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Lenta

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FY2015 Annual Report · Lenta
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Strengthening 
Expanding 
Improving

Annual Report and Accounts 2015

 
 
 
 
 
Lenta is a price-led, distinctive 
hypermarket business in Russia led 
by a highly experienced management 
team. Lenta has a compelling, 
integrated business model and 
is well positioned to grow in Russia’s 
dynamic food retail market.

Lenta is now Russia’s number one hypermarket 
operator by selling space. In 2015 we ranked fifth 
by total sales – and were the country’s fastest 
growing food retailer for the third year running.

Strategy in action

Strengthening
We continued to identify and take advantage of 
the numerous opportunities for sustainable growth 
across key regions in the Russian market.

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Expanding
We accelerated our store roll-out programme 
and were Russia’s fastest growing large retailer 
for the third year running.

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04

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategy in action

Murmansk

St Petersburg 
GMT+3 hours 

Kaluga

Tula

Orel

Saransk

Khanty-Mansiysk

Engels

Chelyabinsk

Stavropol

Magnitogorsk

Improving
Understanding our customers’ changing 
preferences enables us to tailor our ranges and 
promotions to give them more of what they want.

Expanding

What we did in 2015
We extended Lenta’s presence across Russia, bringing 
the total number of cities in which we have a presence 
to 69. We exceeded our year’s opening target with 
32 new hypermarkets – more than in any single year 
in the Company’s history, bringing the total to 140 – and 
are now Russia’s leading hypermarket chain in terms of 
selling space.

Driving our strategy
We continued to accelerate the pace of our store roll-out 
programme in both new and existing locations – and were 
Russia’s fastest growing large retailer for the third year 
running. We remain on track to exceed our ambition of 
doubling selling space in the three years to December 2016.

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Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  05

11

Eleven new cities
Our expansion plans accelerated in 
2015 and we opened Lenta stores 
in 11 new cities across Russia. 
From Murmansk in the Arctic Circle 
to Irkutsk near Lake Baikal, we are 
successfully growing our presence 
in new and challenging geographies.

4

New supermarkets in 
St. Petersburg – and beyond
In 2015 we opened our first four 
supermarkets in our home city of 
St. Petersburg – with more to come. 
This successful format provides 
us with excellent growth potential 
and high returns on our investment. 
We therefore plan to roll it out further 
in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other 
regions over time.

+29%

Lenta loyalty card – 
+29% of cardholders
The Lenta loyalty card goes from 
strength to strength. We now have 
over 8.4 million active cardholders, 
a rise of 29% on 2014. Our customers 
recognise and appreciate the 
generous benefits it brings in the form 
of extra discounts, special promotions 
and additional bonuses.

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5777 miles

Irkutsk 
GMT+8 hours

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Our rapid expansion meant 
the total number of suppliers 
increased to almost 3,000 
in 2015. Local producers 
supplied just under half of all 
the products we sold – and are 
now the principal providers of 
fresh food to our stores.

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To see the report online go to: 
www.lentainvestor.com/en/
investors/annual-reports

 
 
 
 
Highlights of the year

Financial highlights

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  01

Revenue (RUB) 

252.8bn 
+30.3% 
56.3bn 
+28.7% 

Gross profit (RUB) 

Adjusted EBITDA (RUB)  

28.1bn 
+31.4% 
10.3bn 
+13.4% 

Net profit (RUB)  

Operational highlights

   Total sales were up almost a third on last year,  
like-for-like sales grew 9.1% and we experienced  
a 3.9% rise in customer traffic.

   We opened stores in 11 new cities. At the year end Lenta 
had a presence in 69 cities across Russia.

   Total selling space across our store base grew to 
882,383 sq.m. – an increase of 25.8% year-on-year.

   At the end of the year we had over 8.4 million active loyalty 
cardholders, an increase of 29% on the previous year.

Contents

Strategic report 
Strategy in action 
Chairman’s statement 
At a glance 
Where we are 
Business model 
CEO’s review 
Market overview 
Strategy 
Operating review 
Principal risks and uncertainties 
Financial review 
Corporate social responsibility 

02
08
10
12
14
16
18
22
24
36
44
50

Corporate governance
Introduction from the Chairman 
Board of Directors 
Senior Management team 
Our corporate governance 
framework 
Board of Directors  
Board Committees 
Responsibility statement 

67
68
70

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75
78
90

Financial statements 
Statement of management’s  
responsibilities for the preparation 
and approval of the consolidated  
financial statements 
Independent auditors’ report 
Consolidated statement  
of financial position 
Consolidated statement  
of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income 
Consolidated statement  
of cash flows 
Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 
Notes to the consolidated 
financial statements 

Appendices 
List of cities as of  
31 December, 2016  
Glossary 
Further information 
Cautionary statements 

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138
139
140

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02

Strategy in action

Strengthening

What we did in 2015
We reinforced our presence in key areas including Moscow 
and St. Petersburg, and the North-West, Central, Volga, 
South, Siberia and Ural regions – with Siberia being the 
largest, accounting for 20% of total selling space at the year 
end. New distribution centres in Togliatti, Rostov-on-Don 
and Yekaterinburg provided us with additional capacity to 
serve our network of stores efficiently and cost-effectively.

Supporting our business
Strengthening – and servicing – our presence in key 
regions is fundamental to our strategy. We continued to 
identify and take advantage of the numerous opportunities 
for sustainable growth in the Russian market, building 
the most appropriate store formats for each location and 
supporting them through enhanced supply operations.

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1st

Number one hypermarket
Lenta is the leading hypermarket 
retailer in Russia by selling space. 
In 2015 we added over 188,000 sq.m. 
of new space – an increase of over 
25% year-on-year. Our rapid growth 
to date and future expansion plans 
mean we remain on course to 
exceed our aim of doubling our 
selling space in the three-year 
period to 2016.

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Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  03

3

69

New distribution operations
Two distribution centres had soft 
openings in 2014 and came fully 
on stream in 2015, with a third 
undergoing commissioning. This 
extra capacity enables us to increase 
centralisation of our operations and 
reduce our transportation costs – 
and gives us the ability to serve over 
250 hypermarkets.    

Deepening our presence
We have continued to grow our market 
share in areas where we already have 
an established and loyal customer 
base. With a sizeable land bank and 
a healthy pipeline of projects, our 
range of modern retail formats means 
we can plan and build exactly the right 
store for every location. At the year 
end Lenta had a presence in 69 cities 
across Russia.

We continued to support the 
professional development of 
all our people – from Senior 
Management to our shop floor 
staff. In 2015 over 24,000 of our 
store colleagues benefited from 
training courses to enhance 
their skills.

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Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201504

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategy in action

Murmansk

St. Petersburg 
GMT+3 hours 

Kaluga

Tula

Orel

Saransk

Khanty-Mansiysk

Engels

Chelyabinsk

Stavropol

Magnitogorsk

Expanding

What we did in 2015
We extended Lenta’s presence across Russia, bringing 
the total number of cities in which we have a presence 
to 69. We exceeded our year’s opening target with 
32 new hypermarkets – more than in any single year 
in the Company’s history, bringing the total to 140 – 
and are now Russia’s leading hypermarket chain in 
terms of selling space.

Driving our strategy
We continued to accelerate the pace of our store roll-out 
programme in both new and existing locations – and were 
Russia’s fastest growing large retailer for the third year 
running. We remain on track to exceed our ambition of 
doubling selling space in the three years to December 2016.

+

Read more on page 22

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  05

11

New cities
Our expansion plans accelerated in 
2015 and we opened Lenta stores 
in 11 new cities across Russia. 
From Murmansk in the Arctic Circle 
to Irkutsk near Lake Baikal, we are 
successfully growing our presence 
in new and challenging geographies.

4

New supermarkets in 
St. Petersburg – and beyond
In 2015 we opened our first four 
supermarkets in our home city of 
St. Petersburg – with more to come. 
This successful format provides us 
with excellent growth potential and 
high returns on our investment. 
We therefore plan to roll it out further 
in St. Petersburg, Moscow and other 
regions over time.

+29%

Lenta loyalty cardholders
The Lenta loyalty card goes from 
strength to strength. We now have 
over 8.4 million active cardholders, 
a rise of 29% on 2014. Our customers 
recognise and appreciate the 
generous benefits it brings in the 
form of extra discounts, special 
promotions and additional bonuses.

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5,777 km

Irkutsk 
GMT+8 hours

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Our rapid expansion meant 
the total number of suppliers 
increased to almost 3,000 
in 2015. Local and regional 
producers supplied over 50% 
of fresh products sold in 2015 –  
and have now become the 
principal channel of sourcing 
for our stores.

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06

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategy in action

Improving

What we did in 2015
We tailored elements of our offering to reflect local 
and regional tastes and used data from customer loyalty 
cards to help us edit our ranges. Responding to the 
difficult consumer environment, we also worked hard 
to deliver great value; providing more choice in lower-
priced goods and enhancing our private label range 
of affordable essentials.

Enhancing our offering
Understanding what our customers want, how their 
preferences change and what they can afford is essential 
if we are to continue to flourish. Our ongoing analysis 
of our loyalty card data enables us to tailor our ranges 
and promotions to give customers more of what they 
appreciate – enhancing loyalty and driving profitable 
growth for Lenta.

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Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  07

50.3%

250+

Fresh food from local suppliers
We enhanced the breadth of products 
we sell – especially in our extensive 
private label value-for-money range. 
We also expanded the selection of 
goods prepared or baked in-store 
and sourced just over 50.3% of our 
fresh food from local suppliers. 

Improving our supply chain
Our supply chain benefits from 
sophisticated technologies to maintain 
its flexibility and efficiency. During 
the year we grew our network 
of distribution centres, expanded 
our own fleet of delivery trucks 
and increased the capacity of our 
IT systems. These improvements 
have given us the capacity to serve 
over 250 hypermarkets. 

For those most in need we 
offer a Social Card, which 
offers additional discounts on 
essential food and household 
items. Well over half a million 
people joined the scheme in 
2015, taking the total number 
of cardholders to 1.2 million.

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33.4%

Improving our offer
With continued pressures on 
household incomes, we worked 
hard to deliver great value for 
money and help customers live 
within their budgets. Based on 
customer feedback and identified 
market opportunities we improved 
our product offer with tailored 
promotions designed to appeal to 
local buying patterns and tastes. 
Promotions accounted for 33.4% 
of total sales.

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08

Chairman’s statement

Another year of progress

John Oliver 
Chairman

Lenta experienced another year of good 
progress in 2015, delivering strong sales, 
profit and operating cash flow growth, 
whilst continuing to expand rapidly. This is 
a remarkable achievement when considered 
in the context of Russia’s turbulent retail 
climate – and is testimony to the strength 
and adaptability of our business model, 
the clarity of our strategy, our rigorous 
attention to execution and the skills and 
dedication of our team. 

225m 

150m 

USD primary capital increase 
in March 2015

USD primary capital increase 
in October 2015

Flourishing in a difficult environment
The difficult and uncertain environment 
increased the pressure on our 
customers – and hence on Lenta itself. 
However, our strategy is fit for purpose –  
and is key to our ability to cope with 
the challenging market conditions. 
Our proven low-price/low-cost business 
model enabled us to adjust our offer 
effectively in the face of continued 
strong economic headwinds and intense 
competition; as the market has changed, 
so has Lenta. 

In difficult times, it is more important 
than ever to stay close to our customers. 
Our loyalty card plays a crucial role 
in helping us track and analyse their 
shopping choices. We use this valuable 
data to provide the products our 
customers want at prices they can afford –  
and run attractive, relevant and timely 
promotions, because we have worked 
hard to help customers spend less, 
they have rewarded us with continued 
strong sales and as a result, Lenta 
was able to grow its share of the market 
significantly in 2015. 

Governance
We are fortunate to have a strong group 
of talented individuals on our Board and 
I am grateful to my fellow Directors for 
their advice and support during the year. 
Their unique blend of international 
experience and complementary skills 
enhances our discussions of Lenta’s 
strategy and performance, and supports 
effective decision-making. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
  09

Robust corporate governance underpins 
Lenta’s effective operation and the 
execution of our strategy. In 2015, we 
continued to improve our governance 
framework – including the remit of our 
Board Committees – to support the 
growth of the business. We enhanced 
the scope of our policies and improved 
reporting and disclosure during the year, 
taking us closer to becoming a ‘best 
practice’ example of governance among 
Russian companies.

Non-executive Director Lindsay Forbes 
resigned in July. Lindsay had served on 
the Board for five years and I thank him 
for his valuable contribution to our 
discussions during this time.

Driving sustainable growth and 
building shareholder value
Strategically, the underserved Russian 
market remains very attractive. The 
current environment is challenging for 
all retailers of course, but it also creates 
attractive opportunities for strong, 
well-financed businesses such as Lenta. 
Many competitors have slowed down or 
stopped their expansion, including most 
hypermarket operators and most of the 
regional and smaller players. Lenta’s 
robust business model enables us to 
continue to open high-returning new 
stores despite the difficult economy.

Lenta opened more hypermarkets in 
2015 than in any previous year and 
increased selling space by over 25%. 
We are committed to maintaining 
rapid growth, but also to ensuring 
that our expansion creates value for 
shareholders by delivering returns on 
investment well above the cost of capital.

As part of this drive for growth – and in 
the wake of our successful IPO in 2014 – 
the Board launched two capital increases 
last year. We completed primary capital 
increases of US$225 million in March 
2015 and US$150 million in October. 
The proceeds of these placings have 
strengthened our balance sheet and 
provided us with the financial resources 
we need to accelerate and sustain our 
planned expansion in 2016 and beyond.

Lenta’s standing in the credit markets 
also improved during 2015 – S&P and 
Moody’s upgraded Lenta’s credit ratings 
and Fitch initiated coverage with a BB- 
rating. This was in large part driven by 
our ability to deliver strong growth whilst 
maintaining prudent financial policies and 
a consistently healthy financial profile. 

Socially responsible business
Notwithstanding the turbulent economic 
background, increasing pressures on 
retailers and our own ambitious growth 
plans, we remain faithful to our simple 
stated aim of providing our customers 
with high quality, affordable products. 

As a public company and a high profile 
retailer, we recognise that we have 
multiple obligations and responsibilities: 
to our customers, our employees, 
our suppliers and the wider communities 
in which we operate. At Lenta, ‘doing the 
right thing’ is integral to the way we do 
business. Delivering on our commitment 
to act responsibly – whether socially, 
environmentally or ethically – is 
fundamental to Lenta’s sustainable 
long-term success. 

Accelerating our growth
Lenta confirms its 2016 expansion target 
to open at least 40 new hypermarkets, 
significantly more than it has ever 
opened in a single calendar year. 
The number of supermarket openings – 
a format that now has the potential to 
open up significant market opportunities 
alongside the considerable scope that 
exists for us to expand our hypermarket 
coverage – is also expected to increase 
in 2016. Looking ahead, we expect to 
maintain a similar or higher rate of 
growth in 2017 and beyond.

We expect that as a result of our 
successful expansion in 2014 and 2015, 
combined with further acceleration of 
growth in 2016, we will significantly 
exceed our previously communicated 
goal of doubling selling space over the 
three years to December 2016.

Executing this planned rate of expansion 
requires exceptional dedication and hard 
work from colleagues at all levels across 
the Company. Wherever I go in the 
business: to our offices, distribution 
centres or stores, I am always impressed 
by the enthusiasm and energy of our 
valued employees, who are the real 
driving force behind Lenta. I thank 
them for their efforts this year and look 
forward to our continued shared success.

John Oliver
Chairman

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201510

At a glance

Lenta at a glance

Lenta is Russia’s largest 
hypermarket operator by selling 
space and the fifth largest food 
retailer by total sales. In 2015 
we were the country’s fastest 
growing food retailer. 

What we do
We sell high quality products at affordable prices, providing 
great value for money for our customers and aiming 
to provide the best promotional offers in the market. 
We have more than 8.4 million active loyalty cardholders, 
who account for over 90% of all sales.

Our strategy
Our growth strategy is to expand our store network rapidly 
whilst maintaining high like-for-like sales. We combine 
this with high levels of operating efficiency to generate 
the returns to finance our growth.

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More highlights of 2015

  Hypermarkets

140 

We operate 140 hypermarkets across 
Russia. Located primarily in urban 
areas for ease of access, they are 
usually open 24 hours a day, seven 
days a week. We operate three 
store formats: standard, compact 
and supercompact, ranging in size 
from 7,000 sq.m. to 3,000 sq.m. 
This flexibility allows us to adapt 
to a variety of different locations, 
whilst offering customers the most 
appropriate products for their needs.

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Lenta private label

12.3% 

Lenta private label sales increased 
to 12.3% of total sales

32

4

9

Opened 32 new hypermarkets

Opened our first four supermarkets 
in St. Petersburg

Commenced centralised 
bakery and culinary operations 
in nine ‘mother’ stores

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
  11

  Supermarkets

  Our supply chain

  Our product range

32 

We operate 32 supermarkets in Moscow 
and St. Petersburg. Launched in 2013 
and designed for frequent shopper visits, 
these smaller stores are typically located 
in urban areas within a 20-minute walk 
for customers. Delivering high sales 
densities and strong like-for-like growth, 
our supermarkets are now established 
as a core Lenta format. 

110 

Our sophisticated, national supply 
network comprises our distribution 
centres and our fleet of 110 delivery 
trucks. It operates with low costs and 
short lead times – a key advantage 
given Russia’s size, time zones and 
climatic variation. Our supply chain 
enables high and reliable on-shelf 
product availability for customers. 
We now have sufficient capacity 
to service over 250 hypermarkets. 

24,000

We offer a broad range of products 
in our stores, with an emphasis on high 
quality and great value for money. 
Our largest hypermarket format stocks 
an average of 24,000 SKUs. Our core 
product range is centrally controlled to 
ensure a degree of standardisation, but 
we tailor certain elements of our offering 
to reflect local preferences. We also have 
two major private label variants that 
comprise the most affordable products 
in their categories. 

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3+4

40%

30.6

Three new stores and four land  
plots purchased from O’KEY Group

New LED lighting delivered  
a 40% saving in energy usage

Delivered an average of  
30.6 hours of training per employee

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
12

Where we are

Expanding our reach

In 2015 Lenta consolidated 
its position as a genuinely 
federal chain.

During the year we extended our reach across Russia, 
opening 32 new hypermarkets and eight supermarkets. 
These included our most geographically distant store 
in Irkutsk, some 5,700 km from our home city of 
St. Petersburg. At the year end we had 140 hypermarkets 
in 69 cities across Russia and 32 supermarkets in 
Moscow and St. Petersburg.

During the year we enhanced our regional supply 
operations with the opening of new distribution centres 
in Togliatti and Rostov-on-Don and with a further 
distribution centre in Yekaterinburg being commissioned.

We continue to identify new sites for our stores – 
both in areas where we already have a presence 
and in brand new locations. We are stepping up 
the rate of new openings in 2016, and have 40 new 
hypermarkets planned for the year ahead.

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New openings in 2015

Hypermarkets
10  Chelyabinsk 
13  Engels 
15  Irkutsk 
17  Kaluga 
18  Kemerovo 
19  Khanty-Mansiysk 
21  Krasnoyarsk 
23  Magnitogorsk 
24  Moscow 

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1

1

3

25  Murmansk 
27  Nizhny Novgorod 
29  Nizhny Tagil 
31  Novokuznetsk 
35  Orel 
36  Orenburg 
37  Penza 
44  Saransk 
47  Stavropol 

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

48  St. Petersburg 
49  Surgut 
54  Tyumen 
56  Tula 
58  Veliky Novgorod 
60  Volgograd 
64  Ufa 

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

Supermarkets
24  Moscow 
48  St. Petersburg 

Distribution centres
42  Rostov-on-Don 
53  Togliatti 
67  Yekaterinburg 

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4

1

1

1

5734126891011141712132016191518242728222629232521303736323834314033353948464345414744494250595758562553516054525561666368656270646769Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  13

1st

Largest hypermarket operator  
by selling space

69

Cities where we operate

140

Hypermarkets

38,414

Employees1

1  Average FTE for 2015 was 31,307 employees 

2014 locations

Hypermarkets

Supermarkets

Distribution 
centres

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For full list of cities  
see page 136 of Appendices.

5734126891011141712132016191518242728222629232521303736323834314033353948464345414744494250595758562553516054525561666368656270646769Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
14

Business model

How we create value

  Value proposition for customers

  Price-led hypermarket model

Our differentiated value proposition
Helping our customers live a better  
life by spending less

Key customer demographic
Families and women

Low cost execution
Standardised store layouts  
Simple to navigate/low cost

+ 81% ownership of property vs. 19% leased

+  Plan to double selling space by the end of 2016  

vs. year end 2013

Formats

Supply chain

Standard
Hypermarket

Integrated  
supply chain
underpinned  
by a network  
of distribution 
centres

Compact
Hypermarket

250+

Current capacity
to serve 250+  
hypermarkets

Supercompact
Hypermarket

Our fleet
110 owned trucks

Multi-product 
provision 
Low price 
leadership

Broad customer 
appeal 
Low price 
leadership

+ Dry food

+ Fresh food

+ Non-food

+  Loyalty card – 5% discount  

on typical basket

+  Deep, frequent and inspiring 

promotions

+  Frequent price comparisons

Product offering for broad 
family needs

+  Store of choice for select 

authoritative ranges

+  Relevant SKUs
+  Focus on new/local products

Neighbourhood shopping

Supermarket

SKUs

24,000

+  Easily accessible  
one-stop shop

+  Value-added features

Underpinned by significant investment

Underpinned by our corporate social responsibility 

Six owned 
distribution 
centres + one 
planned for 2016

Strong IT

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
  15

  Lenta loyalty card

  Driving our strategy  
for growth 

  Creating value

Captures information

Captures information about every 
customer at every point of contact.  
This enables us to build highly 
personalised profiles of customer types 
which we define across ten segments – 
allowing us to meet the needs of all 
our customers in a personalised way.

Lenta loyalty card

+ Active cardholders

+  Price advantage  
for customers 

+ Spend penetration

8.4m
5%
92%

Driving Lenta forward
We remain focused on driving the 
business forward in pursuit of our 
long-term goals. Our proven strategy 
enables us to confidently manage and 
grow Lenta – even in challenging times.

Delivering profitable  
like-for-like growth

Strengthening our 
existing presence

Exploiting white 
space potential

Insight drives

+ Direct marketing promotions

+ Pricing

+ Category management

+ Strong relationships with suppliers

Format evolution

+

Read more on page 22

Enhances like-for-like sales

Earnings per share
RUB ’000

+6.7%

2015

2014

2013

0.112

0.105

0.83

Adjusted EBITDA
RUB bn

+31.4%

2015

2014

2013

28.1

21.4

16.5

Total sales growth
RUB bn

+30.3%

2015

2014

2013

252.8

194.0

144.3

Number of stores

2015

2014

2013

87

+30.3%

172

132

Number of employees +9.5%

2015

2014

2013

38,414

35,100

27,800

+

Read more on page 50

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
16

CEO’s review

Successful expansion  
and sustainable profitability

Jan Dunning 
Chief Executive Officer

Since our IPO two years ago, Lenta has risen 
to fifth in the Russian food retail sector, ranked 
by sales. Our proven low-price/low-cost business 
model and clear growth strategy enabled us 
to deliver another strong performance in 2015, 
leaving us well positioned to sustain this 
momentum in the year ahead – and beyond.

8.4m 

Loyalty cardholders

Like-for-like sales up

9.1% 
25.8%

Selling space up

A strong performance 
2015 was a challenging year, but Lenta 
delivered a strong performance. Full year 
sales rose 30.3% to RUB 252.8 billion 
(2014: RUB 194.0 billion), including 
a 9.1% increase in like-for-like sales. 
For the third year running, we achieved 
the highest total sales growth amongst 
publicly quoted Russian retailers. This 
demonstrates the strength of our offer, 
the adaptability of our business concept 
to our customers’ requirements and the 
quality and experience of our team. 

In a contracting economy and weakening 
consumer environment, we surpassed 
our expansion targets with the opening 
of 32 hypermarkets – more than 
any other year in our history – and 
eight supermarkets. At the year end 
we operated 140 hypermarkets and 
32 supermarkets, with a total selling 
space of 882,383 sq.m., up 25.8% 
compared with 2014. 

Success in a difficult market
Unsurprisingly, the food retail sector 
remained extremely competitive in 2015. 
Feeling the pressures of high inflation 
and declining real household incomes, 
Russian customers adjusted their 
shopping habits accordingly: comparing 
prices between retailers, buying fewer 
items, substituting with cheaper goods 
and making fewer impulse purchases. 

At the year end 8.4 million of our 
customers were active Lenta loyalty 
cardholders. Analysis of data gained 
through this programme provided us 
with valuable insights into our customers’ 
shopping habits. Our knowledge of 
customer preferences enabled us to 
adapt and refine our marketing strategy, 
aligning our product mix, pricing and 
promotional activity more closely to 
what they were seeking.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
  17

Our industry-leading sales growth 
demonstrated that customers 
recognised and appreciated these 
initiatives; returning frequently to our 
stores – with more occasional Lenta 
shoppers becoming regular customers. 

We also invested in pricing throughout 
the year to reduce the impact of inflation 
on our customers. The strong growth 
experienced across our private label 
ranges showed that they responded 
positively to our ongoing efforts to 
provide high quality products at low 
prices. Our pricing and offering 
proposition, including tailored 
promotions, continued to be attractive 
to consumers and resulted in strong 
like-for-like traffic growth of 3.9%. 

Positioned for further growth
Strong cash flow generation from our 
operations and the two 2015 primary 
equity issues funded most of our capital 
expenditure in 2015. At the year end, 
our financial position was stronger 
than ever – and our reduced leverage 
and strong investment returns mean 
we are well positioned to grasp the 
strategic opportunities we see in the 
Russian market. 

The foundations of our strong 2015 
performance lie in our robust and 
adaptable low-price/low-cost business 
model, which in turn enables us to 
pursue our strategy for sustainable 
growth. In line with our strategy, we 
strengthened our presence in all our key 
regions, the largest of which is now 
Siberia, with some 20% of our total 
selling space. 

Last year we opened our most 
geographically distant store in Irkutsk, 
close to Lake Baikal, some 1,850 km 
from our Novosibirsk distribution centre 
and 5,700 km from our headquarters in 
St. Petersburg. With stores as far north 
as Murmansk in the Arctic Circle and – 
in February 2016 – a newly-opened 
hypermarket in Grozny, the Chechen 
Republic, we have confirmed our 
position as a truly federal chain. 
We also opened a new distribution 
centre in Yekaterinburg – our first in 
the Ural federal district.

Towards the end of the year we 
opened our first four supermarkets 
in St. Petersburg. We plan to further 
extend our footprint in this format, 
as well as continuing to roll 
out supermarkets in Moscow.

Our suppliers faced their own 
challenges in 2015 and our negotiations 
with them were conducted in a spirit 
of fairness and mutual respect. They 
remain eager to work with Lenta as 
they recognise the speed of our growth 
and the value our customer insight can 
bring to their own businesses. 

Outlook
Our 2015 results demonstrate that 
Lenta’s low-price/low-cost business 
model is robust, resilient and well 
suited to the prevailing challenging 
environment. That we have excelled 
in such difficult circumstances is 
testimony to the strength, skills and 
experience of our inspirational 
management team. We met our full 
year sales guidance last year – and 
have sustained solid momentum into 
2016 with continued good growth. 

In the year ahead, we plan to accelerate 
our store-opening programme with a 
target of 40 new hypermarkets in 2016. 
We are identifying more opportunities 
than ever, both in cities where we 
already have a presence and in new 
ones, including the three remaining 
Russian cities with more than one 
million inhabitants where Lenta is 
not yet established. 

While our growth plans are ambitious 
and exciting, we never forget that 
our principal focus is on delivering 
shareholder value through looking after 
our customers. Hence our accelerating 
expansion will be delivered without 
sacrificing either quality or healthy 
investment returns.

Despite the recession, our newly 
opened stores are delivering returns 
in line with our expectations and we 
continue to work with our suppliers 
to provide the best offers to our 
customers. The ongoing volatility of 
the macroeconomic and consumer 
environments makes it difficult to 
predict exactly how the market will 
develop in 2016. However, our robust 
business model, growing new store 
pipeline and strong balance sheet 
mean we look forward with confidence 
to the year ahead.

Jan Dunning
Chief Executive Officer

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201518

Market overview

Market with growth potential

The macroeconomic and 
consumer environments in Russia 
deteriorated sharply during 2015, 
with high inflation and increasing 
pressure on customer incomes. 
Consequently the intensely 
competitive conditions in the food 
retail market also persisted. Price-
sensitive consumers continued 
to trade down, seeking to spend 
less by focusing on lower volume 
purchases, becoming more 
promotion-driven and shopping 
around more actively. 

A challenging economic and consumer environment
From 2010 to 2013, economic growth resulted in a significant 
increase in average wages, disposable income levels and 
a more even distribution of wealth. The rate of growth slowed 
in 2014, with plunging oil prices, economic sanctions and 
counter-sanctions leading to further slowing in the second half 
of 2014. By early 2015 the Russian economy had fallen into 
recession, with GDP falling by 3.7% over the year as a whole. 
Inevitably, there was a major deterioration in the consumer 
environment, with a step up in inflation significantly outpacing 
growth in disposable incomes as well as a further deterioration 
in already weak levels of consumer confidence. Growth rates 
in food sales declined throughout the year and consumer 
confidence fell back to 2009 levels.

Inflation monthly evolution
y-o-y CPI, %

19%

17%

15%

13%

11%

9%

7%

5%

Jan-14

Jun-14

Dec-14

Jun-15

Dec-15

Source: Rosstat

Consumer confidence index
y-o-y CPI, %

5%

0

(5%)

(10%)

(15%)

(20%)

(25%)

(30%)

(35%)

(40%)

Q1’08 Q1’09 Q1’10

Q1’11

Q1’12

Q1’13

Q1’14

Q1’15

Source: Rosstat

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  19

Compared with more developed 
economies, the market share 
of the largest grocery retailers 
is much lower in Russia.

A strategically important and attractive market
Despite the current difficult trading conditions, the Russian 
food retail market remains strategically attractive. With a 
population of 146.3 million, almost three quarters of whom 
live in urban areas, Russia is the most populous country in 
Europe. The market is both fragmented and under-penetrated 
by modern retail formats relative to other European and many 
emerging markets.

The food retail market is characterised by its high but shrinking 
share of ‘traditional’ formats, with many consumer transactions 
still conducted over the counter, in covered markets or via 
pavilions and kiosks. The share of ‘modern’ formats has been 
increasing for many years and this trend has accelerated as a 
result of the recent economic downturn, with modern retailers’ 
share reaching 65% in 2015.

Industry sources indicate that the growth of modern retail 
formats is expected to continue. This is largely due to their 
consumer appeal and new selling space additions, but also 
as a result of government initiatives aimed at promoting 
quality control and the population’s well-being. 

Among modern retailers, the five largest players (including 
Lenta in 2015) have a presence in most regions and are 
considered ‘federal’ chains. The market share of this group 
increased from 17% in 2014 to 20% in 2015. The share of 
the top five nonetheless remains very low by international 
standards.

Modern food retail penetration
700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

85.0% 85.0%

80.3%

88.8%

78.8%

65.6%

65.9%

52.7%

40.4%

572
A
S
U

453
y
n
a
m
r
e
G

395
e
c
n
a
r
F

299
d
n
a
o
P

l

290
K
U

i

192
a
s
s
u
R

168
y
e
k
r
u
T

153
a
n
h
C

i

34

l
i

z
a
r
B

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

Modern grocery retail selling space (sq.m. per 1,000 people)
Share of modern grocery retail sales 2015

Source: Euromonitor

Share of top-5 food retailers

69.7%

Metro 3.6%

Rewe
Group 12.0%

Aldi
13.5%

Schwarz
Group 16.2%

Edeka 
24.4%

60.3%

59.8%

46.5%

32.0%

19.5%

17.8%

9.3%

Co-operative
Group 4.5%

Morrison
8.6%

Wal-Mart 
12.0%

Sainsbury
12.9%

Tesco
21.8%

Leclerc 8.6%

Auchan 8.6%

Casino 12.4%

ITM 12.6%

Carrefour
18.1%

Auchan 5.3%

Tesco 5.5%

Eurocash 5.7%

Schwarz
Group 11.1%

Jerónimo
Martins
18.9%

Alimentación
2.3%

Cencosud 4.4%

Carrefour 6.3%

Wal-Mart 9.1%

Casino
Group 9.9%

Lenta 1.9%

Dixy Group
2.0%

Auchan Group
2.5%

Yildiz Holding
1.8%

Carrefour
2.2%

A101 Yeni
2.2%

Migros
3.6%

X5 Retail 6.0%

Magnit 7.1%

BIM 8.0%

Yonghui Group
0.9%

Bailian Group
1.1%

Wal-Mart
1.5%

Auchan
2.2%

China
Resources
3.6%

Germany
Source: Euromonitor

France

UK

Poland

Brazil

Russia

Turkey

China

Most market commentators expect the large federal chains 
to continue to increase their share of the food retail market 
relative to smaller and more traditional players. This trend 
is expected to be driven by their higher selling space growth, 

which is in turn enabled by the substantial economies of scale 
of the federal retail chains, their higher levels of technological 
sophistication and their ability to procure goods at lower 
prices, leading to more competitive prices to the consumer. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201520

Market overview continued

Russian food retail market structure 2014

Russian food retail market structure 2015

05

01

04

03

Source: Infoline

02

01
Top-7
20%

02
Other modern retail
(chains)
26%

03
Other modern retail
(stand-alone)
15%

04
Traditional retail
31%

05
Open markets
8%

05

01

04

03

02

01
Top-7
22%

02
Other modern retail
(chains)
26%

03
Other modern retail
(stand-alone)
17%

04
Traditional retail
28%

05
Open markets
7%

Historically, Moscow and St. Petersburg were viewed as 
distinct from the rest of Russia due to their size, consumer 
sophistication and relatively high levels of disposable income. 
Although they still account for a significant proportion of sales 
volumes, their share has been declining steadily over the past 
decade as that of other regions has grown. According to 
Infoline, other regions accounted for 48.9% of sales in 2015 
compared with 44.7% in 2003. 

In 2015 Lenta was the fastest growing federal grocery retailer 
for the third consecutive year and overtook Metro to become 
the fifth largest retailer nationally in terms of sales. 

Top Russian food retailers by sales, RUB bn
y-o-y sales growth, %

2015

2014

2013

25%

32%

29%

951

763

580

632

533

27%

19%

9%

804

8%

14%

21%

19%

27%

23%

30%

34%

31%

7%

14%

11%

7%

9%

19%

373

403

327

272

229

181

194

144

253

183

210

225

138

150

160

Magnit

X5

Auchan

Dixy

Lenta

Metro C&C

O’KEY

2013

2014

2015

Source: Infoline and public data for listed food retailers

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  21

Lenta was the fastest growing 
retailer in Russia in 2015 with 
sales growth well ahead of the 
average growth of other ‘federal’ 
retailers and the market.

Hypermarket selling space increase by Top-150 retailers
Share of selling space added, %

475
14%

19%

39%

23%

19%

460
12%

27%

24%

23%

26%

500
12%

20%

30%

13%

36%

500
11%

20%

23%

23%

35%

2012

2013

2014

2015

XX Hypermarket selling space added, ’000 sq.m.
XX% Hypermarket selling space growth, %
     Lenta
     Listed Big 3 includes Magnit, X5 and Dixy
        Other Big 3 includes Metro, Auchan and O’KEY
        Others includes retailers ranked #8–150 for 2015 and #8–130 for 2012–2014 

According to Infoline data monitoring of the 130 largest Russian FMCG retail chains 
in 2012–2014 and the 150 largest Russian FMCG retail chains in 2015.

Source: Infoline

Although some federal chains slowed their rate of expansion 
in 2015, most market commentators nonetheless expect 
the large federal chains to continue to increase their share 
of the hypermarket segment relative to smaller players.

Hypermarkets – an attractive segment in which  
Lenta is a major player
The hypermarket is now established as a popular format 
and the last ten years have seen an extensive roll-out of 
hypermarkets across Russia. Their penetration varies widely 
however, with large and relatively affluent cities often having 
low penetration ratios.

Two main groups of hypermarket players operate in Russia: 
six federal chains (including Lenta) and a large number of 
much smaller regional/local retail operators. 

In common with the overall food retail market, the share of 
the federal operators in the hypermarket segment has been 
growing over time, largely as a result of their faster selling 
space expansion relative to smaller operators. In 2014 and 
2015 the six federal chains with large hypermarket businesses 
added approximately 80% of all new hypermarket selling space.

Top Russian hypermarket players by selling space
as at 31 December 2015, ’000 sq.m.

27%

849

7%

836

7%

14%

3%

9%

661

639

2015 Nominal sales growth

518

390

30.3%

19.5%

Lenta

Auchan

Metro

Magnit

OKEY

X5

XX% y-o-y selling space growth, %

Source: Infoline and public data for listed food retailers

4.6%

4.6%

1.4%

Among the federal hypermarket operators, Lenta has grown 
fastest in terms of selling space in recent years, with a share 
of around 35% of all new hypermarket selling space in 2014 
and 2015. Lenta overtook Auchan to become the number one 
hypermarket operator in Russia by selling space in 2015.

Total retail
sales

Food retail
sales

Non-food retail
sales

Big-6* sales

Lenta sales

*Big 6 includes Magnit, X5, Dixy, O’KEY, Metro and Auchan. 

Source: Rosstat and public data for listed food retailers

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
22

Strategy

Driving Lenta forward

Strategic priorities

Overview

Progress in 2015

Plans for 2016

Trading conditions in 2015 
continued to be difficult. 
However, we remained focused 
on driving the business forward 
in pursuit of our long-term goals. 
Our proven strategy enables 
us to confidently manage 
and grow Lenta – even in 
challenging times. 

Delivering profitable 
like-for-like growth

Strengthening our 
existing presence

Exploring white 
space potential

Format evolution 

Continued focus on investment in our 

low-price/low-cost business model 

We adapted well to the year’s challenging 

We will continue to provide more of what 

economic conditions, adjusting our ranges 

our customers want. Careful editing of our 

ensures that increasing numbers of loyal 

and tailoring our promotions to help 

customers drive sales in our existing 

our customers’ budgets stretch further. 

stores. We maintain our price leadership 

Shoppers appreciated our efforts and 

through a variety of mechanisms including 

like-for-like customer traffic in our stores 

category assortment using data derived 

from loyalty card use will help us refine 

the ranges we offer and create appealing 

promotions that cater to local conditions 

tailored and seasonal promotions, focused 

rose by almost 4%, with like-for-like sales 

and tastes. Ongoing rigorous control of 

up just over 9%. The average like-for-like 

our cost base will help us retain our price 

ticket increased by 5%.

leadership position.

category management and analysis of 

customer preferences through our Big 

Data Customer Insight Programme.

With our substantial land bank and 

We reinforced our position in all the 

healthy project pipeline, we see numerous 

key regions across Russia in 2015. 

opportunities for us to strengthen our 

We grew our market share in areas 

position in areas where we already have 

where we already have an established 

With our stable and loyal customer 

base, we continue to see excellent 

opportunities for our store opening 

programme across Lenta’s existing cities. 

The year ahead will also see us develop 

stores. Consolidating our presence in 

this way enables us to take advantage 

of existing high brand awareness and 

presence, proving that – with careful 

planning – good opportunities still exist 

hypermarkets on four plots of land 

for Lenta in highly developed urban areas, 

acquired from O’KEY Group in 

established infrastructure – as well as our 

without cannibalising sales from our 

Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Taganrog and Tomsk.

strong relationships with local suppliers, 

neighbouring stores.

contractors and the wider community.

Despite the economic downturn, the 

potential for Lenta to expand across 

Russia’s large and fragmented market 

represents a significant strategic 

opportunity. In many towns and cities 

there is little penetration by modern 

Despite the difficult economic environment, 

We will continue to identify new 

we accelerated the expansion of our 

operations across Russia. We opened 

stores in 11 new cities, taking the total 

opportunities for expansion. These 

include the remaining three cities of over 

one million people where we have yet to 

number of cities where we have a presence 

open a store. With growth accelerating, 

to 69. We were Russia’s fastest growing 

we remain on track to exceed our target 

retail formats – particularly hypermarkets. 

hypermarket operator.

of doubling selling space in the three 

years to December 2016.

We work collaboratively with local 

authorities, which are generally supportive 

of the investment and employment we 

bring to the area.

highly cost-effective. They enable us to 

rapidly plan and build precisely the right 

store for the available site and expected 

customer traffic. Our complementary 

supermarket formats provide us with 

an additional growth option, designed 

for frequent visits from local residents, 

urban areas.

Developed to meet a variety of local needs, 

We created two new lower capital 

our standardised hypermarket formats are 

expenditure cost variations of our 

We will continue to develop and refine 

our store formats, enabling us to take 

compact hypermarket formats and a new  

advantage of new opportunities as they 

supermarket format, which will enable us 

arise. We are aiming to open at least 

40 hypermarkets in 2016, with a particular 

focus on the compact format.

to deliver the most appropriate size and 

type of store for every location. We also 

redesigned some aspects of our sales 

areas and display layouts to draw 

customers’ attention to promotions and 

commuters and passers-by in high-density 

our great value private label ranges.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  23

Strategic priorities

Overview

Progress in 2015

Plans for 2016

Trading conditions in 2015 

continued to be difficult. 

However, we remained focused 

on driving the business forward 

in pursuit of our long-term goals. 

Our proven strategy enables 

us to confidently manage 

and grow Lenta – even in 

challenging times. 

Delivering profitable 

like-for-like growth

Strengthening our 

existing presence

Exploring white 

space potential

Format evolution 

Continued focus on investment in our 
low-price/low-cost business model 
ensures that increasing numbers of loyal 
customers drive sales in our existing 
stores. We maintain our price leadership 
through a variety of mechanisms including 
tailored and seasonal promotions, focused 
category management and analysis of 
customer preferences through our Big 
Data Customer Insight Programme.

We adapted well to the year’s challenging 
economic conditions, adjusting our ranges 
and tailoring our promotions to help 
our customers’ budgets stretch further. 
Shoppers appreciated our efforts and 
like-for-like customer traffic in our stores 
rose by almost 4%, with like-for-like sales 
up just over 9%. The average like-for-like 
ticket increased by 5%.

We will continue to provide more of what 
our customers want. Careful editing of our 
category assortment using data derived 
from loyalty card use will help us refine 
the ranges we offer and create appealing 
promotions that cater to local conditions 
and tastes. Ongoing rigorous control of 
our cost base will help us retain our price 
leadership position.

+

Read more on page 31

With our substantial land bank and 
healthy project pipeline, we see numerous 
opportunities for us to strengthen our 
position in areas where we already have 
stores. Consolidating our presence in 
this way enables us to take advantage 
of existing high brand awareness and 
established infrastructure – as well as our 
strong relationships with local suppliers, 
contractors and the wider community.

