Annual / Quarterly Financial Statement • Feb 28, 2017
Annual / Quarterly Financial Statement
Open in ViewerOpens in native device viewer
AB INVL Baltic Farmland Consolidated Annual Report, Consolidated and Company's Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016
prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union presented together with independent auditor's report
| INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: | ||
| DETAILS OF THE COMPANY 9 | ||
| CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 10 | ||
| CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION 11 | ||
| CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 12 | ||
| CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 14 | ||
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 15 | ||
| 1 | GENERAL INFORMATION 15 | |
| 2 | SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 16 | |
| 3 | FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT 25 | |
| 3.1. Financial risk factors 25 |
||
| 3.2. Capital management 27 |
||
| 4 | FAIR VALUE ESTIMATION 28 | |
| 5 | SUBSIDIARIES 29 | |
| 6 | SEGMENT INFORMATION AND OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS 30 | |
| 7 | AGREEMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF LAND PLOTS 31 | |
| 8 | INCOME TAX 31 | |
| 9 | EARNINGS PER SHARE 33 | |
| 10 | INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 34 | |
| 11 | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS BY CATEGORY 35 | |
| 12 | LOANS GRANTED TO SUBSIDIARIES 36 | |
| 13 | TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 37 | |
| 14 | SHARE CAPITAL, ACQUISITION OF OWN SHARES AND RESERVES 38 | |
| 15 | DIVIDENDS 38 | |
| 16 | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 39 | |
| 17 | EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 40 |
| CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL REPORT 41 | ||
|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | -------------------------------- |
| Overall Company and Group materiality |
$\epsilon$ 104 thousand, same materiality applied for the Company and the Group |
|---|---|
| How we determined it | 1% of total equity of the Company's and the Group's respectively |
| Rationale for the materiality benchmark applied |
We have chosen the Group's and Company's equity as the benchmark because, in our view, it is an appropriate measure of underlying performance and the benchmark against which the performance of the Group, the Company and other companies in this industry is most commonly measured by users, and is a generally accepted benchmark. The key driver of the business and determinant of the Group's value is investments into agricultural land, whereas the Company's value represents investments into subsidiaries. Due to this, the key area of focus in the audit of the Group and in the audit of the Company is the valuation of investment property and investments into subsidiaries, respectively. Accordingly, an overall Group and Company materiality level is based on total equity. We chose 1%, which is within the range of acceptable quantitative materiality thresholds |
| Key audit matter | How our audit addressed the key audit |
|---|---|
| matter |
| Group | Company | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Revenue | 6 | 531 | 460 | - | - |
| Interest income | - | - | 211 | 220 | |
| Other income Share of net profit of subsidiaries accounted for using |
5 | 15 | 21 | - | - |
| the equity method Net gain from fair value adjustments on investment property |
10 | - 1,098 |
- 678 |
1,040 - |
681 - |
| Land plots administration fees | 7 | (174) | (117) | - | - |
| Legal, professional and securities administration fees | (47) | (49) | (27) | (29) | |
| (Allowance for) reversal of impairment of trade receivables |
