and best practice. Moreover they are seen as 
a starting point for collaboration on shared targets and joint initiatives.

 – Risk management: CCHBC has set up an excellent risk management system which incorporates sustainability-related aspects. 

Risk assessment is conducted on a quarterly basis and covers topics such as environmental protection, obesity, strikes, labour unrest 
and supplier continuity.

 – Remuneration: sustainability-related topics are considered important aspects in the incentive system, which represents an exceptional 

approach.

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Findings and conclusions regarding adherence to the AA1000 principles of inclusivity, materiality, responsiveness, 
and specific performance-related information.

Inclusivity

 – Group level: the Company has implemented a comprehensive and efficient stakeholder engagement process at Group level. 

Its cornerstones are the annual internal and external stakeholder survey and the Annual Stakeholder Forum (held in Vienna in 2017). 

 – Country and plant level: various stakeholder management tools are used at country and plant level (e.g. Sparkle). The tools in place 

provide an overview of relevant stakeholders and evaluate them based on factors such as influence and attitude. As a result, optimised 
communication and engagement strategies can be implemented for each stakeholder group.

Materiality

 – Group level: an advanced process is in place for defining material topics. The materiality assessment process considers stakeholders’ 

expectations on the relevant sustainability‑related topics. The materiality assessment also forms the basis for preparing a 
GRI‑compliant report.

 – Country and plant level: in most organisations there is strong awareness of current and upcoming material sustainability-related topics. 

However, most locations have not yet implemented a formal process for defining material topics. With an increasing number of 
GRI‑compliant sustainability reports at country level, more systematic approaches will need to be established. We recommend 
promoting the implementation of materiality assessments at country level and incorporating the plants as well.

Responsiveness

 – Country level: effective plans for stakeholder engagement are developed at country level. However, these plans place an emphasis 

on the stakeholder groups with the greatest influence on the Company, and thus focus on the likes of public authorities and customers. 
In order to ensure that no stakeholder groups are ignored, a more holistic approach is recommended. By including a wider range 
of stakeholders in communication, new sustainability-related topics can be addressed.

 – A variety of excellent community projects have been implemented at both country and plant level. There are especially good examples 

of communication with consumers regarding the use of natural and artificial sweeteners.

 – Excellent examples of sustainability reporting (e.g. Belarus) and socio‑economic impact assessments (e.g. Croatia and Italy) were found 

in the course of the audit. The Group should highlight these examples of good practice and encourage further enhancement 
of reporting in line with sustainability standards.

Additional conclusions and recommendations

 – Reporting: the internal reporting process needs to be strengthened in terms of relevant sustainability-related topics, particularly in the 

following cases:
 – Training hours: currently the documentation of training hours is being transferred from two systems to a single new platform. 
Steps must be taken to ensure that all training hours are captured in this platform. This can be done by means of training for 
representatives and by ensuring that all functional training hours are recorded on the new platform. In addition, a clear process 
for documenting external training courses has to be implemented.

 – Community investment: complete transparency in terms of performance indicators (participant numbers, volunteer numbers, plant 
visits, cash or in‑kind contributions) needs to be ensured. The documentation of figures has to be streamlined. Moreover, action 
is needed to ensure that all plant-based community investments are covered in the reporting.

 – Sustainable sourcing: full implementation of the Environmental, Social and Governance Pre-assessment Tool (a key tool for screening 

suppliers, launched in 2016) is required, combined with further training on proper use of the tool in procurement processes. 

 – Packaging recycling and recovery: the 2020 Commitments are an important development in this area. However, the documentation, 

verification process and methodology used to calculate country‑specific figures could be improved and described in a packaging recycling 
and recovery guidance document. In addition, new commitments should be developed based on TCCC’s World Without Waste vision.
 – Responsible marketing: responsible marketing activities should be further strengthened in specific UNESDA KPIs, such as making a full 

range of beverages available in schools and using unbranded vending machines.