We reinforced our position in all the 
key regions across Russia in 2015. 
We grew our market share in areas 
where we already have an established 
presence, proving that – with careful 
planning – good opportunities still exist 
for Lenta in highly developed urban areas, 
without cannibalising sales from our 
neighbouring stores.

With our stable and loyal customer 
base, we continue to see excellent 
opportunities for our store opening 
programme across Lenta’s existing cities. 
The year ahead will also see us develop 
hypermarkets on four plots of land 
acquired from O’KEY Group in 
Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Taganrog and Tomsk.

+

Read more on page 25

Despite the economic downturn, the 
potential for Lenta to expand across 
Russia’s large and fragmented market 
represents a significant strategic 
opportunity. In many towns and cities 
there is little penetration by modern 
retail formats – particularly hypermarkets. 
We work collaboratively with local 
authorities, which are generally supportive 
of the investment and employment we 
bring to the area.

Despite the difficult economic environment, 
we accelerated the expansion of our 
operations across Russia. We opened 
stores in 11 new cities, taking the total 
number of cities where we have a presence 
to 69. We were Russia’s fastest growing 
hypermarket operator.

We will continue to identify new 
opportunities for expansion. These 
include the remaining three cities of over 
one million people where we have yet to 
open a store. With growth accelerating, 
we remain on track to exceed our target 
of doubling selling space in the three 
years to December 2016.

+

Read more on page 24

Developed to meet a variety of local needs, 
our standardised hypermarket formats are 
highly cost-effective. They enable us to 
rapidly plan and build precisely the right 
store for the available site and expected 
customer traffic. Our complementary 
supermarket formats provide us with 
an additional growth option, designed 
for frequent visits from local residents, 
commuters and passers-by in high-density 
urban areas.

We created two new lower capital 
expenditure cost variations of our 
compact hypermarket formats and a new  
supermarket format, which will enable us 
to deliver the most appropriate size and 
type of store for every location. We also 
redesigned some aspects of our sales 
areas and display layouts to draw 
customers’ attention to promotions and 
our great value private label ranges.

+

Read more on page 26

We will continue to develop and refine 
our store formats, enabling us to take 
advantage of new opportunities as they 
arise. We are aiming to open at least 
40 hypermarkets in 2016, with a particular 
focus on the compact format.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201524

Operating review

Another strong performance

Lenta strengthened its position 
in all key Russian regions in 
2015 and was Russia’s fastest 
growing food retailer for the third 
year running. The year was 
noteworthy for the continued 
success of our accelerated store 
opening programme, coupled 
with a strong operational and 
financial performance. 

11 

New cities taking the total to 69

188,100

188,100 sq.m. of new selling space

2015 sales were up almost a third on the 
previous year, growth which was in line 
with our own guidance. Total sales for 
the year were up 30.3% to RUB 252.8 
billion (2014: RUB 194.0 billion). 
Like-for-like sales grew 9.1% and we 
experienced a 3.9% rise in customer 
traffic across our store base. The 
average like-for-like ticket grew by 5.0%.

Lenta was not immune to 2015’s 
difficult trading environment. However, 
our operations were able to adapt 
early and well to the effects of these 
challenging conditions on our 
customers, helping them spend less 
as the pressure on household budgets 
intensified. Our results demonstrate 
the strength of our customer proposition 
and our ability to perform well in all 
economic conditions. Our resilient, 
adaptable and efficient business model 
underpins this; consequently we remain 
confident in our ability to adjust, trade 
and win in the Russian market – 
however strong the headwinds. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
  25

We continued to push on with our 
expansion strategy and opened stores 
in 11 new cities. At the year end Lenta 
had a presence in 69 cities across 
Russia. We added a total 188,1001 sq.m. 
of new selling space, and now have total 
selling space amounting to 882,383 
sq.m. – an increase of 25.8% year-on-
year. As a result of our 2015 expansion 
and further acceleration of growth, we 
will significantly exceed our previously 
stated goal of doubling selling space 
over the three years to the end of 2016.

Lenta’s strategy is to own most of its 
stores, thus shielding the business 
from fluctuations in rental pricing and 
the potential loss of store leases. We 
do take leasehold stores where such 
opportunities meet our requirements 
and, for our supermarket format in 
particular, this is an effective means 
of accessing suitable locations for 
expansion. As at 31 December 2015 
we owned 81% of our selling space 
compared with 85% at 31 December 
2014. We apply rigorous and proven 
investment criteria when evaluating 
new store openings, with a disciplined 
approach to the selection of locations 
and returns on investment.

Strengthening our existing presence
We continued to increase our market 
share in areas where we are already 
established. Our low-price/low-cost 
business model generates considerable 
customer loyalty, which boosts profitable 
like-for-like growth. With a substantial 
land bank and project pipeline, continued 
consolidation of our share in existing 
markets remains a core element of our 
strategy. Most newly opened stores do 
not significantly cannibalise sales from 
existing stores, highlighting the fact that 
considerable opportunities exist even 
in developed urban areas. Moreover, 
our range of proven store formats 
provides us with the flexibility to provide 
any location with the most appropriate 
size and type of store. 

1  Adjustments to reported selling space

Lenta made some adjustments to the selling space of its operating hypermarkets and supermarkets 
across the country. This resulted in a reduction of 6,824 sq.m. of selling space (-0.8%), giving a total 
of 882,383 sq.m. as of 31 December 2015. These adjustments were related to store reconstruction, 
refurbishment, renting out excess selling space to third parties or conversion into production areas 
to support the centralisation of own in-store produced food. As a result, selling space was reduced 
at some stores, but increased at others. The most significant change was related to the standard 
format hypermarket in Vladimir (acquired in December 2014) where selling space was brought in line 
with Lenta’s business concept – from 9,058 sq.m. to 6,252 sq.m. All the changes are reflected on the 
Company’s website at http://www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/lentas-geography/our-hypermarkets 
and http://www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/lentas-geography/our-supermarkets.

As % of
total selling
space at
31 Dec
2015

-0.8%
-0.8%
0.6%

As at
31 Dec
2015

-6,824
-7,039
215

Selling space adjustments 

(sq.m.)

Hypermarkets
Supermarkets

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201526

Operating review continued

Hypermarkets
Our hypermarkets are typically located 
in easily accessible, high-traffic urban 
locations in residential areas – and are 
usually open 24 hours a day, seven days 
a week. In many cities, we were the first 
retailer to introduce a modern format 
hypermarket, which has facilitated our 
access to prime store locations and 
helped us establish a stable and loyal 
customer base. 

Lenta operates three hypermarket 
formats. Our standard format typically 
has 7,000 sq.m. of selling space, our 
compact format has an average of 
5,000 sq.m. and our supercompact, 
3,000 sq.m. The largest of these 
stocks an average of 24,000 SKUs 
while the supercompact carries around 
15,000 SKUs.

inhabitants. Eighteen stores were opened 
in the last quarter alone: four standard 
stores in Chelyabinsk, Kemerovo, 
St. Petersburg and Surgut, one leased 
standard store in Nizhny Novgorod 
and eight owned compact stores 
in Chelyabinsk, Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, 
Kaluga, Orenburg, St. Petersburg, Ufa 
and Khanty-Mansiysk. We also opened 
four leased compact stores in Saransk, 
Tula, Stavropol and Irkutsk, as well as 
a leased supercompact store in Penza. 

Encouragingly – and despite the 
recession – our new hypermarkets 
are already delivering returns in line 
with expectations, with greater 
efficiencies offsetting any impact 
on sales attributable to the difficult 
overall market environment.

We opened 32 hypermarkets in 2015, 
exceeding our own guidance, and 
establishing a record for the number 
of hypermarkets opened by Lenta in 
a single year. Of these, 13 were opened 
in seven cities with more than one million 

In September we announced the 
acquisition of three new stores – two 
in Chelyabinsk and one in Volgograd – 
and four land plots from O’KEY Group, 
further strengthening Lenta’s presence 
in these cities where we are already 
established. 

At the end of the year, the total number 
of Lenta hypermarkets stood at 140 
and we became the number one 
hypermarket retailer by selling space 
in Russia. Despite the ongoing economic 
uncertainty, we continue to see 
considerable potential for expansion. 
Russia is a large and fragmented 
market, with a widespread scarcity 
of modern retail formats. Our healthy 
pipeline of store development and 
flexibility of formats, combined with 
our strong balance sheet and industry-
leading performance ratios, mean that 
we are well positioned to take advantage 
of the opportunities ahead. 

We believe that the medium- to long- 
term prospects for the Russian 
modern food retail sector remain 
positive. We therefore aim to continue 
to expand, bringing the advantages of 
the Lenta offer to more customers by 
opening at least 40 new hypermarkets 
in 2016, with a greater focus on compact 
format stores.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  27

Increasing customer 
loyalty

In December 2015 Lenta and 
Masha and the Bear Company, 
creator of one of Russia’s most 
popular cartoons, ran a nationwide 
promotion aimed at increasing 
customers’ loyalty. Attended by 
popular actors, the launch event 
took place in Rostov-on-Don and 
featured a large number of gifts and 
prizes. Throughout the promotion, 
for each RUB 1,200 spent at any 
Lenta hypermarket, customers 
received a pack of Masha and the 
Bear stickers at the cash desk 
and were able to obtain a calendar 
for collecting the stickers. The 
promotion proved very popular 
in all of our stores.

Total sq.m. of selling space
Number of hypermarkets
Selling space/store (sq.m.)
Total space/store (sq.m.)
Number of parking spaces 
Plot size (ha)
SKUs
Non-food space (sq.m.) 
Non-food space share (%) 
Non-food sales share (%) 
Capex/owned store1 (RUB m)
Capex/rental store1 (RUB m)

Standard
590,493
83
7,000
13,200
500
4
23,800
2,000
29
13
1,000-1,100
250-350

Compact
215,577
44
5,000
8,900
400
2.5-3
20,300
1,300
28
12
850-1,000
200-270

Supercompact
42,802
13
3,000
5,600
150-200
1.2
15,000
700
19
6
600-700
230-260

1  Excludes cost of land (estimated at RUB 20-60m/ha).

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201528

Operating review continued

Supermarkets
Launched in Moscow in 2013, our 
supermarkets are now firmly established 
as a core Lenta format and delivered 
high sales densities and strong like-for-
like growth in 2015. Designed for frequent 
shopper visits, typically within a 20-minute 
walk for customers, our supermarket 
operations experienced robust like-for-
like sales growth of 15.1% last year, 
and an increase in like-for-like customer 
traffic of 7.7%, with the average like-for-
like ticket increasing by 6.8%.

We opened eight supermarkets in 2015, 
bringing the total to 32. We opened 
our first four leased supermarkets in 
St. Petersburg – and will continue our 
expansion here in the year ahead. 
We will also continue to roll out this 
format in Moscow. We are also looking 
at expanding into other regions, given 
the potential for growth with high returns 
on investment that Lenta’s format offers. 
We will open a new owned distribution 
centre for our supermarket operations 
in Moscow in 2016 and expect to open 
significantly more supermarkets this 
year than we did in 2015. 

During 2015 we integrated our 
supermarket organisation more fully 
with our hypermarket business, enabling 
us to derive more long-term synergies 
with our hypermarkets. 

Lenta loyalty card
We operate a very popular and 
effective loyalty card programme for 
our customers. At the end of the 
year we had over 8.4 million active 
cardholders, an increase of 29% on 
the previous year. Customers benefit 
from a 5% minimum discount on their 
purchases and have exclusive access 
to special and seasonal promotions with 
discounts up to 50%. They are also able 
to accrue virtual bonuses, which can be 
applied to future purchases. 

Independent research shows that the 
Lenta loyalty card is highly valued by 
shoppers. In November 2015, O&K 
Research’s Retail Market Advertising 
Tracking found that Lenta was the 
market leader amongst food retailer 
discount cardholders, with over half 
of respondents having a Lenta card. 
Some 40% of cardholders always carry 
it in their wallet, with 39% asserting that 
the card delivers a significant saving 
whenever they use it. Lenta was the 
loyalty card leader across all indicators 
in the North West, and in the Volga and 
Siberia-Ural regions. In regions where 
the share of cardholders was lower 
than a competitor, Lenta’s card was 
nevertheless recognised as the one 
that delivered better value. 

Approximately 92% of customer spend 
is linked to loyalty cardholders. During 
the year we conducted three ‘thank you’ 
mailshots, comprising a total of 476 
product offers sent to 2.3 million 
customers. These offers are tailored so 
that for example, new parents can obtain 
discounts on baby food or nappies. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  29

Big Data Customer Insight 
Programme
We are able to track the purchases 
each customer makes using their loyalty 
card. This has enabled us to assess 
the development of our substantial 
customer base and develop an 
excellent understanding of customers’ 
shopping habits.

In 2013 Lenta became the first Russian 
food retailer to use technology to analyse 
customer preferences based on the 
purchases made via loyalty cards. 
Today our Big Data Customer Insight 
Programme uses information from 
loyalty card transactions to help us plan 
our development and strategy, manage 
our sales and marketing and make 
better, more informed decisions about 
our business. Our ability to analyse 
customer profiles gives us valuable 
information about their product 
preferences. This in turn helps us refine 
and tailor our approach to all aspects 
of our offer: from product development, 
pricing and promotions to in-store 
displays and staff training. 

With continued pressure on already 
squeezed household budgets, our 
customer insights helped us maintain 
our competitive edge in 2015, enabling 
Lenta to provide customers with a wide 
range of timely, relevant, attractive 
benefits and promotions aligned to their 
immediate needs. Depending on their 
preferences, the frequency of their 
purchases and average spend, Lenta 
customers fall into one of ten categories. 
We use this segmentation to adapt our 
product range, merchandising and 
advertising. For example, the Big Data 
Customer Insight Programme showed 
us that whereas customers used to 
respond well to ‘three for two’ offers, 
they were now looking for ‘two for one’ 
discounts, so we adjusted our 
promotional emphasis accordingly. 

Personalised discounts are provided by 
scanning the loyalty card and providing 
coupons for previously purchased 
products. We can then track detailed 
buying patterns to see how a customer’s 
habits are changing – and provide 
tailored promotions based around 
their lifestyle and preferences. 

Product range
We offer a broad range of products 
in our stores, with an emphasis on high 
quality and great value for money. 
While our core product range is centrally 
controlled to ensure a degree of 
standardisation across our network, we 
tailor certain elements of our offering to 
reflect local preferences – and detailed 
analysis of loyalty card use enables us 
to edit our category assortment. Given 
Russia’s size and the variations in taste 
across the country, this not only makes 
good business sense for Lenta, it also 
sets us apart from our competitors. 

Lenta’s standard hypermarket carries 
around 24,000 SKUs, which is 30-40% 
fewer than some of our competitors in 
a hypermarket format. This enables us 
to benefit from supply chain and in-store 
efficiencies and helps our customers 
quickly find the products they really need.

We place particular emphasis on lines 
that are attractive to families and 
women. Certain product categories are 
designated as ‘destination’ categories, 
characterised by especially attractive 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201530

Operating review continued

assortments and pricing to draw 
customers to our stores. Examples 
include fresh and ultra-fresh foods, 
dry groceries, baby care and toys. 

In 2015 just over 40% of sales from 
both store formats were of fresh food, 
with dry groceries comprising 47% 
and non-food items just over 12%. 
The proportion of non-food items sold 
in hypermarkets was 12.7% compared 
with 2.7% through our supermarkets. 
Food sales (fresh food and dry food) 
grew by 32.1% in 2015. Our non-food 
range, which includes household goods, 
basic clothing, seasonal goods and 
a smaller-scale offer of kitchen aids 
and home appliances comprised 12.3% 
of sales and grew by 19.2% in 2015.

In contrast to many of our competitors, 
our business model emphasises regional 
and local sourcing. We obtain products 
from a variety of local and federal 
suppliers and increasingly prepare much 
of our fresh food – such as own-baked 
bread and cakes, salads and prepared 
meals – either through centralised 
production or in-store facilities. 

Sales from our own production 
amounted to RUB 31.8 billion, which 
accounted for 13.1% of our total sales. 
Centralised production has enabled 
us to optimise several of our processes 
and significantly reduce our staffing 
and equipment costs. In 2015 we 
commenced centralised bakery and 
culinary operations in nine ‘mother’ 
stores, which in turn supplied a further 
12 ‘daughter’ stores and we now have 
centralised production of bread products 
in 38 stores across Russia. 

In December we opened an automated 
vegetable peeling line at one of our 
hypermarkets in St. Petersburg. This 
facility currently serves several stores 
locally, but we are planning to deliver 
peeled vegetables to all our stores in 
the North West region in future. Peeled 
vegetables are used in the production 
of our own prepared foods and we also 
plan to sell them as a separate product. 
The coming year will also see us expand 
our own production capabilities further 
with additional categories such as 
Korean salads, pickled and fermented 
foods and the introduction of in-store 
express ‘bake-off’ technologies.

Taking control of production and 
sourcing raw materials directly enables 
us to maintain consistently high levels 
of quality control and on-shelf availability, 
while keeping our costs down and our 
pricing competitive. 

Our customers continued to appreciate 
the benefits of our low-price/low-cost 
business model. Our extensive private 
label range reinforces our value-for-
money proposition and provides quality 
everyday products at cheaper prices 
than brand-name alternatives. We strive 
for a position of local price leadership, 
aiming to be at least 5% cheaper than 
the next competitor. 

We have two major FMCG private label 
variants: our ‘365 days’ range, which 
comprises approximately 800 of the 
most affordable food and non-food 
products in their categories and the 
‘Lenta’ range of around 500 mid-range 
products, comparable in quality to – 
but priced at least 15% below – their 
branded equivalents. Launched in 2014, 
our ‘Bigga’ toys brand and ‘Actico’ sports/ 
leisure brands performed well during the 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  31

year and we upgraded our ‘Home Club’ 
household goods private label. 

During 2015 we took a variety of 
steps to respond to the difficult 
macroeconomic environment, including 
selectively adding to our SKU count 
in lower-priced goods, enhancing our 
private label range and emphasising 
our offering of non-food essentials. 
Recognising the quality of our own 
ranges, customers have become 
increasingly loyal to our private label 
brands and sales of these products rose 
to 12.3% of total sales, compared with 
11.7% in 2014.

Price leadership and promotions
Lenta’s core proposition is delivering 
value for money. In partnership with 
our suppliers we work towards lower 
on-shelf inflation, passing the benefits 
to our customers. Our strong profit 
performance derives not from high 
margins, but from high store traffic, 
high sales density and a low cost base. 
Our private label range of everyday 
essentials offers affordable quality 
and our loyalty cardholders benefit from 

a 5% discount on their purchases, 
as well as from attractive, tailored 
promotions. 

During 2015, we continued to adhere 
to our price leadership strategy, despite 
the tough macroeconomic environment. 
As retailers fought hard to win 
consumers’ spend, we continued to 
monitor the pricing strategies of our 
competitors – both national and local – 
on an ongoing basis to ensure 
we maintained a leading position. 

We maintain a long-term promotional 
calendar, which is continuously updated 
in the light of sales feedback and market 
opportunities. Promotional activity 
is tailored to local tastes and buying 
patterns, which attracts new customers, 
builds loyalty and heightens brand 
awareness. Promotions accounted for 
33.4% of total sales in 2015 compared 
with 27.6% in 2014 – and reached an 
all-time high of 41.5% in December 2015. 

We advertise weekly promotional 
deals – especially on fresh foods – 
across a wide variety of media including 

store façade signage, billboards and 
local TV, radio and the internet. 
We publish a fortnightly summary of all 
our offers for distribution in stores and 
in local neighbourhoods. Seasonal 
and event-driven discounts also occur 
throughout the year. For example, 
we reduce the prices of our flowers in 
the period leading up to International 
Women’s Day on 8 March and run 
substantial promotions around Easter 
with significant discounts on eggs. 
Every September features a month’s 
worth of discounts as part of Lenta’s 
birthday celebrations, with discounts 
for certain products as high as 50%. 

We also run targeted promotions 
to reconnect with customers whose 
patronage has declined and use 
a range of marketing tools to preserve 
our customer base in the event of 
a competitor store opening nearby. 

In 2015 we continued to improve our 
pricing and promotions communications 
through both conventional and digital 
channels.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201532

Operating review continued

Winning 
collaboration

Lenta was awarded ‘Best case 
in the area of supply chain 
optimisation’ in the annual ECR 
Awards for a collaborative project 
with Unilever, which resulted in 
savings in warehouse processing 
time and logistics costs. The 
awards support and promote 
the best examples of successful 
cooperation between suppliers 
and retail chains.

ahead, we plan to further expand our 
capacity, focus on efficiency gains and 
increase our own truck fleet share to 
50%, which will improve reliability and 
reduce costs.

Purchasing and supplier 
partnerships
Lenta maintains strong relationships 
with its key suppliers, whilst at the 
same time employing a highly diversified 
regional and local supplier base. 
In 2015, we continued to work with 
our suppliers to minimise inflation for 
our customers, leveraging the scale 
of our buying into lower costs. Every 
Lenta supplier must meet stringent 
safety and quality standards, with legally 
compliant packaging and all necessary 
consumer information. 

Our store opening programme across 
the country introduces Lenta to 
numerous local suppliers and we 

Distribution
Russia’s size presents federal food 
retailers with considerable logistical 
challenges, particularly with regard to 
travel distances, time zones and climate 
variations. Our rapid growth therefore 
depends on a robust, flexible and 
efficient supply chain. We seek to 
achieve a balance between deliveries 
shipped via our own distribution centres 
and direct deliveries from suppliers to 
our stores.

Our distribution centres incorporate 
highly efficient pick-by-line, cross-
docking and central storage processes, 
which reduce operating costs and 
increase in-store availability. 

During the year, we enhanced our supply 
operations with new distribution centres 
in Rostov-on-Don and Togliatti coming 
fully on-stream and the opening of a new 
distribution centre in Yekaterinburg, 
giving us the capacity to serve over 
250 hypermarkets. This regional 
expansion has facilitated increased 
centralisation of our operations, leading 
to economies of scale and lower net 

distribution costs. We also optimised 
the return journeys of our trucks back 
to distribution centres, basing them 
on real need and benefiting from the 
consequent cost savings. 

The centralisation ratio for our 
hypermarket format increased to 
45% in 2015 and at the year end the 
centralisation ratio for our supermarkets 
stood at 68%. The average distance for 
goods transported was 635 km per pallet 
compared with 896 km per pallet in 
2014, a decrease of 29%. Although 
our new stores in the Siberia and Ural 
regions necessitated transportation of 
goods over longer distances, this was 
offset by the positive impact from 
a higher share of stores in cities where 
we already have a presence and the 
new Yekaterinburg distribution centre. 

We continued to build up our truck 
fleet during the year, aimed at giving 
us greater control of the supply chain. 
At the end of 2015, our fleet comprised 
110 owned delivery trucks. Our owned 
fleet handled 39.3% of all deliveries 
to our stores (2014: 35%). In the year 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  33

Our high growth rate offers a very 
efficient and flexible channel to market 
for our suppliers. Since they benefit 
from our fast growth and flexibility, 
many of them reward us for these 
benefits with improved purchasing 
terms and conditions. 

These in turn increase our 
competitiveness for customers and 
also support our margins. Potential 
suppliers can also approach Lenta 
directly, accessing our commercial 
departments or via our website. 

Suppliers total
Direct import
Sourced in Russia:
  Federal suppliers
  Regional/local suppliers

2015
2,816
233
2,583
1,114
1,439

2014
2,524
259
2,265
1,128
1,137

Change
+292
-26
+318
+16
+302

work hard at cultivating and nurturing 
relationships with them – especially 
those offering local/regional or specialist 
products with local customer appeal. 
The overall number of suppliers 
increased in 2015 to almost 3,000 due 
to Lenta’s rapid expansion across 
Russia and the higher number of local 
and regional providers. During 2015, 
over 96% of all product purchases were 
sourced in Russia including over 22% 
from local suppliers within the region 
where we operate. Over 50.3% of our 
fresh food was obtained from local 
suppliers. Not only do such relationships 
benefit local and regional economies, 
they often provide more competitive 
pricing than federal suppliers. 

We analyse our regions and consider 
new suppliers on a quarterly basis. 
We also participate in regional 
exhibitions to extend our ranges 
of those products that appeal to 
particular local tastes. The number 
of direct import suppliers declined in 
2015 as a result of the import embargo 
and devaluation of the Rouble. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201534

Operating review continued

Gold award in the CIS Innovation 
Gold award in the CIS Innovation 
Category at the SAP Quality Awards 
Category at the SAP Quality Awards 
2015.
2015.

IT
Lenta’s IT strategy is based upon a suite 
of fully integrated best-in-class business 
applications, including applications from 
SAP, Oracle and JDA. These support 
all key aspects of our business including 
supply chain operations, cash and 
inventory management, centralised 
purchasing and pricing and in-store 
systems, as well as HR, finance and 
other administrative functions. 

In 2015 Lenta was declared the 
Excellence Winner of the SAP Quality 
Awards 2014 in the SAP HANA category 
for the CIS. We were the regional Silver 
Winner for the entire SAP EMEA region 
in the HANA Innovation category; 
a recognition of our application of quality 
principles to ensure the successful 
implementation of the SAP project. 
Lenta was also acknowledged as a 
technology leader by Oracle, winning 
its ‘Best Innovation Project 2015’ award.

Our clear IT strategy encompasses 
state-of-the-art in-memory solutions 
including SAP HANA and Oracle 
Exadata. Lenta’s advanced systems 
are therefore designed for scalability 
as well as reliability and performance; 
our system in its current form could 
potentially support a network of over 
500 stores, without the need to replace 
core applications. During the year 
we increased the capacity of these 
performance-enhancing systems 
to ensure they remain capable of 
supporting our ongoing rapid expansion. 

We also automated several processes 
in our hypermarkets and supermarkets 
with the introduction of Personal Digital 
Assistant (PDA) devices. These included 
a Mobile Stock Management system, 
which is based on the SAP Mobile 
Platform, integrates seamlessly with 
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 
and increases our in-store operations’ 
performance in the applicable areas 
by between 30-60%. By the end of the 
year, functionality was installed in all 
27 supermarkets and 17 hypermarkets 
in our Moscow and North West regions.

In 2015 we upgraded our point of sale 
system, which is now based on state-of-
the-art technologies and supports our 
growing business requirements. We 
rolled it out across our stores during the 
year and by December it was operational 
in 118 stores, with 4,000 employees 
having been trained on the system. 

We continued the roll-out of JDA 
Demand and Fulfilment software, 
which now operates in all our distribution 
centres and stores and covers all our 
ranges except fresh food and non-food. 
We also implemented the EGAIS 
system, which enables the transparent 
management of alcohol turnover 
in our distribution centres and stores, 
as required by Federal Law.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  35

Merchandising
We developed a new supermarket 
format, based around the concepts 
of ‘focus on fresh – low prices – easy 
to shop’. Three planning sizes from 
350-1,200 sq.m. have been evaluated 
with corresponding product ranges, 
enabling us to retain flexibility to adjust 
to prevailing site availability and rental 
conditions. 

Store layouts are specifically designed 
to draw attention to fresh food products 
with centrally located, visually attractive 
fruit and vegetable displays and a 
prominently placed promotions aisle 
for weekly and special offers. The 
‘Children’s World’ area is typically placed 
near the entrance, emphasising Lenta’s 
‘family first’ ethos to customers as they 
enter the store. 

In 2015 we redesigned elements 
of the sales area in our hypermarkets, 
reducing the space allocated for 
consumer electronics, clothing and 
shoes in favour of seasonal goods 
and promotions. Responding to the 
economic crisis in the first half of the 
year, we adjusted our display layouts 
to focus customers’ attention on our 
great value ‘365’ private label range. 

We have developed clear standard 
designs for our stores. Each has a 
logical and easy-to-navigate layout that 
provides customers with a convenient, 
efficient and pleasant shopping 
experience. Our hypermarkets feature 
high-rack storage that visually reinforces 
our value-for-money proposition and 
maximises the sales area by reducing 
storage space.

We use sophisticated technology that 
combines store-specific data with 
Company-wide presentation principles 
to create planograms. These help us 
present our products to customers in the 
most appealing way whilst maximising 
our stores’ performance.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201536

Principal risks and uncertainties

Risk management
All businesses are subject to varying degrees of risk. 
Recognising the effects and potential origins of uncertainty 
on our business helps us make sound, risk-informed decisions 
that put us in a better position to achieve our objectives, 
respond to future challenges and create new opportunities.

The Board continuously monitors and reviews all material risks 
to the business and takes appropriate actions to safeguard 
all aspects of our operations. 

The success of Lenta’s growth ambitions relies on careful 
assessment of the principal risks to the Company and their 
potential impact on our operations so that we can manage 
them effectively. 

Every manager within Lenta deals with risk every day. 
During 2015 we engaged an external consultant to further 
professionalise our risk management and embed a more 
formal process of recognising, reporting and classifying risk 
deeper within the organisation. This will also closely align our 
managers’ approach with Senior Management’s views of risk 
appetite and Lenta’s strategic goals.

Our strategic priorities:

  Delivering profitable like-for-like growth
  Strengthening our existing presence
  Exploiting white space potential

  Format evolution

*  Residual risk level

  High risk 
  Medium risk 
  Low risk

*

Risk and  
description

Impact

Strategic priorities 
that would be affected

Change in 2015

General 
economic
Rouble devaluation and 
GDP decline, resulting 
in high inflation over 
a period of more than 
two years, pressure on 
wages development 
and savings behaviour.

   Food retail sales and customer 
behaviour are influenced 
considerably by a decrease 
in real disposable income, 
lack of financial reserves among 
customers, an increase in 
unemployment and decisions 
by consumers to save rather 
than spend.

Pressures on purchasing power 
lead to lower customer loyalty 
as they ‘cherry pick’ promotions 
across various retailers. 
Consumers also drastically reduce 
the number of articles in their 
basket and buy cheaper products, 
resulting in slow growth – or even 
decline – of the average basket. 
This puts pressure on the goal to 
maintain healthy LFL sales growth 
to generate cash to further grow 
the business.

l

a
n
r
e
t
x
E

l

a
n
r
e
t
x
E

Market
 Increase in competition.

   Competitors alter their 
commercial approach, 
potentially resulting in 
shifting store loyalties 
and a decline in sales.

Increased competitor success 
will result in lower growth for 
Lenta, both LFL and in new stores, 
which will result in slower growth 
to support expansion.

Food inflation reached 14% after 
inflation of 15.4% in 2014. 

 The Rouble declined significantly 
and became much more volatile 
in 2015 compared to 2014 – but 
the direct effect on the P&L was 
low and not material.

 The volatility of the oil price 
and the Rouble in early 2016 
combined with other economic 
developments may lead to a longer 
period of high inflation and decline 
in purchasing power.

 With the outlook for slower growth, 
Lenta decided to accelerate 
multiple business improvements 
resulting in substantial cost savings 
without loss of attractiveness for 
the customer. This has helped 
Lenta improve its Adjusted EBITDA 
margin from 2014 to 2015, despite 
the lower LFL sales growth.

Competitors have become more 
active in promotions. However for 
some, these margin investments 
are leading to steep declines in 
results and high leverage, thus 
posing a threat to their future growth 
potential. As a result, more smaller 
players are exiting the market and 
the speed of consolidation of the 
market is likely to increase.

   Low-price/low-cost business model 

provides value for money for customers.

   Everyday products through own private 

label at lower prices than similar brand-

   Urban, inner-city locations can easily 

be reached on foot and by public transport 

name products.

as well as by car.

   Our everyday low price offer is supported 

by strong promotional activities with deep 

discounts. This is what customers require 

in the current economic circumstances – 

and is supporting a positive development 

in store traffic.

   Working with suppliers to achieve lower 

on-shelf inflation and pass benefits on 

to customers.

   Customers using Lenta loyalty card receive 

5% reduction on all purchases as well as 

   Additional focus on sourcing and supply 

chain optimisation to ensure Lenta can 

other promotions and discounts.

offer the best prices in the market.

   Introduction of our Social Card with 

additional 3%-8% discount on socially 

   Continuous focus on our cost efficiency 

to maintain high returns in periods of 

significant goods.

slower growth.

   Constantly monitoring competitors’ pricing 

so that Lenta maintains its position 

as hypermarket price leader.

   Monitoring customer trends using external 

reports and analysis of individual customer 

   Monitoring changes in competitors’ 

commercial propositions.

   Adapting assortment, price ranges and 

promotion activities to remain attractive 

to customer base.

behaviour provided through Lenta’s Big 

Data Customer Insight Programme.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
  37
  37

The risk landscape altered in 2015, with falling real purchasing 
power of consumers resulting from low oil prices, the steep 
devaluation of the Rouble, increased inflation and higher 
interest rates. The import embargo on certain agricultural 
products from the US, EU and several other countries also 
played its part. We managed these changes by adapting 
our commercial offer, helping customers save money by 
offering attractive promotions and a wider choice of products 
available in smaller quantities and at lower prices. We also took 
steps to improve the efficiency of our business, lowering our 
operational cost (excluding depreciation and rental expenses) 
as a percentage of sales.

The risk management process is closely aligned to our 
strategic objectives. The principal risks that could have 
a negative impact on our ability to deliver on our goals 
are set out below, along with their potential impacts and 
the mitigating actions taken in each case. Each risk is 
categorised as ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ depending on how 
the possible impact would affect the achievement of our 
strategic objectives.

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General 

economic

Rouble devaluation and 

GDP decline, resulting 

in high inflation over 

a period of more than 

two years, pressure on 

wages development 

and savings behaviour.

   Food retail sales and customer 

behaviour are influenced 

considerably by a decrease 

in real disposable income, 

lack of financial reserves among 

customers, an increase in 

unemployment and decisions 

by consumers to save rather 

than spend.

Pressures on purchasing power 

Food inflation reached 14% after 

lead to lower customer loyalty 

as they ‘cherry pick’ promotions 

across various retailers. 

inflation of 15.4% in 2014. 

 The Rouble declined significantly 

Consumers also drastically reduce 

and became much more volatile 

the number of articles in their 

in 2015 compared to 2014 – but 

basket and buy cheaper products, 

the direct effect on the P&L was 

resulting in slow growth – or even 

low and not material.

decline – of the average basket. 

This puts pressure on the goal to 

 The volatility of the oil price 

maintain healthy LFL sales growth 

and the Rouble in early 2016 

to generate cash to further grow 

combined with other economic 

the business.

How we manage it

   Low-price/low-cost business model 
provides value for money for customers.

   Our everyday low price offer is supported 
by strong promotional activities with deep 
discounts. This is what customers require 
in the current economic circumstances – 
and is supporting a positive development 
in store traffic.

   Working with suppliers to achieve lower 
on-shelf inflation and pass benefits on 
to customers.

   Everyday products through own private 
label at lower prices than similar brand-
name products.

   Urban, inner-city locations can easily 
be reached on foot and by public transport 
as well as by car.

   Customers using Lenta loyalty card receive 
5% reduction on all purchases as well as 
other promotions and discounts.

   Additional focus on sourcing and supply 
chain optimisation to ensure Lenta can 
offer the best prices in the market.

   Introduction of our Social Card with 
additional 3%-8% discount on socially 
significant goods.

   Continuous focus on our cost efficiency 
to maintain high returns in periods of 
slower growth.

   Constantly monitoring competitors’ pricing 
so that Lenta maintains its position 
as hypermarket price leader.

Market

 Increase in competition.

   Competitors alter their 

commercial approach, 

potentially resulting in 

shifting store loyalties 

and a decline in sales.

Increased competitor success 

will result in lower growth for 

Lenta, both LFL and in new stores, 

which will result in slower growth 

to support expansion.

Competitors have become more 

active in promotions. However for 

some, these margin investments 

are leading to steep declines in 

results and high leverage, thus 

   Monitoring customer trends using external 
reports and analysis of individual customer 
behaviour provided through Lenta’s Big 
Data Customer Insight Programme.

   Monitoring changes in competitors’ 
commercial propositions.

   Adapting assortment, price ranges and 
promotion activities to remain attractive 
to customer base.

developments may lead to a longer 

period of high inflation and decline 

in purchasing power.

 With the outlook for slower growth, 

Lenta decided to accelerate 

multiple business improvements 

resulting in substantial cost savings 

without loss of attractiveness for 

the customer. This has helped 

Lenta improve its Adjusted EBITDA 

margin from 2014 to 2015, despite 

the lower LFL sales growth.

posing a threat to their future growth 

potential. As a result, more smaller 

players are exiting the market and 

the speed of consolidation of the 

market is likely to increase.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
38

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Our strategic priorities:

  Delivering profitable like-for-like growth
  Strengthening our existing presence
  Exploiting white space potential

  Format evolution

*  Residual risk level

  High risk 
  Medium risk 
  Low risk

*

Risk and  
description

Impact

Strategic priorities 
that would be affected

Change in 2015

Regulatory
Laws and regulations 
governing food retail are 
subject to change and 
are particularly open 
to scrutiny in periods of 
high inflation.

 Laws and regulations 
are passed that increase 
operating costs of retail 
businesses and 
can pose threats to 
business continuity 
because of potentially 
complex adjustments 
required to IT systems. 

Tax
 Frequent changes in 
tax legislation and 
the ambiguity of many 
tax regulations. 

   Reduced retail margins 
and a negative impact 
on working capital.

   Increases in operating 
costs due to additional levies 
or additional costs of 
implementing and operating 
complex new IT systems.

   Increased risk of mistakes 
in reporting to government 
bodies due to the additional 
requirements.

   Acceleration of market 
consolidation as smaller players 
fail to cope with the changes.

   Exposure to tax risks in some 
circumstances; all tax risks 
are set out in the Financial 
statements. 

These risks threaten our efficient 
operating model and cost structure 
as well our balance sheet and 
returns. This may ultimately lead 
to reduced cash flows available 
to grow the business.

The outcome of discussions 
on changing the trade law is still 
unclear.

In 2015 a system was developed 
allowing authorities to follow every 
bottle of alcohol and its excise 
mark from producers to the point 
of sale to the consumer. System 
requirements and operational 
issues had to be defined and 
Lenta had to integrate these 
into its own IT systems.

A second example is the 
introduction of a road tax for 
trucks over 20 tonnes.

   Closely monitoring all changes 

in regulations affecting business.

   Active participation in industry trade bodies 

to contribute to the development of 

   Active participation in development 

of requirements of new systems that 

workable and well-balanced regulations.

retailers have to work with, thus ensuring 

Lenta is well prepared and can develop the 

requisite systems and operational changes 

in time to ensure continuity of operations.

A high tax burden endangers 
the returns that can be invested 
in growing the business.

General economic circumstances 
will most likely lead to a pressure 
on total income from all types 
of taxes. This may also result in 
additional scrutiny by the authorities.

   Analysing all existing practices and 

court rulings in detail and adapting 

our approach in accordance with court 

practices or a robust interpretation 

of the law.

   Ensuring that our own tax practices  

are fair and not overly aggressive. 

Legal
As in all jurisdictions, 
Russian law is subject 
to change.

Financial: 
capital structure 
and covenants
Balancing projected 
EBITDA, planned 
capital expenditure 
and expected interest 
payments with 
financial covenants. 

   Trade and import laws could 
negatively influence day-to-day 
business operations.

Changes in regional or federal 
law may adversely affect Lenta’s 
competitiveness and potentially 
inhibit its growth strategy with 
restrictions on opening new stores.

During 2015 there was no 
significant change observed 
in laws affecting Lenta or 
their implementation.

   Continuous monitoring of changes 

in the law with expert support from 

external professional advisors.

   Relevant changes reflected in a timely 

manner in all internal processes and 

documentation.

   Large deviations might lead 
to breaches of covenants 
with banks.

Lack of timely funding may 
endanger the general growth 
strategy because of a lack of 
finance to build new stores.

Lenta raised capital twice in 2015. 
Leverage is therefore very healthy 
and Lenta has a higher flexibility 
in defining its speed of growth.

   Balancing commitments for new 

investments with projected EBITDA, 

projected interest and required 

headroom on covenants.

   Strict capital expenditure planning 

on a conservative EBITDA forecast 

to ensure that we retain comfortable 

covenant headroom.

   If necessary, proactively renegotiate 

covenants to ensure prudent headroom 

is maintained.

   Issue share capital if equity markets are 

receptive to enable sustained high growth 

while keeping leverage at prudent levels.

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Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
  39

How we manage it

   Closely monitoring all changes 
in regulations affecting business.

   Active participation in industry trade bodies 
to contribute to the development of 
workable and well-balanced regulations.

   Active participation in development 
of requirements of new systems that 
retailers have to work with, thus ensuring 
Lenta is well prepared and can develop the 
requisite systems and operational changes 
in time to ensure continuity of operations.

A high tax burden endangers 

General economic circumstances 

the returns that can be invested 

will most likely lead to a pressure 

in growing the business.

on total income from all types 

of taxes. This may also result in 

additional scrutiny by the authorities.

   Analysing all existing practices and 
court rulings in detail and adapting 
our approach in accordance with court 
practices or a robust interpretation 
of the law.

   Ensuring that our own tax practices  
are fair and not overly aggressive. 

Legal

As in all jurisdictions, 

Russian law is subject 

to change.

Financial: 

capital structure 

and covenants

Balancing projected 

EBITDA, planned 

capital expenditure 

and expected interest 

payments with 

financial covenants. 

   Trade and import laws could 

negatively influence day-to-day 

business operations.

Changes in regional or federal 

During 2015 there was no 

law may adversely affect Lenta’s 

significant change observed 

competitiveness and potentially 

in laws affecting Lenta or 

inhibit its growth strategy with 

their implementation.

restrictions on opening new stores.

   Continuous monitoring of changes 
in the law with expert support from 
external professional advisors.

   Relevant changes reflected in a timely 
manner in all internal processes and 
documentation.

   Large deviations might lead 

to breaches of covenants 

with banks.

Lack of timely funding may 

endanger the general growth 

strategy because of a lack of 

finance to build new stores.

Lenta raised capital twice in 2015. 

Leverage is therefore very healthy 

and Lenta has a higher flexibility 

in defining its speed of growth.

   Balancing commitments for new 
investments with projected EBITDA, 
projected interest and required 
headroom on covenants.

   Strict capital expenditure planning 
on a conservative EBITDA forecast 
to ensure that we retain comfortable 
covenant headroom.

   If necessary, proactively renegotiate 
covenants to ensure prudent headroom 
is maintained.

   Issue share capital if equity markets are 
receptive to enable sustained high growth 
while keeping leverage at prudent levels.

Regulatory

Laws and regulations 

governing food retail are 

subject to change and 

are particularly open 

to scrutiny in periods of 

high inflation.

 Laws and regulations 

are passed that increase 

operating costs of retail 

businesses and 

can pose threats to 

business continuity 

because of potentially 

complex adjustments 

required to IT systems. 

Tax

 Frequent changes in 

tax legislation and 

the ambiguity of many 

tax regulations. 