13 | 6 | 21 | - | - |
| Direct property operating expenses | (16) | (21) | - | - | |
| Employee benefits expense | (7) | (7) | (2) | (4) | |
| Depreciation and amortisation | - | (2) | - | - | |
| Other expenses | (8) | (5) | (2) | (2) | |
| Operating profit | 1,398 | 979 | 1,220 | 866 | |
| Finance costs | - | - | - | - | |
| Profit before income tax | 1,398 | 979 | 1,220 | 866 | |
| Income tax expense | 8 | (205) | (141) | (27) | (28) |
| NET PROFIT FOR THE YEAR | 1,193 | 838 | 1,193 | 838 | |
| Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax |
- | - | - | - | |
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR |
1,193 | 838 | 1,193 | 838 | |
| Attributable to: | |||||
| Equity holders of the parent | 1,193 | 838 | 1,193 | 838 | |
| Basic and diluted earnings per share (in EUR) | 9 | 0.37 | 0.25 |
| Group | Company | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | As at 31 December 2016 |
As at 31 December 2015 |
As at 31 December 2016 |
As at 31 December 2015 |
||
| ASSETS | ||||||
| Non-current assets | ||||||
| Investment properties | 10 | 12,335 | 11,237 | - | ||
| Investments into subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method |
5 | - | - | 6,624 | 5,581 | |
| Loans granted to subsidiaries | 12 | - | - | 4,656 | 4,875 | |
| Total non-current assets | 12,335 | 11,237 | 11,280 | 10,456 | ||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Trade and other receivables | 13 | 82 | 54 | 5 | 8 | |
| Loans granted to subsidiaries | 12 | - | - | - | 5 | |
| Prepayments and deferred charges | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 3.1 | 209 | 367 | 101 | 136 | |
| Total current assets | 297 | 428 | 112 | 156 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 12,632 | 11,665 | 11,392 | 10,612 | ||
| EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | ||||||
| Equity | ||||||
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | ||||||
| Share capital | 14 | 955 | 955 | 955 | 955 | |
| Own shares | 14 | (203) | - | (203) | - | |
| Share premium | 1,387 | 1,387 | 1,387 | 1,387 | ||
| Reserves | 14 | 3,231 | 3,223 | 3,211 | 3,211 | |
| Retained earnings | 5,973 | 5,005 | 5,993 | 5,017 | ||
| Total equity | 11,343 | 10,570 | 11,343 | 10,570 | ||
| Liabilities | ||||||
| Non-current liabilities | ||||||
| Deferred income tax liability | 8 | 1,121 | 946 | - | - | |
| Total non-current liabilities | 1,121 | 946 | - | - | ||
| Current liabilities | ||||||
| Trade payables | 118 | 105 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Income tax payable | 31 | 28 | 25 | 24 | ||
| Other current liabilities | 19 | 16 | 22 | 16 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 168 | 149 | 49 | 42 | ||
| Total liabilities | 1, 1,289 |
1,095 | 49 | 42 | ||
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | 12,632 | 11,665 | 11,392 | 10,612 |
| Re se |
rve s |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gr ou p |
No tes |
Sh ita l are ca p |
Ow ha n s res |
S ha ium re p rem |
Le al g res erv e |
Re fo se rve r rch f o pu as e o wn sh are s |
Re tai d e ing ne arn s |
To tal |
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 14 at ce as ce er |
95 4 |
( 6) |
1, 38 7 |
132 | 3, 08 7 |
4, 37 7 |
9, 93 1 |
|
| Ne rof it fo r th t p e y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 83 8 |
83 8 |
|
| To tal reh siv e i e f the co mp en nc om or ea r y |
- | - | - | - | - | 83 8 |
83 8 |
|
| Ow ha bu ba ck n s res y |
14 | - | ( 2) |
- | - | - | - | ( 2) |
| De of sh ital cre ase are ca p |
14 | - | 8 | - | - | ( 8) |
- | - |
| Th dju f th lue of th ha du stm t o e a en e p ar va e s res e rsio to n to cu rre ncy co nve eu ro |
14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | ( 1) |
- |
| Tra nsf to er res erv es |
- | - | - | 12 | - | ( 12) |
- | |