Vienna, 6 March, 2018

denkstatt GmbH
Consultancy for Sustainable Development

Willibald Kaltenbrunner
Lead Auditor Managing Partner, denkstatt

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

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We take great pride in being regarded as a transparent and 
accessible Company in all our communications with investment 
communities around the world. We engage with key financial 
audiences, including institutional investors, sell-side analysts 
and financial journalists, as well as our Company’s shareholders. 
The investor relations department manages the interaction 
with these audiences by attending ad hoc meetings and investor 
conferences throughout the year, in addition to the regular 
meetings and presentations held at the time of our 
results announcements. 

Analysis of 
shareholding sizes

Geographic 
concentration

1 – 10,000: 1%
10,001 – 100,000: 13%
100,001 – 1,000,00: 40%
1,000,001 – over: 45%
Treasury shares: 2%

UK: 29%
Continental Europe: 33%
United States: 28%
Rest of the world: 3%
Retail investors: 6%

Listings
Coca-Cola HBC AG (LSE: CCH) was admitted to the premium 
listing segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and 
to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed 
securities on 29 April 2013. With effect from 29 April 2013, 
Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s shares are also admitted on the Athens 
Exchange (ATHEX: EEE). Coca Cola HBC AG has been included 
as a constituent of the FTSE 100 and FTSE All‑Share Indices from 
20 September 2013.

London Stock Exchange 
Ticker symbol: CCH 
ISIN: CH019 825 1305 
SEDOL: B9895B7 
Reuters: CCH.L 
Bloomberg: CCH LN

Athens Exchange 
Ticker symbol: EEE 
ISIN: CH019 825 1305 
Reuters: EEEr.AT 
Bloomberg: EEE GA

Credit rating 
Standard & Poor’s: L/T BBB+, S/T A2, positive outlook 
Moody’s: L/T Baa1, S/T P2, stable outlook

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Share price performance
LSE: CCH
In £ per share
Close
High
Low
Market capitalisation (£ million)

ATHEX: EEE
In € per share
Close
High
Low
Market capitalisation (€ million)

2017

2016

2015

24.20
26.71
17.69
8,862

17.70
18.40
12.65
6,426

14.48
16.29
10.57
5,237

2017

2016

2015

27.25
29.80
20.47
9,979

20.69
20.99
16.00
7,512

19.79
23.16
13.88
7,158

Share capital
In 2017, the share capital of Coca‑Cola HBC increased by the issue 
of 4,122,401 new ordinary shares following the exercise of stock 
options pursuant to the Group’s employee stock option plan. 
Total proceeds from the issuance of the shares under the stock 
option plan amounted to €71.0 million.

Following the above changes, and including 3,445,060 ordinary 
shares held as treasury shares, on 31 December 2017 the share 
capital of the Group amounted to €2,015.1 million and comprised 
370,763,039 shares with a nominal value of CHF 6.70 each.

Major shareholders
The principal shareholders of the Group are Kar-Tess Holding 
(a Luxembourg company), which holds approximately 23%, and 
The Coca‑Cola Company, which indirectly holds approximately 
23% of the Group’s issued share capital.

Dividends
For 2017, the Board of Directors has proposed a €0.54 dividend per 
share in line with the Group’s progressive dividend policy. 
This compares to a dividend payment of €0.44 per share in 2016. 
For more information on our dividend policy and dividend history, 
please visit our website at www.coca-colahellenic.com.

Financial calendar
9 May 2018
11 June 2018
9 August 2018
8 November 2018

First quarter trading update
Annual General Meeting
Half-year financial results
Third quarter trading update

Corporate website
www.coca-colahellenic.com

Shareholder and analyst information
Shareholders and financial analysts can obtain further information 
by contacting:

Investor Relations 
Tel: +30 210 618 3100 
Email: investor.relations@cchellenic.com 
IR website: www.coca‑colahellenic.com/investorrelations

 
 
 
 
 
 
GLOSSARY

Basis points (bps)
One hundredth of one percentage point 
(used chiefly in expressing differences)

Brand Coca-Cola products
Includes Coca‑Cola, Coca‑Cola Zero 
and Coca‑Cola Light brands

BSO
Business services organisation

BSS
Business solutions and systems

CAGR
Compound annual growth rate

Capital expenditure or CapEx
Gross CapEx is defined as payments for 
purchase of property, plant and equipment. 
Net CapEx is defined as payments for 
purchase of property, plant and equipment 
less receipts from disposals of property, 
plant and equipment plus principal 
repayment of finance lease obligations

Carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2)
Emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse 
gases from fuel combustion and energy 
use in Coca‑Cola HBC’s own operations in 
bottling, storage, distribution and in offices

Carbon footprint
Global emissions of CO2 and other 
greenhouse gases from Coca‑Cola HBC’s 
wider value chain (raw materials, product 
cooling etc.)