   Reduced retail margins 

and a negative impact 

on working capital.

   Increases in operating 

costs due to additional levies 

or additional costs of 

implementing and operating 

complex new IT systems.

   Increased risk of mistakes 

in reporting to government 

bodies due to the additional 

requirements.

   Acceleration of market 

consolidation as smaller players 

fail to cope with the changes.

   Exposure to tax risks in some 

circumstances; all tax risks 

are set out in the Financial 

statements. 

These risks threaten our efficient 

The outcome of discussions 

operating model and cost structure 

on changing the trade law is still 

as well our balance sheet and 

unclear.

returns. This may ultimately lead 

to reduced cash flows available 

In 2015 a system was developed 

to grow the business.

allowing authorities to follow every 

bottle of alcohol and its excise 

mark from producers to the point 

of sale to the consumer. System 

requirements and operational 

issues had to be defined and 

Lenta had to integrate these 

into its own IT systems.

A second example is the 

introduction of a road tax for 

trucks over 20 tonnes.

*

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Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
40

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Our strategic priorities:

  Delivering profitable like-for-like growth
  Strengthening our existing presence
  Exploiting white space potential

  Format evolution

*  Residual risk level

  High risk 
  Medium risk 
  Low risk

*

Risk and  
description

Impact

Strategic priorities 
that would be affected

Change in 2015

Financial: 
interest rates
Significant changes 
in interest rates.

   Would affect liquidity as well 
as ability to maintain prudent 
covenant headroom.

Lack of timely funding may 
endanger the general growth 
strategy because of a lack of 
finance to build new stores.

Financial: 
credit
Large amounts 
of receivables. 

   Subject to collection risk, 
especially in more economically 
turbulent times.

The inability to collect receivables 
may result in lower than expected 
cash flows, which may in turn 
endanger the ability to grow 
the business through new store 
openings.

2015 saw a continuous decline in 
interest rates from close to 25% 
(3 months MosPrime) in January 
to just below 12% at the end of 
December. However, ongoing 
low oil prices and resulting volatility 
of the Rouble have resulted in 
increased uncertainty about further 
decline in rates with some risk 
of increases.

No change compared to 
previous year.

   Various instruments are employed such 

as fixed rate loans, interest rate swaps and 

   Derivative instruments clearly linked 

to existing debt positions with variable 

    At year-end 73% of Lenta’s debt was fixed, 

hedged into a fixed rate or capped against 

caps so that interest paid is less influenced 

interest rates and not used for speculation.

significant increases in interest rates.

by rate volatility. 

   Payables to and receivables from 

individual suppliers are managed 

in tandem. 

   Well-developed systems and payment 

processes track development of trade 

receivables on a weekly basis.

   Borrowings in Roubles only,  

so no exposure to currency risk.

   Imports (about 4% and mainly non-food 

items) paid partly in advance and currency 

risks not generally hedged.

   Store and other rental agreements 

denominated in Roubles (only 0.6% 

of space has lease terms in uncapped 

foreign currency and this is being 

renegotiated).

   Short- and long-term cash flow forecasting 

processes implemented to ensure 

   Diversified portfolio of lenders reduces 

the risks should any lender be unable 

appropriate understanding of liquidity 

to disburse already-agreed loans.

requirements.

   Treasury policies ensure large buffers 

of available debt to finance a full 

   Comprehensive investment planning 

process ensures that commitments to new 

investments are in line with both projected 

development programme for 12-18 months.

cash flows and required headroom on 

covenants in the short and mid term.

   Large supplier base of local, regional 

and federal suppliers ensures that the 

   Cooperating with smaller local and regional 

suppliers and offering support to improve 

loss of any one supplier would not result 

production and quality standards.

   Ensuring fair terms for smaller suppliers 

will allow them to grow their business 

with Lenta and ensures a stable supply 

in major issues. 

to Lenta.

   Inflation (see General 
economic risk section) and the 
price of imported materials.

An increase in imports will 
increase investments and 
may threaten our goal to 
deliver market-leading returns. 

The Rouble became much more 
volatile in 2015 compared to 2014 
but direct effect on the P&L is low 
and not material.

   10-15% of investment in new stores 

involves imported equipment, with local 

sourcing used wherever possible.

Financial: 
foreign currency
Changes in foreign 
currency exchange rates. 

Financial: 
liquidity
Unexpected changes 
in cash flows and lack 
of available financing. 

   Unable to fulfil financial 
obligations.

Lack of timely funding may 
endanger the general growth 
strategy because of a lack of 
finance to build new stores. 

Sourcing
Inability to source 
the right products 
in the right place 
for the right price. 

   Sales development below 
expectations.

    Margin development below 
expectations.

Lower like-for-like and total 
sales growth and/or lower margins 
impact cash flow available to fund 
further growth. 

After some uncertainties in the 
banking system in early 2015, 
the situation stabilised. Lenta’s 
continued growth, combined with 
healthy profitability and decreased 
leverage – as a result of healthy 
cash flow generation and two 
equity increases – resulted in an 
improved credit rating, making 
Lenta an attractive prospect for 
banks when it comes to lending. 
Lenta is in a significantly better 
position than at the end of 2014.

The self-imposed food import 
ban required rapid adaptation 
to sourcing many fresh food items 
at the end of 2014. At that time, 
Turkey was open for imports of 
fruits and vegetables, but the 
recent strained relationship 
between Russia and Turkey 
has closed this option. As a result, 
new sources must be found.

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Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  41

Financial: 

credit

Large amounts 

of receivables. 

Financial: 

foreign currency

Changes in foreign 

currency exchange rates. 

Financial: 

liquidity

Unexpected changes 

in cash flows and lack 

of available financing. 

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Financial: 

interest rates

Significant changes 

in interest rates.

   Would affect liquidity as well 

as ability to maintain prudent 

covenant headroom.

Lack of timely funding may 

endanger the general growth 

strategy because of a lack of 

finance to build new stores.

   Various instruments are employed such 
as fixed rate loans, interest rate swaps and 
caps so that interest paid is less influenced 
by rate volatility. 

   Derivative instruments clearly linked 
to existing debt positions with variable 
interest rates and not used for speculation.

    At year-end 73% of Lenta’s debt was fixed, 
hedged into a fixed rate or capped against 
significant increases in interest rates.

How we manage it

   Subject to collection risk, 

especially in more economically 

The inability to collect receivables 

No change compared to 

may result in lower than expected 

previous year.

turbulent times.

   Payables to and receivables from 
individual suppliers are managed 
in tandem. 

   Well-developed systems and payment 
processes track development of trade 
receivables on a weekly basis.

cash flows, which may in turn 

endanger the ability to grow 

the business through new store 

openings.

   Inflation (see General 

economic risk section) and the 

price of imported materials.

An increase in imports will 

increase investments and 

may threaten our goal to 

The Rouble became much more 

volatile in 2015 compared to 2014 

but direct effect on the P&L is low 

deliver market-leading returns. 

and not material.

   Unable to fulfil financial 

obligations.

Lack of timely funding may 

endanger the general growth 

strategy because of a lack of 

finance to build new stores. 

   10-15% of investment in new stores 
involves imported equipment, with local 
sourcing used wherever possible.

   Borrowings in Roubles only,  
so no exposure to currency risk.

   Imports (about 4% and mainly non-food 
items) paid partly in advance and currency 
risks not generally hedged.

   Short- and long-term cash flow forecasting 
processes implemented to ensure 
appropriate understanding of liquidity 
requirements.

   Treasury policies ensure large buffers 
of available debt to finance a full 
development programme for 12-18 months.

   Store and other rental agreements 
denominated in Roubles (only 0.6% 
of space has lease terms in uncapped 
foreign currency and this is being 
renegotiated).

   Diversified portfolio of lenders reduces 
the risks should any lender be unable 
to disburse already-agreed loans.

   Comprehensive investment planning 
process ensures that commitments to new 
investments are in line with both projected 
cash flows and required headroom on 
covenants in the short and mid term.

Sourcing

Inability to source 

the right products 

in the right place 

for the right price. 

   Sales development below 

expectations.

    Margin development below 

expectations.

Lower like-for-like and total 

The self-imposed food import 

sales growth and/or lower margins 

ban required rapid adaptation 

impact cash flow available to fund 

to sourcing many fresh food items 

further growth. 

   Large supplier base of local, regional 
and federal suppliers ensures that the 
loss of any one supplier would not result 
in major issues. 

   Cooperating with smaller local and regional 
suppliers and offering support to improve 
production and quality standards.

   Ensuring fair terms for smaller suppliers 
will allow them to grow their business 
with Lenta and ensures a stable supply 
to Lenta.

2015 saw a continuous decline in 

interest rates from close to 25% 

(3 months MosPrime) in January 

to just below 12% at the end of 

December. However, ongoing 

low oil prices and resulting volatility 

of the Rouble have resulted in 

increased uncertainty about further 

decline in rates with some risk 

of increases.

After some uncertainties in the 

banking system in early 2015, 

the situation stabilised. Lenta’s 

continued growth, combined with 

healthy profitability and decreased 

leverage – as a result of healthy 

cash flow generation and two 

equity increases – resulted in an 

improved credit rating, making 

Lenta an attractive prospect for 

banks when it comes to lending. 

Lenta is in a significantly better 

position than at the end of 2014.

at the end of 2014. At that time, 

Turkey was open for imports of 

fruits and vegetables, but the 

recent strained relationship 

between Russia and Turkey 

has closed this option. As a result, 

new sources must be found.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Our strategic priorities:

  Delivering profitable like-for-like growth
  Strengthening our existing presence
  Exploiting white space potential

  Format evolution

*  Residual risk level

  High risk 
  Medium risk 
  Low risk

*

Risk and  
description

Impact

Strategic priorities 
that would be affected

Change in 2015

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Logistics and 
supply chain
Disruption of an efficient 
supply chain.

   Lack of goods for customers 
and sales developments below 
expectations.

Lower LFL and total sales growth 
impact the cash flow available to 
fund further growth. 

Construction and 
development 
Exposure to risks related 
to cost, quality and timing 
of development projects. 

   Future returns could be 
negatively influenced by budget 
overruns, late commissioning 
of stores, excessive 
maintenance costs or the 
inability to use constructed 
property.

Higher investment and delayed 
openings put pressure on 
Lenta’s aim to deliver market-
leading returns. 

Operational control 
Growing selling space 
at 25-40% per year 
and adding new stores 
and suppliers.

   Lack of control in new 
operations, leading to 
a performance that is 
below expectations.

Lower operational control will lead 
to higher costs. Lower service 
levels will affect sales, which will 
reduce the funds available to 
finance further growth.

   Non-compliance would 
risk Lenta’s reputation 
and customer loyalty, with 
a resulting negative impact 
on sales. 

Non-compliance would run the 
risk of Lenta no longer receiving 
approvals for new store 
construction – and not achieving 
its growth strategy.

Environmental 
health and safety 
Strict compliance 
with health and safety 
standards for customers 
and employees. 

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Compliance with 
environmental pollution 
guidelines. 

Product liability 
Selling goods that do 
not meet health and 
safety regulations. 

   Legal liability claims from 
customers, with Lenta liable 
for financial compensation 
and damage to its reputation.

No change.

Direct impact is very limited. 
A persistent problem may create 
reputational issues that could 
lead to lower sales as customers 
shop elsewhere. This could result 
in lower potential for growth. 

   Development of strict quality assurance 

measures to ensure that products meet 

   Audit of suppliers’ production processes, 

particularly for fresh produce and raw 

   Regular audits of production process 

of Lenta-produced food.

or exceed legal requirements.

materials.

Implementation of a new system to 
levy road tax, starting November 
2015, created some disruption in 
the transport market, leading to 
a lack of available trucks. Working 
with own transport and high quality 
providers on long-term agreements 
ensured this had a very limited 
effect on Lenta’s operations in the 
crucial month of December.

Despite the high inflation in 
general, construction inflation has 
been modest. The lack of other 
companies investing in real estate 
also ensures there is a wide choice 
of contractors available at keen 
prices.

Lenta’s high growth rate makes 
it an attractive employer for 
ambitious people wanting to work 
in retail. The fact that Lenta 
continues to pay variable income 
also increases trust from existing 
and future employees and will 
help it attract the best people 
in the market.

No change.

   Effective supply chain solution with a good 

balance of own resources and external 

   Employing a mix of owned and third-party 

transport to optimise cost and mitigate risk 

service providers.

of non-availability of transport.

   Ownership of all but one distribution centre 

and all processes utilising Company-

   Broad base of transport providers 

with long-term agreements to ensure 

owned systems.

continuity of high-level services.

   Strong base of experienced construction 

companies with a proven track record on 

    Own site managers oversee construction 

activities on a day-to-day basis and control 

similar projects.

progress and quality.

   Detailed budget planning and control, 

as well as strict controls on contractor 

   Third-party specialists employed to monitor 

the quality of construction materials used 

spending.

and techniques deployed.

   Clear and scalable organisational structure 

ensures that Lenta has proper control 

   Established assessment and development 

process for future managerial positions 

   All new employees undergo structured 

training and development.

procedures to manage the business 

efficiently, whatever its size.

ensures that new operations are supported 

by experienced people who fully understand 

Lenta’s systems and processes.

   Highest quality standards maintained 

across the business as well as 

safeguarding the comfort and safety of 

customers and employees at all times.

   Strict adherence to all legal requirements 

for health and safety within stores.

   Operations conducted with respect 

towards the environment.

   Cooperation with local and regional 

authorities to complete and maintain 

all necessary approvals and regulatory 

requirements for new stores.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  43

Product liability 

Selling goods that do 

not meet health and 

safety regulations. 

   Legal liability claims from 

customers, with Lenta liable 

for financial compensation 

and damage to its reputation.

Direct impact is very limited. 

No change.

A persistent problem may create 

reputational issues that could 

lead to lower sales as customers 

shop elsewhere. This could result 

in lower potential for growth. 

How we manage it

   Development of strict quality assurance 
measures to ensure that products meet 
or exceed legal requirements.

   Audit of suppliers’ production processes, 
particularly for fresh produce and raw 
materials.

   Regular audits of production process 
of Lenta-produced food.

   Lack of goods for customers 

and sales developments below 

Lower LFL and total sales growth 

Implementation of a new system to 

impact the cash flow available to 

levy road tax, starting November 

expectations.

fund further growth. 

   Effective supply chain solution with a good 
balance of own resources and external 
service providers.

   Employing a mix of owned and third-party 
transport to optimise cost and mitigate risk 
of non-availability of transport.

   Ownership of all but one distribution centre 
and all processes utilising Company-
owned systems.

   Broad base of transport providers 
with long-term agreements to ensure 
continuity of high-level services.

   Strong base of experienced construction 
companies with a proven track record on 
similar projects.

    Own site managers oversee construction 
activities on a day-to-day basis and control 
progress and quality.

   Detailed budget planning and control, 
as well as strict controls on contractor 
spending.

   Third-party specialists employed to monitor 
the quality of construction materials used 
and techniques deployed.

   Clear and scalable organisational structure 
ensures that Lenta has proper control 
procedures to manage the business 
efficiently, whatever its size.

   Established assessment and development 
process for future managerial positions 
ensures that new operations are supported 
by experienced people who fully understand 
Lenta’s systems and processes.

   Highest quality standards maintained 
across the business as well as 
safeguarding the comfort and safety of 
customers and employees at all times.

   Strict adherence to all legal requirements 
for health and safety within stores.

   Operations conducted with respect 
towards the environment.

   Cooperation with local and regional 
authorities to complete and maintain 
all necessary approvals and regulatory 
requirements for new stores.

   All new employees undergo structured 
training and development.

*

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e

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a

n

r

e

t

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I

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t

x

E

Logistics and 

supply chain

Disruption of an efficient 

supply chain.

Construction and 

development 

Exposure to risks related 

to cost, quality and timing 

of development projects. 

Operational control 

Growing selling space 

at 25-40% per year 

and adding new stores 

and suppliers.

Environmental 

health and safety 

Strict compliance 

with health and safety 

standards for customers 

and employees. 

Compliance with 

environmental pollution 

guidelines. 

2015, created some disruption in 

the transport market, leading to 

a lack of available trucks. Working 

with own transport and high quality 

providers on long-term agreements 

ensured this had a very limited 

effect on Lenta’s operations in the 

crucial month of December.

general, construction inflation has 

been modest. The lack of other 

companies investing in real estate 

also ensures there is a wide choice 

of contractors available at keen 

prices.

   Future returns could be 

Higher investment and delayed 

Despite the high inflation in 

negatively influenced by budget 

openings put pressure on 

overruns, late commissioning 

Lenta’s aim to deliver market-

leading returns. 

of stores, excessive 

maintenance costs or the 

inability to use constructed 

property.

   Lack of control in new 

operations, leading to 

a performance that is 

below expectations.

Lower operational control will lead 

Lenta’s high growth rate makes 

to higher costs. Lower service 

it an attractive employer for 

levels will affect sales, which will 

ambitious people wanting to work 

reduce the funds available to 

in retail. The fact that Lenta 

finance further growth.

continues to pay variable income 

also increases trust from existing 

and future employees and will 

help it attract the best people 

in the market.

No change.

   Non-compliance would 

risk Lenta’s reputation 

and customer loyalty, with 

a resulting negative impact 

on sales. 

Non-compliance would run the 

risk of Lenta no longer receiving 

approvals for new store 

construction – and not achieving 

its growth strategy.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
44

Financial review

A year of increasing profitability

Jago Lemmens 
Chief Financial Officer

With sales growth of over 30%, we were 
the fastest growing publicly-traded food 
retailer for the third year running and became 
No. 5 by total sales.

252.8bn

RUB Total sales

56.3bn

22.3bn

RUB Gross profit

RUB Operating profit

Dear Shareholders
Despite ongoing turbulent economic 
conditions, Lenta delivered a strong 
overall performance in 2015, with 
industry-leading sales growth. Our 
customers continued to face challenges, 
but our low-price/low-cost model 
ensured that we were able to help them 
manage their budgets and still deliver 
a strong financial performance. 

We increased our profitability, despite 
making additional price investments 
to reduce the impact of inflation on our 
customers. It was particularly pleasing 
that our improved profitability was driven 
by enhancing our operational processes 
in stores, distribution centres and head 
office, and as a result of the investments 
in supply chain infrastructure we made 
in 2014 and 2015. 

Our total sales grew 30.3%, in line 
with our guidance, and we increased 
selling space during the year by 25.8%. 
We delivered a gross margin of 22.3%, 
a reduction of 0.2pp compared to 2014. 
The slight decrease was due to the 
additional investments in pricing and 
promotions throughout the year, 
which more than offset the benefits 
from improved supplier terms, increasing 
supply chain efficiency and reduced 
shrinkage. 

Our supply chain costs fell to 1.3% of 
sales from 1.6% in 2014 as we reaped 
the benefits of our investments over the 
last five years in distribution centres, 
trucks and IT. Transportation costs 
remain the largest element, but the 
average distance for goods transported 
fell by 29.1% to 635 km per pallet, as we 
benefited from our three new distribution 
centres in Togliatti, Rostov and 
Yekaterinburg. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
  45

Productivity improvements and volume 
leverage meant that sales per full-time 
employee (FTE) grew by 13.3%, whilst 
our cost per FTE only grew by 4.2%. 
We worked hard to ensure our new 
stores became profitable quickly; 
shrinkage fell 10bps and pre-opening 
costs of new stores reduced by the 
same amount. Costs as a percentage 
of sales fell across many other areas 
of the business including marketing, 
cleaning and security.

Our Adjusted EBITDA rose by 31.4% to 
RUB 28.1 billion, with margin up 0.1pp 
to 11.1% (2014: 11.0%). 

Net profit was RUB 10.3 billion, an 
increase of 13.4% on 2014. This was 
driven by EBITDA growth partly offset 
by increased interest expenses and 
higher depreciation. The net profit 
margin fell 0.6pp to 4.1%. 

The effective tax rate increased from 
17.0% in 2014 to 20.1%, due to a large 
one-off effect in 2014 when Lenta 
started to deduct a larger part of its 
shrinkage for profit tax purposes. The 
Company resubmitted tax declarations 
for the years 2011-2013, resulting in a 
one-off benefit of around RUB 0.5 billion 
recognised in 2014. 

Since the year end, the trading 
environment has remained challenging 
for retailers and customers alike. Food 
inflation slowed at the start of 2016, but 
with wages and incomes barely growing, 
customers remain under pressure. They 
are buying fewer products and trading 
down to cheaper alternatives, with price 
sensitivity and promotion-orientation 
remaining high. 

Our growing profitability and the equity 
issues of 2015 have strengthened our 
balance sheet. Lenta’s financial position 
remains very healthy, with falling 
leverage, and stable costs of debt 
coupled with long maturity profiles. 
Liquidity and availability of debt is high, 
with RUB 45.3 billion of undrawn 
borrowing facilities. We have the 
necessary resources in place to 
succeed in this environment; returns 
on our new stores remain well above 
the cost of capital, we see room for 
greater efficiency and the momentum 
from 2015 means we are well placed 
to accelerate our expansion.

Gross profit
RUB bn

2015

2014

2013

Net profit
RUB bn

2015

2014

2013

31.5

+28.7%

56.3

43.7

+13.4%

10.3

9.1

7.1

Summary income statement

RUB (millions)
Total sales
Gross profit
Gross margin
SG&A, % of sales
Adjusted SG&A1, % of sales
Adjusted EBITDAR2 
Adjusted EBITDAR margin
Rental expenses, % of sales
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA margin
Operating profit
Profit before income tax
Net profit
Net profit margin

2015
252,763
56,305
22.3%
14.3%
10.9%
30,752
12.2%
1.1%
28,080
11.1%
22,332
12,872
10,288
4.1%

2014
193,988
43,736
22.5%
14.4%
11.6%
22,781
11.7%
0.7%
21,372
11.0%
17,659
10,928
9,075
4.7%

% Change
2015-2014
30.3%
28.7%
-0.2pp
-0.1pp
-0.7pp
35.0%
0.5pp
0.4pp
31.4%
0.1pp
26.5%
17.8%
13.4%
-0.6pp

1   Adjusted SG&A is SG&A before rent paid on land, equipment and premises leases, depreciation and 

one-off non-operating costs.

2   Adjusted EBITDAR is Adjusted EBITDA before rent paid on land, equipment and premises leases.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201546

Financial review continued

 Our success springs 
from staying true to 
our successful low-
price/low-cost business 
model. In 2015 we 
further improved 
profitability thanks to 
effective control of 
operational costs and 
further development 
of our supply chain 
infrastructure.

Sales
In 2015 our sales were RUB 252.8 
billion, an increase of 30.3% compared 
to 34.5% growth in 2014. The growth 
was supported by a significant increase 
in selling space in 2014 and 2015, 
with increases of 38.7% and 25.8% 
respectively. LFL sales rose by 9.1%, 
which included a 3.9% increase in 
LFL traffic and 5.0% LFL average 
ticket growth. 

y-o-y growth
Total sales
LFL sales
LFL traffic
LFL ticket

1H 2015
33.8%
11.5%
4.7%
6.5%

We opened 32 new hypermarkets 
and eight new supermarkets in 2015. 
The number of active loyalty 
cardholders increased by 29% 
year-on-year to 8.4 million at the 
year end. 

Selling space
’000 sq.m.

2015

2014

2013

2H 2015
27.5%
7.2%
3.2%
3.9%

505.7

2015
30.3%
9.1%
3.9%
5.0%

+25.8%

882.4

701.2

2014
34.5%
10.6%
4.4%
6.0%

Selling, general and administrative 
expenses (SG&A)
SG&A decreased to 14.3% of sales, 
0.1pp lower than 2014. We managed 
a reduction in SG&A expenses thanks 
to ongoing operational improvements 
throughout the business, productivity 
improvements and a more efficient use 
of our marketing resources. These more 
than offset an increase in the share of 
leased stores with their associated rental 
expenses and increased depreciation 
expenses driven by our investment 
in new stores and supply chain 
infrastructure. Lenta’s rent expenses 
increased by 0.4pp to 1.1%. 

Professional expenses reduced in 
2015, mainly thanks to fewer one-off 
corporate costs related to the IPO 
in 2014 and lower fees to payment 
systems due to better tariffs. 

Operational improvements, cost 
saving measures and increasing scale 
contributed to a fall in Adjusted SG&A 
to sales ratio of 0.7pp to 10.9%. LFL 
stores opened prior to 2015 delivered 
an even more impressive reduction 
of 1.5pp in SG&A as a percentage 
of sales. The reduction in SG&A more 
than offset slightly lower gross margin 
to give a 0.5pp rise in EBITDAR to 
12.2% of sales. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  47

EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for 2015 grew faster 
than sales in 2015, reaching RUB 
28.1 billion (+31.4% compared to 2014) 
with an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 
11.1%. This was due largely to lower 
costs as a percentage of sales. 

RUB (millions)
Adjusted EBITDA
One-off expenses and income1 
Reported EBITDA2 

2015
28,080
(62)
28,018

2014
21,372
(54)
21,318

% Change
2015-2014 
31.4%
15.1%
31.4%

1   One-off expenses and income in 2015 and 2014 were professional services fees primarily incurred 
in connection with the optimisation of the group corporate legal structure, development of employee 
incentive plans and cost and income related to Lenta’s public offerings carried out in March 2014, 
March 2015 and October 2015.

2   Reported EBITDA (as set out in Note 6 of the IFRS financial statements) includes all operating income 
and expenses excluding interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation as well as certain other expenses.

Interest
Net interest expenses were 
RUB 9.3 billion, an increase of 36.2% 
from RUB 6.8 billion in 2014. This rise 
was due primarily to higher market 
rates in the first half of the year and 
a slightly higher average level of 
borrowing, which was used to fund 
our store opening programme and 
supply chain development. 

We reduced the cost of our debt over 
the year, from 17.5% in the first three 
months to 12.3% in the last quarter. 
This was due principally to the combined 
effects of ongoing reductions in 
MosPrime rates, improvements in the 
terms and conditions of our major 
long-term loan facilities and repayment 
of our most expensive debt following 
the primary capital increase in March.

Lenta’s weighted average cost of debt in 
2015 increased by 152bps vs. 2014, to 
13.7%, while the average MosPrime rate 
increased 328bps over the same period. 

Capital expenditure
Lenta’s capital expenditure reduced 
by 10.7% in 2015 to RUB 31.4 billion 
(from RUB 35.1 billion in 2014). This 
was chiefly because we made fewer 
investments in land acquisitions 
compared to previous years, but was 
partially offset by slightly higher 
investments in future store openings. 
Much of our capital expenditure in 2015 
was funded by our strong operating 
cash flow – and to a lesser extent by 
the proceeds from our primary capital 
increases in March and October. 
We increased our capital expenditure 
cover ratio (after taxes and before 
interest paid) to 80%. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201548

Financial review continued

Cash flow 
Net cash generated from operating 
activities before net interest and income 
taxes paid rose 10.2% to RUB 25.9 
billion compared to RUB 23.5 billion 
in 2014. This was primarily driven by 
the growth in EBITDA, partly offset 
by an increase in working capital.

We finished 2015 
with a stronger balance 
sheet than ever. Our 
leverage fell to 1.9x – 
thanks to strong 
profitability and cash 
generation combined 
with our two successful 
primary equity issues.

Summary cash flow

RUB (millions)
Profit before income tax
Cash from operating activities 
before movements in working 
capital

Movements in working capital
Cash from operating activities
Net interest 
Income tax
Net cash generated from 

operating activities

Net cash used in investing 

activities

Net cash generated from 

financing activities1

Net increase/(decrease) in 

cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents 
at the end of the period

Year ended 
31 December 2015
12,872

Year ended
31 December 2014
10,928

  y-o-y growth
17.8%

28,288
(2,378)
25,911
(9,090)
(896)

21,894
1,625
23,519
(6,583)
(956)

29.2%
–
10.2%
38.1%
(6.3%)

15,924

15,979

(0.3%)

(31,370)

(35,111)

(10.7%)

25,865

10,420

22,456

24,955

3.6%

5,824

78.9% 

12,036

86.6%

1   Net cash generated from financing activities includes RUB 21.8bn of proceeds from issue of new 

shares in 2015.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  49

Net debt
As of 31 December 2015, Lenta’s 
net debt was RUB 53.5 billion. 
A combination of rapidly rising EBITDA, 
strong operating cash flows and the 
primary equity issues enabled us to 
end the year with a Net debt to Adjusted 
EBITDA leverage of 1.9x, down from 
2.8x at the end of 2014. Our leverage 
covenants are 4x, so our headroom 
is very healthy. Adjusted EBITDA to 
net interest was 3.0x. Our financial 
ratios remain fully compliant with all 
the covenants in our loan agreements, 
with prudent levels of headroom.

All of our drawn debt portfolio is 
denominated in Russian Roubles and 
as at 31 December 2015 100% of it was 
borrowed under long-term bank facilities 
or in the form of bonds with an average 
maturity of 3.0 years. Some 73% of our 
debt is at fixed rates or hedged, with the 
remaining 27% exposed to increases in 
MosPrime. 

At the year end, Lenta had drawn 
debt of RUB 76.1 billion compared to 
RUB 71.4 billion in 2014. In addition, 
the Company had RUB 45.3 billion of 
undrawn short- and long-term facilities 
and a cash balance of RUB 22.5 billion 
at 31 December 2015. 

Since the year end, we have signed 
a RUB 7 billion three-year fixed rate 
unsecured loan facility with Rosbank, 
increasing the proportion of long-term 
fixed-rate debt in our portfolio. This loan 
was fully drawn down in January 2016. 

We also repurchased RUB 3 billion 
of bonds and re-set the coupon on 
RUB 7 billion of bonds, with a further 
coupon re-set on these bonds due 
in August and September 2018.

Summary balance sheet

RUB (millions)
Property, plant and equipment
Other non-current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Advances paid
Other current assets
Total assets

31 December 2015
104,016
11,023
22,782
13,647
22,456
2,265
2,203
178,392

31 December 2014
(restated)
81,218
9,688
19,629
11,371
12,036
2,751
4,552
141,245

Jago Lemmens
Chief Financial Officer

Equity
Long-term borrowings
Other long-term liabilities
Trade and other payables
Short-term borrowings and short-term portion 

of long-term borrowings
Other short-term liabilities
Total liabilities and equity

47,130
65,149
5,254
48,820

10,773
1,265
178,392

16,730
58,520
3,814
48,373

12,695
1,112
141,245

Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA

1.9x

 2.8x 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
50

Corporate social responsibility

Enduring values

For Lenta, corporate social 
responsibility is not an ‘add-on’; 
it is embedded in the way we 
do business and is a long-term 
commitment. We believe it 
is possible to create value 
for all our stakeholders whilst 
behaving ethically, contributing 
to economic development, 
looking after our employees and 
improving the local communities 
in which we operate. 

We made good progress against 
our stated CSR goals for 2015 – 
and we are continuing our 
efforts during the year ahead 
(see page 65). For 2016 we 
added a new goal that focuses 
on educating and strengthening 
ties with our suppliers. Our CSR 
agenda is built on six pillars that 
influence our daily interactions 
with our stakeholders.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  51

Our pillars
We worked hard throughout 2015 to extend and 
enhance our activities across all six pillars.

Recruiting, training and 
retaining great staff

+

Read more on page 53

Pricing and customer 
satisfaction

+

Read more on page 56

Local sourcing

+

Read more on page 58

Caring for the environment

+

Read more on page 60

Making a positive contribution 
to local communities

+

Read more on page 62

Promoting health  
and safety

+

Read more on page 64

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201552

Corporate social responsibility continued

The Lenta Way
Our established core principles underpin our business. Our commitment to these – and our ethics policy – informs our CSR 
agenda, strengthens our business and supports our ambitions for long-term growth.

 Customer satisfaction 
 We work every day to provide the 
best possible service for our 
customers, by constantly taking into 
account the products they want and 
the services they demand. Our 
customers are the key to our 
development and improvement.

 Providing customers with  
low prices every day
 Lenta is the leader in terms of price. 
We have always been the price leader 
and we are committed to bringing 
our customers more goods at lower 
prices than the competition. We ensure 
that our costs are kept to a minimum 
so that we can pass savings on to 
our customers. 

Selling goods of only 
the highest quality
 Our stores only stock fully licensed 
goods that have been handled 
under the most hygienic conditions.

Our employees
We know that if we want to have 
satisfied customers, we must retain 
employees who are well trained 
and motivated.

Maintaining the highest level 
of respect for everyone
We pride ourselves on respecting the 
opinions of our customers, suppliers 
and employees, encouraging positive 
criticism and friendly relations.

Teamwork in everything we do
Only by everyone working together 
will we be able to satisfy our 
customers. By encouraging an open 
environment based on mutual trust, 
everyone can feel comfortable about 
asking assistance from another 
employee and they can be confident 
that their voice will be heard. 

Innovation and the constant 
generation of new ideas
The key to our long-term survival is 
a continuous flow of innovative ideas. 
Many of these come from our own 
staff. We believe that in order to 
stay ahead of the competition we 
must continuously implement these 
new ideas. 

Our Ethics Policy
We are committed to ensuring high standards of behaviour across all aspects of our business. Our Ethics Policy sets out the 
obligations of all employees to behave ethically and comply with corporate standards. These include: 

•  no improper payments to the 

authorities and business partners;

•   upholding the integrity and good 

name of the Company in developing 
long-term relationships with 
customers, communities and 
suppliers;

•  the unacceptability of directly or 

indirectly offering, paying, soliciting 
or accepting bribes or kickbacks 
in any form;

•   no conflicts between personal 

interests and those of the Company.

Any non-compliance by employees is 
reviewed and may lead to disciplinary 
action including dismissal.

Lenta’s Ethics Committee was 
established in 2011 to review all 
complaints about the Company, and 
the Ethics Policy forms the basis of 
the standards and rules applied to 
each case. The Committee’s work 
is regularly reviewed, both by the 
Audit Committee and by the Board. 

Anyone – including customers, 
employees and suppliers – can contact 
the Ethics Committee. This can be done 
directly and anonymously via the Lenta 
website or via our in-store information 
desks. In 2015, 404 calls to the Company 
hotline were received and reviewed; 
a marginal increase on last year. 
However, the number of complaints 
per store significantly decreased 
given the large number of new Lenta 
stores. The number of anonymous calls 
also declined, indicating an increased 
level of trust in the hotline on the part 
of employees and customers alike.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  53

  1.  Recruiting, training and 
retaining great staff

Our motivated, friendly and 
knowledgeable workforce is the heart 
of our business and the key to our 
long-term success. By recruiting and 
training the right individuals with the 
right skills, we seek to offer an enhanced 
level of service to our customers. 
We encourage a collegiate culture that 
fosters teamwork, innovation and trust.

Training and development
We believe that investing in our people 
improves employee retention and 
increases our productivity. Lenta 
operates a programme of ongoing 
internal promotions and job rotations, 
which – combined with individual 
career plans and recognition initiatives –  
contribute to reducing staff turnover. 
Lenta has an above-average retention 
rate for the food retail sector; 
5,873 employees have been with 
the Company for more than five years 
and 849 employees have worked 
for us for more than a decade. 

We offer a range of training programmes 
to our managers, taking into account 
their experience and knowledge. 
In 2015, approximately 60 managers 
participated in a Lenta Leader 
programme providing development 
for managers with high potential. 
Some 780 colleagues, mostly in stores, 
participated in our Effective Management 
programme. This is targeted at the 
development of managerial skills and 
covers such areas as goal setting, 
planning, analysis and decision-making, 
methodology of control and motivation. 
The programme is run by in-house 
business trainers and Lenta store 
directors who share their experience 
and best practice.

During the year, 13 experienced 
managers benefited from external 
pre-MBA programmes administered 
via two business schools. The 
programmes are focused on systemic 

thinking, holistic business understanding 
and the increase of personal 
effectiveness. 

Whilst management training is important, 
our principal focus is our store 
employees, who are responsible for 
ensuring the high levels of service 
to our customers that we expect. 
Each of our stores runs an orientation 
programme for new recruits, ensuring 
that they quickly acquire the necessary 
knowledge and skills to fully integrate 
into the store teams. 

Recruitment and career development
In 2015, Lenta created 7,610 new jobs – 
and a total of 15,000 employees 
were recruited to new positions. 
The recruitment process is centralised 
for several elements such as job posting, 
advertising, candidate attraction and 
phone interviews via Lenta’s Centralised 
Employment Centre. However, the final 
selection of candidates is decentralised 
and conducted in each store. This 
combination optimises the efficiency 
of the process and focuses the attention 
on local staffing requirements.

In 2015, we delivered a total of over 
900,000 man-hours of training, with 
an average of 30.6 hours per person. 
This was provided through a 
combination of in-house and remote 
training. We believe remote courses 
provide a stimulating learning 
environment, with theory reinforced 
through a combination of practical 
work and mentoring. In 2015, we 
doubled the amount of remote training 
delivered by the Company. Some 85% 
of our training uses internal resources, 
enabling us to keep the cost of one 
learning hour per employee at RUB 30. 

A key activity in 2015 focused on 
supporting change across Lenta’s 
business processes, such as the 
introduction of new point of sale 
software, implementation of the EGAIS 
system for the processing of alcohol 
product registration based on new legal 
requirements and the introduction 
of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) 
devices. These business process 
changes necessitated the creation of 
tailored educational programmes and 
the instruction of internal trainers to 
communicate these to large numbers 
of employees. Over 6,500 employees 
undertook such courses, which have 
enabled them to quickly and effectively 
apply their new knowledge in their 
own positions.

Our rapid growth requires continuous 
improvement of our hiring processes and 
consistent succession planning. There 
are numerous opportunities for career 
advancement and we actively encourage 
the professional development of our 
people. Succession planning at Lenta 
is a dynamic process across all divisions 
of the Company and we aim to fill as 
many positions as possible with internal 
candidates. Succession planning has 
a powerful influence in motivating 
employees to develop their skills and 
capabilities. In 2015, 48% of vacancies 
were filled internally, and 75% of the 
directors of our newly opened stores 
were internal candidates. 3,025 people 
were promoted and 4,636 employees 
benefited from horizontal moves.

Employee mobility and readiness to 
relocate to another Russian region 
is essential for effective succession 
planning and vital for the success of 
Lenta’s expansion programme. In 2015 
we implemented a new relocation policy, 
which formalises the relocation rules for 
employees to all of Lenta’s existing and 
planned regions of presence. The policy 
supports the Company’s rapid and 
effective growth by offering internal 
candidates a transparent and fair 
relocation package. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201554

Corporate social responsibility continued

To evaluate the achievements of 
individual employees and identify 
potential, Lenta has an established 
performance management process. 
Office employees and management of 
stores and distribution centres already 
participate in this process and in 2016 
we will extend it to all employees. 
To ensure successful implementation, 
we have prepared almost 450 internal 
trainers amongst our store managers –  
and with their help we have trained over 
24,000 of our store employees. 

We will continue further development of 
distance learning programmes and our 
approach to training based on the use 
of internal experts to share knowledge 
and act as mentors. We will also roll 
out our performance management 
process in stores to further enhance 
our customer focus and service levels. 

Crystal Pyramid – 2015 winner in  
The Best HR Team of the Year award

HR brand strengthening
During the year we continued to 
strengthen the HR team within Lenta. 
As part of this effort, we attracted 
17 students and graduates as trainees 
to the Company’s head office, four 
of whom now work for Lenta. Through 
increasing the effectiveness and 
reputation of the HR department, the 
Company again featured in the top 100 
most attractive employers in Russia 
(ranked 56th in 2015 compared with 
60th in 2014). 

Salaries and benefits
We provide a range of attractive local 
employment opportunities and careers – 
with competitive pay and health benefits, 
uniforms and all necessary protective 
equipment. 

Despite the increasing cost pressures 
in the food retail labour market, 
Lenta maintained its social benefits 
for employees. Salaries for certain 
in-store positions were increased and 
we introduced an additional bonus to 
support the basic income of employees 
whose stores achieve their planned 
targets of reducing operating expenses. 

While maintaining the level of benefits, 
we reduced expenses for medical 
checks and voluntary medical insurance 
through optimising our supplier services 
and more effective planning. 

We continued to provide financial 
support for employees in accordance 
with a set of established principles. 
When staff find themselves in difficult 
circumstances, we offer help above 
set limits. For example, after the severe 
hailstorms in Zheleznovodsk we 
provided support for those employees 
whose homes and cars were damaged. 

Diversity
We value diversity and encourage 
all our people to fulfil their potential. 
Our key recruitment and promotion 
considerations are based around 
professional knowledge and 
competence and we offer employment 
opportunities to all able candidates. 

In every store we provide a minimum 
of five job opportunities for people with 
special needs. In 2015, 78 vacancies 
were filled by candidates from this group.

Employee engagement
There is a strong connection between 
employee engagement, business 
performance and customer satisfaction. 
Keeping employees up to date with our 
progress and plans is therefore vital to 
our success. In 2015 we piloted several 
initiatives based on store employees’ 
suggestions including ‘gamification’ 
projects to motivate colleagues to 
actively participate in store life – 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  55

In October, 48 employees represented 
Lenta in the annual Trade and Industry 
‘Best in Profession’ awards held 
in St. Petersburg. Our colleagues 
included eight food shop assistants, 
two non-food shop assistants and 
38 cashiers. Elena Kozlova from 
Lenta-8 was named Best Cashier-
Controller and Igor Gololobov from 
Lenta-11 took third place in the Best 
Shop Assistant in Food category.

for example through helping their 
colleagues and conducting training 
sessions or identifying safety hazards. 
Commitment to Lenta’s success enables 
employees to earn ‘Lenta points’ and 
exchange them for prizes, with rewards 
ranging from caps and T-shirts to 
household appliances and TVs.

These initiatives provide valuable 
feedback, which we use to help us refine 
our development strategy and 
operational procedures. 

Our Penza store launched a series of 
motivational initiatives in 2015 including 
the ‘I’m a Professional’ game played for 
Lenta points, professional photographic 
portraits of the best store employees and 
stories about colleagues’ lives featured 
on Lenta TV. Staff also marked the 
70th anniversary of the Great Victory by 
enhancing the store’s car parking area.

The best corporate magazine at the  
Best Corporate Media awards 2015

During the year we conducted Strategic 
Communication Sessions at our 
Regional Forums in St. Petersburg, 
Moscow and Novosibirsk. These events 
enable Senior Management to review 
the previous year’s achievements with 
approximately 400 Lenta managers 
and share the broader strategic outlook.

Our award-winning staff magazine 
‘Nasha Lenta’ (‘Our Lenta’) is distributed 
to all employees every quarter and aims 
to strengthen team spirit and broaden 
awareness of the Company’s activities. 
It keeps colleagues informed on a wide 
range of topics from developments in 
the retail sector, company performance 
and management interviews to store 
openings, ethics policy and dress code. 
In 2015 the magazine won the Internal 
Corporate Magazines category in 
the AKMR (Russian Association 
of Communication Directors and 
Corporate Publishing) ‘Best Corporate 
Media 2015’ awards. 