| Div ide nds d ap pro ve |
15 | - | - | - | - | - | ( ) 197 |
( 197 ) |
| To tal ion ith of the Co tra act ns s w ow ne rs mp an y, nis ed di tly in uit rec og rec eq y |
1 | 6 | - | 12 | ( 8) |
( 21 0) |
( 199 ) |
|
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 at 15 ce as ce er |
95 5 |
- | 38 1, 7 |
144 | 3, 07 9 |
00 5, 5 |
10 0 57 , |
|
| Ne rof it fo r th t p e y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 1, 193 |
1, 193 |
|
| To tal reh siv e i e f the co mp en nc om or y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 1, 193 |
1, 193 |
|
| Ow ha bu ba ck n s res y |
14 | - | ( 20 3) |
- | - | - | - | ( 20 3) |
| Tra nsf to er res erv es |
- | - | - | 8 | - | ( 8) |
- | |
| Div ide nds d ap pro ve |
15 | - | - | - | - | - | ( 7) 21 |
( 21 7) |
| To tal ion ith of the Co tra act ns s w ow ne rs mp an y, nis ed di tly in uit rec og rec eq y |
- | ( 20 3) |
- | 8 | - | ( 22 5) |
( 42 0) |
|
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 16 at ce as ce er |
95 5 |
( 20 3) |
38 1, 7 |
152 | 3, 07 9 |
97 3 5, |
34 3 11 , |
| Re | se rve s |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co mp an y |
No tes |
Sh ita l are ca p |
Ow ha n s res |
S ha ium re p rem |
Le al g res erv e |
Re fo se rve r rch f o pu as e o wn sh are s |
Re tai d e ing ne arn s |
To tal |
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 14 at ce as ce er |
95 4 |
( 6) |
1, 38 7 |
132 | 3, 08 7 |
4, 37 7 |
9, 93 1 |
|
| Ne rof it fo r th t p e y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 83 8 |
83 8 |
|
| To tal reh siv e i e f the co mp en nc om or y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 83 8 |
83 8 |
|
| Ow ha bu ba ck n s res y |
14 | - | ( 2) |
- | - | - | - | ( 2) |
| De of sh ital cre ase are ca p |
14 | - | 8 | - | - | ( 8) |
- | - |
| Th dju f th lue of th ha du stm t o e a en e p ar va e s res e rsio to n to cu rre ncy co nve eu ro |
14 | 1 | - | - | - | - | ( 1) |
- |
| Div ide nds d ap pro ve |
15 | - | - | - | - | - | ( 197 ) |
( 197 ) |
| To tal ion ith of the Co tra act ns s w ow ne rs mp an y, nis ed di tly in uit rec og rec eq y |
1 | 6 | - | - | ( 8) |
( 198 ) |
( 199 ) |
|
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 15 at ce as ce er |
95 5 |
- | 1, 38 7 |
132 | 3, 07 9 |
5, 01 7 |
10 57 0 , |
|
| Ne rof it fo r th t p e y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 1, 193 |
1, 193 |
|
| To tal reh siv e i e f the co mp en nc om or y ea r |
- | - | - | - | - | 1, 193 |
1, 193 |
|
| Ow ha bu ba ck n s res y |
14 | - | ( 20 3) |
- | - | - | - | ( 20 3) |
| Div ide nds d ap pro ve |
15 | - | - | - | - | - | ( 7) 21 |
( 21 7) |
| To tal ion ith of the Co tra act ns s w ow ne rs mp an y, nis ed di tly in uit rec og rec eq y |
- | ( 20 3) |
- | - | - | ( 21 7) |
( 42 0) |
|
| Ba lan 31 De mb 20 16 at ce as ce er |
95 5 |
( 20 3) |
38 1, 7 |
132 | 3, 07 9 |
99 3 5, |
34 3 11 , |
(all amounts are in EUR thousand unless otherwise stated)
| Group | Company | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Cash flows from (to) operating activities | |||||
| Net profit for the year Adjustments for non-cash items and non-operating activities: |
1,193 | 838 | 1,193 | 838 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | - | 2 | - | - | |
| Net gains from fair value adjustments on investment property Share of net profit of subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method |
10 5 |
(1,098) - |
(678) - |
- (1,040) |
- (681) |
| Interest income | - | - | (211) | (220) | |
| Deferred taxes | 8 | 174 | 113 | - | 4 |
| Current income tax expenses | 8 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 24 |
| Allowances | 13 | (6) | (21) | - | - |
| Changes in working capital: | |||||
| Decrease (increase) in trade and other receivables Decrease (increase) in other current assets |