CHP
Combined heat and power plants

Coca-Cola HBC
Coca‑Cola HBC AG, and, as the context 
may require, its subsidiaries and joint 
ventures; also, the Group, the Company

Coca-Cola System
The Coca-Cola Company and its 
bottling partners

Comparable adjusted EBITDA
We define adjusted EBITDA as operating 
profit before deductions for depreciation 
and impairment of property, plant and 
equipment (included both in cost of 
goods sold and in operating expenses), 
amortisation and impairment of and 
adjustments to intangible assets, stock 
option compensation and other 
non‑cash items, if any

Comparable net profit
Refers to net profit after tax attributable 
to owners of the parent

Comparable operating profit (EBIT)
Operating profit (EBIT) refers to profit 
before tax excluding finance income/
(costs) and share of results of equity 
method investments

Customer
Retail outlet, restaurant or other operation 
that sells or serves Coca-Cola HBC 
products directly to consumers

DIFOTAI
Deliver in full, on time and accurately 
invoiced

DME
Direct marketing expenses

EDS
Every Dealer Survey

Energy use ratio
The KPI used by Coca‑Cola HBC to 
measure energy consumption in the 
bottling plants, expressed in megajoules 
of energy consumed per litre of produced 
beverage (MJ/lpb)

FMCG
Fast‑moving consumer goods

FYROM
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

GDP
Gross domestic product

GfK
We work with the company Growth for 
Knowledge (GfK) to track our customer 
satisfaction level.

GRI
Global Reporting Initiative, a global standard 
for sustainability reporting

HoReCa
Distribution channel encompassing hotels, 
restaurants, cafes

IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards, 
issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board

IIRC
The International Integrated Reporting 
Council, a global coalition of regulators, 
investors, companies, standard-setters, 
the accounting profession and NGOs. The 
coalition is promoting communication 
about value creation as the next step in the 
evolution of corporate reporting

Immediate consumption
A distribution channel where consumers 
buy chilled beverages in single-serve 
packages and fountain products for 
immediate consumption, away from home

Inventory days
We define inventory days as the average 
number of days an item remains in 
inventory before being sold, using the 
following formula: average inventory ÷ cost 
of goods sold x 365

Fragmented trade
Kiosks, quick service restaurants (QSR) and 
hotels, restaurants and cafes (HoReCa)

Ireland
The Republic of Ireland and Northern 
Ireland

Cold drink equipment
A generic term encompassing point-of-
sale equipment such as coolers 
(refrigerators), vending machines and 
post‑mix machines

Future consumption
A distribution channel where consumers 
buy multi-packs and larger packages from 
supermarkets and discounters which are 
not consumed on the spot

Italy
Territory in Italy served by Coca‑Cola HBC 
(excludes Sicily)

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Joint value creation (JVC)
An advanced programme and process 
to collaborate with customers in order 
to create shared value

Litre of produced beverage (lpb)
Unit of reference to show environmental 
performance relative to production volume

Market
When used in reference to geographic 
areas, a country in which Coca-Cola HBC 
does business

NARTD
Non‑alcoholic ready‑to‑drink

NGOs
Non‑governmental organisations

Nm3
Normal cubic metre

NSR
Net sales revenue

OBPPC
Occasion, Brand, Price, Package, Channel

Organised trade
Large retailers (e.g. supermarkets, 
discounters etc.)

PET
Polyethylene terepthalate, a form 
of polyester used in the manufacturing 
of beverage bottles

Ready-to-drink (RTD)
Drinks that are pre‑mixed and packaged, 
ready to be consumed immediately with 
no further preparation

Right Execution Daily (RED)
Major Group‑wide programme to ensure 
in‑outlet excellence

Receivable days
The average number of days it takes to 
collect receivables using the following 
formula: average accounts receivables x net 
sales revenue x 365

ROIC
Return on invested capital

SAP
A powerful software platform that enables 
us to standardise key business processes 
and systems

SDG
UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
On 25 September 2015, countries adopted 
a set of 17 goals to end poverty, protect the 
planet and ensure prosperity for all as part 
of a new sustainable development agenda. 
Each goal has specific targets to be 
achieved by 2030.