Looking ahead
In 2016 we will launch an updated Lenta 
Leader Programme in collaboration 
with an acclaimed business school. 
This will provide a deeper understanding 
of all aspects of the business, based 
upon MBA principles.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201556

Corporate social responsibility continued

  2.  Pricing and customer 

satisfaction

Lenta’s core pricing proposition to its 
customers is ‘value for money’. We offer 
a wide range of products at attractive 
prices and seek to provide a competitive 
offer for our customers across the key 
product attributes of quality, availability, 
service and shopping environment. We 
believe that the service provided by our 
staff contributes significantly to customer 
satisfaction – and our in-store colleagues 
are continuously trained to engage with 
our customers and deliver the highest 
standards of service. 

During 2015 we introduced a number of 
new promotional activities in our stores 
as well as new pack sizes. In the past, 
‘three for two’ offers were popular with 
customers, but with tighter budgets 
having to stretch further, ‘two for one’ 
offers have become the preferred option. 
The most effective promotion remains 
a direct discount.

Lenta has a broad customer base, 
and we monitor purchasing patterns to 
assess changing tastes. Together with 
information gathered through our loyalty 
programme and customer surveys, we 
use this data to inform our decisions on 
product ranges and prices and to help 
tailor our offering to align closely with 
the needs of our customers, both regular 
and occasional. 

Lenta’s Loyalty Card guarantees 
a discount of 5% on all purchases. 
As at 31 December 2015, there were 
8.4 million active cardholders, an 
increase of 29% on the previous year. 
During the year, some 92% of all sales 
were made using the card. Members 
of the scheme also benefit from access 
to additional discounts for special 
offers and seasonal promotions, which 
generate significant customer and brand 
loyalty. Independent surveys indicate 
that the Loyalty Card programme 
is highly appreciated by shoppers. 

We also offer a Social Card, which 
is available in all Lenta stores across 
Russia. This gives vulnerable and 
needy citizens an additional discount 
of between 3% and 8% on basic food 
products and selected household items. 
By the end of the year there were over 
1.2 million holders benefiting from 
the scheme, enabling them to make 
substantial savings on essential 
purchases. Over 527,000 customers 
joined the scheme in 2015.

In September 2015, Lenta enabled its 
Social Cardholders in the Moscow 
region to participate in a local social 
programme. By showing a Moscow 
Region resident’s social card at a Lenta 
store information desk, individuals 
can obtain a free Lenta Social Card 
with a special sticker. When shown at a 
checkout, the cashier gives an additional 
discount for goods from a list of over 
90 SKUs including essential food and 
household products. 

30,000

Severstal employees 
enrolled into Lenta Social 
Card scheme

 In December 2015, we signed 
a partnership agreement with 
the steel and mining company 
Severstal, enrolling their 30,000 
Cherepovets-based employees 
into our Social Card scheme. 

As well as providing support to the 
workforce of one of the city’s largest 
employers, the partnership will 
contribute to the socio-economic 
development of the area.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
  57

Looking ahead
We are constantly seeking new ways 
to improve our customers’ shopping 
experience. For example, in the coming 
year we intend to explore the viability 
of launching shuttle bus services to 
improve accessibility to some of our 
stores and establishing bus stations 
adjacent to our stores where needed.

Lenta topped Delovoy Peterburg’s 
rating of hypermarkets for the 
cheapest pricing for basic food and 
non-food goods in St. Petersburg. 
The newspaper’s journalists 
monitored prices across 44 
categories of products from 
ten hypermarkets calculated 
on an index of minimum prices. 
The rankings highlighted which 
retailers had managed to negotiate 
the best prices with suppliers 
and were most successful with 
their private label range.

In November 2015, Lenta signed an 
agreement with the administration 
of Vologda to participate in the city’s 
‘Zabota’ (‘Care’) project, which helps 
those sections of the population on 
low incomes. Lenta’s participation 
means that holders of Vologda’s City 
Discount Card can receive an 
additional discount of up to 13% on 
90 ‘socially significant’ essential items, 
including fruit, vegetables, meat and 
dairy products. 

Our stores stock a wide range of high 
quality and fresh foods that support 
our customers in their healthy eating 
choices. Much of our food is produced 
in store, including a variety of meat and 
fish products, freshly made salads and 
bread. We also cater for customers with 
special dietary requirements including 
those with lactose intolerance, diabetes 
and coeliac disease. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201558

Corporate social responsibility continued

  3.  Local sourcing

The number of direct import suppliers 
to Lenta reduced in 2015, partly as 
a result of the import embargo and 
devaluation of the Rouble. However, 
we grew our overall number of suppliers 
due to increased local sourcing. 

Locally sourced products are at the 
heart of the Lenta shopping experience 
and, unlike many of our retail 
competitors, our strategy acknowledges 
the importance of local and regional 
sourcing. During the year over 96% 
of all product purchases were sourced 
from suppliers in Russia, including 
increasing numbers of products sourced 
locally, which included 22.2% of our 
product range and just over 50.3% 
of our fresh food (as measured by 
purchase price paid). Not only do these 
relationships benefit the local economies, 
they often provide more competitive 
pricing than federal suppliers. 

We improved communication and 
strengthened our ties with our suppliers 
across the country to enhance the 
effectiveness of our supply chain, 
enabling us to further expand our 
offer and reduce our logistics costs. 

All products must meet the necessary 
safety, quality, packaging and consumer 
information standards before they 
reach Lenta’s shelves. During 2015 
we launched a series of programmes 
aimed at educating our suppliers and 
improving the quality of their products. 
We have supported Hazard Analysis 
and Critical Control Point System 
(‘HACCP’) implementation at the 
production premises of our suppliers.

We made significant improvements 
to our product quality audit process – 
including that of our private label 
products – focusing particularly on 
producers with whom we have started 
working relatively recently. We also 
introduced a detailed quality 
questionnaire that suppliers must 
complete to enable their products 
to be sold in our stores. 

Our Quality Department carried out 
a total of 199 audits; 23 audits for 
branded goods suppliers and 176 for 
private label local suppliers in 2015. 
The results of such audits enable us 
to identify areas of potential quality 
improvement in the production process 
and provide the relevant advice and 
support to address these. 

Lenta is a member of the Retail 
Companies Association (ACORT), 
which represents the interests of some 
of Russia’s largest retail networks. 
During 2015, self-regulation in the retail 
industry developed significantly. 
ACORT members including Lenta 
collaborated with the Inter-industry 
Expert Council, which brings together 
key retail chains and suppliers of 
consumer goods. A Memorandum 
establishing a self-regulating 
organisation in the consumer market 
was signed and a Centre of Public 
Procedures was formed, which will 
mediate in disputes between market 
participants. Other joint achievements 
included the amendments to the 
Code of Good Relationship Practices, 
reducing the price change approval 
period from 45 to 30 days. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  59

Looking ahead
We are planning a number of initiatives 
over the coming year to improve our 
relationships with suppliers. These 
include an online information portal 
for suppliers, which will standardise 
requests to Lenta and enhance our 
response mechanism. We will also 
publish a profile of Lenta’s ‘optimum 
supplier’, containing complete and 
up-to-date lists of our requirements of 
suppliers, along with a detailed manual 
setting out our business processes. 

2016 will also see the implementation 
of new IT systems to ensure quality 
analysis of suppliers and support 
the application of HACCP food safety 
principles. 

We will also increase the visibility 
of local produce on our shelves with 
distinctive ‘local produce’ branding 
and plan to offer temporary in-store 
placements to potential suppliers, 
with contracts awarded on a ‘best sales’ 
basis. We also plan to run a pilot 
scheme in conjunction with the EBRD 
to educate local suppliers.

In addition, we will continue holding 
Regional Partnership Forums on a 
regular basis to keep suppliers informed 
about Lenta’s performance, enabling 
us to negotiate with potential contractors 
and facilitate constructive dialogue. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201560

Corporate social responsibility continued

  4.  Caring for the environment

With Lenta stores at the heart of local 
communities, we recognise our 
responsibility towards the community 
and the environment in which we 
operate. Moreover, we are committed 
to minimising any adverse impact – 
whether caused by use of materials, 
energy, transportation or disposal 
of waste.

We aim to comply with national and 
regional legislation relating to our 
operations – and work in close 
collaboration with local authorities and 
communities when planning new store 
sites. Prior to constructing new stores 
or distribution centres, we conduct 
environmental reviews of the proposed 
locations. We believe we comply in all 
material respects with the environmental 
standards applicable to us under 
Russian law and regulations. 

Waste
Lenta produces various types of 
waste that are removed by third-party 
contractors. During the year we reduced 
the quantity of waste we produced from 
0.0265 kg per sq.m. of selling space 
in 2014 to 0.0177 kg per sq.m. We also 
made considerable improvements in 
the amount of cardboard we recycle, 
with volumes rising from 0.0025 t/sq.m. 
to 0.0059 t/sq.m., and dramatically 
increased the amount of recycled PVC 
from 0.0002 t/sq.m. to 0.0016 t/sq.m. 
We also worked closely with suppliers to 
reduce the amount of packaging waste.

We continued to invest in systems 
to ensure we comply with local 
regulations with regard to our sewage 
and waste water treatment, including 
the installation of fat absorbers and 
rainwater cleaning equipment. We spent 
RUB 120 million in 2015 on 13 stores, 
with RUB 150 million budgeted for an 
additional 17 stores in 2016.

Energy
During the year we conducted a 
comprehensive energy audit of 20 
stores, which resulted in a series of 
measures to improve our overall 
energy efficiency and performance. 
These included the introduction of 
motion detectors for lighting, an energy 
management system, temperature 
isolation for cooling chambers and the 
renewal of cooling equipment. As a 
result of these actions, it is estimated 
that our gas consumption will decline 
by up to 113,554 m3 per year and our 
CO2 waste by up to 642 tonnes per year. 
This will deliver a cost saving to the 
Company while reducing the negative 
impact of these gases on the 
environment at the same time. 

greenhouse gas impact than 
conventionally used gases. We installed 
four more energy-efficient ovens in our 
in-store bakeries and fitted sliding glass 
doors to chiller cabinets in 15 stores, 
with a further 25 planned for 2016 
as part of our ongoing improvement 
programme. 

We undertook the refurbishment 
of 21 different store features across 
Lenta including lighting. We completely 
replaced the sales area lighting in 
11 stores. The energy efficient LED 
strip lights that were installed in 2015 
delivered a 40% saving in energy usage. 
This allows an average of 55,000 kWh 
to be saved annually, with an estimated 
cost saving of RUB 3 million. 

We continued to focus on emissions 
reduction through the implementation 
of further efficiencies in logistics and 
in-store facilities, including our cooling 
systems. At two stores we switched 
our commercial refrigeration systems 
to natural refrigerants such as carbon 
dioxide, which have a much lower 

In addition to the store lighting 
replacement, we undertook the upgrade 
of façade and car park lighting at a 
number of sites. These actions helped 
us reduce average power consumption 
in stores by 500 kWh per year – 
or a total of 5,260 kWh of annual 
consumption. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  61

Looking ahead
Our support for the six pillars of our CSR 
agenda is an ongoing process – and one 
that we are committed to over the long 
term. Our budget for environmental 
initiatives in 2016 is RUB 459 million. 
We will continue to improve our recycling 
efforts and drive our energy efficiency 
initiatives. In addition to new sewerage 
facilities, we are also considering the 
feasibility of acquiring or building our 
own local water treatment facilities 
adjacent to our stores. 

We plan to upgrade our energy supply 
systems through additional automation 
to reduce the likelihood of human error 
and plan to switch those stores still using 
diesel energy to more eco-friendly fuel 
sources if they cannot be connected to 
the electricity network.

During the year we recycled more than 43,075 tonnes of paper – 
the equivalent of 29,187 pine trees when measured according 
to WWF standards. 

43,075

= 29,187

Tonnes of paper recycled

Pine trees saved

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
62

Corporate social responsibility continued

  5.  Making a positive contribution 

to local communities

We are committed to playing an active 
part in the communities in which we 
operate, not just through the provision 
of employment and local contracts, but 
through financial and ‘in kind’ support to 
local charities and educational, health, 
leisure and cultural institutions. 

We maintain an active investment 
programme in local infrastructure, driven 
by local government. We also operate a 
number of partnership agreements with 
regional authorities aimed at enhancing 
socio-economic cooperation. In 2015, 
some 15 partnership agreements were 
signed with local authorities including 
Kemerovo, Ivanovo, Orel, Chelyabinsk 
and Samara, aimed at developing and 
improving retail in the regions. These 
include increasing the number of local 
producers present in stores, and liaising 
closely with local suppliers as well as 
working with other retail chains to help 
those customers in most need. 

In February 2015, Lenta and several 
other members of the Retail Companies 
Association (ACORT) agreed to freeze 
prices for a basket of at least 20 ‘socially 
significant’ essential goods for at least 
two months. The initiative was approved 
by the Federal Antimonopoly Service of 
Russia and aimed to stabilise the food 
market to help customers whilst 
highlighting the retail community’s 
commitment to social responsibility.

In 2015, Lenta was acknowledged as 
the best retail enterprise by several local 
administrations including Izhevsk, Veliky 
Novgorod, Kemerovo, Ufa, Volzhsky, 
St. Petersburg, Ulyanovsk and Krasnodar. 
Local committees checked a variety of 
criteria including product displays and 
expiry dates, in-store hygiene conditions 
and friendliness of staff, as well as 
comparing prices with competitors.

For the third year running, Lenta 
presented a gift of Dutch tulip bulbs 
to the city of St. Petersburg. These 
were planted by hand in Kirov Park 
on Elagin Island. Visited by 500,000 
people in 2015, the Tulip Festival 
now extends to 2,100 sq.m. with 
95 varieties and over 120,000 bulbs. 
Lenta’s gift included 550 rare-variety 
bulbs, often only seen in specialist 
collections.

We continued to enhance our reputation 
as a committed supporter of community 
initiatives and played an active part in 
a variety of locally based environmental 
activities in all cities where we have 
a presence. In 2015 we supported – 
independently and with local 
administrations – a wide range of 
campaigns and initiatives. These 
included the Green Wave waste paper 
collection in Petrozavodsk, tree planting 
in the Moscow Region and Omsk, 
riverbank clean-up in the Leningrad 
Region and numerous cleaning initiatives 
in the areas adjacent to our stores. 

Other social initiatives include presenting 
baskets of products to veterans on 
Victory Day in many Russian cities and 
a range of activities to address specific 
local issues, such as sports ground 
improvements in two schools in 
Volgograd, bicycles for schoolchildren 
in Kemerovo and reconstruction of the 
Znamenskaya boarding school in Orel. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  63

Looking ahead 
The year ahead will see us continue 
our support of socially vulnerable 
citizens including children. A renewed 
focus on youth will see us continue 
running masterclasses for children 
in stores to educate them about 
opportunities in the retail sector.

Increasing environmental awareness 
amongst our customers and employees 
is also a priority. Next year, we plan 
to launch a number of initiatives around 
waste handling and separation, energy 
saving and increased awareness of 
health-related issues.

We routinely conduct excursions 
around our stores for children 
from local schools, orphanages 
and kindergartens. The scheme 
educates young people about retail 
and promotes the image of the 
sector in general. In 2015, Lenta 
conducted several store tours in 
cities including St. Petersburg, 
Cherepovets and Novorossiysk.

In Cherepovets, for example, 
children were able to see a range 
of individual professions at work 
including a cook, baker, packer, 
cashier, salesperson and 
warehouseman – and were shown 
how to bake a variety of muffins.

In 2015 we also helped to build a 
children’s playground in Belgorod, 
acted as a sponsor of the Festival 
associated with the Children’s Protection 
Day celebrations in Krasnoyarsk and the 
children’s Ice Cream Festival in Ivanovo. 
We also sponsored the ice sculpture 
competition in Tomsk, which attracts 
many visitors. For several years in a row 
Lenta has sponsored the Safe Wheel 
Zone in Kazan, where young people 
learn how to drive safely.

We conducted charity campaigns for 
orphans in Cherepovets and Vologda. 
Our in-store Christmas trees featured 
letters containing the Christmas gift 
wishes of children in the care of the 
cities’ orphanages. Customers were 
invited to buy presents, which were 
collected in stores and then given to 
the orphans. We also supported the 
‘Diary of the Governor’ competition 
for schoolchildren in Krasnoyarsk, with 
the winner given the opportunity to have 
tea with the governor of the region.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201564

Corporate social responsibility continued

  6.  Promoting health and safety

P

C

C

A

H

We are committed to creating and 
maintaining a safe environment for 
our employees and customers. Lenta’s 
Active Safety programme aims to 
identify and prevent risks that may lead 
to accidents. As part of the programme, 
managers conduct daily and monthly 
‘safety walks’ within stores. These help 
to identify any potential risks to staff 
and customers, ensure the staff’s 
hazard awareness and confirm the 
integrity of the store’s safety equipment. 
Colleagues are encouraged to report 
every incident, no matter how small, 
so that we can identify the cause and 
prevent any recurrence. 

In 2015 we introduced a new system of 
injury rate reporting (per 100,000 hours 
worked) for employees. In 2015, Lenta’s 
injury rate declined by 11% against the 
previous year and the total number of 
employee accidents fell by 2%.

Quality and safety are also central to 
our sourcing strategy, and we regularly 
conduct audits not just of our own 
operations, but those of our suppliers. 
In 2015 we continued to implement 
the HACCP system, which is an 
internationally recognised method 
of managing food safety. The system 
is now operating in every one of our 
stores across Russia. 

Looking ahead
In 2016 we will continue the roll out 
of our Active Safety programme, 
extending safety walks to all parts 
of the Company and conducting formal 
risk check procedures in every store 
and distribution centre at least annually. 
We will also look to build on and expand 
our successful safety ‘gamification’ pilot 
schemes whereby employees earn 
points for identifying risks and actively 
participating in our safety programme. 
Employees earning a certain number 
of points become eligible for prizes.

Through the automated learning 
platform we monitor the legal health 
and safety training requirements for 
each employee. We developed our 
own first aid programme that will be 
delivered by internal experts and in 
2016 some 90% of our employees 
will be trained within this programme.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Our goals for 2016

In addition to our ongoing 
CSR programmes we are 
focusing closely on a specific 
set of goals for 2016:

  65

1.  We will continue to invest in our 

value-for-money proposition to provide 
the best offers for our customers.

2.   We will expand our social programmes 

aimed at vulnerable citizens. 
Alongside our own initiatives, we are 
open to cooperation with suppliers and 
other retailers to achieve this.

3.  We will develop partnerships with local 
government to strengthen social and 
economic cooperation. 

4.   We will further increase local sourcing 
opportunities for suppliers in a range 
of industries.

5.   We will pursue the development 
of programmes in the fields of 
environmental care and social 
activities.

6.  We are committed to continued 
investment in the training and 
development of our employees to 
ensure that they are the best-in-class 
in the retail sector.

7.  We will work with our suppliers to 

ensure their commitment to quality 
and safety aligns with our own.

8.  We will look to actively increase 

employee involvement in working 
towards all our CSR goals.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201566

Corporate  
governance

Contents
Introduction from the Chairman 

Board of Directors 

Senior Management team 

Our corporate governance 
framework 

Board of Directors  

Board Committees 

Responsibility statement 

67

68

70

72

75

78

90

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Introduction from the Chairman

John Oliver
Chairman

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  67

Dear Shareholders
One of my key responsibilities as Chairman is the promotion 
of good governance. The way in which we conduct ourselves 
affects every aspect of our business; and is vital to ensuring 
that we remain successful and sustainable over the long term. 
I am delighted, therefore, to present this overview of the 
Company’s corporate governance framework.

Towards best practice
Although we are not required to comply with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (‘the Code’), we believe that following 
the provisions of the Code to the extent appropriate and 
practicable is in the best interests of all our stakeholders. 
With the revision of the Code by the UK Financial Reporting 
Council in September 2014, we took the opportunity to 
review our governance framework. This is necessarily 
an evolutionary process. During 2015, we worked hard to 
implement new systems, protocols and processes that will 
take us closer to becoming a ‘best practice’ model in corporate 
governance for a Russian operating company. These included 
reviewing the membership of our Board Committees, 
ensuring the terms of reference of the Board Committees 
were consistent with the updated Code provisions and 
commissioning a review of our risk management function. 
We are committed to demonstrating that Lenta operates with 
the highest levels of integrity and transparency.

Objectives and responsibilities
The chief objective of the Board is to ensure the long-term 
success of the Company and sustained returns for 
shareholders. This requires the setting of strategic goals, 
overseeing our financial and human resource structures, 
reviewing management performance and setting the Company’s 
risk appetite. The Board ensures that the risk management 
measures and internal controls are appropriate and effective.

As a result of the sale by EBRD of part of its stake in July 2015, 
EBRD now has the right to nominate one Director rather 
than two. The size of the Board has been reduced accordingly 
to nine Directors, from ten Directors previously.

Lindsay Forbes, an EBRD nominated Director, stepped down 
as a non-executive Director on 25 July 2015. Lindsay had served 
on the Board since 2009 and provided valuable insight and 
guidance to his fellow Board members and the executive team.

There were no other changes in Board membership during 2015.

The Company is exposed to financial, operational and 
compliance risks. Responsibility for risk management lies 
with the Board, with the Audit Committee having delegated 
responsibility for overseeing the Company’s risk 
management framework.

Engaging with shareholders is a key aspect of good corporate 
governance. Throughout the year, the CEO and CFO, 
supported by the Company’s investor relations team, and 
where appropriate by members of the Board and Senior 
Management, regularly meet with institutional shareholders 
and sell-side analysts. The Board also receives regular reports 
from the Head of Investor Relations on the team’s activities – 
and in particular on shareholder sentiment and feedback. 

Our corporate governance framework combines leadership 
with collaboration and underpins our robust decision-making 
process. The Board delegates certain responsibilities to four 
principal Committees – Audit, Remuneration, Nomination 
and Capital Expenditure. Information on their roles, 
responsibilities and activities during the year is set out 
in their respective sections. 

Looking forward
The macroeconomic situation in Russia is likely to remain 
challenging and its effects will continue to impact the way 
our customers shop and the choices they make. We will 
continue to work to maintain and improve Lenta’s performance 
during the coming year for the benefit of all: our customers, 
employees, shareholders, suppliers and the wider 
communities in which we operate.

As a Board, we are of course responsible to our shareholders. 
We are also driven by our advisory role; complementing and 
supporting the executive team as it executes our strategy. 
I have every confidence in the leadership of Lenta’s CEO 
and our experienced Senior Management. Last year’s results 
proved that they have the skills to deliver excellent results, 
with record store openings and a strong financial performance. 
As they strive to maintain this success in difficult times, 
they can be assured of the Lenta Board’s continued support 
and guidance. 

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68

Board of Directors

John Oliver

Jan Dunning

Jago Lemmens

Michael Lynch-Bell

Stephen Johnson 

Stephen Peel 

Dmitry Shvets

Martin Elling 

Anton Artemyev 

The Board believes that it has the 
necessary skills and experience 
to provide effective leadership and 
control of the Company.

Jan Dunning (56)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Jan Dunning joined Lenta as CEO in 2009 and 
was appointed a Director of Lenta Ltd in 2013. 

John Oliver (57)
Chairman
John Oliver was appointed a non-executive 
Director of the Company in October 2009 and 
has been Chairman of the Board since 2011. 

Board Committees
Audit, Nomination, Remuneration, 
Capital Expenditure

Experience
John is a former TPG partner and led TPG’s 
European Operating Group until December 
2013. Prior to joining TPG in 2006, John spent 
15 years with General Electric. His roles at 
GE included CEO of GE Equipment Services 
Europe, a diverse portfolio of businesses 
operating in 20 countries, and CEO of GE 
IT Solutions Europe, an IT infrastructure 
and services provider, which was turned 
around and sold under his leadership. Prior 
to this, he held various roles at GE Medical 
Systems including GM EMEA Services, VP 
Global Radiation Therapy and VP Global 
Vascular Systems. He started his career in 
1981 with Schlumberger oilfield services, 
holding various technical and country general 
management roles in Africa and Asia-Pacific, 
then worked for Boston Consulting Group 
before joining GE.

Other roles
Senior Advisor to TPG.

Qualifications
John graduated with a BSc in Chemical 
Engineering from Imperial College in 1981, 
and with an MBA from INSEAD in 1987.

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Jan was Operations 
Director of Metro Cash & Carry Russia and 
then General Manager of Metro Cash & Carry 
Ukraine. During his six years with Metro in 
Russia, the business expanded from four to 
48 stores. Jan’s previous experience also 
includes three years as General Manager 
of the Lukas Klamer wholesale business, 
a subsidiary of the Metro Group in the 
Netherlands, and over ten years with Aldi 
North. Over the last 25 years, he has worked 
in a broad range of retail functions including 
leadership roles in operations, development, 
sales, marketing, purchasing and finance.

Qualifications
Jan has a History degree from the University 
of Groningen and an Economics degree 
from the University of Amsterdam. He 
also attended management development 
programmes at INSEAD and the London 
Business School.

Jago Lemmens (47)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jago Lemmens joined Lenta in 2010 as 
Accounting and Reporting Director, becoming 
CFO in 2011. He was appointed a Director of 
Lenta Ltd in 2013. 

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Jago served as Finance 
Director of OBI Ukraine and, before this, 
as Finance Director of Metro Cash & Carry 
Ukraine. During his 25 years in the retail 
industry, he has held senior positions in 
finance, accounting and controlling with 

several major retailers in the Netherlands, 
including Makro and Lukas Klamer (both part 
of Metro Cash & Carry) and Vomar.

Qualifications
Jago holds a degree in Finance and Auditing 
from the VU University Amsterdam and 
completed postgraduate courses in Auditing 
and Financial Management at the University 
of Amsterdam. He is a member of the 
Association of Chartered Auditors and the 
Association of Registered Controllers, both 
in the Netherlands.

Michael Lynch-Bell (62)
Director
Michael Lynch-Bell was appointed an 
independent non-executive Director of Lenta 
Ltd in 2013. 

Board Committees
Audit (Chairman), Nomination, Remuneration

Experience
Michael retired from Ernst & Young as Senior 
Partner in 2012 after a 38-year career with 
the firm. He was a member of Ernst & Young’s 
audit practice from 1974 to 1997, becoming 
a partner in 1985. During this period, as well 
as supervising and being involved in the 
audit of a number of multinational groups, 
he advised a wide range of companies on 
systems and controls, corporate governance, 
risk management and accounting issues. 
In 1997, Michael moved to Ernst & Young’s 
Transaction Advisory practice, where he 
founded and led its UK IPO and Global 
Natural Resources transaction teams. 
He has been involved with the CIS since 
1991 and has advised many CIS companies 
on fundraising, reorganisations, transactions, 
corporate governance and IPOs. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Other roles
Michael is also Senior Independent 
Director and Audit Committee Chair of Kaz 
Minerals Plc, a non-executive Director, 
Audit Committee Chair and Compensation 
Committee Chair at Transocean Partners 
LLC, a non-executive Director and Audit 
Committee Chair of Gem Diamonds Limited 
and a non-executive Director and Audit 
Committee Chair at Seven Energy Ltd. 
He is also active with the charities Action Aid 
International and 21st Century Legacy. 

Qualifications
Michael graduated from Sheffield University 
with a BA in Economics and Accounting 
in 1974, qualified as an English Chartered 
Accountant in 1977, and was awarded an 
Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by 
Schiller International University in 2006.

Stephen Johnson (52)
Senior Independent Director 
Stephen Johnson has been an independent 
non-executive Director of Lenta Ltd since 
2010. He was appointed as Lenta’s Senior 
Independent Director in 2013.

Board Committees
Nomination (Chairman), Remuneration 
(Chairman), Audit, Capital Expenditure

Experience
Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in the 
retail industry, having been part of the team 
that turned around and successfully sold 
Asda to Walmart. Whilst at Asda, Stephen 
held several senior positions including Trading 
Director, Commercial Finance Director and 
Marketing Director. Following his time at 
Asda, he was CEO of Focus DIY Ltd and of 
Woolworths Plc, as well as Sales & Marketing 
Director at GUS Plc. He started his career 
in management consultancy with Bain & Co.

Other roles
Stephen is currently a non-executive Director 
of Big Yellow Group Plc and Chairman of 
Pocketwatch since 2015. He also works with 
a number of private equity firms primarily 
focused on Southern and Eastern Europe.

Qualifications
Stephen graduated from Cambridge University 
with an Engineering degree.

Stephen Peel (49)
Director
Stephen Peel has been a non-executive 
Director of Lenta Ltd since 2011. 

Experience
Stephen is the founder of SMP Policy 
Innovation, a not for profit organisation 
focused on promoting better public policy. 
He is also a visiting fellow at the Blavatnik 
School of Government at the University of 
Oxford. Prior to this, he spent some 27 years’ 
in finance and private equity. From 1989 to 
1997 Stephen was in the corporate finance 
and principal investment areas at Goldman 

Sachs. From 1997 to 2014, he was a 
Managing Partner at TPG Capital initially 
founding and leading its European office 
and latterly leading its Asian business based 
in Hong Kong.

Other roles
Stephen serves as a member of the Trilateral 
Commission, is on the board of Global 
Witness, on the Global Partners Council 
of the Institute of New Economic Thinking, 
and on the advisory boards of the Institute 
of State Effectiveness, the Open Contracting 
Partnership, and the Jackson Institute of 
Global Affairs at Yale University.

Qualifications
Stephen graduated from the University of 
Cambridge, Downing College with an MA 
in 1987 and received a Masters of Advanced 
Studies from Yale University in 2015.

Dmitry Shvets (43)
Director
Dmitry Shvets was appointed a non-executive 
Director of Lenta Ltd in 2009. 

Board Committees
Capital Expenditure (Chairman), Nomination, 
Remuneration

Experience
Prior to joining TPG Capital in 2008, Dmitry 
was Operating Director in the mining and 
metallurgical company Norilsk Nickel, 
where he was in charge of optimisation of 
the company’s key production assets and 
was also responsible for the integration of 
newly acquired assets. From 1998 to 2004 
Dmitry worked for McKinsey & Company, 
where he led projects in industries including 
consumer goods, retail, transportation, metals 
and mining, and oil extraction in the areas 
of strategy, organisation and operational 
effectiveness. He also worked for the Coca-
Cola Company in various marketing roles.

Other roles
Dmitry is the Head of TPG Capital Russia and 
is a Director at Fesco Transportation Group.

Qualifications
Dmitry holds an MBA from Emory University 
and graduated with honours from the Moscow 
State Institute of International Relations 
(‘MGIMO’).

Martin Elling (62)
Director
Martin Elling joined Lenta Ltd as a non-
executive Director in 2011.

Board Committees
Capital Expenditure 

Experience
Martin started his career with the UN Food 
and Agriculture Organization where he 
worked for 11 years as a financial analyst 
and economist mostly on World Bank 
agribusiness and infrastructure. He then 

  69

joined the European Bank for Reconstruction 
and Development (‘EBRD’), where he was 
responsible for agribusiness, financial 
services and energy investments in Ukraine, 
Romania and Russia. In 1997, Martin left 
the EBRD to concentrate on investment 
opportunities in agribusiness, leasing 
and B2B services in Ukraine and Russia, 
achieving two successful exits in Ukraine 
and one in Russia.

Other roles
Martin advises a number of companies 
on restructuring and corporate governance. 
He also occasionally advises the African 
Parks Foundation on the operational strategy 
of individual national parks.

Qualifications
Martin holds an Economics degree from the 
University of Amsterdam and a postgraduate 
degree from the University of Wageningen.

Anton Artemyev (55)
Director
Anton Artemyev was appointed an 
independent non-executive Director 
of Lenta Ltd in 2013. 

Board Committees
Audit, Nomination, Remuneration 

Experience
Anton has extensive FMCG experience 
in Russia and Eastern Europe including 
12 years in the brewing industry, where his 
roles included Executive Vice-President 
of Baltic Beverages Holding, the largest 
Eastern European brewing group at the time; 
President of Baltika Breweries; and Senior 
Vice-President responsible for Eastern 
Europe and a Member of the Executive 
Committee of Carlsberg Group. Prior to this 
Anton worked in a variety of consulting roles 
including Partner in Bossard Consultants and 
Principal in Gemini Consulting/CAP Gemini, 
where as head of Russian operations he 
focused on strategy work in various sectors, 
primarily consumer goods.

Other roles
Anton is currently Chairman of Fortrent OY, 
which provides construction equipment rental 
services in Russia and Ukraine. Fortrent 
is a 50/50 joint venture between Cramo 
and Ramirent, who are among the European 
leaders in this field.

Qualifications
Anton holds a Diploma with honours and a 
Doctorate in Geography from Leningrad State 
University. He also studied Management 
and Economics at Bocconi University and 
at Henley Management College.

Director who served but resigned during 
the period
Lindsay Forbes, non-executive Director, 
resigned on 25 June 2015.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201570

Senior Management team

Jan Dunning 

Jago Lemmens 

Edward Doeffinger 

Anna Meleshina 

Herman Tinga 

Tatiana Yurkevich 

Pavel Remezov 

Sergey Prokofiev 

Joern Arnhold 

Edward Doeffinger (59)
Chief Operational Officer (COO)
Edward Doeffinger joined Lenta in 2011 
as Chief Operational Officer. 

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Edward served as 
Deputy General Director of Metro Cash & 
Carry Kazakhstan. Before starting his career 
in 1991 at Metro Cash & Carry (Germany), 
Edward held several positions in wholesale 
companies and worked as Head of the dry 
food department at the Trade Ministry of the 
German Democratic Republic. During his 30 
years’ experience in the retail industry he has 
held senior positions in various countries. 
In 1994 he obtained his first assignment 
outside Germany as a board advisor to Metro 
Cash & Carry in Hungary. After a year in 
Hungary, Edward became a member of the 
Metro Jinjiang team (China) and worked as 
a Store General Director and later as Head 
of Store Development for several years in 
China before moving to Russia in 2001. 
In Russia Edward was responsible for the 
business operations of Metro Cash & Carry 
in the Privolzhsky, Ural and Siberian regions. 
He was also responsible for the Metro Cash 
& Carry Kazakhstan business operations as 
a Deputy CEO.

Qualifications
Edward has a degree in Economics from the 
Hochschule fuer Oekonomie Berlin.

Maxim Shchegolev 

Under the chairmanship of the CEO, 
our highly skilled Senior Management 
team implements the strategies set by 
the Board. With a breadth of experience 
across the food retail sector, both on 
the domestic and international front, 
their leadership is vital to the success 
of Lenta’s day-to-day operations.

Jan Dunning (56)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Jan Dunning joined Lenta as CEO in 2009 
and was appointed a Director of Lenta Ltd 
in 2013. Jan’s biography appears on page 68 
of this report.

Jago Lemmens (47)
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Jago Lemmens joined Lenta in 2010 as 
Accounting and Reporting Director, becoming 
CFO in 2011. He was appointed a Director of 
Lenta Ltd in 2013. Jago’s biography appears 
on page 68 of this report.

Anna Meleshina (38)
Public Relations and Government 
Affairs Director
Anna Meleshina joined Lenta in 2013 as Public 
Relations and Government Affairs Director.

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Anna served as 
Corporate Relations Director for Heineken 
in Russia and served as a member of 
the global corporate relations leadership 
team. In addition to her 13-year career in 
the brewing sector, Anna has held senior 
positions in non-commercial organisations, 
including an advisory role at the Honorary 
Consul of Iceland in St. Petersburg, and as 
a board member and Deputy Chairman of 
the Russian Breweries’ Association.

Qualifications
Anna graduated from the Scandinavian 
linguistics faculty of the St. Petersburg State 
University with a diploma cum laude. She 
also holds an MBA from Henley Management 
College in the UK.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Herman Tinga (58)
Commercial Director
Herman Tinga joined Lenta in 2013 as 
Commercial Director.

Pavel Remezov (41)
Format Development Director
Pavel Remezov joined Lenta in 2013 
as Format Development Director. 

Maxim Shchegolev (49)
Integration and Format Development Director
Maxim Shchegolev joined Lenta in 2012 as 
Integration and Format Development Director. 

  71

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Maxim held a number 
of executive positions with O’KEY Group. 
During his 16 years’ experience in the retail 
industry, Maxim has held senior positions 
in business development. In 2008 he was 
appointed Director of Expansion for O’KEY 
and was responsible for various aspects 
of business development, including expert 
assessment of the competitive environment, 
and the purchase and lease of real estate 
for the construction of stores. In 2012, 
he took a similar position with Lenta. 
He is responsible for finding and acquiring 
plots of land, managing the construction 
and redevelopment of shopping centres, 
letting out premises owned by the Company, 
and the development of new stores in 
leased premises.

Qualifications
Maxim graduated from St. Petersburg 
University of Economics and Finance, 
the Russian-Dutch School of Marketing 
and the Higher School of the Ministry 
of Economic Development and Trade of 
the Russian Federation.

Senior Management team member who 
served but resigned during the period
Victor Solodnikov, Development & 
Construction Director, resigned on 
17 June 2015.

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Herman served as 
Non-Food Global Category Management 
& Sourcing Director at Metro AG. With 
a background in marketing, category 
management, buying and merchandising, 
Herman has extensive experience as a senior 
manager and board member in retail and 
cash & carry spanning 33 years. For four 
years, Herman was a board member of Metro 
Cash & Carry in Russia.

Qualifications
Herman has a bachelor’s degree from the 
Netherlands Institute of Marketing.

Tatiana Yurkevich (43)
HR Director
Tatiana Yurkevich joined Lenta in 2012 as 
Human Resources Director. 

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Tatiana served as 
Human Resources Director at Fazer Bakeries 
& Confectionery, Russia. During her 18 
years in HR management, she has held 
senior positions in HR including Head of 
HR at United Heavy Machinery Group and 
Izhora Plants, and HR Director of Caterpillar 
European Fabrications and Caterpillar Tosno. 
Tatiana has experience in leading Six Sigma 
Program implementation as a Deployment 
Champion in Caterpillar.

Qualifications
Tatiana has a master’s degree in International 
Economics from St. Petersburg State 
University as well as English and German 
language degrees from Novosibirsk State 
Pedagogical University.

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Pavel worked as 
Investments Director with NCH Capital 
Russia. He has over 18 years’ experience in 
the expansion and investments field. He has 
previously worked as Real Estate Director for 
BV Development (a project of Baring Vostok 
Capital Partners), as Senior Real Estate 
Project Manager with Metro Cash & Carry, 
and as Retail Real Estate Broker with Colliers. 
He is responsible for finding and acquiring 
plots of land, the construction of shopping 
centres, and managing projects to acquire 
retail chains and stores.

Qualifications
Pavel holds a BA in Economics magna cum 
laude from St. Lawrence University.

Sergey Prokofiev (47)
Legal Director
Sergey Prokofiev joined Lenta as Legal and 
Government Relations Director in 2012. 

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Sergey worked for 
Metro Cash & Carry for 11 years in different 
positions including Legal and Compliance 
Director. He started his career as expert-
interpreter and later worked as a lawyer in 
a major Russian law firm and as a defending 
attorney at the Moscow City Bar.

Qualifications
Sergey graduated from the Military Institute 
of Foreign Languages (‘VKIMO’) and the 
Institute of Law. He holds a PhD in Law from 
the Institute of Legislation and Comparative 
Law under the Government of the Russian 
Federation and an MBA in Strategic 
Management from California State University.

Joern Arnhold (45)
Supply Chain Director 
Joern Arnhold joined Lenta in 2011 as 
Supply Chain Director. 

Experience
Prior to joining Lenta, Joern had 13 years’ 
experience with Metro Group Logistics 
(‘MGL’) where he held various key positions 
in Germany, Turkey and Russia. As Managing 
Director of MGL in Russia, Joern was 
responsible for developing and running 
logistics operations for the Metro Group 
sales divisions in Russia.

Qualifications
Joern holds a degree in Business 
Administration from the Georg August 
University Goettingen.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201572

Corporate governance

Promoting strong governance

Our corporate 
governance framework
Compliance with UK Corporate 
Governance Code
The UK Corporate Governance Code 
(‘the Code’) sets out principles and 
specific provisions on how a company 
should be directed and controlled to 
achieve good standards of corporate 
governance. As a company incorporated 
in the British Virgin Islands (‘BVI’) 
with GDRs admitted to the Official List, 
we are not required to comply with the 
provisions of the Code. However, we 
have chosen to comply with the Code 
to an appropriate and practicable extent. 

As of the date of this report, the Board 
considers that Lenta fully complies in all 
material respects with the Code, with the 
exception of the following provisions: 

While BVI law imposes certain general 
duties on company directors (including 
the duty to act in the best interests 
of the company), there is no specific 
corporate governance code or corporate 
governance regime in the BVI.

Leadership

The Chairman leads the Board, ensuring 
its effectiveness while taking account 
of the interest of the Group’s various 
stakeholders and promoting high 
standards of corporate governance. 
There is a clear delineation between 
the role of Chairman and CEO. Updated 
descriptions of the roles were agreed by 
the Board in 2015 and are summarised 
as follows:

The Chairman’s responsibilities include:

•  the Chairman of the Board was not 
independent on his appointment;

•  ensuring the Directors receive 

accurate, timely and clear information;

The Chairman holds one-to-one and 
group meetings with the non-executive 
Directors – without the executive 
Directors being present – four times 
a year.

The Chairman was not independent 
upon his appointment to the Board 
since, at that time, he was a partner 
in TPG Capital, one of the Company’s 
major shareholders.

The CEO’s responsibilities include:

•  leading the development of the 

Company’s strategic direction and 
implementing the agreed strategy;

•  identifying and executing new 

business opportunities;

•  managing the Group’s risk profile 

and implementing and maintaining 
an effective framework of internal 
controls;

•  building and maintaining an effective 

management team; 

•  ensuring effective communication with 
shareholders and regularly updating 
institutional shareholders on business 
strategy and performance.

•  there is not a majority of independent 

directors on the Board;

•  the Company’s risk management 
process and function is currently 
under review. It is intended to 
implement the recommendations 
of the review during 2016;

•  the Directors have not provided 
a statement as to the prospects 
of the Company. This provision 
will be complied with as part of 
our 2016 reporting;

•  the whole Board is available to attend 
the AGM but it is not a requirement 
that each member attends.

•  facilitating the effective contribution 
of non-executive Directors and 
engagement between executive 
and non-executive Directors;

•  building an effective Board;

•  the induction of new Directors 

and further training for all Directors 
as required;

•  communicating effectively with 

shareholders and other stakeholders 
and ensuring the Board develops 
an understanding of the view of 
stakeholders;

•  ensuring an annual evaluation of the 
Board is conducted and leading the 
performance evaluation of the CEO 
and non-executive Directors.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  73

Stephen Johnson was the Senior 
Independent Director (‘SID’) throughout 
the year ending 31 December 2015. 
He was selected for the role because 
of his experience and expertise, both as 
an executive and non-executive Director 
with retail and international experience. 
The key roles and responsibilities of the 
SID include the following:

•  acting as a sounding board for the 

Chairman; 

•  serving as an intermediary for the 
other Directors when necessary;

•  being available to assist in resolving 

shareholder concerns, should 
alternative channels be exhausted;

•  holding at least one meeting each 

year with the non-executive Directors 
without the Chairman present;

•  monitoring the training and 
development requirements 
of Directors;

•  overseeing the Chairman’s appraisal 

and succession, and

•  ensuring that Committee chairmen 
conduct performance evaluations 
of their Committees.