(22) 1 |
(24) (6) |
(1) 1 |
(8) (7) |
|
| (Decrease) increase in trade payables | 8 | 97 | (5) | (6) | |
| (Decrease) increase in other current liabilities | 2 | 9 | 1 | 9 | |
| Cash flows from (to) operating activities | 283 | 358 | (35) | (47) | |
| Income tax paid | (27) | (9) | (22) | (7) | |
| Net cash flows from (to) operating activities | 256 | 349 | (57) | (54) | |
| Cash flows from (to) investing activities | |||||
| Proceeds from sale of non-current assets (except for investment properties) |
- | 2 | - | - | |
| Acquisition of investment properties | - | (1) | - | - | |
| Loans granted | 12 | - | - | - | (8) |
| Additional investments into subsidiaries | 5 | - | - | (3) | - |
| Repayment of granted loans | 12 | - | - | 311 | 41 |
| Interest received | 12 | - | - | 128 | 180 |
| Net cash flows from (to) investing activities | - | 1 | 436 | 213 | |
| Cash flows from (to) financing activities Cash flows related to Group owners |
|||||
| Acquisition of own shares | 14 | (203) | (2) | (203) | (2) |
| Dividends paid to equity holders of the parent | 15 | (211) | (191) | (211) | (191) |
| (414) | (193) | (414) | (193) | ||
| Net cash flows from (to) financing activities | (414) | (193) | (414) | (193) | |
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (158) | 157 | (35) | (34) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 367 | 210 | 136 | 170 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | 209 | 367 | 101 | 136 |
AB INVL Baltic Farmland (hereinafter the Company) is a joint stock company registered in the Republic of Lithuania. It was established on 29 April 2014, following the split-off of 14.45% assets, equity and liabilities from AB Invalda INVL (company code 121304349). Entities, which business is investment into agricultural land and its rent, were transferred to the Company (hereinafter split-off).
The Group consists of the Company and its directly owned subsidiaries (hereinafter the Group, Note 5).
The address of the office is Gynėjų str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Company manages shares of entities investing into agricultural land and provides finance. Now the Company has 100% shares in 18 companies owning more than 3 thousand hectares of agricultural land in Lithuania (detailed list of subsidiaries is presented in Note 5), that is rented to farmers and agricultural companies. The Company focuses on growth of quality of owned land and environmental sustainability. The Group operates in one segment – agricultural land segment.
Investments into agricultural land are classified as long term and are recommended for investors who are satisfied with the return on rent and possible income from increase of agricultural land prices. Since prices of agricultural products are determined in the world markets, this investment allows participating in the world food supply chain.
As at 31 December 2016 and 2015 the shareholders of the Company were (by votes)*:
| 2016 | 2015 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of votes held |
Percentage | Number of votes held |
Percentage | |
| UAB LJB Investments (controlling shareholder Mr. | ||||
| Alvydas Banys) | 977,751 | 30.29 | 1,002,724 | 30.46 |
| Mrs. Irena Ona Mišeikienė | 931,831 | 28.86 | 952,072 | 28.92 |
| UAB Lucrum Investicija (sole shareholder Mr. Darius | ||||
| Šulnis) | 730,068 | 22.61 | 743,546 | 22.59 |
| Mr. Alvydas Banys | 252,875 | 7.83 | 252,875 | 7.69 |
| Ms. Indrė Mišeikytė | 64,450 | 2.00 | 65,758 | 2.00 |
| Other minor shareholders | 271,535 | 8.41 | 274,574 | 8.34 |
| Total | 3,228,510 | 100.00 | 3,291,549 | 100.00 |
* One shareholder sold part of his shares under repo agreement (so did not hold the legal ownership title of shares), but he retained the voting rights of transferred shares.