Serving
237ml or 8oz of beverage, equivalent to 
1/24 of a unit case

Shared services
Centre to standardise and simplify key 
finance and human resources processes

Small basket
Refers to a shift in buying habits as 
consumers increase frequency of visits 
to stores but have smaller basket sizes 
which can result in lower volume but 
higher revenue

Sparkling beverages
Non‑alcoholic carbonated beverages 
containing flavourings and sweeteners, but 
excluding, among others, waters and 
flavoured waters, juices and juice drinks, 
sports and energy drinks, teas and coffee

SKU
Stock Keeping Unit

Still and water beverages
Non‑alcoholic beverages without 
carbonation including, but not limited to, 
waters and flavoured waters, juices and 
juice drinks, sports and energy drinks, 
teas and coffee

Territory
The 28 countries where Coca‑Cola HBC 
operates

UNESDA
Union of European Soft Drinks Associations

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Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

Unit case (u.c.)
Approximately 5.678 litres or 24 servings, 
a typical volume measurement unit

UN Global Compact (UNGC)
The world’s largest corporate citizenship 
initiative which provides a framework for 
businesses to align strategies with its 10 
principles promoting labour rights, human 
rights, environmental protection and 
anti-corruption

Volume
Amount of physical product produced 
and sold, measured in unit cases

Volume share
Share of total unit cases sold

Value share
Share of total revenue

Waste ratio
The KPI used by Coca‑Cola HBC to 
measure waste generation in its bottling 
plants, expressed in grammes of waste 
generated per litre of produced beverage  
(g/lpb)

Waste recycling
The KPI used by Coca‑Cola HBC to 
measure the percentage of production 
waste at bottling plants that is recycled 
or recovered

Water footprint
A measure of the impact of water use, in 
operations or beyond, as defined by the 
Water Footprint Network methodology

Water use ratio
The KPI used by Coca‑Cola HBC to 
measure water use in its bottling plants, 
expressed in litres of water used per litre 
of produced beverage (l/lpb)

Working capital
Operating current assets minus operating 
current liabilities excluding financing and 
investment activities

Special note regarding forward-looking statements
This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may generally, but not always, 
be identified by the use of words such as ‘believe’, ‘outlook’, ‘guidance’, ‘intend’, ‘expect’, ‘anticipate’, ‘plan’, ‘target’, ‘seek’, ‘estimates’, 
’potential‘ and similar expressions to identify forward‑looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts, 
including, among others, statements regarding the future financial position and results; Coca‑Cola HBC’s outlook for 2018 and future 
years; business strategy and the effects of the global economic slowdown; the impact of the sovereign debt crisis, currency volatility, 
Coca‑Cola HBC’s recent acquisitions, and restructuring initiatives on Coca‑Cola HBC’s business and financial condition; Coca‑Cola HBC’s 
future dealings with The Coca Cola Company; budgets; projected levels of consumption and production; projected raw material and other 
costs; estimates of capital expenditure; free cash flow; and effective tax rates and plans and objectives of management for future 
operations, are forward‑looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such forward‑looking statements. By their nature, 
forward‑looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect Coca‑Cola HBC’s current expectations and assumptions 
about future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. Forward‑looking statements speak only as of the date they are 
made. Coca‑Cola HBC’s actual results and events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward‑looking statements for 
many reasons, including the risks described in the Risk and materiality section. Although Coca-Cola HBC believes that, as of the date of this 
document, the expectations reflected in the forward‑looking statements are reasonable, Coca‑Cola HBC cannot assure that Coca‑Cola 
HBC’s future results, level of activity, performance or achievements will meet these expectations. Moreover, neither Coca‑Cola HBC, nor 
its Directors, employees, advisors nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any forward-looking 
statements. After the date of this Integrated Annual Report, unless Coca‑Cola HBC is required by law or the rules of the UK Financial 
Conduct Authority to update these forward-looking statements, Coca-Cola HBC makes no commitment to update any of these forward-
looking statements to conform them either to actual results or to changes in Coca‑Cola HBC’s expectations.