Non-executive Directors
The non-executive Directors provide 
a strong independent element to the 
Board and a solid foundation for good 
corporate governance. Although all 
Directors are equally accountable 
under BVI law, the non-executive 
Directors fulfil a vital role in corporate 
accountability. They have responsibility 
for constructively challenging the 
strategies proposed by the executive 
Directors and scrutinising the 
performance of management in 
achieving agreed goals and objectives. 
They also play a key role in the 
functioning of the Board and its 
Committees. Between them, the 
current non-executive Directors have an 
appropriate balance of skills, experience, 
knowledge and independent judgement 
to undertake their roles effectively. 

Audit 
Committee

Nomination 
Committee

Shareholders’ 
meeting 

Board of 
Directors

Senior 
Management 

Remuneration 
Committee

 Capital 
Expenditure 
Committee

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201574

Corporate governance continued

Matters specifically reserved 
for the decision of the Lenta Ltd 
Board of Directors
Management, strategy and planning
The Board has responsibility for the 
overall management of the Group. 
This includes approval of the strategy, 
business plans and budgets as well as 
approval of any material restructuring 
or reorganisation and establishment of 
new material areas of business. The 
Board also reviews performance in light 
of the strategy, objectives, business 
plans and budgets, ensuring that any 
necessary corrective action is taken. 

Operations and transactions
This includes approval of significant 
capital and non-capital expenditure 
as well as approval of significant asset 
disposals and any other transactions 
that could have a material effect 
on the strategic or financial plans 
of the Company, including making 
or responding to takeover bids.

Capital structure 
The Board approves changes relating 
to capital structure including allotment 
of shares, reduction of capital (except 
under employee share plans) and 
share buy-backs. It also approves 
major changes to the Group’s corporate 
structure and the Company’s listings or 
its status as a company limited by shares.

Corporate governance 
The Board reviews its own performance 
and that of its Committees and individual 
Directors. It is responsible for 
determining the risk appetite of the 
Group and ensuring maintenance of 
an effective system of internal control 
and risk management. It also approves 
and revises policies, including health, 
safety and environment policies, share 
dealing rules, code of conduct, anti-
bribery and corruption policy and 
corporate governance arrangements.

The Board also calls any general 
meetings and approves documents 
sent to shareholders. It also 
recommends any changes to the 
Company’s Memorandum and Articles 
of Association and considers material 
litigation or regulatory investigations 
affecting the Lenta Group. It is 
responsible for the approval of political 
donations and the appointment of key 
corporate advisors.

Other
The Board also considers other matters 
of strategic or reputational importance 
likely to have a significant impact 
on the Company. When, exceptionally, 
decisions on matters specifically 
reserved for the Board are required 
to be taken urgently between Board 
meetings, such decisions shall be 
taken by a Directors’ written resolution 
pursuant to Article 12.9 of the Articles 
of Association of the Company. 

Loans and dividends 
This includes approval of any substantial 
new loan or similar facility (including 
financial leases) from third parties 
or material amendment to any such 
facilities including material loans or 
similar facilities made available to third 
parties. The Board also oversees the 
Company’s dividend policy, declaration 
of interim and recommendation of 
final dividends and approval of other 
distributions to shareholders, as well as 
any new pension schemes or significant 
changes to existing pension schemes.

Public reporting and controls 
The Board approves the preliminary 
trading and half-yearly results 
announcements as well as the Annual 
Report and Accounts. It also approves 
appropriate press releases, material 
changes in principal accounting policies 
and practices, treasury policies and 
related risk management strategy 
and framework. On recommendation 
of the Audit Committee, the Board also 
appoints or removes the external auditor. 

Board and Directors 
The Board of Directors manages, 
directs and supervises the business 
of the Company. The Board oversees 
the officers of the Company and 
succession planning. The Board, in some 
circumstances, may elect a Director 
to fill an empty seat on the Board. The 
Board may also establish committees 
and set their responsibilities.

Remuneration
This includes approving the Directors’ 
and Officers’ insurance cover and 
establishing policies and rules relating 
to share-based incentive schemes. The 
Board also determines remuneration 
policy for executive Directors and certain 
senior executives and approves the 
remuneration of non-executive Directors.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  75

Director since Nomination

Audit Remuneration Capex

Committees

 C

 C

 C

 Nomination Committee (five Directors)

+

Read more on page 78

 Audit Committee (three Directors)

 C

+

Read more on page 81

 Remuneration Committee (five Directors)

+

Read more on page 84

 Capex Committee (four Directors)

+

Read more on page 89

Board of Directors

Position

Name

 Chairman

John Oliver1

Cat.

TPG

 Sen. INED

Stephen Johnson

INED

 Director

Michael Lynch-Bell

INED

 Director

Anton Artemyev

INED

 Director

Dmitry Shvets

 Director

Stephen Peel

 Director

Martin Elling

 Director

Jan Dunning

 Director

Jago Lemmens

TPG

TPG

EBRD

CEO

CFO

2009

2010

2013

2013

2009

2011

2011

2013

2013

Committee member 

 C   Chairman of Committee

1 Effective 31 December 2015, John Oliver resigned as a member of the Audit Committee and was appointed a member of the Capex Committee.

The Board is responsible for managing 
our business and may exercise all of the 
business’s powers in doing so, except 
to the extent that any such power must 
be exercised by the shareholders in 
accordance with applicable BVI law 
or the Company’s Memorandum and 
Articles (‘M&A’). The Board also, by 
virtue of direct or indirect shareholdings 
in our consolidated subsidiaries, 
provides strategic management of 
our affairs and those of our consolidated 
subsidiaries. The day-to-day operations 
of our operating company, Lenta LLC, 
are managed by Senior Management 
as described below.

The Board currently consists of nine 
Directors, of which three: Michael 
Lynch-Bell, Anton Artemyev and 
Stephen Johnson are judged by the 
Board to be independent Directors 
according to the provisions of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code. 
None of the factors or circumstances 
set out in the Code as potential 
indicators of non-independence apply 
to Mr Lynch-Bell or Mr Artemyev. 

While Mr Johnson carried out 
remunerated consultancy work for 
Lenta and one of its Major Shareholders, 

TPG Capital, prior to 2014, is 
remunerated as Chairman of another 
TPG Capital investee company and 
holds 80,000 Shares in Lenta Ltd 
subject to secured arrangements in 
favour of our pre-2014 Offering, the 
Board is satisfied that these have no 
effect on his independence. This is 
primarily because of his extensive 
experience in retail and the fact that his 
shareholding is subject to staggered 
release starting in 2014 and ending in 
2018 – and is subject to his continued 
service on Lenta’s Board. 

Our CEO and CFO, who are also the 
General Director and Chief Financial 
Officer of Lenta LLC, are Directors, 
but are ineligible to serve on Board 
Committees. The remaining four 
Directors – including the Chairman – 
were elected by the shareholders 
pursuant to the nomination rights of 
the Major Shareholders.

As provided under the M&A:

•  the CEO and CFO hold office by virtue 
of their positions, and are appointed, 
and may be removed by the Board.

•  the Major Shareholders may nominate 

Major Shareholder-nominated 
Directors (and remove such Directors), 
and shareholders are obliged to vote 
to approve the appointment or removal 
of such candidates, as follows:

•  TPG Capital: three Directors 

including the Chairman whilst it 
holds directly or indirectly an interest 
in 22.5% or more of the shares; two 
Directors including the Chairman 
whilst it holds directly or indirectly 
an interest in 15% or more of the 
shares; one Director whilst it holds 
directly or indirectly an interest in 
5% or more of the shares;

•  EBRD: two Directors whilst it 

holds an interest in 15% or more 
of the shares; one Director whilst 
it holds an interest in 5% or more 
of the shares;

•  VTB Capital Private Equity: 

one Director whilst it holds directly 
or indirectly an interest in 5% 
or more of the shares, although 
VTB has chosen not to nominate 
a Director since June 2014.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201576

Corporate governance continued

On each of the first two occasions where 
a Major Shareholder’s holding falls 
below a threshold listed above, one of 
the Directors nominated by that Major 
Shareholder must resign, and the 
number of Directors on the Board shall 
be reduced by one. However, the Major 
Shareholder retains the right to appoint 
a Director if its shareholding should go 
back up above the thresholds. On each 
subsequent occasion when a Major 
Shareholder’s shareholding falls below 
a threshold listed above, one of the 
Directors nominated by that Major 
Shareholder must resign no later than 
the next general meeting, but may be 
re-nominated and re-elected by a simple 
majority resolution of the shareholders. 
These Directors may otherwise only 
be removed by their nominating Major 
Shareholder. The Major Shareholders 
may not assign or transfer these 
nomination rights to third parties. During 
2015, the shareholding of the EBRD fell 
from 15.3% to 7.4% and as a result one 
of its two nominated Directors, Lindsay 
Forbes, stepped down from the Board.

As at the date of this report there are 
four Major Shareholder-nominated 
Directors on the Board. The Major 
Shareholder-nominated Directors have 
a fiduciary duty under the laws of the 
BVI to act in the best interests of our 
business. Under the M&A, a Director 
who has an interest in a transaction likely 
to give rise to a conflict of interest may 
not vote on any resolution relating to 
the transaction, unless fewer than three 
Directors are entitled to vote on such a 
resolution, in which case each interested 
Director may vote provided his interest 
is duly disclosed or certain other 
exceptions apply.

There should be at least three 
independent Directors at all times. 
Independent Directors are elected 
by a majority resolution of the Board 

from a list of candidates proposed by 
the Board and considered by the Board 
to be independent, taking into account 
the criteria for independence set forth 
in the Code. Each independent Director 
shall be deemed to resign at the first 
general meeting following their election 
by the Board, at which general meeting 
they shall be put forward for re-election. 
These Directors may be removed by 
a majority resolution of the Board or 
by a simple majority resolution of the 
shareholders upon a proposal made 
by shareholders holding more than 
15% of the shares.

Each of the other Directors (if any) 
shall be elected by a simple majority 
resolution of the shareholders from 
a list of candidates. This will include 
those candidates proposed by the 
Board, retiring Directors consenting to 
being put forward for re-election and 
any candidates put forward for election 
by shareholders holding at least 15% 
of the shares within the timeframe 
stipulated in the M&A. These Directors 
may be removed in the same way as 
the independent Directors.

The Board may appoint a Director to 
fill a vacancy (subject to the rights of 
the Major Shareholders). In this case, 
that Director shall resign at the next 
general meeting and be put forward 
for re-election.

While the Board has overall 
accountability, in order to operate more 
effectively, responsibility for specific 
functions is delegated to four specialist 
Board Committees: Nomination, Audit, 
Remuneration and Capital Expenditure. 
The responsibility for formulating and, 
after approval, implementing strategic 
plans and the management of day-to-
day operations is delegated to the 
Chief Executive Officer and the Senior 
Management team.

Board focus during 
the year

In 2015, the Board spent its time 
considering a wide range of 
matters. These included:

•  individual business and overall 
Group performance and future 
capital expenditures

•  budgets and long-term plans 

for the Company

•  review of estimates of future 

cash flows, financing 
arrangements and fundraising

•  preparing and authorising two 

equity fundraisings

•  maintaining and increasing 
efficiency of the Company’s 
increasingly rapid development 

•  development of the Company’s 

corporate governance 

•  responding to the changing 
dynamics of the Russian 
economy 

•  strategy

•  financial statements and 

announcements

•  reviewing reports from its 

Committees

•  shareholder feedback and reports 

from brokers and analysts

•  risk management and risk 

oversight

•  the industry and competitive 

environment.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  77

Board and Committee attendance during the year
Normally the Board holds at least four meetings in person and a number of ad hoc meetings in person or via teleconference. 
We consider that any Director, participating via teleconference, videoconference or other electronic means shall be considered 
to be physically present, provided each Director is able to hear all other Directors and, in turn, be heard by all other Directors.

Member
John Oliver
(Major Shareholder nominee) Chairman
Jan Dunning (CEO)
Stephen Johnson (Independent) 
Michael Lynch-Bell (Independent)
Jago Lemmens (CFO)
Lindsay Forbes
(Major Shareholder nominee)
Anton Artemyev (Independent)
Dmitry Shvets
(Major Shareholder nominee)
Stephen Peel
(Major Shareholder nominee)
Martin Elling
(Major Shareholder nominee)

Board
(6 meetings)

Audit
Committee
(7 meetings)

Capex
Committee
(21 meetings)

Nomination 
Committee
(1 meeting)

Remuneration
Committee
(3 meetings)

6
6
6
6
6

1
6

6

5

6

7
n/a
7
7
n/a

3
7

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a
n/a
21
n/a
n/a

n/a
n/a

21

n/a

21

1
n/a
1
1
n/a

n/a
1

1

n/a

n/a

3
n/a
3
3
n/a

n/a
3

3

n/a

n/a

A quorum for Board meetings consists of a minimum of five members of the Board.

Changes to the Board in 2015

Lindsay Forbes

EBRD Director

Resigned from the Board with effect from 25 July 2015

Length of service and independence of non-executive Directors

Stephen Johnson
Michael Lynch-Bell
Anton Artemyev

Since 2010
Since 2013
Since 2013

Considered to be independent by the Board
Considered to be independent by the Board
Considered to be independent by the Board

There are five Board meetings scheduled for 2016. 

The terms of reference for Lenta’s Board Committees were revised and updated in November 2015.  
Details are set out in the Corporate Governance section of the Company website:  
www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/corporate-governance/internal-policies

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201578

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Corporate governance continued

Board Committees

Effectiveness

The appointment of new Directors 
is led by the Nomination Committee, 
the majority of whose members are 
independent non-executive Directors. 
Details of the appointments process 
can be found on page 75.

All new Directors receive a personalised 
induction programme, tailored to their 
experience, background and particular 
area of focus. This is designed to 
develop their knowledge and 
understanding of the Company’s 
culture and operations. The programme 
incorporates a wide-ranging schedule 
of meetings with Senior Management 
across the Company, comprehensive 
briefing materials and opportunities to 
visit the Company’s operations, including 
spending time at new store openings, 
in-store and in our distribution network. 

All Directors have the opportunity 
to increase their knowledge of the 
Company through visits to the Company’s 
operations and meetings with senior 
executives across the business. 

The Board makes a careful assessment 
of the time commitments required 
from the Chairman and non-executive 
Directors to discharge their roles 
properly. This is discussed with 
candidates as part of the recruitment 
process and a commitment to the 
appropriate time requirements is 
included in engagement letters. 
Directors are expected to attend 
every Board meeting and every meeting 
of any Committee of which they are 
a member, unless there are exceptional 
circumstances preventing their 
attendance. Scheduled Board and 
Committee meetings are arranged 
at least a year in advance to allow 
Directors to manage other commitments. 

The Chairman reviews each Director’s 
development needs as part of the annual 
performance evaluation process and 
puts appropriate arrangements in place 
for specific training. The Nomination 
Committee reviews the Directors’ skills 
and experience as a group against those 
needed to oversee and support the 
Company’s future operations, and 
identifies any gaps. Training is arranged 
to develop the knowledge and skills 
of the Directors in a variety of areas 
relevant to Lenta’s business. 

Board papers are circulated a week 
before each meeting to give the Directors 
and Committee members sufficient time 
to fully consider the information. All 
Directors have access to the Company 
Secretary and may take independent 
professional advice at the Company’s 
expense in conducting their duties. 

Conflicts of interest
Directors have a statutory duty to avoid 
situations in which they have or could 
have a direct or indirect interest that 
conflicts or may conflict with the interests 
of the Company. A Director has a duty 
to disclose to the Board any transaction 
or arrangement under consideration by 
the Company in which he has a personal 
interest. The Board has a procedure for 
authorising conflicts or potential conflicts 
of interest. Under this procedure, 
Directors are required to declare all 
directorships or other appointments 
outside the Company that could give 
rise to a conflict or potential conflict 
of interest.

Following completion of the year end, 
the Board conducted an internal review 
of its performance and that of its 
Committees and individual Directors.

Nomination Committee 
Report
Committee members 

Stephen Johnson 
(Independent, Chairman)

Michael Lynch-Bell 
(Independent)

Anton Artemyev 
(Independent)

John Oliver  
(Major Shareholder nominee)

Dmitry Shvets 
(Major Shareholder nominee)

The key roles of the Nomination 
Committee are to:

•  ensure that proper procedures are 
established for the nomination, 
selection and training of the Company’s 
Directors and Senior Management;

•  keep under review the balance of 
skills, experience, independence, 
knowledge and general diversity 
on the Board to ensure the balance 
and composition of the Board and 
its Committees remains appropriate;

•  make recommendations to the Board 
on Directors’ conflicts of interest for 
authorisation, where appropriate;

•  make recommendations to the Board 

of Directors regarding the appointment 
of new Directors (aside from Major 
Shareholder nominees, the CEO 
and the CFO), and identify, interview, 
select, and determine the independence 
of candidates with suitable industry or 
key competency experience;

•  review Senior Management 

appointments and Company-wide 
succession planning and other human 
resources-related matters. 

Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  79

Board Committee review
After noting the requirements 
of the Code, we made a number 
of recommendations to the Board 
on the composition of our Audit and 
Capital Expenditure Committees. 
Effective 31 December 2015, our 
Chairman, John Oliver, stepped down 
as a member of the Audit Committee, 
making the membership of that 
Committee fully Code compliant. 
As of the same date John joined 
the Capital Expenditure Committee.

Stephen Johnson 
Chairman  
Nomination Committee

The Human Resources Director may 
be invited to attend any meeting of the 
Committee, except for portions of the 
meetings where their presence would 
be inappropriate, as determined by the 
Committee Chairman.

Dear Shareholders 
2015 continued to be a challenging 
and exciting year for all our colleagues 
at Lenta. The Company’s substantial 
growth during the year and the ambitious 
expansion objectives we have for the 
future inevitably place great demands 
on the organisation – and particularly 
the Senior Management team. With this 
in mind, the focus of the Nomination 
Committee’s activities during the year 
has been on ensuring that the Company 
has the appropriate framework and 
processes in place to ensure that it 
is best placed to support the business 
strategy, whilst continuing to focus on 
productivity improvements that do not 
sacrifice our customer service ethos. 
As part of our Governance Framework 
review we took the opportunity to review 
and make recommendations to the 
Board on the membership of our Board 
Committees.

We reviewed the Committee’s own 
performance, constitution and terms 
of reference; and reported to the Board 
on how the Committee had discharged 
its responsibilities.

A copy of the Committee’s 
terms of reference is available 
on the Company’s website:  
www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/
corporate-governance/internal-policies

Looking forward to 2016, the Committee 
intends to continue its focus on the 
performance appraisal programme and 
the succession planning programme. 
We will also support Management in the 
identification and recruitment of suitable 
candidates to support the Company’s 
growth plans.

Activities during the year
Performance appraisal programme 
Over the last few years, Lenta has 
developed and implemented a 
Company-wide performance appraisal 
programme. This process is used 
to assess the performance of every 
employee in the business, including the 
executive Directors. The findings from 
this programme are used to identify 
training and development needs, to 
pinpoint areas where investment in 
human resources is required and to 
identify high performance individuals 
at all levels. The Nomination Committee 
receives regular reports on the results 
and operation of the performance 
appraisal programme.

Succession planning programme 
The Company also operates an active 
succession planning programme. This is 
designed to identify possible successors 
for all management positions in the 
Company, to identify development 
needs for any potential successors, 
and to address any succession gaps. 
The performance appraisal programme 
is one of the key inputs in the succession 
planning process. During the year the 
Committee regularly reviewed the 
succession plan and worked with 
Company management to refine and 
develop it. Inevitably, this is an ongoing 
process. The Company has at least one 
named successor for 80% of the 
managers in the business.

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80

Corporate governance continued

Accountability

The Board considers the Annual Report 
and Accounts, taken as a whole, to be 
fair, balanced and understandable and 
provide the necessary information 
required for shareholders to assess 
the Company’s performance, business 
model and strategy – and that the 
business continues to operate as 
a going concern.

The Board has overall responsibility for 
ensuring the Company has appropriate 
risk management and internal controls 
in place – and that they continue to work 
effectively. Successful management 
of risk is supported by controls, 
management oversight and sources 
of assurance. 

The Company maintains a 
comprehensive framework of internal 
controls addressing the key strategic, 
financial, legal, reputational and 
operational risks to the business. 
The accountability for operating these 
controls rests with Senior Management 
as a first line of defence. 

Key elements of the Company’s system 
of internal controls that operated 
throughout the year were:

•  monitoring by the Board of a 

comprehensive reporting system 
including detailed monthly results, 
periodic short- and medium-term 
forecasts, annual budgets and 
medium-term plans;

•  monitoring by the Board of the 

Company’s liquidity, financing and 
borrowing requirements;

•  well-defined procedures for 

assessment, approval, control and 
monitoring of major investment 
projects;

•  a centrally coordinated internal audit 
programme to verify that policies and 
internal control procedures are being 
correctly implemented and identify 
any risks and potential areas for 
improvement at an early stage;

•  financial, treasury, operating, 

compliance and administrative policies 
and procedures that incorporate 
statements of required behaviour;

•  reviewing the speak-up policy and 
monitoring the operation of whistle-
blowing facilities in place to allow staff 
and customers to raise concerns; and

•  a remuneration policy for executives 
that motivates them appropriately, 
without encouraging excessive 
risk taking.

No significant internal control failings 
were identified during the year. The 
Group’s approach to risk management, 
the risks identified and how it profiles 
these risks is set out on pages 36 to 43. 

The Board commissioned a review 
of the effectiveness of the Company’s 
risk management and internal controls 
in late 2015, assisted by external 
consultants. Recommendations resulting 
from that review will be considered and 
implemented during 2016. 

Colleagues are required to confirm 
annually that they complied with the 
Code of Business Conduct, which 
sets out individual obligations and 
responsibilities for everyone working 
at Lenta. 

Internal audit
Internal audit advises management on 
the extent to which systems of internal 
control are adequate and effective to 
manage business risk, safeguard the 
Company’s resources and ensure 
compliance with the Company’s policies 
and legal and regulatory requirements. 
It also advises on ways in which areas 
of risk can be addressed and provides 
objective assurance on risk and controls 
to Senior Management, the Audit 
Committee and the Board.

The mandate and programme of work 
of the internal audit department is 
considered and approved by the Audit 
Committee. Based on the approved 
internal audit plan, a number of internal 
audits took place across the Company’s 
operations and functions to facilitate 
improvement of the Company’s internal 
controls, with findings reported to the 
relevant operational management. 
Internal audit follows up on the 
implementation of recommendations 
and reports on progress to Senior 
Management and to the Audit 
Committee. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  81

We recruited a new Head of Internal 
Audit during 2015. He reports regularly 
to the Chair of the Audit Committee 
and attends Audit Committee meetings 
to present the internal control findings 
from the internal audits performed. 
The Audit Committee reviews and 
discusses the effectiveness of internal 
audits on an annual basis with the Head 
of Internal Audit.

The Audit Committee plays a role in 
monitoring compliance with internal 
controls. In addition to receiving reports 
from Internal Audit, the Committee 
is responsible for monitoring legal 
compliance across the Company, 
including receiving reports from the 
Chief Legal Director. The Committee 
reports each year on its assessment 
of the effectiveness of the risk 
management and internal control 
systems. Throughout the year the 
Committee receives regular reports 
from the external auditor covering topics 
such as quality of earnings and technical 
accounting developments.

Whilst an internal control system cannot 
guarantee that losses will not occur, 
the Board is satisfied that management 
has remained diligent in its efforts to 
ensure an appropriate level of control 
remains in place. All Directors are 
covered by the Group’s Directors’ and 
Officers’ insurance policy.

Audit Committee Report
Committee members 

Michael Lynch-Bell 
(Independent, Chairman)

Anton Artemyev 
(Independent)

Stephen Johnson 
(Independent)

In 2015 the Audit Committee consisted 
initially of five Directors, three of whom 
were independent (including the Chair), 
and the Company Chairman. Lindsay 
Forbes resigned with effect from 25 July 
2015 and the Company Chairman 
resigned from the Committee effective 
31 December 2015. As a result, the 
membership of the Committee is now 
fully Code compliant.

The Audit Committee supports the 
Board in its responsibilities with regard 
to corporate reporting and risk 
management and internal controls, 
and with maintaining a relationship with 
the Company’s auditor. The Committee’s 
activities include the review of internal 
control systems, compliance with 
financial reporting requirements and 
the scope, results and cost effectiveness 
of the external audit. 

There are seven Committee meetings 
scheduled for 2016.

Dear Shareholders
At the heart of the Audit Committee’s 
remit is the need to provide confidence 
in the integrity of the Company’s 
processes and procedures in relation 
to internal control, risk management 
and corporate reporting. In keeping 
with our commitment to good corporate 
governance, we seek to do this in line 
with international best practice.

During 2015, the Committee reviewed 
the Company’s financial results, 
including significant financial reporting 
estimates and judgements, as well as 
the financial disclosures in the interim 
management statements. It also 
monitored the Company’s system 
of internal control and management of 
the Company’s risks and oversaw the 
relationship with the external auditor 
and with the internal audit function.

We are very grateful for the assistance 
of the Company’s external auditor 
Ernst & Young (‘EY’) in this capacity. 
EY contributes a further independent 
perspective on certain aspects of the 
Company’s financial control systems 
and reports both to the Audit Committee 
and directly to the Board.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201582

Corporate governance continued

Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of the 
Audit Committee encompass overseeing, 
monitoring and reviewing the Company’s 
financial reporting, internal control 
and assurance processes. Whilst the 
Committee has very specific duties 
set out in its terms of reference, it serves 
a much greater purpose in reassuring 
shareholders that their interests are 
properly protected in respect of the 
Company’s financial management 
and reporting. The Committee regularly 
reports to the Board on matters 
discussed at its meetings. The Board 
has delegated responsibility to the 
Committee for reviewing the Company’s 
procedures and system of internal 
control in relation to risk management, 
with a focus on the methodology used 
by Senior Management. It also oversees 
the internal and external audit processes 
that report to it.

The Chairman of the Board, CEO, CFO, 
Company Secretary, Head of Internal 
Audit, Chief Legal Counsel and the 
external auditor are normally invited 
to attend Committee meetings. Other 
members of Senior Management are 
invited to attend to discuss any matters 
relevant to them.

External auditor
The Committee approved the terms 
of engagement of the external auditor, 
the fees paid to it and the scope of work 
carried out by it, and reviewed the 
performance and effectiveness of the 
external auditor in respect of the year 
ended 31 December 2014. Consideration 
was given to the performance, objectivity, 
independence, resources and relevant 
experience of the external auditor. In this 
process, it reviewed a report from the 
external auditor on all relationships that 
might reasonably have a bearing on its 
independence and the audit partner 
and staff’s objectivity, and the related 
safeguards and procedures. It also 

performed an annual review of the 
policies on the independence and 
objectivity of the external auditor, 
the use of the auditor for non-audit 
services and the employment of former 
employees of the external auditor. 
Following this review, the Committee 
recommended to the Board the 
re-appointment of EY as the Company’s 
external auditor.

To safeguard auditor objectivity and 
independence, the Committee oversees 
the process for the approval of all 
non-audit services provided by EY. 
Consideration is given to whether it 
is in the best interests of the Company 
that the non-audit services are 
purchased from EY.

The Committee received reports on 
the findings of the external auditor during 
its half yearly review and annual audit. 
It reviewed the recommendations made 
to management by the external auditor 
and management’s responses as well 
as the letters of representation to the 
external auditor.

Ernst & Young LLC was appointed as 
our external auditor in 2011. It is our 
policy to review its appointment annually 
and to re-tender the audit contract every 
seven years.

Role of the Audit Committee
Key roles and responsibilities of the 
Audit Committee included:

•  monitoring and challenging, where 

necessary, the integrity of the financial 
statements and half yearly results, 
interim management statements and 
any other formal announcement 
relating to financial performance;

•  reviewing and challenging, where 

necessary, the actions and 
judgements of management, taking 
into account the views of the external 
auditor, in relation to the Company’s 
financial statements, strategic review, 
financial review, governance 
statement and half-yearly reports, 
including the going concern 
assumption;

•  reviewing the Company’s internal 

controls, including financial controls 
and risk management systems;

•  reviewing the Company’s insurance 

arrangements;

•  reviewing the Company’s treasury 

policy;

•  reviewing the Company’s compliance 

with the updated UK Corporate 
Governance Code;

•  approving Internal Audit’s annual 

operational plan and reviewing reports 
received from Internal Audit;

•  reviewing the Company’s speak-up 

policy and receiving reports on matters 
raised via the speak-up facilities;

•  overseeing the Company’s 

relationship with the external auditor;

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  83

•  agreeing the scope of the external 
auditor’s annual audit plan and 
reviewing the output;

•  reviewing and amending as necessary 
the policy on the provision of non-audit 
services by the external auditor;

•  reviewing annually the Committee’s 
own performance, constitution and 
terms of reference; and

•  reporting to the Board on how the 
Committee has discharged its 
responsibilities.

A copy of the Committee’s 
terms of reference is available 
on the Company’s website:  
www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/
corporate-governance/internal-policies

The Audit Committee considered 
a number of issues during the year, 
taking into account the views of the 
Company’s management, its tax 
advisors and the external auditor. 

Significant issues considered by 
the Audit Committee
The significant issues – and how they 
were addressed – are set out below.

Suppliers’ allowances
The Committee reviewed the accounting 
for and recognition of suppliers’ 
allowances received for the provision 
of services. The review included 
consideration of the types of allowances 
received, the period of coverage and 
the timing of receipt. Based on this 
review, the Committee is satisfied that 
the allowances are recognised in the 
period in which they are earned and that 
appropriate disclosure has been made 
in the financial statements.

Inventories and inventory allowances
The Committee reviewed the accounting 
for inventories and the recognition 
of write-downs during the period. 
The review took into consideration the 
calculation of the cost of inventories, the 
identification of slow-moving inventories 
and the reasons why shrinkage had 
occurred. Based on this review, the 
Committee agreed with the accounting 
treatment and disclosures adopted by 
management.

The Committee considered the position 
taken by management and, taking into 
account the external auditor’s review, 
concluded that management’s 
recommendation to prepare the financial 
statements on a going concern basis 
was appropriate.

It is the Directors’ intention to include 
a viability statement concerning the 
prospects of the Company, commencing 
with the 2016 annual report. 

Share-based payments 
The Committee reviewed the 
considerations made by management 
in relation to the accounting for 
remuneration received by certain 
employees in the form of share-based 
payments. In addition, management 
had evaluated the required disclosures 
for inclusion in the financial statements. 
Having challenged the appropriateness 
of key assumptions used by 
management, the Committee agreed 
with management’s assessment and 
disclosures.

Michael Lynch-Bell 
Chairman  
Audit Committee

Capital construction
The Committee examined the 
accounting for capital construction 
including the recognition of direct costs 
incurred, the allocation of directly 
attributable overheads and land lease 
expense. The review included a 
consideration of potential fraud risk, 
the construction tender process and 
the acquisition or leasing of land. The 
Committee agreed with the accounting 
treatment and disclosures adopted by 
management.

Taxation
The Committee received regular 
updates on tax developments in 
Russia from management and the 
Company’s advisors, together with 
management’s interpretation of the 
impact of current tax legislation on the 
Company. The Committee concurred 
with management’s judgement on the 
positions adopted and the related 
disclosures.

Going concern
The Committee reviewed management’s 
adoption of the going concern basis 
of accounting. Management had taken 
into account the Company’s financial 
position, available borrowing facilities, 
loan covenant compliance, planned 
store opening programme and the 
anticipated cash flows and related 
expenditures from our retail stores. 

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201584

Corporate governance continued

Remuneration

The work of the Remuneration 
Committee, the interests in the 
Company’s share capital held 
by Senior Management and the 
remuneration received by the 
Chairman and the non-executive 
Directors are set out on pages 84 to 88. 
The Directors’ interests in the Company’s 
share capital are set out on page 88. 

Remuneration Committee 
Report
Committee members 

Stephen Johnson 
(Independent, Chairman)

Michael Lynch-Bell 
(Independent)

Anton Artemyev 
(Independent)

John Oliver  
(Major Shareholder nominee)

Dmitry Shvets 
(Major Shareholder nominee)

The Remuneration Committee held four 
meetings in 2015 and has four meetings 
scheduled for 2016.

The Remuneration Committee assists 
the Board of Directors in discharging 
its responsibilities in relation to 
remuneration, including:

•  reviewing Lenta’s overall 
compensation policy;

•  making proposals to the Board of 
Directors about the remuneration 
of the Directors of the Company; 

•  making proposals to the Board of 
Directors about the remuneration 
of Lenta’s Senior Management team;

•  advising on and administering Lenta’s 

management incentive plans.

•  reviewing annually the Committee’s 
own performance, constitution and 
terms of reference; and

•  reporting to the Board on how 
the Committee has discharged 
its responsibilities.

A copy of the Committee’s 
terms of reference is available 
on the Company’s website:  
www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/
corporate-governance/internal-policies 

Dear Shareholders
Lenta continues to be a very high growth 
business, setting itself and achieving 
ambitious targets. Over the last few 
years it has been one of the fastest 
growing and best run retail businesses 
in Russia – and indeed across Europe. 
Enabling the business to attract, retain 
and incentivise the best people remains 
central to our continuing ability to 
achieve our goals. The Remuneration 
Committee’s primary focus is to ensure 
that Lenta has a remuneration 
framework that is highly competitive 
in the markets where we compete for 
talent, designed to support the long-term 
strategy of the business and aligned 
with the interests of our shareholders.

We also strive to get the right balance 
between maintaining a consistent 
approach to remuneration, whilst at the 
same time recognising that we operate 
in a fast changing and, in recent times, 
volatile retail and macroeconomic 
environment in Russia. The Committee 
is mindful of the need to be both active 
and flexible in keeping all aspects of 
the business’s remuneration policies 
under review.

Most members of the Committee and 
the Board have long experience of and 
involvement in remuneration matters. 
However, the Committee is also aware 
that, from time to time, it is important 
to gather external views and advice. 
During the year the Committee has been 
advised by both Mercer and PwC on 
various matters as well as making use 
of external labour market data from Hay.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  85

Key activities of the  
Committee in 2015
Job evaluation
The overall pay system in Lenta is based 
on a job evaluation methodology 
conducted by Mercer, global experts 
in pay evaluation and labour market 
analysis. The original job evaluation was 
carried out in 2012, establishing a pay 
and benefits hierarchy. The remuneration 
system in Lenta consists of base salary 
that is set according to the job grade and 
location, and different types of bonuses 
that are linked to team performance and 
depend on job grade. All other benefits 
also depend on job grade. Such an 
approach assures internal equity of pay 
and proper benchmarking of salaries 
with the external labour market, 
including specific cities where we have 
a presence. Mercer and Hay salary 
surveys are used as the main sources 
of labour market data. 

In 2015 full job regrading was carried 
out, again using Mercer, to reflect the 
doubling in size of our business. Change 
of job grade did not result in automatic 
pay rises. However, Lenta management 
was conscious that some key positions 
were behind our market target, based 
on salary surveys of the Russian labour 
market. 

The Committee reviewed the salary data 
analysis and approved salary increases – 
both for specific positions in head office 
and stores. Thus, in November 2015, 
head office personnel received pay rises 
that depended on individual performance 
evaluation results for 2014 and the 
competitive position of their actual salary 
compared to the target salary for the 
grade. This represented a total head 
office payroll increase of 5%. This was 
affordable due to the fact that there was 
very strong control over headcount 
growth in head office, which grew only 
by 1.7% vs. 2014.

The store personnel pay review 
indicated that there were certain 
positions with pay below our market 
target and availability of personnel for 
these positions was low. The pay for 
these positions (covering 10,500 
employees in 59 cities) was increased, 
increasing total store payroll by 3.4%. 
Again, this was affordable due to 
strong productivity improvements 
achieved in 2015.

Annual bonus for 2014
In April 2015, the 2014 annual bonus 
award was completed, with an overall 
award across the Company for those 
participating in the scheme of 62% of 
the maximum. Stretch targets to reach 
maximum bonus level were quite 
challenging; even though the Company 
performed extremely well, the impact 
of a deteriorating economy, import ban 
and Rouble depreciation was significant 
enough that stretch targets were not 
achieved and the bonus payout 
coefficient was less than in 2013. 
The Committee and the Board felt that 
this accurately reflected the significant 
progress that the business made 
during 2014.

Within this overall award, the Senior 
Management team was awarded annual 
bonuses of 68% of the maximum, with 
the CEO achieving 66%. The Committee 
also agreed the annual bonus targets for 
2016, providing for similarly stretching 
performance. 

Management remuneration
Lenta’s overall philosophy on 
remuneration is to ensure that, whilst 
base salary levels remain competitive, 
the Senior Management team is 
substantially incentivised through both 
variable pay (the annual bonus plan) 
and the long-term incentive plan 
(‘LTIP’) to share in the value created 
for shareholders. Lenta’s Senior 
Management team includes heads 

of business functions reporting 
directly to the CEO. The Company’s 
Management Incentive Programme 
(‘MIP’) is described in more detail 
on page 87 of this report. 

The MIP was put in place during 2012 
and 2013. Much has changed in the 
Russian macroeconomic environment 
since that time and it has lost most of 
its retention value. In 2014 the 
Committee decided to implement 
changes to the MIP and to postpone 
any MIP shares vesting until the 
change is finalised. In 2015 the Senior 
Management team remuneration 
package was reviewed with the 
participation of PwC, using not only 
Russian but European retail salary 
data. As a result of this review, 
recommendations were made to 
address both the base pay and the 
long-term incentive programme.

The Remuneration Committee 
approved an increase of 28% in the 
Rouble base salaries of individual 
Senior Management team members. 
The Committee also approved the 
change in the MIP from the USD share 
price to the RUB price and a change 
of vesting schedule. The new vesting 
schedule separates the Management 
team from any sale of shares by major 
shareholders and establishes fixed 
vesting periods that assure retention 
of the team until 2018. New long-term 
incentives have also been agreed in 
principle by the Committee to ensure 
retention of Management after 2018; 
details of the new LTIP will be further 
developed in 2016.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201586

Corporate governance continued

A manager’s eligibility to receive shares 
in the circumstances described above 
is conditional on his or her compliance 
with certain covenants, including 
confidentiality, non-competition and 
non-solicitation covenants. Where a 
Settlement Event occurs in relation to 
which the 8% per annum hurdle is not 
cleared, participating managers lose 
rights in relation to the Settlement 
Event Proportion of their phantom 
shares. Where a participating manager 
voluntarily terminates his employment 
with us, has such employment 
terminated for cause, or otherwise 
breaches the terms of the MIP, he loses 
rights in respect of his remaining 
phantom (non-vested) shares. To the 
extent his phantom shares have not 
otherwise vested by such time, half a 
manager’s original allocation vests on 
the fifth anniversary of that manager’s 
vesting period commencement date, 
and the remainder on the seventh 
anniversary.

Management Incentive Programme
We have instituted a share-settled 
management incentive programme 
(‘the MIP’). Under the MIP, participating 
managers are allocated a specified 
number of phantom shares, in relation 
to which their entitlement under the MIP 
is calculated. Upon (i) an initial public 
offering (ie the 2014 Offering) and 
(ii) fixed vesting dates, provided the 
per-share price of that Settlement Event 
is greater than that manager’s hurdle 
reference price plus 8% per annum from 
that manager’s hurdle reference date, 
that manager receives a number of 
shares (to be issued by us) equal to 
the number of their phantom shares 
multiplied by the proportion of shares 
linked with this vesting date, multiplied 
by the share price of the Settlement 
Event (as determined under the terms 
of the MIP) minus that manager’s base 
price, divided by the Settlement Event 
share price, and (unless the per-share 
Settlement Event price is greater than 
that manager’s hurdle reference price 
plus 16% per annum from that manager’s 
hurdle reference date) divided by two. 
Since 2015, all the share prices: base, 
hurdle and settlement event price are 
defined in Roubles.

Key management (top 60) remuneration
In 2015, the Remuneration Committee 
also focused its activities on retention 
of the top 60 management positions 
within Lenta. These positions represent 
two levels below the CEO in the 
company and they received an 
11% basic pay increase in 2015. The 
Committee also approved a new annual 
long-term incentive plan with a vesting 
period of three years for these positions. 
The total value of this award is 24,700 
shares and represents around 20% of 
this group’s annual salary. The allocation 
of the LTIP is linked to overall Company 
performance in the previous year and 
individual performance evaluation. 

International experts
Given the turbulent external 
environment, particularly relating 
to Rouble/Euro exchange rates, 
the Remuneration Committee was 
conscious of the need to ensure that pay 
rates for Senior Management and other 
international experts Lenta employs 
remained competitive, not only within 
Russia but also in the context of the 
wider European market for talent. 

The combination of the weakening 
Rouble and rising inflation had a 
significant impact, particularly on the 
expatriate members of the team. To 
address this, since 2014 there has been 
a cost of living adjustment (‘COLA’) 
established for international members of 
the Senior Management team and other 
expatriates working in Lenta. This is a 
non-contractual arrangement that does 
not create a permanent increase in basic 
pay, but reflects the difference in Rouble 
salaries and Euro salaries on a monthly 
basis. This mechanism was continued 
during 2015 and we intend to continue 
applying it until such time as it is 
considered appropriate to reassess 
permanent salary levels.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  87

The key terms of each member of Senior Management’s participation in the MIP are set out below:

Manager
Jan Dunning
Jago Lemmens
Herman Tinga1
  1st grant
  2nd grant
Edward Doeffinger
Joern Arnold
Sergey Prokofiev
Maxim Shchegolev
Tatiana Yurkevich

Number of
phantom shares
205,646
102,823

Base price (RUB)
1,516
1,516

Hurdle reference
 price (RUB)
764
764

Hurdle reference
 date
23/9/2011
23/9/2011

102,823
35,000
102,823
85,686
35,988
35,988
35,988

1,516
1,516
1,516
1,516
1,516
1,516
1,516

1,375
1,375
764
764
1,375
1,375
1,375

1/4/2013
1/4/2013
23/9/2011
23/9/2011
1/4/2013
1/4/2013
1/4/2013

Vesting period 
commencement
 date
1/4/2012
1/4/2012

1/4/2013
1/4/2013
1/4/2012
1/4/2012
1/4/2013
1/4/2013
1/4/2013

1 Herman Tinga has received two allocations under the MIP.

On 22 April 2014, as a result of the Settlement Event upon the 2014 Offering, we granted 399 new shares, (some in the form 
of GDRs), to Senior Management under the MIP. The details of the MIP issuance, the holdings of the recipients immediately 
following the issuance, and holdings of Senior Management as of 31 December 2015 are summarised below:

Name of recipient
Jan Dunning1 
Jago Lemmens2
Edward Doeffinger
Joern Arnold
Herman Tinga
Sergey Prokofiev
Maxim Shchegolev
Tatiana Yurkevich

Number of
shares issued
(including as GDRs)
132
66
66
55
44
12
12
12

Total holding
after issuance
(interests in shares)
549,538
104,697
93,397
86,497
7,044
12
12
12

Total holding
as of Dec 31 2015
(interest in shares)
549,538
105,737 
93,397 
86,497 
7,044 
12
12
12 

Approximate
holding
as of Dec 31 2015
(% of share capital)
0.56%
0.11%
0.10%
0.09%
0.01%
Less than 0.0001%
Less than 0.0001%
Less than 0.0001%

1 Including through his vehicle Golden Healer Investments Limited.

2 Including through his vehicle Ergo United Limited.

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201588

Corporate governance continued

Remuneration of the Chairman and non-executive Directors
The Chairman and other non-executive Directors of Lenta LLC each have a letter of appointment; they do not have service 
contracts. There is no notice period for termination.