All the shares of the Company are ordinary shares with the par value of EUR 0.29, and were fully paid as at 31 December 2016 and 2015. Subsidiaries did not hold any shares of the Company as at 31 December 2016 and 2015.
The Company's shares are traded on the Baltic Secondary List of NASDAQ Vilnius from 4 June 2014.
As at 31 December 2016 the number of employees of the Group and the Company was 2 and 1, respectively. As at 31 December 2015 the number of employees of the Group and the Company was 2 and 1, respectively.
According to the Law on Companies of Republic of Lithuania, the annual financial statements prepared by the Management are authorised by the General Shareholders' meeting. The shareholders hold the power not to approve the annual financial statements and the right to request new financial statements to be prepared.
The principal accounting policies applied in preparing the Group's and the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 are as follows:
The financial statements of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (hereinafter the EU).
These financial statements have been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for investment properties that have been measured at fair value. The financial statements are presented in thousands of euro (EUR) and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand except when otherwise indicated. From 1 January 2015 the euro became local currency of the Republic of Lithuania.
The Group/Company has adopted the new and amended IFRS and IFRIC interpretations as of 1 January 2016:
The principal effects of these changes are as follows:
The amendments allow entities to use the equity method to account for investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates in their separate financial statements. The Company choose to use equity method in the stand-alone financial statements. The change of accounting policy have an impact on disclosures and description of accounting policies, but the carrying amount of subsidiaries recognised in the stand-alone statement of financial position of the Company has not changed, because the fair value of net assets of subsidiaries approximates to the carrying amount of net assets of subsidiaries (Note 5).
The all other amendments adopted as of 1 January 2016 had no impact on the Group's/Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016.
Standards adopted by the EU but not yet effective and have not been early adopted
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018)
Key features of the new standard are:
The Group and the Company are currently assessing the impact of the new standard on its financial statements. After change of accounting policy for investments into subsidiaries, the Group and the Company have only financial assets attributed to the category of financial assets 'Loans and receivables' and have only financial liabilities attributed to the category 'Other financial liabilities'. Therefore, there will be no impact on the Group's and the Company's accounting for financial liabilities, as the new requirements only affect the accounting for financial liabilities that are designated at fair value through profit or loss. Regarding accounting for financial assets, the standard could change classification of loans granted to subsidiaries from measured at amortised cost to measured at fair value through profit or loss. The changes in hedge accounting would not have impact on the Group's and the Company's financial statements as the Group and the Company has not hedge accounting. While the Group and the Company have not yet undertaken a detailed assessment of how its impairment provisions would be affected by the new ECL model, it may result in an earlier recognition of credit losses. The new standard also introduces expanded disclosure requirements and changes in presentation. These are expected to change the nature and extent of the Group's and the Company's disclosures about its financial instruments particularly in the year of the adoption of the new standard. The Group and the Company do not intend to adopt IFRS 9 before its mandatory date.
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018)
The new standard introduces the core principle that revenue must be recognised when the goods or services are transferred to the customer, at the transaction price. Any bundled goods or services that are distinct must be separately recognised, and any discounts or rebates on the contract price must generally be allocated to the separate elements. When the consideration varies for any reason, minimum amounts must be recognised if they are not at significant risk of reversal. Costs incurred to secure contracts with customers have to be capitalised and amortised over the period when the benefits of the contract are consumed. The Group and the Company are currently assessing the impact of the standard on their financial statements, but is not expected that the impact of the standard on its financial statements would be material, because the main revenue of the Group is rental income. The Group and the Company do not intend to adopt IFRS 15 before its mandatory date.