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

233

Strategic ReportCorporate GovernanceFinancial StatementsSwiss Statutory ReportingSupplementary InformationAbout our report
The 2017 Integrated Annual Report (the ‘Annual Report’) consolidates Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s (also referred to as ‘Coca‑Cola HBC' or 
the ‘Company’ or the ‘Group’) UK and Swiss disclosure requirements, while meeting the disclosure requirements for its secondary listing 
on the Athens Exchange. In addition, the Annual Report aims to deliver against the expectations of the Company’s stakeholders and 
sustainability reporting standards, providing a transparent overview of the Group’s performance and progress in sustainable development 
for 2017.

Our strategy is designed to deliver responsible, sustainable and profitable growth. Our strategic objectives of driving volume growth, 
focusing on value, improving efficiency and investing in the business are supported by our people and our commitment to sustainability. 
The initiatives we implemented to achieve our objectives and the evidence of our success during the year form the basis of the narrative in 
the Annual Report, which is structured around our stakeholders: our people, communities, consumers, customers and other stakeholders, 
with whom we work to enhance efficiencies in the business.

The Annual Report is for the year ended 31 December 2017, and its focus is on the primary core business of non‑alcoholic ready‑to‑drink 
beverages across the 28 countries in which we operate. Our website and any other website referred to in the Annual Report are not 
incorporated by reference and do not form part of the Annual Report.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group, included on pages 133‑196, have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Coca‑Cola HBC AG’s statutory 
financial statements, included on pages 207‑217, have been prepared in accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations. Unless otherwise 
indicated or required by context, all financial information contained in this document has been prepared in accordance with IFRS. For Swiss 
law purposes, the annual management report consists of the sections entitled ‘Strategic Report’, ‘Corporate Governance’ (without the 
sub‑section ‘Director’s Remuneration Report’), ‘Supplementary Information’ and ‘Glossary’.

The Group uses certain Alternative performance measures (‘APMs’) that provide additional insights and understanding to the Group’s 
underlying operating and financial performance, financial condition and cash flows. A full list of these APMs, their definition and 
reconciliation to the respective IFRS measures can be found on pages 223‑226.

This report is prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, comprehensive option. In addition, the 
sustainability aspects of this Annual Report comply with the AA1000AS Assurance Standard, and the advanced level requirements for 
communication on progress against the 10 Principles of the United Nations Global Compact. In addition, the report is aligned with the 
principles and elements of the International Integrated Reporting Council’s (IIRC) framework. Carbon emissions are calculated using the 
GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard methodology. Furthermore, Coca‑Cola HBC supports the Task Force 
on Climate‑related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The sustainability aspects of the Integrated Annual Report have been verified by an 
independent professional assurance provider as dictated by the Company’s Operating and Sustainability Steering Committees, and you 
can find the relevant assurance statement on pages 227‑229. As with the rest of the information provided, the sustainability aspects 
of this Annual Report are for the full year ended 31 December 2017 and the related information presented is based on an annual 
reporting cycle.

We remain committed to strong corporate governance and leadership as well as transparency in our disclosures. We will continue 
to review our reporting approach and routines, to ensure they meet best practice reporting standards and the expectations of our 
stakeholders, and provide visibility on how we create sustainable value for the communities we serve.

234

Coca-Cola HBC 2017 Integrated Annual Report

VISIT US

www.coca‑colahellenic.com
The Group site features all the latest news 
and stories from around our business and 
communities as well as an interactive online 
version of this report.

Write to us
We have dedicated email addresses which you 
can use to communicate with us:

investor.relations@cchellenic.com 
sustainability@cchellenic.com

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This report is printed utilising vegetable‑based inks on 
Magno satin & Arco print, both of which are sourced from 
well‑managed forests independently certified according 
to the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®). 
This report was printed by an FSC and carbon‑neutral 
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Coca‑Cola HBC AG
Turmstrasse 26, CH‑6312 Steinhausen, Switzerland
www.coca‑colahellenic.com
investor.relations@cchellenic.com
sustainability@cchellenic.com