Fees for the Chairman and the other non-executive Directors are determined by the Board as a whole, upon the 
recommendation of the Remuneration Committee. Fees are set at a level sufficient to attract, motivate and retain the world-class 
talent necessary to contribute to a high-performing board – and are paid monthly in cash. The Chairman and the other non-
executive Directors do not participate in any of our employee incentive arrangements, nor do they receive any pension provision.

The Chairman and the other non-executive Directors receive a base fee, with additional fees payable for the chairmanship 
and membership of our key Committees, and for performing the Chairman and Senior Independent Director roles. The fee levels 
are reviewed on a periodic basis with reference to the time commitment and responsibilities of the role and to companies of 
comparable size and complexity.

The fees applicable for the services of Major Shareholder nominated Directors are paid either directly to the relevant Director 
or to the nominating shareholder, as determined by the nominating shareholder.

There has been no increase in the level of fees paid to the Chairman and the non-executive directors since the company’s IPO 
in February 2014. The Committee and Board have agreed that no increase will be payable for the coming year.

The table below sets out fee levels applicable as at 1 January 2015:

Base fee for non-executive Directors
Additional fees:
Chairman
Senior Independent Director
Chair of the Audit Committee
Chair of the Capital Expenditure Committee
Chair of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees
Members of the Audit and Capital Expenditure Committees
Members of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees

Interest of Directors in Lenta shares are summarised in the table below:

Name of Director
John Oliver 
Stephen Johnson
Martin Elling 
Michael Lynch-Bell 

Stephen Johnson 
Chairman 
Remuneration Committee

Amount payable
(USD)
165,000

285,000
25,000
40,000
30,000
17,500
15,000
10,000

Total holding 
as of Dec 31 2015
 (interest in shares)
125,000
80,000 
10,000 
3,200 

Approximate holding
 as of Dec 31 2015
(% of share capital)
0.13%
0.08%
0.01%
less than 0.001%

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  89

Capital Expenditure 
Committee Report
Committee members 

Dmitry Shvets 
(Major Shareholder nominee, 
Chairman)

Stephen Johnson 
(Independent)

Martin Elling 
(Major Shareholder nominee)

John Oliver 
(Major Shareholder nominee)

There are ten Committee meetings 
scheduled for 2016; this number may be 
increased as necessary. 

Working within the framework of 
guidance provided by the Board 
of Directors regarding strategic, 
budgetary and return requirements, 
the Capital Expenditure Committee 
has the power to:

•  review, modify and approve proposals 

relating to significant capital 
expenditure, i.e. where the amount to 
be expended exceeds RUB 150 million 
including expenditures for new 
construction, major improvements 
to existing property and merger & 
acquisition transactions; 

•  advise the Board when proposed 
projects do not comply with its 
framework; these are accordingly 
referred to the full Board of Directors; 

•  endeavour to ensure that improvement 
programmes relating to the design, 
construction and operation of new 
stores are defined and implemented 
in cooperation with management; 

•  monitor the implementation of 

the capital expenditure programme, 
including, where appropriate, 
a comparison of actual performance 
with the financial and implementation 
projections of the approved 
submissions.

A copy of the Committee’s 
terms of reference is available 
on the Company’s website:  
www.lentainvestor.com/en/about/
corporate-governance/internal-policies

Dear Shareholders
2015 was another eventful year for Lenta 
as it further accelerated its expansion – 
opening 32 hypermarkets and eight 
supermarkets in Russia, reaching further 
east to Irkutsk. This obviously meant 
another eventful year for the Capital 
Expenditure Committee. In a growing 
economy, with the environment providing 
tailwinds for the business, our job would 
have been a very busy one. But with 
Russia’s current financial uncertainties, 
a more stringent focus on how these 
could impact the business – and 
consequently any future capital 
expenditure planning – was required.

In a more challenging economic 
environment, the Committee applied 
a particularly keen focus on balancing 
the need to approve expenditure for 
land purchases and the construction 
and fitting-out of stores that will continue 
to feed Lenta’s future growth plans 
with our commitment to deliver value 
for shareholders. 

We will, as usual, be reviewing all 
opportunities as they present themselves. 
However, the Board and Senior 
Management agree that, in the present 
circumstances, it is particularly important 
to maintain an appropriate balance of 
prudent leverage levels, whilst also 
pursuing high growth and high investment 
project returns. We are confident of being 
able to continue to do so.

Activities during the year
During 2015, the Capital Expenditure 
Committee focused on a number 
of issues on behalf of the Board. 
We considered more than 150 new 
investment proposals including new 
store projects, acquisitions, and supply 
chain and vertical integration projects.

We considered, reviewed and made 
recommendations to the Board on the 
Company’s investment strategy, policy 
and risk management. We continued 
to improve the new form of investment 
proposal (‘IP’) with even higher standards 
to ensure the best overview and 
forecasts against the backdrop of the 
very large number of promising new 
store IPs that the expansion teams 
developed in 2015. We also worked 
together with management on improving 
the efficiency of the existing stores and 
maintaining their strict compliance with 
all applicable regulations.

The Capital Expenditure Committee 
also worked closely with management 
in reviewing potential acquisition 
opportunities, including the acquisition 
of stores and land plots from O’KEY 
in September 2015. This cooperation 
enabled the smooth acquisition and 
integration of the new assets.

We continued to refine the post-IP 
evaluation procedures to make sure that 
the capital expenditure process is in line 
with the Company strategy – and that 
the results are in line with our return 
requirements and high corporate 
standards. Post-IP evaluation continues 
to be refined to ensure future outcomes 
remain in line with our expectations. 
We also ensure that any lessons learned 
are applied in future store and other 
investment projects.

Dmitry Shvets 
Chairman  
Capital Expenditure Committee

Corporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendicesStrategic report Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201590

Corporate governance continued

Relations with 
shareholders

We are committed to conducting 
constructive dialogue with shareholders 
to ensure that we understand what 
is important to them and enable clear 
communication of our position. The 
Chairman, CEO and CFO hold regular 
meetings with shareholders and update 
the Board on the outcomes of those 
meetings. Investor Relations keeps 
the Board informed of broker and 
analyst views, and reports and presents 
formally to the Board at each scheduled 
Board meeting. 

We support engagement with 
institutional shareholders as envisaged 
by the Stewardship Code and have 
a dedicated investor relations website.

Schedule of investor calls in 2015
29
January
12
March
23
April
21
July
27
August
16
October

Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Tuesday
Thursday
Friday

Thursday
Thursday

Schedule of investor calls for 2016 
January
February
April
July
August
October

28
18
27 Wednesday
21
18
20

Thursday
Thursday
Thursday

To encourage shareholder participation 
in the upcoming 2016 AGM, we offer 
electronic proxy voting and voting 
through the CREST electronic proxy 
appointment service. At our AGM, 
all resolutions are proposed and voted 
upon individually by shareholders or 
their proxies. All votes taken during the 
AGM are by way of a poll. This follows 
best practice guidelines and allows 
the Company to count all votes, not 
just those of shareholders attending 
the meeting.

Responsibility 
statement
We, members of the Board, confirm that, 
to the best of our knowledge:

The consolidated financial statements, 
prepared in accordance with IFRS, 
give a true and fair view of the assets, 
liabilities, financial position and profit 
and loss of Lenta Ltd and its subsidiaries 
taken as a whole. This annual report 
includes a fair review of the development 
and performance of the business 
and the position of Lenta Ltd and its 
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board.

John Oliver  
Chairman, Lenta Ltd 
21 April 2016 

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Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Lenta  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

  91

 Financial  
statements

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

92

Independent auditors’ report 

Consolidated statement  
of financial position 

Consolidated statement  
of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement  
of cash flows 

Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 

Notes to the consolidated 
financial statements 

93

94

95

96

97

98

 
 
 
92

Statement of management’s responsibilities for the preparation  
and approval of the consolidated financial statements  
for the year ended 31 December 2015

The following statement is made with a view to the respective 
responsibilities of management in relation to the consolidated 
financial statements of Lenta Limited and its subsidiaries 
(“the Group”).

The consolidated financial statements of the Group for 
the year ended 31 December 2015 were approved by 
management on 15 February 2016.

Management is responsible for the preparation of these 
consolidated financial statements that present fairly the 
financial position of Lenta Limited and its subsidiaries 
(“the Group”) as at 31 December 2015 and the results of its 
operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity 
for the year then ended, in compliance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).

On behalf of the Management as authorized by the 
Board of Directors. 

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

•  selecting and applying accounting policies;

Jan Dunning
CEO of Lenta Ltd

Jago Lemmens
CFO of Lenta Ltd

•  presenting information, including accounting policies, 

in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable 
and understandable information;

•  providing additional disclosures when compliance with the 
specific requirements of IFRSs are insufficient to enable 
users to understand the impact of particular transactions, 
other events and conditions on the Group’s consolidated 
financial position and financial performance;

•  making an assessment of the Group’s ability to continue 

as a going concern.

Management is also responsible for:

•  designing, implementing and maintaining an effective and 
sound system of internal controls throughout the Group;

•  maintaining adequate accounting records that are sufficient 
to show and explain the Group’s transactions and disclose 
with reasonable accuracy at any time the consolidated 
financial position of the Group, and which enable them to 
ensure that the consolidated financial statements of the 
Group comply with IFRS;

•  maintaining statutory accounting records in compliance 
with local legislation and accounting standards in the 
respective jurisdictions in which the Group operates;

•  taking such steps as are reasonably available to them 

to safeguard the assets of the Group; and

•  preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
  93

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements 
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position 
of the Group as at 31 December 2015, and its financial 
performance and cash flows for the year then ended in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

15 February 2016 
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Ernst & Young LLC 
St. Petersburg Branch 
White Nights House Business Center 
Malaya Morskaya Street, 23 
St. Petersburg 190000 Russia 
Tel: +7 (812) 703 7800 
Fax: +7 (812) 703 7810 
www.ey.com/ru

ООО «Эрнст энд Янг» 
Филиал в Санкт-Петербурге 
Россия, 190000, Санкт-Петербург 
ул. Малая Морская, 23 
Бизнес Центр «Белые ночи»  
Тел.: +7 (812) 703 7800 
Факс: +7 (812) 703 7810 
ОКПО: 71457074

Independent auditors’ report
To the Shareholders of Lenta Limited

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial 
statements of Lenta Limited and its subsidiaries (“the Group”), 
which comprise the consolidated statement of financial 
position as at 31 December 2015, and the consolidated 
statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, 
consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated 
statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and 
a summary of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory information.

Management’s responsibility for the consolidated 
financial statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair 
presentation of these consolidated financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, 
and for such internal control as management determines is 
necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether 
due to fraud or error.

Auditors’ responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these 
consolidated financial statements based on our audit. 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we 
comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the 
financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit 
evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the 
consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected 
depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the assessment 
of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 
financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making 
those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control 
relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the 
consolidated financial statements 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 entity’s internal control. An audit also includes 
evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used 
and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by 
management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation 
of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained 
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our 
audit opinion.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201594

Consolidated statement of financial position
as at 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

Assets
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment
Prepayments for construction
Leasehold rights
Intangible assets other than leasehold rights
Long-term portion of cash flow hedging instruments
Total non-current assets

Current assets:
Inventories
Trade and other receivable
Advances paid
Taxes recoverable
Advance payments for income tax
Prepaid expenses
Short-term portion of cash flow hedging instruments
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets

Equity and liabilities
Equity
Share capital
Additional paid-in capital
Share options
Hedging reserve
Retained earnings
Total equity

Liabilities
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities
Long-term portion of cash flow hedging instruments
Long-term obligations under finance leases
Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities:
Trade and other payables
Advances received
Other taxes payable
Short-term portion of cash flow hedging instruments
Short-term borrowings and short-term portion of long term borrowings
Short-term obligations under finance leases
Total current liabilities 
Total liabilities
Total equity and liabilities

Notes

31 December
 2015

31 December 
2014

8
9
10
11
30

12
13
14
15

30
16

104,016,458
6,528,355
3,047,168
1,092,329
355,414
115,039,724

22,781,732
13,646,894
2,264,911
1,257,764
288,119
217,711
439,050
22,455,945
63,352,126
178,391,850

81,218,207
4,780,350
3,271,544
870,531
765,257
90,905,889

19,629,381
11,371,248
2,750,726
2,416,605
30,858
134,863
1,969,920
12,035,785
50,339,386
141,245,275

17, 19
17
27
17

284
26,216,147
338,016
724,642
19,850,882
47,129,971

284
4,427,554
153,892
2,585,857
9,562,789
16,730,376

20
21
30

22

23
30
20

65,149,097
5,229,804
24,564
−
70,403,465

58,519,948
3,750,189
28,357
35,465
62,333,959

48,820,207
219,705
927,084
99,564
10,773,277
18,577
60,858,414
131,261,879
178,391,850

48,373,389
213,951
898,178
−
12,695,422
−
62,180,940
124,514,899
141,245,275

The accompanying notes on pages 98 to 134 are an integral part of these financial statements.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income 
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

  95

Sales
Cost of goods sold
Gross profit

Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income
Other operating expense
Operating profit

Interest expense
Interest income
Ineffective portion of change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments
Other expenses
Foreign exchange (losses)/gains
Profit before income tax

Income tax expense
Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income to be reclassified to profit or loss  

in subsequent periods

Net movement of cash flow hedges
Income tax relating to the components of OCI
Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Note

24

25
26
26

30

21

18
21

Year ended 
31 December 2015
252,763,075
(196,457,910)
56,305,165

Year ended 
31 December 2014
reclassified*
193,988,240
(150,251,966)
43,736,274

(36,044,771)
2,584,310
(512,533)
22,332,171

(10,044,858)
767,905
6,308
−
(189,423)
12,872,103

(27,985,607)
2,267,130
(358,593)
17,659,204

(6,910,890)
99,821
(19,488)
(41,165)
140,166
10,927,648

(2,584,010)
10,288,093

(1,852,541)
9,075,107

(2,326,519)
465,304
(1,861,215)
8,426,878

3,286,020
(657,204)
2,628,816
11,703,923

Earnings per share (in thousands of Russian roubles per share) (Note 19)
  – basic and diluted, for profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent

0.112

0.105

*  Certain amounts shown here do not correspond to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014 and reflect adjustments made  

as detailed in Note 2.4.

The accompanying notes on pages 98 to 134 are an integral part of these financial statements.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
96

Consolidated statement of cash flows 
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before income tax

Adjustments for:
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Loss on disposal of intangible assets
Loss on disposal of leasehold rights
Interest expense
Interest income
Inventory (reversal of write-down)/write-down to NRV
Change in bad debt allowance
Depreciation and amortization
Share options expense
Ineffective portion of change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments

Movements in working capital:
Increase in trade and other receivables
Decrease/(increase) in advances paid
(Increase)/decrease in prepaid expenses
Increase in inventories
Increase in trade and other payables
Increase in advances received
Increase/(decrease) in net other taxes payable
Cash from operating activities

Income taxes paid
Interest received
Interest paid
Net cash generated from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Purchases of intangible assets other than leasehold rights
Purchases of leasehold rights
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayments of borrowings
Repayments of obligations under financial lease
Proceeds from issue of new shares
Payment of loan commission
Net cash generated from financing activities

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended
31 December 2014

Note

12,872,103

10,927,648

8, 25
27
30

14

12
22

15, 23

53,596
6,486
59,235
10,044,858
(767,905)
(38,710)
194,665
5,686,264
184,124
(6,308)
28,288,408

(2,120,455)
486,213
(52,232)
(3,113,641)
1,228,784
5,754
1,187,747
25,910,578

(896,352)
656,052
(9,745,887)
15,924,391

93,704
840
−
6,910,890
(99,821)
255,357
15,073
3,658,953
111,795
19,488
21,893,927

(2,896,891)
(1,347,140)
60,067
(6,890,550)
13,129,614
89,149
(519,117)
23,519,059

(956,191)
86,566
(6,670,052)
15,979,382

(30,434,839)
(486,224)
(557,827)
109,264
(31,369,626)

(33,594,055)
(419,367)
(1,101,724)
4,412
(35,110,734)

89,717,940
(85,565,000)
(16,888)
21,788,593
(59,250)
25,865,395

80,336,800
(55,330,000)
(14,964)
−
(36,664)
24,955,172

17

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

10,420,160

5,823,820

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

16
16

12,035,785
22,455,945

6,211,965
12,035,785

The accompanying notes on pages 98 to 134 are an integral part of these financial statements.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

  97

Balance at 1 January 2015
Profit for the period
Other comprehensive income/(loss)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)

Share 
capital
284
−
−
−

Additional 
paid-in capital
4,427,554
−
−
−

Hedging 
reserve
2,585,857
−
(1,861,215)
(1,861,215)

Share options 
reserve
153,892
−
−
−

Retained 
earnings 
9,562,789
10,288,093
−
10,288,093

Total 
equity
16,730,376
10,288,093
(1,861,215)
8,426,878

Share-based payments (Note 27)
Issue of shares (Note 17, 27)
Balance at 31 December 2015

−
−
284

−
21,788,593
26,216,147

−
−
724,642

184,124
−
338,016

−
−
19,850,882

184,124
21,788,593
47,129,971

Balance at 1 January 2014

284

4,407,154

(42,959)

65,510

484,669

4,914,658

Profit for the period
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income

Share option expired worthless (Note 27)
Share-based payments (Note 27)
Issue of shares (Note 17, 27)
Balance at 31 December 2014

−
−
−

−
−
−
284

−
−
−

−
2,628,816
2,628,816

−
−
−

9,075,107
−
9,075,107

9,075,107
2,628,816
11,703,923

−
−
20,400
4,427,554

−
−
−
2,585,857

(3,013)
111,795
(20,400)
153,892

3,013
−
−
9,562,789

−
111,795
−
16,730,376

Notes 
Additional paid-in capital: Additional paid-in capital is the difference between the fair value of consideration received and 
nominal value of the issued shares.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
98

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

1.  The Lenta Group and its operations
The Lenta Group (the “Group”) comprises Lenta Limited 
(“the Company”) and its subsidiaries. The Group’s principal 
business activity is the development and operation of 
hypermarket and supermarket stores in Russia.

The Company was incorporated as a company limited by 
shares under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) on 
16 July 2003. The Company’s registered address is at Road 
Town, Tortola, BVI. The registered office of the Group’s main 
operating entity, Lenta LLC, is located at 112, Savushkina 
Street, 197374, Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Starting from March 2014 the Company’s shares were listed 
on the London Stock Exchange and Moscow Stock Exchange 
in the form of Global Depositary Receipts (GDR). In 2015 
two more public offerings took place at the London Stock 
Exchange and Moscow Stock Exchange in the form of GDRs.

At 31 December 2014 and 2015 the Group had one main 
operational fully owned subsidiary, Lenta LLC, a legal entity 
registered under the laws of the Russian Federation. The 
principal activity of Lenta LLC is retail trade. 

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies

Statement of compliance 
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards 
Board (IASB).

2.1  Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
on a historical cost basis, except for as described in 
accounting policies below. The consolidated financial 
statements are presented in Russian roubles and all values 
are rounded to the nearest thousand (RUB 000), except 
when otherwise indicated.

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation 
of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. 
These policies have been consistently applied to all the 
periods presented unless otherwise stated.

Management has considered the Group’s cash flow forecasts 
for the period ending 31 December 2016 which takes into 
account the current and expected economic situation in 
Russia, the Group’s financial position, available borrowing 
facilities, loan covenant compliance, planned store opening 
program and the anticipated cash flows and related 
expenditures from retail stores.

Accordingly, management is satisfied that it is appropriate 
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing 
the consolidated financial information for these consolidated 
financial statements.

At 31 December 2015, the Group had net current assets 
of RUB 2,493,712 thousand (net current liabilities at 
31 December 2014: RUB 11,841,554 thousand). 

Unused credit facilities available as of 31 December 2015 
were RUB 45,300,000 thousand. Management believes 
that operating cash flows and available borrowing capacity 
will provide it adequate resources to fund its liabilities for 
the next year.

2.2  Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the 
financial statements of the Company and other entities 
controlled by the Company (its subsidiaries) as at 
31 December 2015. Control is achieved when the Group 
is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its 
involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect 
those returns through its power over the investee.

Specifically, the Group controls an investee if and only if the 
Group has:

•  power over the investee (i.e. existing rights that give it the 

current ability to direct the relevant activities of the 
investee);

•  exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement 

with the investee; and

•  the ability to use its power over the investee to affect 

its returns.

Generally, there is a presumption that a majority of voting 
rights result in control. To support this presumption and when 
the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar 
rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant facts 
and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over 
an investee, including:

•  the contractual arrangement with the other vote holders 

of the investee;

•  rights arising from other contractual arrangements;

•  the Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights.

The Group re-assesses whether or not it controls an investee 
if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes 
to one or more of the three elements of control. Consolidation 
of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains control over 
the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of 
the subsidiary. Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of 
a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are 
included in the statement of comprehensive income from the 
date the Group gains control until the date the Group ceases 
to control the subsidiary.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  99

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the 
acquirer will be recognised at fair value at the acquisition 
date. Subsequently contingent consideration classified as 
an asset or liability is measured at fair value with changes 
in fair value recognised either in profit or loss. Contingent 
consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured 
and subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess 
of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the 
amount recognised for non-controlling interest over the 
net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

If the fair value of the net assets acquired is in excess of the 
aggregate consideration transferred, the gain is recognised 
in profit or loss.

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less 
any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose 
of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business 
combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of 
the Group’s cash-generating units that are expected to benefit 
from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets 
or liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those units.

Where goodwill has been allocated to a cash-generating 
unit and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, 
the goodwill associated with the disposed operation is 
included in the carrying amount of the operation when 
determining the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill disposed 
in these circumstances is measured based on the relative 
values of the disposed operation and the portion of the 
cash-generating unit retained.

Current versus non-current classification
The Group presents assets and liabilities in statement of 
financial position based on current/non-current classification. 
An asset is current when it is:

•  expected to be realised or intended to sold or consumed 

in normal operating cycle;

•  held primarily for the purpose of trading;

•  expected to be realised within twelve months after the 

reporting period; or

•  cash or cash equivalent unless restricted from being 

exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least twelve 
months after the reporting period.

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.2  Basis of consolidation (continued)
Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive 
income (OCI) are attributed to the equity holders of the parent 
of the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this 
results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. 
When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial 
statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies 
into line with the Group’s accounting policies. All intra-group 
assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash 
flows relating to transactions between members of the Group 
are eliminated in full on consolidation.

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without 
a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. 
If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it derecognises 
the related assets (including goodwill), liabilities, non-
controlling interest and other components of equity while 
any resultant gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss. 
Any investment retained is recognised at fair value.

Subsidiaries are those companies (including special purpose 
entities) in which the Group, directly or indirectly, has an 
interest of more than one half of the voting rights or otherwise 
has power to govern the financial and operating policies 
so as to obtain economic benefits and which are neither 
associates nor joint ventures. The existence and effect of 
potential voting rights that are presently exercisable or 
presently convertible are considered when assessing 
whether the Group controls another entity. Subsidiaries are 
consolidated from the date on which control is transferred 
to the Group (acquisition date) and are de-consolidated from 
the date that control ceases.

2.3  Summary of significant accounting policies
Business combinations and goodwill
Business combinations are accounted for using the 
acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured 
as the aggregate of the consideration transferred measured 
at acquisition date fair value and the amount of any non-
controlling interest in the acquiree. For each business 
combination, the Group elects whether to measure the 
non-controlling interest in the acquiree at fair value or at the 
proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. 
Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred and 
included in administrative expenses.

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the 
financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate 
classification and designation in accordance with the 
contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent 
conditions as at the acquisition date. This includes the 
separation of embedded derivatives in host contracts 
by the acquiree.

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the 
previously held equity interest is remeasured at its acquisition 
date fair value and any resulting gain or loss is recognised 
in profit or loss.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015100

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued)

All other assets are classified as non-current. A liability 
is current when:

•  it is expected to be settled in normal operating cycle;

•  it is held primarily for the purpose of trading;

•  it is due to be settled within twelve months after the 

reporting period; or

the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the 
lowest level input that is significant to the fair value 
measurement as a whole:

•  Level 1 − Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active 

markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•  Level 2 − Valuation techniques for which the lowest level 
input that is significant to the fair value measurement is 
directly or indirectly observable.

•  Level 3 − Valuation techniques for which the lowest level 
input that is significant to the fair value measurement is 
unobservable.

•  there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the 
liability for at least twelve months after the reporting period.

The Group classifies all other liabilities as non-current.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified as non-
current assets and liabilities.

Fair value measurement
The Group measures financial instruments, such as, 
derivatives at fair value at each balance sheet date. Also, 
fair values of financial instruments measured at amortised 
cost are disclosed in Note 29.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset 
or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between 
market participants at the measurement date. The fair value 
measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction 
to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either:

•  in the principal market for the asset or liability; or

•  in the absence of a principal market, in the most 
advantageous market for the asset or liability.

The principal or the most advantageous market must 
be accessible to by the Group.

The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the 
assumptions that market participants would use when pricing 
the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act 
in their economic best interest.

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into 
account a market participant’s ability to generate economic 
benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by 
selling it to another market participant that would use the 
asset in its highest and best use.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in 
the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to 
measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable 
inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or 
disclosed in the financial statements are categorized within 

For assets and liabilities that are recognised in the financial 
statements on a recurring basis, the Group determines 
whether transfers have occurred between Levels in the 
hierarchy by re assessing categorization (based on the lowest 
level input that is significant to the fair value measurement 
as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.

For the purpose of fair value disclosures, the Group has 
determined classes of assets and liabilities on the basis of 
the nature, characteristics and risks of the asset or liability 
and the level of the fair value hierarchy as explained above.

Functional and presentation currency
The presentation and functional currency of all Group entities 
is the Russian rouble (“RUB”), the national currency of the 
Russian Federation, the primary economic environment 
in which operating entities function. 

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded 
by the Group’s entities at the functional currency spot rates 
at the date the transaction first qualifies for recognition.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated at the functional currency spot rates 
of exchange at the reporting date. Differences arising on 
settlement or translation of monetary items are recognised 
in profit or loss.

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical 
cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange 
rates at the dates of the initial transactions. Non-monetary 
items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are 
translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair 
value is determined. The gain or loss arising on translation 
of non-monetary items measured at fair value is treated in 
line with the recognition of gain or loss on change in fair value 
of the item.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are initially recorded at 
purchase or construction cost. Cost of replacing major parts 
or components of property, plant and equipment items is 
capitalized and the replaced part is retired. All other repair 
and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  101

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the 
statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation.

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued) 

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of 
accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment 
losses, if any.

Gains and losses on disposals determined by comparing net 
proceeds with the respective carrying amount are recognised 
in profit or loss.

Construction in progress comprises costs directly related 
to the construction of property, plant and equipment including 
an appropriate allocation of directly attributable variable 
overheads that are incurred in construction. Depreciation 
of an asset begins when it is available for use, i.e. when it 
is in the location and condition necessary for it to be capable 
of operating in the manner intended by management. 
Construction in progress is reviewed regularly to determine 
whether its carrying value is recoverable and whether 
appropriate impairment loss has been recognised.

Properties in the course of construction for production, 
rental or administrative purposes, or for purposes not yet 
determined, are carried at cost, less any recognised 
impairment loss. Depreciation of these assets, on the same 
basis as other property assets, commences when the assets 
are ready for their intended use.

Depreciation
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated 
using the straight-line method to write off their cost to their 
residual values over their estimated useful lives:

Buildings
Land improvements
Machinery and equipment
Other

Useful lives in years 
30
30
5 to 15
3 to 5

Leasehold rights
Leasehold rights acquired as part of hypermarket development 
projects are separately reported at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. These 
leasehold rights are amortized to profit or loss over the term 
of the lease, which is 49 years. If the Group further purchases 
the land plot previously leased, the carrying amount of the 
related leasehold right as of the date of purchase transaction 
is reclassified to the cost of land plot purchased.

Finance leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms 
of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as 
operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets 
at their fair value at the inception of the lease or, if lower, 
at the present value of the minimum lease payments. 

Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges 
and reduction of the lease obligation so as to achieve a 
constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the 
liability. Finance charges are charged directly to the profit and 
loss, unless they are directly attributable to qualifying assets, 
in which case they are capitalised in accordance with the 
Group’s general policy on borrowing costs.

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense 
on a straight-line basis over the lease term, except where 
another systematic basis is more representative of the time 
pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset 
are consumed.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial 
recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired 
in a business combination is their fair value at the date of 
acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets 
are carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and 
accumulated impairment losses.

Internally generated intangible assets, excluding capitalised 
development costs, are not capitalised and expenditure 
is reflected in profit and loss in the period in which the 
expenditure is incurred.

The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed as either 
finite or indefinite.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortised over the 
useful economic life (which is from 3 to 7 years) using a 
straight-line method to write off their cost to their residual 
values and assessed for impairment whenever there is an 
indication that the intangible asset may be impaired. The 
amortisation period and the amortisation method for an 
intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed at least 
at the end of each reporting period. Changes in the expected 
useful life or the expected pattern of consumption of future 
economic benefits embodied in the asset are considered 
to modify the amortisation period or method, as appropriate, 
and are treated as changes in accounting estimates. The 
amortisation expense on intangible assets with finite lives 
is recognised in the statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income as the expense category that is 
consistent with the function of the intangible assets or 
included into the carrying amount of an asset as appropriate.

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortised, 
but are tested for impairment annually, either individually or at 
the cash-generating unit level. The assessment of indefinite 
life is reviewed annually to determine whether the indefinite life 
continues to be supportable. If not, the change in useful life 
from indefinite to finite is made on a prospective basis.

Gains or losses arising from derecognition of an intangible 
asset are measured as the difference between the net 
disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset 
and are recognised in the profit or loss when the asset 
is derecognised.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015102

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued) 

Impairment of non-financial assets
At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying 
amounts of its non-financial assets to determine whether 
there is any indication that those assets have suffered an 
impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable 
amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the 
extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible 
to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, 
the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-
generating unit to which the asset belongs. Where a 
reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be 
identified, corporate assets are also allocated to individual 
cash-generating units, or otherwise they are allocated to 
the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a 
reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

The recoverable amount of an asset or a cash-generating unit 
is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and value in use. 
In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are 
discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate 
that reflects current market assessments of the time value 
of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the 
estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or a cash-generating 
unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the 
carrying amount of the asset (the cash-generating unit) 
is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss 
is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the 
carrying amount of the asset (the cash generating unit) is 
increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, 
but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed 
the carrying amount that would have been determined 
had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset 
(the cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an 
impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Income taxes
Income taxes have been provided for in the consolidated 
financial statements in accordance with management’s 
interpretation of the relevant legislation enacted or 
substantively enacted as at the reporting date. The income 
tax charge comprises current tax and deferred tax and is 
recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and 
other comprehensive income unless it relates to transactions 
that are recognised, in the same or a different period, directly 
in equity. In the case of a business combination, the tax 
effect is taken into account in calculating goodwill or 
determining the excess of the acquirer’s interest in the net 
fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities 
and contingent liabilities over cost of consideration paid.

Current tax is the amount expected to be paid to or recovered 
from the taxation authorities in respect of taxable profits or 
losses for the current and prior periods. Deferred income 
tax is recorded using the balance sheet liability method for 
tax loss carry-forwards and temporary differences arising 
between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their 
carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes. 
Deferred tax balances are measured at tax rates enacted 
or substantively enacted at the reporting date which are 
expected to apply to the period when the temporary 
differences will reverse or the tax loss carry-forwards will 
be utilized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted only 
within the individual companies of the Group. Deferred tax 
assets for deductible temporary differences and tax loss 
carry-forwards are recorded only to the extent that it is 
probable that future taxable profit will be available against 
which the deductions can be utilized.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences, except:

•  When the deferred tax liability arises from the initial 

recognition of goodwill or an asset or liability in a transaction 
that is not a business combination and, at the time of 
the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor 
taxable profit or loss.

•  In respect of taxable temporary differences associated 

with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests 
in joint ventures, when the timing of the reversal of the 
temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable 
that the temporary differences will not reverse in the 
foreseeable future.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible 
temporary differences, the carry-forward of unused tax credits 
and any unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that 
taxable profit will be available against which the deductible 
temporary differences, and the carry-forward of unused tax 
credits and unused tax losses can be utilised, except:

•  When the deferred tax asset relating to the deductible 

temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of 
an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business 
combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects 
neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss.

•  In respect of deductible temporary differences associated 
with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests 
in joint ventures, deferred tax assets are recognised only to 
the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences 
will reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable profit will 
be available against which the temporary differences can 
be utilized.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at 
each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available 
to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  103

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued)

The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects 
the tax consequences that would follow from the manner 
in which the Group expects, at the reporting date, to recover 
or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a 
legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes 
levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends 
to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable 
value. Cost of inventory is determined on the weighted 
average basis. Net realizable value is the estimated selling 
price in the ordinary course of business, less the cost of 
completion and selling expenses. Cost comprises the direct 
cost of goods, transportation and handling costs. Cost of 
sales comprises only cost of inventories sold through retail 
stores and inventory write-downs made during the period.

Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, 
construction or production of qualifying assets are capitalized 
as part of the cost of that asset, other borrowing costs are 
recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they are 
incurred. A qualifying asset is an asset that necessarily takes 
a substantial period of time to get ready for its intended use 
or sale. For the purposes of borrowing costs recognition, 
a substantial period of time is considered to be a period 
of twelve months or more.

To the extent that the Group borrows funds generally and 
uses them for the purpose of obtaining a qualifying asset, 
the Group determines the amount of borrowing costs eligible 
for capitalisation by applying a capitalisation rate to the 
expenditures on that asset. The capitalisation rate is the 
weighted average of the borrowing costs applicable to the 
borrowings of the Group that are outstanding during the 
period, other than borrowings made specifically for the 
purpose of obtaining a qualifying asset.

Revenue recognition
The sole source of revenue is retail sales. Revenue from the 
sale of goods is recognised at the point of sale.

The Group generates and recognizes sales to retail 
customers in its stores at the point of sale. Retail sales are 
in cash and through bank cards. Revenues are measured 
at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, 
recognised net of value added tax and are reduced for 
estimated customer returns. Historical information in relation 
to the timing and frequency of customer returns is used to 
estimate and provide for such returns at the time of sale.

Income generated from rental of spaces for small trading 
outlets within the Group’s stores is recognised in the end 
of each month on a straight-line basis over the period 
of the lease, in accordance with the terms of the relevant 
lease agreements.

Interest income is recognised on a time-proportion basis 
using the effective interest rate method. Interest income 
is included into the Interest income line in the statement 
of comprehensive income.

Suppliers’ allowances
The Group receives various types of allowances from 
vendors in the form of volume discounts and other forms of 
payments that effectively reduce the cost of goods purchased 
from the vendor. These allowances received from suppliers 
are recorded as a reduction in the price paid for the products 
and reduce cost of goods sold in the period the products are 
sold. Where a rebate agreement with a supplier covers more 
than one year, the rebates are recognised in the period in 
which they are earned.

Employee benefits
The Group is subject to mandatory contributions to the 
Russian Federation defined contribution state pension benefit 
fund. Wages, salaries, contributions to the state pension 
and social insurance funds, paid annual leave and sick leave, 
bonuses, and non-monetary benefits are accrued in the 
year in which the associated services are rendered by the 
employees of the Group.

Share-based payments
Certain employees (including senior executives) of the Group 
receive remuneration in the form of share-based payments, 
whereby employees render services as consideration for 
equity instruments (equity-settled transactions).

The cost of equity-settled transactions is determined 
by the fair value at the date when the grant is made using 
an appropriate valuation model.

That cost is recognised, together with a corresponding 
increase in share options reserve in equity, over the period 
in which the performance and/or service conditions are fulfilled 
in employee benefits expense (Note 27). The cumulative 
expense recognised for equity-settled transactions at each 
reporting date until the vesting date reflects the extent to which 
the vesting period has expired and the Group’s best estimate 
of the number of equity instruments that will ultimately vest. 
The statement of profit or loss expense or credit for a period 
represents the movement in cumulative expense recognised 
as at the beginning and end of that period and is recognised 
in employee benefits expense (Note 27).

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately 
vest, except for equity-settled transactions for which vesting 
is conditional upon a market or non-vesting condition. These 
are treated as vested irrespective of whether or not the market 
or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other 
performance and/or service conditions are satisfied.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015104

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued) 

When the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, the 
minimum expense recognised is the expense had the terms 
had not been modified, if the original terms of the award are 
met. An additional expense is recognised for any modification 
that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment 
transaction, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee as 
measured at the date of modification. 

Pre-opening costs
Operating expenses incurred during the process of opening 
of new stores were recorded in the Group’s consolidated 
statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. 
These expenses do not meet capitalisation criteria under IAS 
16 Property, Plant and Equipment and include rent, utilities 
and other operating expenses.

Segment reporting
The Group’s business operations are located in the Russian 
Federation and relate primarily to retail sales of consumer 
goods. Although the Group operates through different stores 
and in various regions within the Russian Federation, the 
Group’s chief operating decision maker reviews the Group’s 
operations and allocates resources on an individual store-by-
store basis. The Group has assessed the economic 
characteristics of the individual stores and determined that 
the stores have similar margins, similar products, similar 
types of customers and similar methods of distributing such 
products. Therefore, the Group considers that it only has one 
reportable segment under IFRS 8. Segment performance is 
evaluated based on a measure of revenue and earnings 
before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). 
EBITDA is non-IFRS measure. Other information is 
measured in a manner consistent with that in the 
consolidated financial statements. 

Seasonality
The Group’s business operations are stable during the year 
with limited seasonal impact, except for a significant increase 
of business activities in December.

Financial assets
General description
Financial assets are classified into the following specified 
categories: at fair value through profit or loss (“FVTPL”); 
held-to-maturity investments, “available-for-sale” (“AFS”) 
financial assets and “loans and receivables”. The 
classification depends on the nature and purpose of the 
financial assets and is determined at the time of initial 
recognition.

All financial assets are recognised initially at fair value plus, 
in the case of financial assets not at fair value through profit 
or loss, directly attributable transaction costs.

Loans and receivables
Trade receivables, loans, and other receivables that have 
fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an 
active market are classified as loans and receivables. Loans 
and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest rate method.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and short-term deposits in the statement of financial 
position comprise cash at banks and on hand and short-term 
deposits with a maturity of three months or less.

Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment 
at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where 
there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more 
events that occurred after the initial recognition of the 
financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the 
financial asset have been impacted. For financial assets 
carried at amortised cost, the amount of the impairment 
is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and 
the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted 
at the original effective interest rate.

The carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced by 
the impairment loss directly for all financial assets with the 
exception of trade receivables where the carrying amount 
is reduced through the use of an allowance account. When 
a trade receivable is uncollectible, it is written off against 
the allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts 
previously written off are credited against the allowance 
account. Changes in the carrying amount of the allowance 
account are recognised in profit or loss.

With the exception of AFS equity instruments, if, in a 
subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss 
decreases and the decrease can be related objectively 
to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, 
the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed 
through profit or loss to the extent that the carrying amount 
of the investment at the date the impairment is reversed 
does not exceed what the amortised cost would have been 
had the impairment not been recognised.

Derecognition of financial assets
A financial asset is derecognised when:

•  the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have 

expired;

•  the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows 
from the asset or has assumed an obligation to pay the 
received cash flows in full without material delay to a third 
party under a “pass-through” arrangement; and either 
(a) the Group has transferred substantially all the risks 
and rewards of the asset, or (b) the Group has neither 
transferred nor retained substantially all the risks 
and rewards of the asset but has transferred control 
of the asset.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  105

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3   Summary of significant accounting policies 

(continued)

When the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash 
flows from an asset or has entered into a pass-through 
arrangement, and has neither transferred nor retained 
substantially all of the risks and rewards of the asset nor 
transferred control of the asset, the asset is recognised to 
the extent of the Group’s continuing involvement in the asset.

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.

Continuing involvement that takes the form of a guarantee over 
the transferred asset is measured at the lower of the original 
carrying amount of the asset and the maximum amount 
of consideration that the Group could be required to repay.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued 
by the Group
Treasury shares
Own equity instruments that are reacquired (treasury shares) 
are recognised at cost and deducted from equity. No gain 
or loss is recognised in the statement of profit or loss and 
other comprehensive income on the purchase, sale, issue 
or cancellation of the Group’s own equity instruments. Any 
difference between the carrying amount and the consideration, 
if reissued, is recognised in additional paid-in capital. Voting 
rights related to treasury shares are nullified for the Group 
and no dividends are allocated to them. Share options 
exercised during the reporting period are satisfied with 
treasury shares.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Transaction costs 
of a share issue are shown within equity as a deduction from 
the equity.

Additional paid-in capital
Additional paid-in capital represents the difference between 
the fair value of consideration received and the nominal value 
of the issued shares.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing 
the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity 
holders of the parent by the weighted average number 
of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted earnings per share amounts are calculated by 
dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders 
of the parent (after adjusting for interest on the convertible 
preference shares) by the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares that would 
be issued on conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary 
shares into ordinary shares.

Classification as debt or equity
Debt and equity instruments are classified as either financial 
liabilities or as equity in accordance with the substance 
of the contractual arrangement. An equity instrument is any 
contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an 
entity after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments are 
recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs.

Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities of the Group, including borrowings and 
trade and other payables, are initially recognised at fair value, 
net of transaction costs, and subsequently measured at 
amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. 