IFRS 16 Leases (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 once adopted by the EU)
The new standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. All leases result in the lessee obtaining the right to use an asset at the start of the lease and, if lease payments are made over time, also obtaining financing. Accordingly, IFRS 16 eliminates the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases as is required by IAS 17 and, instead, introduces a single lessee accounting model. Lessees will be required to recognise: (a) assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value; and (b) depreciation of lease assets separately from interest on lease liabilities in the income statement. IFRS 16 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in IAS 17. Accordingly, a lessor continues to classify its leases as operating leases or finance leases, and to account for those two types of leases differently. The Group and the Company are currently assessing the impact of the standard on their financial statements, but are not expecting that impact would be material. The Group and the Company are not parties to any agreements as lessees. The Group and the Company do not intend to adopt IFRS 16 before its mandatory date.
Other amendments to existing standards and new standards, which are not yet adopted by the EU, are not relevant to the Group and the Company.
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies.
Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities) over which the group has control. The group controls an entity when the group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases. All intra-group balances, transactions, income and expenses, unrealised gains and losses and dividends resulting from intra-group transactions that are recognised in assets, are eliminated in full.
When the group ceases to have control, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with the change in carrying amount recognised in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss or retained earnings, as appropriate.
From 1 January 2015 the euro became local currency of the Republic of Lithuania. The financial statements are prepared in euro (EUR), which is local currency of the Republic of Lithuania, and presented in EUR thousand. Euro is the Company's and the Group's functional and presentation currency. The exchange rates in relation to other currencies are set daily by the European Central Bank and the Bank of Lithuania.
As these financial statements are presented in euro thousand, individual amounts were rounded. Due to the rounding, totals in the tables may not add up.
The Group applies the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are, with limited exceptions, measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the recognised amounts of acquiree's identifiable net assets.
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.
The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the group's share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the total of consideration transferred, non-controlling interest recognised and previously held interest measured is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognised directly in profit or loss.
Land that is held for long-term rental yields and for capital appreciation is classified as investment properties.
Investment properties are measured initially at cost, including transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, investment properties are carried at fair value, which reflects market conditions at the reporting date. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values of investment properties are included in profit or loss in the year in which they arise.
Investment properties are derecognised when either they have been disposed of or when the investment property is permanently withdrawn from use and no future economic benefit is expected from its disposal. Any gains or losses on the retirement or disposal of an investment property are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income within "Net gains (losses) from fair value adjustments on investment property" in the year of retirement or disposal.
Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. In 2016, the Company changed its accounting policy for investments in subsidiaries from fair value method to equity method, as it simplifies accounting and disclosures in the financial statements. The carrying amount of investments into subsidiaries has not changed in the statement of financial position from the Group's formation, because the fair value of net assets of subsidiaries approximates to the carrying amount of net assets of subsidiaries (Note 5).
Under the equity method, the investment in the subsidiary is carried in the statement of financial position at cost plus post acquisition changes in the Company's share of net assets of the subsidiary. Goodwill relating to a subsidiary is included in the carrying amount of the investment and is neither amortised nor individually tested for impairment. The statement of comprehensive income reflects the share of the results of operations of the subsidiary. Where there has been a change recognised in the other comprehensive income of the subsidiary, the Company recognises its share of any changes and discloses this, when applicable, in the other comprehensive income. Company's share in the changes in the net assets of the subsidiary that are not recognised in profit or loss or other comprehensive income (OCI) of the subsidiary, are recognised in equity. Unrealised gains and losses (unless the transaction provides evidence of the impairment of asset transferred) resulting from transactions between the Company and the subsidiary are eliminated to the extent of the interest in the subsidiary.
The reporting dates of the subsidiary and the Company are identical and the subsidiary's accounting policies conform to those used by the Company for like transactions and events in similar circumstances. After application of the equity method, the Company determines whether it is necessary to recognise an additional impairment loss of the Company's investment in its subsidiaries. The Company determines at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that the investment in subsidiary is impaired. If this is the case the Company calculates the amount of impairment as being the difference between the recoverable amount of the subsidiary and its carrying value and recognises the amount in the statement of comprehensive income. When the Company's share of losses in a subsidiary equals or exceeds its interest in the subsidiary, including any other unsecured receivables, the Company does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the subsidiary.