Derecognition of financial liabilities
The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only 
when, the Group’s obligations are discharged, cancelled or 
they expire.

Offsetting of financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net 
amount is reported in the consolidated statement of financial 
position if there is a currently enforceable legal right to offset 
the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle 
on a net basis, to realise the assets and settle the liabilities 
simultaneously.

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
Initial recognition and subsequent measurement
The Group uses derivative financial instruments, such as 
interest rate swaps and caps, to hedge its interest rate risks. 
Such derivative financial instruments are initially recognised 
at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is 
entered into and are subsequently re-measured at fair value. 
Derivatives are carried as financial assets when the fair 
value is positive and as financial liabilities when the fair value 
is negative.

Any gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of 
derivatives are taken directly to profit or loss, except for the 
effective portion of cash flow hedges, which is recognised 
in OCI and later reclassified to profit or loss when the hedge 
item affects profit or loss.

At the inception of a hedge relationship, the Group formally 
designates and documents the hedge relationship to which 
the Group wishes to apply hedge accounting and the risk 
management objective and strategy for undertaking the 
hedge. The documentation includes identification of the 
hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the 
nature of the risk being hedged and how the entity will assess 
the effectiveness of changes in the hedging instrument’s fair 
value in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged 
item’s fair value or cash flows attributable to the hedged risk. 
Such hedges are expected to be highly effective in achieving 
offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows and are 
assessed on an ongoing basis to determine that they actually 
have been highly effective throughout the financial reporting 
periods for which they were designated.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015106

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

2.   Basis of preparation and significant accounting 

policies (continued)

2.3	 	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	

(continued)

Swaps and caps used by the Group that meet the strict 
criteria for hedge accounting are accounted for as cash flow 
hedges. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the 
hedging instrument is recognized in other comprehensive 
income in the cash flow hedge reserve, while any ineffective 
portion is recognized immediately in profit or loss as other 
operating expenses.

Designation of a hedge relationship takes effect prospectively 
from the date all of the criteria are met. In particular, hedge 
accounting can be applied only from the date all of the 
necessary documentation is completed. Therefore, hedge 
relationships cannot be designated retrospectively. 

Amounts recognised as OCI are transferred to profit or loss 
when the hedged transaction affects profit or loss, such as 
when the hedged financial income or financial expense is 
recognised or when a forecast sale occurs.

When the hedged item is the cost of a non-financial asset 
or non-financial liability, the amounts recognised as OCI are 
transferred to the initial carrying amount of the non-financial 
asset or liability.

If the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or 
exercised without replacement or rollover (as part of the 
hedging strategy), or if its designation as a hedge is revoked, 
or when the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge 
accounting, any cumulative gain or loss previously 
recognised in OCI remains separately in equity until the 
forecast transaction occurs or the foreign currency firm 
commitment is met.

Current	versus	non-current	classification
Derivative instruments are classified as current or non-
current or separated into current and non current portions 
based on an assessment of the facts and circumstances 
(i.e., the underlying contracted cash flows):

•  when the Group expects to hold a derivative as an 

economic hedge for a period beyond 12 months after the 
reporting date, the derivative is classified as non-current 
(or separated into current and non-current portions) 
consistent with the classification of the underlying item.

2.4	 	Reclassifications	in	the	consolidated	statement	

of	profit	or	loss	and	other	comprehensive	income

The Group reassessed the presentation of labor cost of 
temporary employees engaged in own production process 
in butchery, bakery and culinary. These expenses had 
previously been recognized within selling general and 
administrative expenses in the consolidated statement 
of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

On 1 January 2015 the Group elected to present labor cost 
of temporary employees engaged in own production within 
cost of goods sold in the consolidated statement of profit or 
loss and other comprehensive income.

Management believes that the change would result in the 
financial statements providing more relevant and reliable 
information about the effects of Group’s operations on the 
entity’s financial performance. 

The Group applied change in presentation retrospectively, 
by adjusting comparative amounts disclosed for the prior 
period presented.

Impact on consolidated statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income

Amount	
previously	
reported

Adjustments

Amount	after	
reclassification

Year	ended	 

31	December	2014

Cost of  

goods sold

Selling general and 
administrative 
expenses
Gross profit

(150,131,083)

(120,883) (150,251,966)

(28,106,490)
43,857,157

120,883
(27,985,607)
(120,883) 43,736,274

3.   Significant accounting judgments,  

estimates and assumptions

In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which 
are described in Note 2 above, management is required 
to make judgments, estimates and assumptions about the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily 
apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated 
assumptions are based on historical experience and other 
factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results 
may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an 
ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized 
in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision 
affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future 
periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Judgments that have the most significant effect on the 
amounts recognized in these consolidated financial 
statements and estimates that can cause a significant 
adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities 
within the next financial year include:

Judgments
Operating lease commitments − Group as lessor
The Group has entered into premises leases. The Group 
has determined, based on an evaluation of the terms and 
conditions of the arrangements, such as the lease term not 
constituting a substantial portion of the economic life of the 
commercial property, that it retains all the significant risks 
and rewards of ownership of these properties and accounts 
for the contracts as operating leases.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  107

3.   Significant accounting judgments,  

estimates and assumptions (continued)

Assets versus business acquisition
From time to time in the normal course of business the Group 
acquires the companies that are a party to a lease contract, 
own the land plot or store in which the Group is interested. 
If at the date of acquisition by the Group, the company does 
not constitute an integrated set of activities and assets that 
is capable of being conducted and managed for the purpose 
of providing a return in the form of dividends, lower costs or 
other economic benefits directly to investor, the Group treats 
such acquisitions as a purchase of assets (a leasehold right, 
land plot or store) in the consolidated financial statements. 
The exercise of judgment determines whether a particular 
transaction is treated as a business combination or as a 
purchase of assets.

Estimates and assumptions 
The key assumptions concerning the future and other key 
sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date, that 
have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year, are described below. The Group based its 
assumptions and estimates on parameters available when 
the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Existing 
circumstances and assumptions about future developments, 
however, may change due to market changes or circumstances 
arising beyond the control of the Group. Such changes are 
reflected in the assumptions when they occur.

Leases renewal assumption
It is presumed that the initial land leases contracted for 3 years 
will be renewed for 49 years at completion of construction 
of department stores. Thus, any long-term prepayments at 
the inception of the leases are presumed to have a 49-year 
useful life. Should the Group fail to renew the land lease 
contracts for a 49-year period, leasehold rights would have 
to be written off at the end of the initial lease term. 

Inventory valuation
Management reviews the inventory balances to determine 
if inventories can be sold at amounts greater than or equal 
to their carrying amounts plus costs to sell. This review also 
includes the identification of slow moving inventories which 
are written down based on inventories ageing and write down 
rates. The write down rates are determined by management 
following the experience of sales of such items.

Tax legislation
Russian tax, currency and customs legislation is subject to 
frequent changes and varying interpretations. Management’s 
interpretation of such legislation in applying it to business 
transactions of the Group may be challenged by the relevant 
regional and federal authorities enabled by law to impose 
fines and penalties. Recent events in the Russian Federation 
suggest that the tax authorities are taking a more assertive 
position in their interpretation of the legislation and 
assessments and as a result, it is possible that the 
transactions that have not been challenged in the past may 
be challenged. Fiscal periods remain open to review by 
the tax authorities in respect of taxes for the three calendar 

years preceding the year of tax review. Under certain 
circumstances reviews may cover longer periods. While the 
Group believes it has provided adequately for all tax liabilities 
based on its understanding of the tax legislation, the above 
facts may create additional financial risks for the Group.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments
When the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities 
recorded in the statement of financial position cannot be 
derived from active markets, their fair value is determined 
using valuation techniques including the discounted cash 
flow model. The inputs to these models are taken from 
observable markets where possible, but where this is not 
feasible, a degree of judgment is required in establishing 
fair values. The judgments include considerations of inputs 
such as liquidity risk, credit risk and volatility. Changes in 
assumptions about these factors could affect the reported 
fair value of financial instruments. See Note 29 for further 
discussion.

Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group reviews the carrying amounts of its assets to 
determine whether there is any indication that those assets 
are impaired. An impairment exists when the carrying value 
of an asset or cash generating unit exceeds its recoverable 
amount, which is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell 
and its value in use. 

The fair value less costs to sell calculation is based on 
available data from binding sales transactions, conducted at 
arm’s length, for similar assets or observable market prices 
less incremental costs for disposing of the asset. 

Due to their subjective nature, these estimates will likely 
differ from future actual results of operations and cash flows, 
and it is possible that these differences could be material.

The value in use calculation is based on a discounted cash 
flow model. In determining the value in use calculation, 
future cash flows are estimated from each store based on 
cash flows projection utilising the latest budget information 
available. The discounted cash flow model requires 
numerous estimates and assumptions regarding the future 
rates of market growth, market demand for the products 
and the future profitability of products.

Share-based payments
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions 
by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the 
date at which they are granted. Estimating fair value for 
share-based payment transactions requires determination 
of the most appropriate valuation model, which is dependent 
on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also 
requires determination of the most appropriate inputs to the 
valuation model including the expected life of the share 
option, volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions 
about them. The assumptions and models used for estimating 
fair value for share-based payment transactions are 
disclosed in Note 27.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015108

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

4.   Adoption of new or revised standards  

and interpretations

IFRS 8 Operating Segments
The amendments are applied retrospectively and clarify that:

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the 
consolidated financial statements are consistent with those 
followed in the preparation of the Group’s annual consolidated 
financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014, 
except for the adoption of new or revised standards and 
interpretations effective as of 1 January 2015.

The nature and the impact of each new standard and 
amendment is described below:

Amendments to IAS 19 Defined Benefit Plans:  
Employee Contributions
IAS 19 requires an entity to consider contributions from 
employees or third parties when accounting for defined 
benefit plans. Where the contributions are linked to service, 
they should be attributed to periods of service as a negative 
benefit. These amendments clarify that, if the amount of the 
contributions is independent of the number of years of 
service, an entity is permitted to recognise such contributions 
as a reduction in the service cost in the period in which the 
service is rendered, instead of allocating the contributions to 
the periods of service. This amendment is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 July 2014. This amendment is 
not relevant to the Group, since none of the entities within the 
Group has defined benefit plans with contributions from 
employees or third parties.

Annual improvements 2010-2012 cycle
With the exception of the improvement relating to IFRS 2 
Share-based Payment applied to share-based payment 
transactions with a grant date on or after 1 July 2014, all 
other improvements are effective for accounting periods 
beginning on or after 1 July 2014. The Group has applied 
these improvements for the first time in these consolidated 
financial statements. They include: 

IFRS 2 Share-based Payment
This improvement is applied prospectively and clarifies 
various issues relating to the definitions of performance and 
service conditions which are vesting conditions. The 
clarifications are consistent with how the Group has identified 
any performance and service conditions which are vesting 
conditions in previous periods, and thus these amendments 
do not impact the Group’s accounting policies.

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
The amendment is applied prospectively and clarifies that all 
contingent consideration arrangements classified as liabilities 
(or assets) arising from a business combination should be 
subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss 
whether or not they fall within the scope of IAS 39. There 
are no business combinations in 2015 and therefore this 
amendment had no impact on these consolidated financial 
statements.

•  An entity must disclose the judgements made by 

management in applying the aggregation criteria in 
paragraph 12 of IFRS 8, including a brief description of 
operating segments that have been aggregated and the 
economic characteristics (e.g., sales and gross margins) 
used to assess whether the segments are similar. 

•  The reconciliation of segment assets to total assets is only 
required to be disclosed if the reconciliation is reported to 
the chief operating decision maker, similar to the required 
disclosure for segment liabilities.

This is consistent with how the Group has disclosed 
the judgments made in applying the aggregation criteria, 
and thus this amendment does not impact the Group’s 
accounting policy. 

IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment  
and IAS 38 Intangible Assets
The amendment is applied retrospectively and clarifies 
in IAS 16 and IAS 38 that the asset may be revalued by 
reference to observable data by either adjusting the 
gross carrying amount of the asset to market value or by 
determining the market value of the carrying value and 
adjusting the gross carrying amount proportionately so 
that the resulting carrying amount equals the market value. 
In addition, the accumulated depreciation or amortisation 
is the difference between the gross and carrying amounts 
of the asset. This amendment to IAS 16 has no impact on 
the Group, as the revaluation model is not implemented.

IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures
The amendment is applied retrospectively and clarifies 
that a management entity (an entity that provides key 
management personnel services) is a related party subject to 
the related party disclosures. In addition, an entity that uses 
a management entity is required to disclose the expenses 
incurred for management services. These amendments have 
no impact on the Group’s financial statements.

Annual improvements 2011-2013 cycle
These improvements are effective from 1 July 2014 and 
the Group has applied these amendments for the first time 
in these consolidated financial statements. They include:

IFRS 3 Business Combinations
The amendment is applied prospectively and clarifies for 
the scope exceptions within IFRS 3 that joint arrangements, 
not just joint ventures, are outside the scope of IFRS 3. 
This scope exception applies only to the accounting in 
the financial statements of the joint arrangement itself, 
the Company is not a joint arrangement, and thus this 
amendment is not relevant for the Group.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 109

4.   Adoption of new or revised standards  

and interpretations (continued)

IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement
The amendment is applied prospectively and clarifies that 
the portfolio exception in IFRS 13 can be applied not only 
to financial assets and financial liabilities, but also to other 
contracts within the scope of IFRS 9 (or IAS 39, as applicable). 
The Group does not apply the portfolio exception in IFRS 13.

IAS 40 Investment Property
The description of ancillary services in IAS 40 differentiates 
between investment property and owner-occupied property 
(i.e., property, plant and equipment). The amendment is 
applied prospectively and clarifies that IFRS 3, and not the 
description of ancillary services in IAS 40, is used to 
determine if the transaction is the purchase of an asset 
or a business combination. In previous periods, the Group 
has relied on IFRS 3, not IAS 40, in determining whether 
an acquisition is of an asset or is a business acquisition. 
Thus, this amendment does not impact the accounting 
policy of the Group.

The Group has not early adopted any other standard, 
interpretation or amendment that has been issued but 
is not yet effective.

5.  Standards issued but not yet effective
The standards and interpretations that are issued, but not yet 
effective, up to the date of issuance of the Group’s financial 
statements are disclosed below. The Group intends to adopt 
these standards, if applicable, when they become effective.

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
In July 2014, the IASB issued the final version of IFRS 9 
Financial Instruments which reflects all phases of the financial 
instruments project and replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement and all previous versions of 
IFRS 9. 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, with early application permitted. 
Retrospective application is required, but comparative 
information is not compulsory. For hedge accounting, the 
requirements are generally applied prospectively, with some 
limited exceptions. The Group plans to adopt the new standard 
on the required effective date. During 2015, the Group has 
performed a high-level impact assessment of all three aspects 
of IFRS 9. This preliminary assessment is based on currently 
available information and may be subject to changes arising 
from further detailed analyses or additional reasonable and 
supportable information being made available to the Group 
in the future. 

The Group does not expect a significant impact on its 
balance sheet or equity on applying the classification and 
measurement requirements of IFRS 9. 

IFRS 9 requires the Group to record expected credit losses 
on all of its debt securities, loans and trade receivables, 
either on a 12-month or lifetime basis. The Group will need 
to perform a more detailed analysis which considers all 
reasonable and supportable information, including forward-
looking elements to determine the extent of the impact. 

The Group believes that all existing hedge relationships that 
are currently designated in effective hedging relationships 
will still qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS 9. As IFRS 9 
does not change the general principles of how an entity 
accounts for effective hedges, the Group does not expect 
a significant impact as a result of applying IFRS 9. 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 15 was issued in May 2014 and establishes a new 
five-step model that will apply to revenue arising from 
contracts with customers. Under IFRS 15 revenue is 
recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration 
to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for 
transferring goods or services to a customer. 

The new revenue standard will supersede all current 
revenue recognition requirements under IFRS. Either a full 
retrospective application or a modified retrospective 
application is required for annual periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Group 
is currently assessing the impact of IFRS 15 and plans to 
adopt the new standard on the required effective date.

Amendments to IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements: 
Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests
The amendments to IFRS 11 require that a joint operator 
accounting for the acquisition of an interest in a joint 
operation, in which the activity of the joint operation 
constitutes a business must apply the relevant IFRS 3 
principles for business combinations accounting. The 
amendments also clarify that a previously held interest 
in a joint operation is not remeasured on the acquisition of 
an additional interest in the same joint operation while joint 
control is retained. In addition, a scope exclusion has been 
added to IFRS 11 to specify that the amendments do not 
apply when the parties sharing joint control, including the 
reporting entity, are under common control of the same 
ultimate controlling party.

The amendments apply to both the acquisition of the initial 
interest in a joint operation and the acquisition of any additional 
interests in the same joint operation and are prospectively 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2016, with early adoption permitted. These amendments are 
not expected to have any impact to the Group.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015110

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

5.  Standards issued but not yet effective (continued)
Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 Clarification of 
Acceptable Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation
The amendments clarify the principle in IAS 16 and IAS 38 
that revenue reflects a pattern of economic benefits that are 
generated from operating a business (of which the asset is 
part) rather than the economic benefits that are consumed 
through use of the asset. As a result, a revenue-based 
method cannot be used to depreciate property, plant and 
equipment and may only be used in very limited 
circumstances to amortise intangible assets. The 
amendments are effective prospectively for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016, with early adoption 
permitted. These amendments are not expected to have any 
impact to the Group given that the Group has not used a 
revenue-based method to depreciate its non-current assets.

Annual improvements 2012-2014 cycle
These improvements are effective for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016. They include:

IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued 
Operations
Assets (or disposal groups) are generally disposed of either 
through sale or distribution to owners. The amendment 
clarifies that changing from one of these disposal methods 
to the other would not be considered a new plan of disposal, 
rather it is a continuation of the original plan. There is, 
therefore, no interruption of the application of the requirements 
in IFRS 5. This amendment must be applied prospectively.

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
(i)  Servicing contracts
The amendment clarifies that a servicing contract that 
includes a fee can constitute continuing involvement in 
a financial asset. An entity must assess the nature of the 
fee and the arrangement against the guidance for continuing 
involvement in IFRS 7 in order to assess whether the 
disclosures are required. The assessment of which servicing 
contracts constitute continuing involvement must be done 
retrospectively. However, the required disclosures would 
not need to be provided for any period beginning before 
the annual period in which the entity first applies the 
amendments.

(ii)   Applicability of the amendments to IFRS 7  
to condensed interim financial statements
The amendment clarifies that the offsetting disclosure 
requirements do not apply to condensed interim financial 
statements, unless such disclosures provide a significant 
update to the information reported in the most recent annual 
report. This amendment must be applied retrospectively.

IAS 19 Employee Benefits
The amendment clarifies that market depth of high quality 
corporate bonds is assessed based on the currency in which 
the obligation is denominated, rather than the country where 
the obligation is located. When there is no deep market for 
high quality corporate bonds in that currency, government 
bond rates must be used. This amendment must be applied 
prospectively.

IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting
The amendment clarifies that the required interim disclosures 
must either be in the interim financial statements or 
incorporated by cross-reference between the interim financial 
statements and wherever they are included within the interim 
financial report (e.g., in the management commentary or risk 
report). The other information within the interim financial 
report must be available to users on the same terms as 
the interim financial statements and at the same time. This 
amendment must be applied retrospectively.

These amendments are not expected to have any impact 
on the Group.

Amendments to IAS 1 Disclosure Initiative
The amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Financial 
Statements clarify, rather than significantly change, 
existing IAS 1 requirements. The amendments clarify:

•  the materiality requirements in IAS 1;

•  that specific line items in the statement of profit or loss 
and OCI and the statement of financial position may be 
disaggregated;

•  that entities have flexibility as to the order in which they 

present the notes to financial statements;

•  that the share of OCI of associates and joint ventures 

accounted for using the equity method must be presented 
in aggregate as a single line item, and classified between 
those items that will or will not be subsequently reclassified 
to profit or loss.

Furthermore, the amendments clarify the requirements 
that apply when additional subtotals are presented in the 
statement of financial position and the statement of profit 
or loss and OCI. These amendments are effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016, with early 
adoption permitted. These amendments are not expected 
to have any impact on the Group.

Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 28 Investment 
Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception
The amendments address issues that have arisen in applying 
the investment entities exception under IFRS 10. The 
amendments to IFRS 10 clarify that the exemption from 
presenting consolidated financial statements applies 
to a parent entity that is a subsidiary of an investment entity, 
when the investment entity measures all of its subsidiaries 
at fair value.

Furthermore, the amendments to IFRS 10 clarify that only 
a subsidiary of an investment entity that is not an investment 
entity itself and that provides support services to the 
investment entity is consolidated. All other subsidiaries 
of an investment entity are measured at fair value. The 
amendments to IAS 28 allow the investor, when applying 
the equity method, to retain the fair value measurement 
applied by the investment entity associate or joint venture 
to its interests in subsidiaries.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  111

5.  Standards issued but not yet effective (continued)
These amendments must be applied retrospectively and are 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2016, with early adoption permitted. These amendments are 
not expected to have any impact on the Group.

IFRS 16 Leases
IFRS 16 was issued in January 2016 and sets out the 
principles that both parties to a contract, i.e. the customer 
(“lessee”) and the supplier (“lessor”), apply to provide 
relevant information about leases in a manner that faithfully 
represents those transactions. Under IFRS 16 a lessee 
is required to recognise assets and liabilities arising from 
a lease. The new standard is applicable to all lease and 
sublease contracts except for leases of certain types of 
intangibles and some other specific assets and will 
supersede all current requirements for lease recognition 
and disclosure under IFRS. IFRS 16 is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. Earlier 
application is permitted for entities that apply IFRS 15 at 
or before the date of initial application of IFRS 16. The Group 
is currently assessing the impact of IFRS 16 and plans to 
adopt the new standard on the required effective date.

Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes: Recognition of 
Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealized Losses 
The amendments to IAS 12 clarify the accounting for 
deferred tax assets for unrealised losses on debt instruments 
measured at fair value. The clarifications refer to accounting 
for deferred tax assets when an entity:

Amendments to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows
Amendments to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows were issued 
on 29 January 2016 as a response to requests from investors 
for information that helps them better understand changes in 
a company’s debt. The amendments require companies to 
provide information of changes in their financing liabilities will 
help investors to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from 
financing activities, including changes from cash flows and 
non-cash changes (such as foreign exchange gains or 
losses). The IAS 7 amendments become mandatory for 
annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2017 with 
early application permitted. These amendments will result 
in additional disclosures made by the Group.

6.  Operating segments
The Group’s principal business activity is the development 
and operation of food retail stores located in Russia. Risks 
and returns are affected primarily by economic development 
in Russia and by the development of Russian food retail 
industry. 

The Group has no significant assets outside the Russian 
Federation (excluding investments in its foreign wholly owned 
subsidiaries Lakatomo Holdings Ltd and Lenta Luxemburg 
S.a.r.l., which are eliminated on consolidation). Due to the 
similar economic characteristics of food retail stores, the 
Group’s management has aggregated its operating segments 
represented by stores into one reportable operating segment. 
Within the segment all business components are similar in 
respect of:

•  has deductible temporary differences relating to unrealised 
losses on debt instruments that are classified as available-
for-sale financials assets and measured at fair value;

•  the products;

•  the customers;

•  is not allowed to deduct unrealised losses for tax purposes;

•  centralized Group structure (commercial, operational, 
logistic, finance, HR and IT functions are centralized).

•  has the ability and intention to hold the debt instruments 

until the unrealised loss reverses; and

•  has insufficient taxable temporary differences and no other 
probable taxable profits against which the entity can utilise 
those deductible temporary differences.

The Group’s operations are regularly reviewed by the chief 
operating decision maker, represented by the CEO, to 
analyze performance and allocate resources within the 
Group. The CEO assesses the performance of operating 
segments based on the dynamics of revenue and earnings 
before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization (EBITDA). 

These amendments must be applied retrospectively and are 
effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2017, with early adoption permitted. These amendments are 
not expected to have any impact on the Group.

The accounting policies used for the operating segment are 
the same as accounting policies applied for the consolidated 
financial statements.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015112

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

6.  Operating segments (continued)
The segment information for the year ended 31 December 2015 and 2014 is as follows:

Sales
EBITDA

Reconciliation of EBITDA to IFRS profit for the year is as follows:

EBITDA
Interest expense
Interest income
Income tax expense (see Note 21)
Depreciation/amortization (see Note 8, 10, 11, 25)
Ineffective portion of the change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments (see Note 30)
Other expenses
Foreign exchange (loss)/gain
Profit for the year

Year ended 
31 December 2015
252,763,075
28,018,435

Year ended 
31 December 2014
193,988,240
21,318,157

Year ended 
31 December 2015
28,018,435
(10,044,858)
767,905
(2,584,010)
(5,686,264)
6,308
−
(189,423)
10,288,093

Year ended 
31 December 2014
21,318,157
(6,910,890)
99,821
(1,852,541)
(3,658,953)
(19,488)
(41,165)
140,166
9,075,107

7.  Balances and transactions with related parties
The transactions with related parties are made on terms equivalent to those that prevail in arm’s length transactions.

The consolidated financial statements include the following balances with related parties:

Entities with significant influence over the Group:

EBRD
Long-term loans payable
Accrued liabilities
Interest accrued

TPG Capital
Accrued liabilities

31 December 2015 31 December 2014

4,520,527
6,559
1,691

4,519,663
5,063
3,325

13,848

4,644

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
7.   Balances and transactions with related parties (continued)
The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

Entities with significant influence over the Group:

EBRD
Proceeds from borrowings
Interest expense
Directors fee
Business trip expenses

TPG Capital
Directors fee
Business trip expenses
Consulting services
Monitoring fee

VTB Capital*
Proceeds from borrowings
Repayment of borrowings
Interest expense and commission on loans
Finance leasing charge
Interest income on deposits

  113

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended 
31 December 2014

−
833,200
25,483
323

23,642
19,919
2,807
−

4,554,240
28,467
10,301
5,643

14,772
8,867
19,430
42,723

−
−
−
−
−

5,000,000
3,150,000
618,719
1,225
(3,511)

*  Management of the Group concluded that starting from March 2014 year VTB Capital is not a related party due to lack of influence on operational activity 

of the Group following the reduction of its share in equity capital as the result of sale of shares during IPO.

Remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and key management personnel was as follows:

Short-term benefits
Long-term benefits (share-based payments, Note 27)
Total remuneration

Year ended 
31 December 2015
682,421
158,645
841,066

Year ended 
31 December 2014
397,442
83,411
480,853

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
114

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

8.  Property, plant and equipment 

Cost 
Balance at 1 January 2015
Additions
Transfers from construction 

in progress
Transfers from  

leasehold rights

Disposals
Balance at  

Land

Land 
improvements

Buildings

Machinery and 
equipment

Assets under 
construction

Total

9,971,338
–

5,488,814
–

54,610,275
87,269

21,331,730
611

4,542,748
27,642,190

95,944,905
27,730,070

2,035,686

1,650,598

16,510,017

8,370,416

(28,566,717)

−

655,359
(79,609)

−
(22,834)

−
(2,156)

−
(268,746)

−
(53,462)

655,359
(426,807)

31 December 2015

12,582,774

7,116,578

71,205,405

29,434,011

3,564,759

123,903,527

Accumulated depreciation 

and impairment

Balance at 1 January 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
Balance at  

31 December 2015

Net book value
Balance at 1 January 2015
Balance at  

31 December 2015

Cost 
Balance at 1 January 2014
Additions
Transfers from construction 

in progress
Transfers from  

leasehold rights

Disposals
Balance at 31 December 

2014

Accumulated depreciation 

and impairment

Balance at 1 January 2014
Charge for the year
Disposals
Balance at  

31 December 2014

Net book value
Balance at 1 January 2014
Balance at  

31 December 2014

−
−
−

−

848,274
193,659
−

6,621,417
2,028,335
(1,821)

7,257,007
3,138,721
(198,523)

1,041,933

8,647,931

10,197,205

−
−
−

−

14,726,698
5,360,715
(200,344)

19,887,069

9,971,338

4,640,540

47,988,858

14,074,723

4,542,748

81,218,207

12,582,774

6,074,645

62,557,474

19,236,806

3,564,759

104,016,458

Land

Land 
improvements

Buildings

Machinery and 
equipment

Assets under 
construction

Total

4,959,072
674,215

3,802,799
148,758

36,612,066
2,299,843

13,836,780
38,668

3,747,966
29,662,056

62,958,683
32,823,540

3,804,904

1,537,257

15,718,418

7,758,373

(28,818,952)

−

534,591
(1,444)

−
−

−
(20,052)

−
(302,091)

–
(48,322)

534,591
(371,909)

9,971,338

5,488,814

54,610,275

21,331,730

4,542,748

95,944,905

−
−
−

−

715,616
132,658
−

5,300,628
1,329,571
(8,782)

5,555,663
1,958,317
(256,973)

848,274

6,621,417

7,257,007

−
−
−

−

11,571,907
3,420,546
(265,755)

14,726,698

4,959,072

3,087,183

31,311,438

8,281,117

3,747,966

51,386,776

9,971,338

4,640,540

47,988,858

14,074,723

4,542,748

81,218,207

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
  115

8.  Property, plant and equipment (continued)
Land and buildings with a carrying amount of RUB 3,956,848 thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 26,015,987 thousand) 
are pledged under secured loan agreements (see Note 20).

During the year ended 31 December 2015 and year ended 31 December 2014 the Group was not involved in acquisition 
of any assets that would satisfy the definition of qualifying assets for the purposes of borrowing costs capitalization. Thus, 
no borrowings costs were capitalized during those periods.

The carrying amount of property, plant and equipment held under finance leases at 31 December 2015 was RUB 37,532 
thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 50,091 thousand). Leased assets are pledged as security for the related finance lease. 
Additions during the year ended 31 December 2015 include no property, plant and equipment under finance leases. 

Depreciation and amortization expense
The amount of depreciation charged during the year ended 31 December 2015 and year ended 31 December 2014 is 
presented within depreciation and amortization in the Group’s consolidated statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income and statement of cash flows as follows:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (Note 8)
Amortization of intangible assets (Note 11)
Leasehold rights amortization (Note 10)
Total depreciation and amortization

See Note 28 for capital commitments.

Year ended 
31 December 2015
5,360,715
257,940
67,609
5,686,264

Year ended 
31 December 2014
3,420,546
171,154
67,253
3,658,953

9.  Prepayments for construction
Prepayments for construction are represented by advances given to the constructors for the building of the stores and 
to suppliers.

10. Leasehold rights
Leasehold rights as at 31 December 2015 consisted of the following:

Cost
At 1 January 2015
Additions
Disposals
Transfer to PPE
At 31 December 2015

Accumulated amortization and impairment
At 1 January 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
Transfer to PPE
At 31 December 2015

Net book value
At 1 January 2015
At 31 December 2015

Leasehold rights

3,486,162
557,827
(63,559)
(724,775)
3,255,655

214,618
67,609
(4,324)
(69,416)
208,487

3,271,544
3,047,168

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015116

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

10. Leasehold rights (continued)
Leasehold rights as at 31 December 2014 consisted of the following:

Cost
At 1 January 2014
Additions
Transfer to PPE
At 31 December 2014

Accumulated amortization and impairment
At 1 January 2014
Charge for the year
Transfer to PPE
At 31 December 2014

Net book value
At 1 January 2014
At 31 December 2014

Amortization expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 25).

11.  Intangible assets other than leasehold rights
Intangible assets other than leasehold rights as at 31 December 2015 consisted of the following:

Leasehold rights

2,956,519
1,101,724
(572,081)
3,486,162

184,855
67,253
(37,490)
214,618

2,771,664
3,271,544

Cost
At 1 January 2015
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2015

Accumulated amortization
At 1 January 2015
Amortization for the period
Disposals
At 31 December 2015

Net book value
At 1 January 2015
At 31 December 2015

Software

Trade marks

Total

1,603,385
486,224
(10,922)
2,078,687

732,870
257,924
(4,436)
986,358

870,515
1,092,329

549
−
−
549

533
16
−
549

16
−

1,603,934
486,224
(10,922)
2,079,236

733,403
257,940
(4,436)
986,907

870,531
1,092,329

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
  117

11.  Intangible assets other than leasehold rights (continued)
Intangible assets other than leasehold rights as at 31 December 2014 consisted of the following:

Cost
At 1 January 2014
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2014

Accumulated amortization
At 1 January 2014
Amortization for the period
At 31 December 2014

Net book value
At 1 January 2014
At 31 December 2014

Software

Trade marks

Total

1,184,858
419,367
(840)
1,603,385

561,738
171,132
732,870

623,120
870,515

549
−
−
549

511
22
533

38
16

1,185,407
419,367
(840)
1,603,934

562,249
171,154
733,403

623,158
870,531

Amortization expense is included in selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 25).

12. Inventories

Goods for resale
Raw materials
Total inventories

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
18,729,075
900,306
19,629,381

21,809,738
971,994
22,781,732

Raw materials are represented by inventories used in own production process in butchery, bakery and culinary.

During the reporting period the Group accounted for reversal of write down of inventories to their net realizable value, which 
resulted in recognition of reversal of expenses within cost of sales in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other 
comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2015 in the amount of RUB 38,710 thousand. During the year ended 
31 December 2014 the Group wrote down inventories to their net realizable value, which resulted in recognition of expenses 
within cost of sales in the amount of RUB 255,357 thousand.

13. Trade and other receivables

Accounts receivable on rental and other services and on suppliers’ advertising
Suppliers’ rebates receivable
Other receivables
Bad debt allowance
Total trade and other receivables

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
7,857,515
3,333,612
190,874
(10,753)
11,371,248

9,727,574
3,643,232
307,105
(31,017)
13,646,894

Receivables are due normally within 25 days according to the terms of standard contracts. Outstanding receivables are 
regularly monitored. An impairment analysis is performed at each reporting date on an individual basis for counterparties. 
A provision for impairment of receivables 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 receivables. Usually for receivables over 365 days the allowance 
for doubtful debts is 100%, unless there are strong indications from the nature of the agreement underlying the debt that 
no allowance is needed as the long term of the receivable is in line with the agreement. Allowances for doubtful debts are 
recognized against receivables of under 365 days based on estimated irrecoverable amounts determined by reference 
to past default experience of each particular counterparty and an analysis of the counterparty’s current financial position.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
118

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

13. Trade and other receivables (continued)
Amounts receivable from suppliers and accounts receivable on rental and other services disclosed above include amounts 
(see below for ageing analysis) that are past due at the end of the reporting period for which the Group has not recognised 
an allowance for doubtful debts because there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the amounts are still 
considered recoverable. The Group does not hold any collateral or other credit enhancements over these balances.

Ageing of trade and other receivables that are past due but not impaired as at 31 December 2015:

Suppliers’ volume rebates receivable
Accounts receivable on rental and other 

services

Other receivables
Total

0-60 days 
overdue
87,469

60-120 days 
overdue
8,326

120-365 days
overdue
30,827

Neither past due 
nor impaired
3,513,960

1,206,134
80,450
1,374,053

45,621
4,157
58,104

43,801
1,376
76,004

8,406,211
218,562
12,138,733

Ageing of trade and other receivables that are past due but not impaired as at 31 December 2014:

0-60 days 
overdue
120,015

60-120 days 
overdue
13,431

120-365 days 
overdue
11,185

Neither past due 
nor impaired
3,186,987

1,092,350
68,035
1,280,400

93,732
1,777
108,940

35,057
88
46,330

6,627,620
120,971
9,935,578

Total
3,640,582

9,701,767
304,545
13,646,894

Total
3,331,618

7,848,759
190,871
11,371,248

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
821,958
1,607,285
321,483
2,750,726

788,124
1,066,570
410,217
2,264,911

Suppliers’ volume rebates receivable
Accounts receivable on rental and other 

services

Other receivables
Total

14. Advances paid

Advances to suppliers of goods
Advances for services
Guarantee payments under lease contracts
Total advances paid

15. Taxes recoverable
Taxes recoverable as at 31 December 2015 are represented by a VAT receivable of RUB 417,114 thousand (31 December 
2014: RUB 1,847,669 thousand) and input VAT that has not yet been claimed for reimbursement from tax authorities of 
RUB 840,650 thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 568,936 thousand). 

16. Cash and cash equivalents

Rouble short-term deposits
Rouble denominated cash in transit
Rouble denominated cash on hand and balances with banks
Foreign currency denominated cash on hand and balances with banks
Total cash and cash equivalents

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
8,954,088
1,802,739
1,258,676
20,282
12,035,785

16,612,228
2,258,241
3,556,009
29,467
22,455,945

Cash in transit represents cash receipts made during the last day of the reporting period (31 December), which were sent 
to banks but not deposited into the respective bank accounts until the next reporting period.

Significant rouble denominated cash in transit result from the business seasonality, indicating higher levels of retail sales 
in holiday periods such as the New Year eve as well as the closing day in relation to the official banking days in Russia. 
If the closing day is on non-banking days, the amount of cash in transit increases. 

Short-term deposits are made for varying periods of between one day and three months, depending on the immediate 
cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at the respective short-term deposit rates.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  119

17.  Issued capital and reserves
Issued capital 
As at 31 December 2015 the Company’s share capital was comprised of 97,318,746 authorized and issued ordinary shares 
(as at 31 December 2014: 86,053,394) with equal voting rights. The shares have no par value.

All outstanding ordinary shares are entitled to an equal share in any dividend declared by the Company. According to the BVI 
Business Companies Act No. 16 of 2004, no dividends can be declared and paid unless the Board of Directors determines 
that immediately after the payment of the dividend the Group will be able to satisfy its liabilities as they become due in the 
ordinary course of its business and the realizable value of the assets of the Group will not be less than the sum of its total 
liabilities, other than deferred taxes, as shown in the books of account, and its capital. In accordance with Russian legislation, 
Lenta LLC, the Company’s primary operating subsidiary registered under the laws of the Russian Federation, may distribute 
profits as dividends or transfer them to reserves (fund accounts) limited to the retained earnings recorded in its financial 
statements prepared in accordance with Russian Accounting Rules. No dividends to holders of ordinary shares were declared 
for the year ended 31 December 2015 and for the year ended 31 December 2014. 

The movements in the number of shares the year ended 31 December 2015 and for the year ended 31 December 2014 were 
as follows.

Authorized share capital (ordinary shares with no par value)  

Issued and fully paid (no par value)

Balance of shares outstanding at beginning of financial year
Additional issue of shares
Balance of shares outstanding at the end of financial year

31 December 2015
No. 
unlimited

31 December 2014
No.
unlimited

97,318,746

86,053,394

31 December 2015
No.
86,053,394
11,265,352
97,318,746

31 December 2014
No.
86,052,995
399
86,053,394

In year 2015 11,265,352 ordinary shares were issued by the Group for a cash consideration of RUB 21,788,593 thousand net 
of directly attributable issuance costs. The whole amount of the consideration received was recorded as increase in additional 
paid-in capital, as the shares have no par value.

During 2014 year 399 ordinary shares were issued by the Group within the share-based payment scheme. 

Share options reserve
The share options reserve is used to recognise the value of equity-settled share-based payments provided to employees, 
including key management personnel, as part of their remuneration. Refer to Note 27 for further details of these plans.

Hedging reserve
The hedging reserve is used to recognise the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument and later 
reclassified to profit or loss when the hedge item affects profit or loss.

18. Components of other comprehensive income (OCI)

Cash flow hedges
Reclassification during the year to profit or loss
Related tax effect
(Loss)/gain arising during the year
Related tax effect
Net (loss)/gain during the year, net of tax

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended 
31 December 2014

(1,800,556)
360,111
(525,963)
105,193
(1,861,215)

(108,492)
21,698
3,394,512
(678,902)
2,628,816

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015120

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

19. Earnings per share

Earnings per share (in thousands of Russian roubles per share) 

– basic and diluted, for profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent

0.112

0.105

The calculation of basic earnings per share for reporting periods was based on the profit attributable to shareholders (for the 
year ended 31 December 2015: RUB 10,288,093 thousand for the year ended 31 December 2014: RUB 9,075,107 thousand) 
and a weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the respective periods, calculated as shown below.

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended 
31 December 2014

Number of issued shares at the beginning of period
Number of shares issued in October 2015
Number of shares issued in March 2015
Number of shares issued in April 2014
Number of shares at the end of reporting period
Weighted average number of shares

Year ended 
31 December 2015
86,053,394
4,225,352
7,040,000
−
97,318,746
92,252,707

Year ended 
31 December 2014
86,052,995
−
−
399
86,053,394
86,053,244

The Group has issued share-based payments (Note 27) instruments that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in 
the future. These instruments have no material effect on dilution of earnings per share for the periods presented.

20. Borrowings
Short-term borrowings:

Fixed rate bonds (liability for interests)
Fixed rate long-term bank loans (liability for interests)
Floating rate long-term bank loans (liability for interests)
Short-term portion of fixed rate long-term bank loans
Fixed rate short-term bank loans
Fixed rate bonds
Total short-term borrowings and short-term portion of long-term borrowings

Long-term borrowings:

Fixed rate bonds
Fixed rate long-term bank loans
Floating rate long-term bank loans
Total long-term borrowings

Currency 31 December 2015 31 December 2014
317,351
760,097
30,069
30,138
33,128
14,575
5,798,205
–
6,516,669
–
–
9,968,467
12,695,422
10,773,277

RUB
RUB
RUB
RUB
RUB
RUB

Currency 31 December 2015 31 December 2014
9,962,655
9,973,156
9,915,884
9,951,940
38,641,409
45,224,001
58,519,948
65,149,097

RUB
RUB
RUB

The Groups’ borrowings as at 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014 are denominated in Russian roubles.

In March 2015 the Group signed revolving credit line of RUB 15,000,000 thousand with VTB Bank OJSC. The credit line 
has covenants with respect to the Net debt / EBITDA and EBITDA / Net interest expense ratios.

On 25 June 2015 the Group entered into 7 year loan agreement of RUB 37,300,000 thousand with VTB Bank OJSC. At the 
reporting date the Group drew down RUB 30,000,000 thousand, these funds were utilized on early prepayment of loan from 
VTB Capital Plc. The loan has covenants with respect to the Net debt / EBITDA and EBITDA / Net interest expense ratios.

On 6 August 2015 the placement of interest-bearing certified non-convertible bearer bonds with mandatory centralized 
storage was completed in the amount of RUB 5,000,000 thousand with a nominal value of RUB 1 thousand each, a 12.4% 
coupon rate, 3,640 days to maturity and put option right on early redemption after 2.5 years. 

On 10 September 2015 the placement of interest-bearing certified non-convertible bearer bonds with mandatory centralized 
storage was completed in the amount of RUB 5,000,000 thousand with a nominal value of RUB 1 thousand each, a 12.4% 
coupon rate, 3,640 days to maturity and put option right on early redemption after 3 years.

The funds raised from the issue of the bonds are used on business expansion. 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  121

20. Borrowings (continued)
On 21 September 2015 the Group entered into revolving credit line of RUB 3,500,000 thousand with Bank Saint-Petersburg OJSC. 

On 23 October 2015 the Group signed revolving credit line of RUB 5,000,000 thousand with Russian Agricultural Bank. 
The credit line has covenants with respect to the Net debt / EBITDA, EBITDA / Net interest expense ratios and net assets.

During the year ended 31 December 2015 the Group received RUB 44,200,000 thousand under credit agreements concluded 
before 1 January 2015 and repaid RUB 79,515,000 thousand.

As at 31 December 2015 the Group had RUB 45,300,000 thousand of unused credit facilities (as at 31 December 2014: 
RUB 36,260,000 thousand). 

As at 31 December 2015 the Group was in compliance with all financial covenants of loan agreements. 

21. Income taxes
The Group’s income tax expense for the year ended 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014 is as follows:

Current tax expense
Deferred tax expense
Adjustments in respect of current income tax of previous year
Income tax expense recognized in profit for the year

Tax effect related to effective portion of change in the fair value of cash flow hedging 

instruments

Income tax (benefit)/expense recognized in OCI

Profit before tax
Theoretical tax charge at 20%
Difference in tax rates for foreign companies
Add tax effect of non-deductible expenses
– share option expenses
– others
Adjustments in respect of current income tax of previous years
Income tax expense

Year ended 
31 December 2015
632,900
1,944,919
6,191
2,584,010

Year ended 
31 December 2014
948,213
1,408,690
(504,362)
1,852,541

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended 
31 December 2014

(465,304)
(465,304)

657,204
657,204

Year ended 
31 December 2015
12,872,103
(2,574,421)
157,125
(160,523)
(36,825)
(123,698)
(6,191)
2,584,010

Year ended 
31 December 2014
10,927,648
(2,185,530)
(49,202)
(122,171)
(22,359)
(99,812)
504,362
1,852,541

Differences between IFRS and Russian statutory tax regulations give rise to temporary differences between the carrying 
amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax bases. The tax effect of the movements in these 
temporary differences, recorded at the rate of 20% is detailed below.

In 2014 the Company re-submitted income tax declarations for 2011-2013 years and deducted expenses on stock losses 
in full that resulted in recognition of an adjustment in respect of current income tax related to previous years.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015122

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

21. Income taxes (continued)

Tax effect of (taxable)/deductible temporary 

differences

Property, plant and equipment
Leasehold rights
Unused vacation and employee bonuses accrual
Suppliers’ bonuses
Borrowings
Intangible assets other than leasehold rights
Inventory
Bad debt allowance
Finance leasing
Consulting and other accruals
Customs duty payable
Cash flow hedging instruments
Other
Total deferred tax (liabilities)/assets

Tax effect of (taxable)/deductible temporary 

differences

Property, plant and equipment
Leasehold rights
Unused vacation and employee bonuses accrual
Suppliers’ bonuses
Borrowings
Intangible assets other than leasehold rights
Inventory
Bad debt allowance
Finance leasing
Consulting and other accruals
Customs duty payable
Cash flow hedging instruments
Other
Total deferred tax (liabilities)/assets

Differences in 
recognition 
and reversals 
recognised in 
profit or loss

(1,875,521)
21,911
112,389
86,625
(115,291)
(3,383)
(171,014)
34,823
(3,529)
19,151
6,941
(58,007)
(14)
(1,944,919)

Differences in 
recognition 
and reversals 
recognised in 
profit or loss

(1,419,688)
(125,880)
30,850
91,739
5,621
(11,236)
69,436
2,701
(3,680)
(52,185)
−
3,897
(265)
(1,408,690)

1 January 2015

(3,241,091)
(450,356)
144,820
(157,358)
(79,040)
(17,386)
586,189
13,236
6,947
46,769
30,677
(634,903)
1,307
(3,750,189)

1 January 2014

(1,821,403)
(324,476)
113,970
(249,097)
(84,661)
(6,150)
516,753
10,535
10,627
98,954
30,677
18,404
1,572
(1,684,295)

Differences in 
recognition 
and reversals 
recognised in other 

 comprehensive income 31 December 2015

−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
465,304
−
465,304

(5,116,612)
(428,445)
257,209
(70,733)
(194,331)
(20,769)
415,175
48,059
3,418
65,920
37,618
(227,606)
1,293
(5,229,804)

Differences in 
recognition 
and reversals 
recognised in other 

comprehensive income 31 December 2014

−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
−
(657,204)
−
(657,204)

(3,241,091)
(450,356)
144,820
(157,358)
(79,040)
(17,386)
586,189
13,236
6,947
46,769
30,677
(634,903)
1,307
(3,750,189)

The temporary taxable differences associated with undistributed earnings of subsidiaries amount to RUB 54,229,761 
thousand and RUB 27,207,916 thousand as of 31 December 2015 and 2014, respectively. A deferred tax liability on these 
temporary differences was not recognized, because management believed that it was in a position to control the timing 
of reversal of such differences and has no intention to reverse them in the foreseeable future.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201522. Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Accrued liabilities and other creditors
Payables for purchases of property, plant and equipment
Total trade and other payables

The trade and other payables were denominated in: 

Russian roubles
USD
EUR
GBP
Total trade and other payables

23. Other taxes payable

Social taxes
Property tax
Personal income tax
Other taxes
Total other taxes payable

  123

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
41,081,087
3,138,048
4,154,254
48,373,389

42,002,004
3,586,669
3,231,534
48,820,207

31 December 2015 31 December 2014 
48,171,738
137,556
60,848
3,247
48,373,389

48,601,870
122,582
94,991
764
48,820,207

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
332,956
241,299
120,691
203,232
898,178

490,231
270,774
134,089
31,990
927,084

24. Cost of sales
Cost of sales for the years ended 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014 consisted of the following:

Cost of goods sold
Cost of own production
Supply chain cost
Losses due to inventory shortages and write down to net realisable value
Total cost of sales

Cost of goods sold is reduced by rebates and promotional bonuses received from suppliers.

The cost of own production consisted of the following:

Raw materials
Labour costs
Utilities
Repairs and maintenance
Total cost of own production

Year ended 
31 December 2015

167,408,885
21,710,294
3,185,448
4,153,283
196,457,910

Year ended 
31 December 2014
(reclassified)
126,742,396
17,048,666
3,136,580
3,324,324
150,251,966

Year ended 
31 December 2015
17,925,511
2,947,684
752,180
84,919
21,710,294

Year ended 
31 December 2014
13,880,282
2,533,421
576,911
58,052
17,048,666

Cost of sales for the year ended 31 December 2015 included employee benefits expense of RUB 4,092,406 thousand (year 
ended 31 December 2014: RUB 3,465,640 thousand) of which contributions to state pension fund comprised RUB 609,388 
thousand (year ended 31 December 2014: RUB 530,316 thousand).

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015124

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

25. Selling, general and administrative expenses

Employee benefits
Depreciation and amortization (Note 8, 10, 11)
Premises lease
Advertising
Utilities and communal payments
Professional fees
Cleaning
Repairs and maintenance
Taxes other than income tax
Security services
Land and equipment lease
Pre-opening costs
Other
Total selling, general and administrative expenses

Year ended 
31 December 2015

14,558,823
5,671,219
2,349,035
2,313,536
1,964,640
1,822,108
1,432,304
1,264,894
1,096,846
973,180
323,045
640,596
1,634,545
36,044,771

Year ended 
31 December 2014 
(reclassified)
11,988,045
3,658,951
1,103,157
1,971,926
1,360,833
2,001,603
1,136,447
896,847
907,981
793,401
306,302
663,063
1,197,051
27,985,607

From 1 January 2015 the Group presents expenses on IT consumables and compensations for operational cost under 
premises lease agreements as other expenses within selling, general and administrative expenses. Comparative amounts 
disclosed for the year 2014 as repairs and maintenance expenses were respectively adjusted in the amount of RUB 267,387 
thousands. 

Employee benefits for the year ended 31 December 2015 included contributions to state pension fund of RUB 1,844,088 
thousand (year ended 31 December 2014: RUB 1,572,217 thousand).

Pre-opening costs for the year ended 31 December 2015 included employee benefits of RUB 360,904 thousand (year ended 
31 December 2015: RUB 415,108 thousand) of which contributions to state pension fund comprised RUB 39,742 thousand 
(year ended 31 December 2014: RUB 49,391 thousand).

Pre-opening costs for the year ended 31 December 2015 included depreciation expense of RUB 15,045 thousand (for the 
year ended 31 December 2014: RUB 2 thousand).

26. Other operating income and expenses

Penalties due by suppliers
Rental income
Income from IPO
Advertising income
Gain on property, plant and equipment disposal
Sale of secondary materials
Other
Total other operating income

Year ended 
31 December 2015
904,528
752,755
−
422,002
62,250
295,743
147,032
2,584,310

Year ended 
31 December 2014
789,557
482,455
420,111
387,297
1,801
125,433
60,476
2,267,130

IPO income is represented by the Group’s share of stabilization profit made by the Stabilizing Manager on buying back 
shares subject to overallotment option and a one off payment to the Group as an income share in Depositary’s fees charged 
to GDR holders.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 201526. Other operating income and expenses (continued)
Other operating expenses comprised of the following:

Loss from fixed assets and leasehold rights disposal
Change in bad debt allowance
Penalties from government authorities
Penalties for breach of a contracts with suppliers
Other
Total other operating expenses

  125

Year ended 
31 December 2015
181,567
194,665
65,351
1,311
69,639
512,533

Year ended 
31 December 2014
96,345
15,073
7,725
185,437
54,013
358,593

27. Share-based payments 
Share value appreciation rights
During the 2014 year the Group granted share value appreciation rights (SVARs) to certain members of top management 
as part of management long-term incentive plan. Each SVAR entitles the holder to a quantity of ordinary shares in Lenta Ltd 
based on an increase in the share price over a predetermined exercise price subject to meeting the performance conditions.

Movements during the year
The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAEP) of, and movements in, SVARs during 
the year:

Outstanding at 1 January
Granted during the year
Forfeited during the year
Exercised during the year
Expired during the year
Outstanding at 31 December
Exercisable at 31 December

2015 Number
594,211
−
−
−
−
594,211
−

2015 WAEP
49.84 USD
−
−
−
−
1,516 RUB
−

2014 Number
742,765
−
−
(123,975)
(24,579)
594,211
−

2014 WAEP
49.84 USD
−
−
49.84 USD
49.84 USD
49.84 USD
−

During the year 2014 the Group issued 399 shares with respect to SVARs that were exercised during the period and credited 
additional paid-in capital with the amount of RUB 20,400 thousand. 

With respect to vested 24,579 SVARs that expired during the period ended 31 December 2014 the Group transferred amount 
of RUB 3,013 thousand from share options reserve to retained earnings.

In March 2015 modifications to the SVARs were agreed including deferral of exercise date of SVARs that are to be vested 
in April 2015 by one year. In consequence of modification weighted average fair value of options granted increased up to 
RUB 0.40 thousand.

On 17 July 2015 the Remuneration Committee of Lenta Ltd agreed on certain changes in the management long-term 
incentive plan, which is based on Share Value Appreciation Rights. Whereas the plan has been set up using financial 
parameters denominated in USD, all financial parameters are now changed into Russian roubles using the exchange rate 
on the date of the grant (1 April 2013). As a result, the Exercise price for the remaining outstanding options will be changed 
from USD 49.84 to 1,516 Russian roubles per share. The vesting schedule has been revised and fixed, as a result of which 
the remaining 80% of the initial grant will now vest in 2 stages: 30% on 1 April 2017 and the remaining 50% on 1 April 2018. 
In consequence of modification weighted average fair value of options granted increased up to RUB 0.86 thousand.

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the SVARs outstanding as at 31 December 2015 was 2.3 years 
(31 December 2014: 3.3 years).

The exercise price for options outstanding as at 31 December 2015 was RUB 1,516 thousand and as at 31 December 2014 
was USD 49.84 (RUB 2.8 thousand).

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015126

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

27. Share-based payments (continued)
The expense recognized for the services received from the employees covered by SVARs plan during the year is shown in 
the following table:

Expense arising from the equity-settled SVARs transaction

Year ended 
31 December 2015
155,199

Year ended 
31 December 2014
78,966

The fair value of the management SVARs is estimated at the grant date using the Black Scholes option pricing model, 
taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the SVARs were granted.

Long-term incentive plan 
During the year 2014 the Group approved a long-term incentive plan (LTIP) to certain members of middle management 
(not including top management), whereunder the Company granted award shares on 1 April 2014 (Tranche 2014) and on 
1 October 2015 (Tranche 2015) along with communication of the terms of award to participants.

The monetary amount of the award to be granted to the participants of the plan was calculated based on the annual base 
salary on the grant date, target award interest, business results co-efficient and individual performance rating co-efficient.

To determine the number of ordinary shares subject to award the monetary amount of the award was divided by the 
Company’s share price calculated based on the following:

•  the price of GDR at IPO on LSE (10$) translated to RUB using exchange rate as at the date for offering, i.e. 27 February 

2014 (Tranche 2014);

•  the average price of GDR on LSE (6.6$) for the 1st quarter 2015 translated to RUB using average exchange rate 

(Tranche 2015).

Under terms of Tranche 2014 the shares are to be released in phases:

•  1st 25% on the first anniversary of the award (1 April 2015); 

•  2nd 25% on the second anniversary of the award (1 April 2016); 

•  50% on the third anniversary of the award (1 April 2017), provided that employment conditions are met.

With respect to the first phase no shares were issued in April 2015, the Group plans to release shares in the first half of 2016. 

The vesting date of Tranche 2015 is 1 April 2018.

The fair value of the award shares was estimated based on the GDR price on LSE on the award grant date. 

The expense recognized for the services received from the employees covered by long-term incentive plan during the year 
is shown in the following table:

Expense arising from the equity-settled long-term incentive plan payments

Year ended 
31 December 2015
28,925

Year ended 
31 December 2014
32,829

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  127

28. Commitments
Capital expenditure commitments
At 31 December 2015 the Group had contractual capital expenditure commitments in respect of property, plant and equipment 
and intangible assets totaling RUB 19,370,442 thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 12,709,553 thousand).

Operating lease commitments
Where the Group is the lessee, the future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases were as follows:

Not later than 1 year
Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years
Later than 5 years
Total operating lease commitments

29. Financial instruments
Categories of financial instruments

Financial assets
Cash
Trade and other receivables
At fair value through OCI

Financial liabilities
At fair value through OCI

At amortised cost
Floating rate long-term borrowings
Fixed rate long-term borrowings
Fixed rate short-term borrowings and short-term portion of long term borrowings
Short term liability for interests
Trade and other payables
Long-term obligations under finance leases
Total financial liabilities at amortised cost

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
2,800,096
10,356,566
27,394,299
40,550,961

3,786,074
14,664,366
33,247,702
51,698,142

31 December 2015 31 December 2014

22,455,945
13,646,894
794,464

12,035,785
11,371,248
2,735,177

124,128

28,357

45,224,001
19,925,096
9,968,467
804,810
47,058,158
18,577
122,999,109

38,641,409
19,878,539
12,314,874
380,548
46,979,088
35,465
118,229,923

Fair values
The following table provides the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities. Quantitative 
disclosures of fair value measurement hierarchy for financial assets and financial liabilities as at 31 December 2015:

31 December 2015

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Financial assets measured at fair value
Cash flow hedging instruments

Financial liabilities measured at fair value
Cash flow hedging instruments

794,464

124,128

−

−

794,464

124,128

Financial liabilities for which fair values are disclosed
Fixed rate bonds
Floating rate borrowings
Fixed rate borrowings
Obligations under finance leases

19,872,900
46,835,306
9,449,769
18,577

19,872,900
−
−
−

−
46,835,306
9,449,769
18,577

−

−

−
−
−
−

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
128

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

−

−

−
−
−
−

29. Financial instruments (continued)

Financial assets measured at fair value
Cash flow hedging instruments

Financial liabilities measured at fair value
Cash flow hedging instruments

31 December 2014

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

2,735,177

28,357

−

−

2,735,177

28,357

Financial liabilities for which fair values are disclosed
Fixed rate bonds
Floating rate borrowings
Fixed rate borrowings
Obligations under finance leases

10,322,951
54,122,762
21,310,270
35,465

10,322,951
−
−
−

−
54,122,762
21,310,270
35,465

During the year ending 31 December 2015, there were no transfers between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 fair value 
measurements.

Set out below, is a comparison by class of the carrying amounts and fair value of the Group’s financial instruments, other than 
those with carrying amounts are reasonable approximations of fair values:

Financial assets
Cash flow hedging instruments

Financial liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Obligations under finance leases
Floating rate borrowings
Fixed rate borrowings

Derivative liabilities
Cash flow hedging instruments
Total financial liabilities

31 December 2015

31 December 2014

Carrying amount

Fair value Carrying amount

Fair value

794,464

794,464

2,735,177

2,735,177

18,577
45,224,001
29,893,563

18,577
46,835,306
29,322,669

35,465
38,641,409
32,193,413

35,465
54,122,762
31,633,221

124,128
75,260,269

124,128
76,300,680

28,357
70,898,644

28,357
85,819,805

The management assessed that the carrying amounts of cash and short-term deposits, trade receivables, trade payables 
and other current liabilities approximate their fair values largely due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities is included at the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged 
in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values:

•  Fair values of the Group’s interest-bearing borrowings and loans are determined by using DCF method using discount 

rate that reflects the issuer’s borrowing rate as at the end of the reporting period.

•  The fair value of bonds is based on the price quotations at the reporting date at Moscow exchange where transactions 

with bonds take place with sufficient frequency and volume.

•  The Group enters into derivative financial instruments with financial institution with investment grade credit ratings. 

Derivatives valued using valuation techniques with market observable inputs are interest rate swaps and caps. The most 
frequently applied valuation techniques include swap models, using present value calculations, and option pricing model 
for caps. The models incorporate various inputs including the credit quality of counterparties and interest rate curves. As at 
31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014, the marked-to-market value of derivative positions is net of a credit valuation 
adjustment attributable to derivative counterparty default risk. The changes in counterparty credit risk had no material effect 
on the hedge effectiveness assessment for derivatives designated in hedge relationships and other financial instruments 
recognised at fair value.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
 
 
 
  129

30. Hedge and hedging instruments
The Group entered into interest rate swaps and caps provided by VTB Bank OJSC to mitigate the risk of a rising MosPrime 
interest rate. Caps provide security for 4 quarters during the full periods of the agreement, so the termination date would the 
earlier of the expiry date or the fourth settlement date for the floating amounts paid by VTB to the Group.

As at period end the Group had the following interest rate financial instruments:

Type of instrument
Interest rate swap
Interest rate swap
Interest rate swap
Interest rate swap
Interest rate swap
Interest rate swap
Interest rate cap
Interest rate cap

Notional amount 
2015
−
−
−
12,500,000
900,000
1,000,000
10,000,000
900,000

Notional amount 
2014
6,250,000
3,000,000
3,250,000
12,500,000
900,000
1,000,000
10,000,000
900,000

Fixed 
interest rate
7.33%
8.00%
8.15%
7.64%
7.54%
15.35%
12.00%
12.00%

Fixed 
commission

Effective 
date
n/a 30 September 2011
n/a 30 September 2011
n/a 30 September 2011
n/a
31 March 2015
31 December 2013
n/a
31 December 2014
n/a
0.54% 31 December 2014
0.45% 31 December 2013

Expiry 
date
31 March 2015
31 March 2015
31 March 2015
12 April 2018
12 November 2018
31 December 2016
12 April 2018
12 November 2018

Derivative financial instruments are classified in the statement of financial position as follows:

Non-current asset
Current assets
Non-current liability
Current liability
Net derivative asset

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
765,257
1,969,920
(28,357)
−
2,706,820

355,414
439,050
(24,564)
(99,564)
670,336

The Group performs fair value assessment of the fair values of swaps and caps at the reporting date:

Swaps
Caps
Net derivative asset

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
2,154,537
552,283
2,706,820

755,481
(85,145)
670,336

Starting 1 July 2013 the Group applied cash flow hedge accounting of swaps and caps that meet prescribed criteria, including 
preparation of all necessary documentation. Hedge accounting was applied prospectively from designation.

Retrospective and prospective effectiveness of cash flow hedges (swaps and caps) was measured by the Group using the 
“dollar offset” method. The effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedging instrument was recognized in other comprehensive 
income in hedging reserve.

The effect from changes in fair value of financial instruments is recognized as follows:

Profit or loss
Ineffective portion of the change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments
Reclassification from hedge reserve into interest expense

Other comprehensive income
Effective portion of the change in the fair value of cash flow hedging instruments
Reclassification from hedge reserve into interest expense

Year ended 
31 December 2015

Year ended 
31 December 2014

6,308
1,800,556
1,806,864

(19,488)
108,492
89,004

(525,963)
(1,800,556)
(2,326,519)

3,394,512
(108,492)
3,286,020

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015 
130

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

31. Financial risk management
The Group’s principal financial liabilities, other than derivatives, comprise of loans and borrowings, trade and other payables. 
The main purpose of these financial liabilities is to finance the Group’s operations and to provide guarantees to support 
its operations. The Group’s principal financial assets include loans, trade and other receivables, and cash and short-term 
deposits that derive directly from its operations. The Group also enters into derivative transactions.

The Group is exposed to market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s senior management oversees the management 
of these risks. The Group’s financial risk activities are governed by appropriate policies and procedures and financial risks 
are identified, measured and managed in accordance with the Group’s policies and risk objectives. All derivative activities for 
risk management purposes are carried out by specialists that have the appropriate skills, experience and supervision. It is the 
Group’s policy that no trading in derivatives for speculative purposes may be undertaken.

The Board of Directors reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks, which are summarized below.

Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in 
market prices. Market risk comprises the following types of risk: interest rate risk, currency risk, and other price risk, such as 
equity price risk. Financial instruments affected by market risk include loans and borrowings, cash equivalents and derivative 
financial instruments.

Foreign currency risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of 
changes in foreign exchange rates.

During the year ended 31 December 2015 and year ended 31 December 2014, the Group did not attract any amounts of 
foreign currency denominated borrowings, and as a consequence is not materially exposed to foreign currency risk. The only 
balances that are exposed to foreign currency risk are accounts payables to several foreign suppliers. 

At 31 December 2015 and at 31 December 2014 there were no significant amounts in foreign currencies.

Whenever possible, the Group tries to mitigate the exposure to foreign currency risk by matching the statement of financial 
position, and revenue and expense items in the relevant currency.

Foreign currency sensitivity
The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the US dollar exchange rate, with all other 
variables held constant. 

Year ended 2015

Year ended 2014

Change in USD rate
40.00%
-13.00%
28.54%
-28.54%

Effect on profit 
before tax
(49,033)
15,936
(39,259)
39,259

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the EUR exchange rate, with all other 
variables held constant. 

Year ended 2015

Year ended 2014

Change in EUR rate
43.00%
-15.00%
29.58%
-29.58%

Effect on profit 
before tax
(40,846)
14,249
(17,999)
17,999

Foreign currency exchange rate reasonable possible change range was prepared for the purpose of market risk disclosures in 
accordance with IFRS 7 and is derived from statistical data, in particular time series analysis.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  131

31.  Financial risk management (continued)
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of the financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes 
in market interest rates. 

The Group’s exposure to the risk of changes in market interest rates relates primarily to the Group’s long-term debt obligations 
with floating interest rates. As at 31 December 2015 these obligations are represented with long-term borrowing (Note 20), 
which bears interest of MosPrime 1-3m plus margin. In order to hedge the risk of rising MosPrime interest rate, the Group 
entered into interest rate swaps and caps (Note 30).

Interest rate sensitivity
The following tables demonstrate the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in MosPrime rates, on that portion of loans 
and borrowings affected, after the impact of hedge accounting. With all other variables held constant, the Group’s profit before 
tax and OCI are affected through the impact on floating rate borrowings, as follows:

2015
Variable rate instruments
Interest rate swaps and caps
Cash flow sensitivity (net)

2014
Variable rate instruments
Interest rate swaps and caps
Cash flow sensitivity (net)

Profit or loss

OCI

600 bp increase

500 bp decrease

600 bp increase

500 bp decrease

(2,647,200)
1,519,500
(1,127,700)

2,647,200
(855,009)
1,792,191

−
1,761,327
1,761,327

−
(1,358,130)
(1,358,130)

Profit or loss

OCI

932 bp increase

932 bp decrease

932 bp increase

932 bp decrease

(3,122,160)
1,948,129
(1,174,031)

3,122,160
(629,572)
2,492,588

−
3,801,430
3,801,430

−
(4,020,129)
(4,020,129)

The range of reasonable possible changes in MosPrime rate was prepared for the purpose of market risk disclosures in 
accordance with IFRS 7 and is based on risk metrics that are derived from statistical data, in particular time series analysis.

The Group is exposed to cash flow interest rate risk as it borrows funds at floating interest rates. During the year ended 
31 December 2015 all of the Group’s borrowings were denominated in Russian roubles. The Group evaluates its interest rate 
exposure and hedging activities on a regular basis and acts accordingly in order to align with the defined risk limits set by the 
executive board. To ensure optimal hedging strategies various scenarios are simulated taking into consideration refinancing, 
renewal of existing positions, alternative financing and financial hedging instruments.

The Group manages its cash flow interest rate risk by the use of floating to fixed interest rate swaps and caps. Such financial 
instruments have the economic benefit of converting borrowings issued at variable rates to fixed interest rates. The Group’s 
hedging instruments as at the reporting date are detailed in Note 30 of these financial statements. The sensitivity analyses 
below have been determined based on the net exposure of interest bearing borrowings. The net exposure of the Group to 
interest rate fluctuations as at 31 December 2015 was as follows:

Total floating rate borrowings (gross of direct issue costs)
Less notional amount of interest rate financial instruments (Note 30)
Net exposure to interest rate fluctuations
% of floating rate borrowings exposed to interest rate fluctuations

31 December 2015
46,054,240
(25,300,000)
20,754,240
45%

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015132

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

31.  Financial risk management (continued)
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that counterparty may default or not meet its obligations to the Group on a timely basis, leading to 
financial loss to the Group. Financial assets, which are potentially subject to credit risk, consist principally of cash in bank 
accounts and cash in transit, loans and receivables.

In determining the recoverability of receivables the Group performs a risk analysis considering the credit quality of the 
counterparty, the ageing of the outstanding amount and any past default experience.

Trade receivables
The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk. Concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables is limited 
due to the Company’s customer and vendor base being large and unrelated. Credit is only extended to counterparties subject 
to strict approval procedures. The Group trades only with recognized, creditworthy third parties who are registered in the 
Russian Federation. It is the Group’s policy that all customers who are granted credit terms have a history of purchases from 
the Group. The Group also requires these customers to provide certain documents such as incorporation documents and 
financial statements. In addition, receivable balances are monitored on an ongoing basis with the result that the Group’s 
exposure to bad debts is not significant. Sales to retail customers are made in cash, debit cards or via major credit cards.

Cash and cash equivalents
Credit risk from investing activities is managed by the Group’s treasury department in accordance with the Group’s policy. 
Investments of surplus funds are made only with approved counterparties. Cash is placed in financial institutions, which are 
considered at time of deposit to have minimal risk of default. 

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date of trade receivables is the carrying value as presented in the 
statement of financial position. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date of cash and cash equivalents 
is RUB 22,317,167 thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 11,927,252 thousand).

Liquidity risk
The Group monitors its risk to a shortage of funds using a recurring liquidity planning tool. This tool considers the maturity 
of its financial assets and liabilities and projected cash flows from operations. The Group objective is to maintain a continuity 
of funding and flexibility through the use of bank overdrafts and bank loans. Each year the Group analyzes its funding needs 
and anticipated cash flows, so that it can determine its funding needs.

The table below summarizes the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities at 31 December 2015, 31 December 2014 
based on contractual undiscounted cash flows of the financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group is 
required to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows. When the amount payable is not fixed for the entire 
term of the instrument, such as variable rate interest payments, the amount disclosed in the table is determined by reference 
to the conditions (e.g. MosPrime index) existing at the reporting date:

31 December 2015

Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Amounts payable under swaps and caps
Finance leasing
Total

31 December 2014

Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Amounts payable under swaps and caps
Finance leasing
Total

Less than 
12 months
19,945,156
47,058,158
100,216
19,850
67,123,380

Less than 
12 months
26,241,580
46,979,088
−
21,136
73,241,804

1-5 years
72,189,546
−
74,344
−
72,263,890

Over 5 years
15,328,782
−
−
−
15,328,782

Total
107,463,484
47,058,158
174,560
19,850
154,716,052

1-5 years
85,765,949
−
30,753
19,850
85,816,552

Over 5 years
3,697,212
−
−
−
3,697,212

Total
115,704,741
46,979,088
30,753
40,986
162,755,568

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  133

31. Financial risk management (continued)
Capital management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while 
maximizing the return to stakeholders through the optimization of the debt and equity balance. 

The Group reviews its capital needs periodically to determine actions to balance its overall capital structure through 
shareholders’ capital contributions or new share issues, return of capital to shareholders as well as the issue of new debt 
or the redemption of existing debt. The Group is guided in its decisions by an established financing policy, which stipulates 
leverage ratios, interest coverage, covenants compliance, appropriateness of balance between long-term and short-term 
debt, requirements to diversification of funding sources. Dividends are to be declared based on the capital requirements 
of the business and with reference to continuing compliance with the financial policy.

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes the borrowings disclosed in Note 20, obligations under 
finance leases less cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued 
capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in Note 17.

Net debt of the Group is comprised of the following:

Borrowings
Obligations under finance leases
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 16)
Net debt

31 December 2015 31 December 2014
71,215,370
35,465
(12,035,785)
59,215,050

75,922,374
18,577
(22,455,945)
53,485,006

Net debt is a non-IFRS indicator and, therefore, its calculation may differ between companies, however it is one of the key 
indicators that are commonly used by investors and other users of financial statements in order to evaluate financial condition 
of the Group. 

32. Contingencies
Operating environment of the Group
The Group sells products that are sensitive to changes in general economic conditions that impact consumer spending. 
Future economic conditions and other factors, including sanctions imposed, consumer confidence, employment levels, 
interest rates, consumer debt levels and availability of consumer credit could reduce consumer spending or change consumer 
purchasing habits. A general slowdown in the Russian economy or in the global economy, or an uncertain economic outlook, 
could adversely affect consumer spending habits and the Group’s operating results.

By the Executive Order of the President of Russia On Special Economic Measures to Protect the Russian Federation’s 
Security signed on 6 August 2014 it was prohibited to import into the territory of the Russian Federation certain agricultural 
products, raw materials and foodstuffs originating in countries, that have decided to impose economic sanctions on Russian 
legal entities and (or) individuals, or have joined such decision. By the Executive Order of the President of Russia On Special 
Economic Measures to Protect the Russian Federation’s and Russian citizens Security from the criminal and other illegal 
actions and the application of special economic measures against Turkey signed on 28 November 2015 it was prohibited to 
import into the territory of the Russian Federation certain products from Turkey. The following countries are under embargo: 
EU countries, USA, Australia, Canada, Norway and Turkey. A specific list of goods in respect of which the restrictions are 
imposed was determined by the Russian Government. The list includes meat and dairy products, fish, vegetables, fruits, 
nuts and some other products. The Group’s Management believes that these measures do not have material impact on the 
Group’s operation.

Russia continues economic reforms and development of its legal, tax and regulatory frameworks as required by a market 
economy. The future stability of the Russian economy is largely dependent upon these reforms and developments and the 
effectiveness of economic, financial and monetary measures undertaken by the government.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015134

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2015 (in thousands of Russian Roubles)

32. Contingencies (continued)
In 2015, the Russian economy continued to be negatively impacted by a significant drop in crude oil prices and a significant 
devaluation of the Russian rouble, as well as sanctions imposed on Russia by several countries in 2014. The rouble interest 
rates remained high after the Central Bank of Russia raised its key rate in December 2014, with subsequent gradual decrease 
in 2015. 

The combination of the above resulted in reduced access to capital, a higher cost of capital, increased inflation and 
uncertainty regarding economic growth, which could negatively affect the Group’s future financial position, results of 
operations and business prospects. Management believes it is taking appropriate measures to support the sustainability 
of the Group’s business in the current circumstances.

Legal contingencies
Group companies are involved in a number of lawsuits and disputes that arise in the normal course of business. Management 
assesses the maximum exposure relating to such lawsuits and disputes to be RUB 6,449 thousand as at 31 December 2015 
(31 December 2014: RUB 1,841 thousand). Management believes there is no exceptional event or litigation likely to affect 
materially the business, financial performance, net assets or financial position of the Group which have not been disclosed 
in these consolidated financial statements.

Russian Federation tax and regulatory environment
The government of the Russian Federation continues to reform the business and commercial infrastructure in its transition 
to a market economy. As a result the laws and regulations affecting businesses continue to change rapidly. These changes 
are characterized by poor drafting, different interpretations and arbitrary application by the authorities. In particular taxes are 
subject to review and investigation by a number of authorities who are enabled by law to impose fines and penalties. While the 
Group believes it has provided adequately for all tax liabilities based on its understanding of the tax legislation, the above facts 
may create tax risks for the Group. Management also assesses the maximum exposure from possible tax risks to be RUB 
126,793 thousand (31 December 2014: RUB 1,030,479 thousand). No tax provisions were recorded as at 31 December 2015 
and 31 December 2014. Management continues to monitor closely any developments related to these risks and regularly 
reassesses the risk and related liabilities, provisions and disclosures.

Land leases
Certain lease agreements for land plots contain a 3 year lease term. Some of the 3 year lease agreements expired prior to 
the date of these financial statements. The Group initiated the process of renewal of the lease agreements for 49 years and 
believes that the risks relating to the operations of the respective stores are insignificant. No provisions in this respect were 
accrued as at 31 December 2015 and 31 December 2014.

Environmental matters
The enforcement of environmental regulation in the Russian Federation is evolving and the enforcement posture of 
government authorities is continually being reconsidered. The Group periodically evaluates its obligations under 
environmental regulations. As obligations are determined, they are recognized immediately. Potential liabilities, which might 
arise as a result of changes in existing regulations, civil litigation or legislation, cannot be estimated but could be material. 
In the current enforcement climate under existing legislation, management believes that there are no significant liabilities for 
environmental damage.

33. Events occurring after the reporting period
On 27 January 2016 the Group received RUB 7,000,000 thousand under non-revolving credit line agreement of with 
PJSC Rosbank with maturity period of 3 years. The loan bears covenants with respect to Net debt / EBITDA and EBITDA / 
Net interest expense 

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Appendices

  135

Contents
List of cities as of  
31 December, 2016  

Glossary 

Further information 

Cautionary statements 

136

138

139

140

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015136

List of cities as of 31 December 2015

Number 
on the map
  1
  2
  3
 4
  5
  6
  7
  8
  9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

Cities1
Almetyevsk 
Armavir 
Astrakhan 
Balakovo 
Barnaul 
Belgorod 
Biysk 
Bryansk 
Cheboksary 
Chelyabinsk
Cherepovets 
Dimitrovgrad 
Engels
Ivanovo 
Irkutsk
Izhevsk 
Kaluga
Kemerovo 
Khanty-Mansiysk
Krasnodar 
Krasnoyarsk
Lipetsk 
Magnitogorsk
Moscow
Murmansk
Naberezhnye Chelny 
Nizhny Novgorod 
Nizhnekamsk 
Nizhny Tagil 
Novocherkassk
Novokuznetsk 
Novorossiysk 
Novosibirsk 
Omsk 
Orel

Number
of hypermarkets
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
3
1
2
2
1
1
8
1
1
3
1
2
1
5
2
7
4
1

Number of
supermarkets 

Number of
distribution
centres

28

1

1

1      From 1 May 2015, all stores located in Moscow city and the Moscow Region are shown as ‘Moscow’.  

All stores located in the Leningrad Region and St. Petersburg are shown as ‘St. Petersburg’.

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015  137

Number of
supermarkets 

Number of
distribution
centres

4

1

2

1

1

Number 
on the map
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70

Cities
Orenburg 
Penza 
Perm 
Petrozavodsk 
Prokopyevsk 
Pskov 
Rostov-on-Don
Ryazan 
Saransk
Saratov 
Smolensk 
Stavropol
St. Petersburg 
Surgut 
Syktyvkar 
Taganrog 
Tobolsk 
Togliatti 
Tyumen 
Tomsk
Tula
Tver 
Veliky Novgorod 
Vladimir
Volgograd 
Vologda 
Volzhski 
Voronezh
Ufa 
Ulyanovsk 
Yaroslavl 
Yekaterinburg
Yoshkar-Ola 
Yurga 
Zheleznovodsk 

Number
of hypermarkets
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
20
2
1
1
1
2
4
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
1
2
2
2
2

1
1
1

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015138

Glossary

Unless otherwise specified, the terms ‘we’, ‘us’, and ‘our’ refer to Lenta Ltd., or where the context allows,  
to the Lenta business more generally.

the 2014 Offering 

active cardholder

the initial public offering of our Shares, in the form of GDRs, admitted to trading on the 
London Stock Exchange and the Moscow Stock Exchange on 5 March 2014

a customer who has purchased goods at one of our stores at least twice in the past 
12 months using our loyalty card

average sales density

total sales during the relevant year divided by the average selling space for that year

average ticket

the figure calculated by dividing total sales, net of VAT, at all stores during the relevant 
year by the number of tickets in that year

the Board

the board of directors of Lenta Ltd

BVI

Capex

EGAIS

FMCG

GDRs

the British Virgin Islands

capital expenditure

national automated information system for the control of alcohol production 
and distribution

fast-moving consumer goods – products that are sold quickly and at relatively low cost

global depositary receipts

in-store availability

the number of SKUs in-store with a positive stock value as a proportion of the total 
number of active SKUs for sale, calculated based on the average daily in-store 
availability of all open stores

LFL

P&L 

SG&A

Shares

SKU

sq.m.

ticket

total selling space

like-for-like

profit and loss statement

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, which is a major non-production cost 
presented in the Income statement

our ordinary shares

a ‘stock keeping unit’, or a number assigned to a particular product to identify the 
price, product options and manufacturer of the merchandise

square metre(s)

the receipt issued to a customer for his/her basket (the amount spent by a customer 
on a shopping trip)

the area inside our stores used to sell products, excluding areas rented out to third 
parties, own-production areas, storage areas and the space between store entry and 
the cash desk line

traffic

the number of tickets issued for the period under review

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015Further information

  139

In this annual report, we present certain operating and financial information regarding our hypermarkets and supermarkets, 
which we define as follows:

Adjusted EBITDA

EBITDA adjusted for non-recurring one-off items such as changes in accounting 
estimates and one-off non-operating costs

Adjusted EBITDA margin

Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of sales

Adjusted EBITDAR

Adjusted EBITDA before rent paid on land, equipment and premises leases

Adjusted EBITDAR margin

Adjusted EBITDAR as a percentage of sales

EBITDA

like-for-like sales

Other metrics

Profit for the period before foreign exchange gains/losses, revaluation of financial 
instruments at fair value through profit  
or loss, reversal of impairment of non-financial assets, other expenses, depreciation 
and amortisation, interest and tax.  
The reconciliation of EBITDA to IFRS profit is presented in tabular format in note 6 
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

We distinguish between sales attributable to new stores and sales attributable to 
existing stores. We consider the sales generated by stores until the end of the 
12th full calendar month of their operation to be sales attributable to new stores. 
Accordingly, like-for-like sales begin with the comparison of the 13th full calendar 
month of operations of a store to its first full calendar month of operations, assuming 
the store has not subsequently closed, expanded or down sized. The number 
of stores in our like-for-like panel as of 31 December 2015 and 2014 was 109 
(91 hypermarkets and 18 supermarkets) and 74 (68 hypermarkets and 6 supermarkets) 
respectively. ‘Like-for-like average ticket growth’, ‘like-for-like average price growth 
per article’, ‘like-for-like traffic growth’, and ‘like-for-like average sales density’ are 
calculated using the same methodology as like-for-like sales.

Net debt is calculated as the sum of short-term and long-term debt (including 
borrowings and obligations under finance leases, capitalised fees and accrued 
interest) minus cash and cash equivalents. The ratio of net debt to Adjusted EBITDA 
is net debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA. The ratio of Adjusted EBITDA to net interest 
expense is Adjusted EBITDA divided by net interest expense, which is calculated as 
interest expense less interest income. The ratio of Adjusted EBITDAR to net interest 
expense plus rental expense ratio is Adjusted EBITDAR divided by the sum of net 
interest expense and rental expenses. CROCI is defined as Adjusted EBITDA over 
average capital invested. Average capital invested is the average of the book value 
of gross non-current assets plus net working capital as of the beginning of the year 
and the book value of gross non-current assets plus net working capital as of the 
end of the year. Adjusted SG&A/Sales is SG&A, excluding expenses on land and 
equipment leases, premises leases, depreciation and amortisation and one-off 
expenses as a proportion of sales. 

We have included these measures because we believe that they enhance an investor’s understanding of our financial 
performance. However, these measures should not be used instead of, or considered as alternatives to, our historical 
financial results based on IFRS. In addition, certain of our loan agreements contain financial covenants that are based 
on certain of these measures. Our use of these measures may vary from other companies in our industry.

Strategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsAppendices Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015140

Lenta Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Cautionary statements

Forward-looking statements
This document contains certain ‘forward-looking statements’ which include all statements other than those of historical facts 
that relate to our plans, financial position, objectives, goals, strategies, future operations and performance, together with the 
assumptions underlying such matters.

We generally use words such as ‘estimates’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, ‘intends’, ‘plans’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘should’, ‘projects’, ‘anticipates’, 
‘targets’, ‘aims’, ‘would’, ‘could’, ‘continues’ and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. We have 
based these forward-looking statements on the current views of our management with regard to future events and performance. 
These views reflect management’s best judgement, but involve uncertainties and are subject to certain known and unknown 
risks together with other important factors outside our control, the occurrence of which could cause actual results to differ 
materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.

Market and industry data
Statements referring to our competitive position and the Russian retail food sector reflect our beliefs and, in some cases, private 
and publicly available information and statistics, including annual reports, industry publications, market research, press releases, 
filings under various securities laws, official data published by Russian governmental entities and data published by international 
organisations and other third-party sources.

Rounding
Certain figures in this document have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same 
category presented in different tables may vary slightly, and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic 
aggregation of the figures that precede them.

Designed and produced by Instinctif Partners www.instinctif.com

Lenta Ltd  
Registered Office 
P.O. Box 3340  
Road Town  
Tortola  
British Virgin Islands

Lenta Headquarters  
112 Savushkina Street  
St. Petersburg  
Russia 197374  
Phone: +7 (812) 363-28-53  
Fax: +7 (812) 380-61-50 

www.lentainvestor.com

To see the report online go to: 
www.lentainvestor.com/en/
investors/annual-reports

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