Financial assets within the scope of IAS 39 are classified as either financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables, held to maturity investments, available-for-sale financial assets, or as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value, plus, in the case of financial asset or financial liability not at fair value through profit or loss, directly attributable transaction costs.
The Group determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.
Financial assets recognised in the statement of financial position as loans granted, trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents are classified as loans and receivables. Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. After initial measurement loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method less any allowance for impairment. Amortised cost is calculated taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and includes fees that are an integral part of the effective interest rate and transaction costs. Gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired, as well as through amortisation process. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the end of the reporting period. These are classified as non-current assets.
The Group assesses at each reporting date whether is any objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired and impairment losses are incurred only if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a 'loss event') and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated.
The Group assesses whether objective evidence of impairment exists individually for financial assets. Evidence of impairment may include indications that the debtors or a group of debtors is experiencing significant financial difficulty, default or delinquency in payments, the probability that they will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation. When financial asset is assessed as uncollectible the impaired asset is derecognised. In relation to trade receivables, a provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence (such as the probability of insolvency or significant financial difficulties of the debtor) that the Group will not be able to collect all of the amounts due under the original terms of the invoice.
If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss on loans and receivables carried at amortised cost has been incurred, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced through use of an allowance account. The amount of the loss is recognised in profit or loss within "Allowance for (reversal of) impairment of trade receivables".
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. Any subsequent reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss within "Allowance for (reversal of) impairment of trade receivables", to the extent that the carrying value of the asset does not exceed its amortised cost at the reversal date.
Impaired debts are derecognised entirely when they are assessed as uncollectible.
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position comprise cash at banks and on hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less.
For the purpose of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and in current bank account as well as deposit in bank with an original maturity of three months or less.
Financial liabilities within the scope of IAS 39 are classified as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, other financial liabilities, or as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate. The Group determines the classification of its financial liabilities at initial recognition.
All financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value and in the case of other financial liabilities, net of directly attributable transaction costs.
The measurement of financial liabilities depends on their classification as follows:
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer). If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are recognised in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. Where any group company purchases the company's equity share capital (treasury shares), the consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to the company's equity holders until the shares are cancelled or reissued. Where such shares are subsequently reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly attributable incremental transaction costs and the related income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the company's equity holders.
The Company's share capital and equity was formed in accordance with the procedure set forth in the terms of split-off on 29 April 2014, whereas assets received and liabilities assumed were estimated at predecessor carrying values at the date of split-off, except for investments in subsidiaries for which accounting policy was changed and they were revalued at fair value at the date of split-off. The difference between the fair value and the carrying value of investments in subsidiaries was credited to retained earnings.
Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the Group's company are classified as operating leases. Payments, including pre-payments, received under operating leases (net of any incentives granted to the lessee) are credited to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
Land leased out under operating leases is included in investment property in the consolidated statement of financial position (Note 10). See Note 2.13 for the recognition of rental income.
The group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity and when specific criteria have been met for each of the group's activities as described below. The group bases its estimates on historical results, taking into consideration the type of customer, the type of transaction and the specifics of each arrangement.
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received, excluding discounts, rebates, and other sales taxes or duty. The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised.
Rental income arising from operating leases of land is accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease terms. When the Group provides incentives to its tenants, the cost of incentives is recognised over the lease term, on a straight-line basis, as a reduction of rental income.
According to agreements land rent consists of two parts - a fixed rent for a year and a variable part equal to land tax paid to the State for the year. In the first quarter fixed rental fee is invoiced to the tenants. In the fourth quarter variable part of the rent is invoiced to the tenants, when State tax authorities provide an estimate of the land tax and the rental income equal to the variable rent amount as well as land tax expenses are recognised.
Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method. When a loan and receivable is impaired, the group reduces the carrying amount to its recoverable amount, being the estimated future cash flow discounted at the original effective interest rate of the instrument, and continues unwinding the discount as interest income. Interest income on impaired loan and receivables is recognised using the original effective interest rate.
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Board of Directors that makes strategic decisions. All financial information, including the measure of profit, total assets and total liabilities, is analysed as single reporting segment - agricultural land segment, therefore is not further disclosed in these financial statements.
The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised directly in equity.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period in Lithuania where the Company and its subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation. It establishes provisions where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.
The standard income tax rate in Lithuania was 15 % in 2015 and 2016. Starting from 2010, tax losses can be transferred at no consideration or in exchange for certain consideration between the group companies if certain conditions are met.
Deferred income tax is recognised on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.
Deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.
Following the provisions of Law on Corporate Income Tax the sale of shares of an entity, registered or otherwise organised in a state of the European Economic Area or in a state with which a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation has been concluded and brought into effect and which is a payer of corporate income tax or an equivalent tax, to another entity or a natural person shall not be taxed where the entity transferring the shares held more than 25% of voting shares in that entity for an uninterrupted period of at least two years. If mentioned condition is met or is expected to be met by the management of the Company, no deferred tax liabilities or assets are recognised in respect of temporary differences associated with carrying amounts of these investments.
Tax losses can be carried forward for indefinite period, except for the losses incurred as a result of disposal of securities and/or derivative financial instruments. Such carrying forward is disrupted if the Company changes its activities due to which these losses incurred except when the Company does not continue its activities due to reasons which do not depend on the Company itself. The losses from disposal of securities and/or derivative financial instruments can be carried forward for 5 consecutive years and only be used to reduce the taxable income earned from the transactions of the same nature. From 1 January 2014 current year taxable profit could be decreased by previous year tax losses only up to 70%.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.
The Company and the Group pay social security contributions to the state Social Security Fund (the Fund) on behalf of its employees based on the defined contribution plan in accordance with the local legal requirements. A defined contribution plan is a plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into the Fund and will have no legal or constructive obligations to pay further contributions if the Fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior period. Social security contributions are recognised as expenses on an accrual basis and included in payroll expenses.
The Company and the Group recognises a liability and an expense for bonuses where contractually obliged or where there is a past practice that has created a constructive obligation.
Events after the reporting period that provide additional information about the Group's position as at the end of the reporting period (adjusting events) are reflected in the financial statements. Events after the reporting period that are not adjusting events are disclosed in the notes when material.
The preparation of financial statements requires management of the Group and the Company to make judgements and estimates that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent liabilities, at the end of reporting period. However, uncertainty about these assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that could require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or liability affected in the future periods.
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
In the process of applying the Group accounting policies, management has not made any judgements, which has most significant effect on the amounts recognised in these financial statements.
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.
The significant areas of estimation used in the preparation of these financial statements are discussed below.
Fair value of investment properties was based on the market approach by reference to sales in the market of comparable properties. Market approach refers to the prices of the analogues transactions in the market. These values are adjusted for differences in key attributes such as land size and productivity.
The fair value of the investment properties as at 31 December 2016 was EUR 12,335 thousand (as at 31 December 2015 - EUR 11,237 thousand) (described in more details in Note 10).
The risk management function within the Group is carried out in respect of financial risks, operational risks and legal risks and managed on an overall Group level by the Management Board. After signing land administration agreement most of operational and legal risks, as well as credit risk are managed by the third party UAB INVL Farmland Management. The primary objectives of the financial risk management function are to establish risk limits, and then ensure that exposure to risks stays within these limits. The operational and legal risk management functions are intended to ensure proper functioning of internal policies and procedures to minimise operational and legal risks. To limit operational risk, annual documentation reviews are held. This helps to limit legal risks as well in case a dispute arises and all the documentation is in place and of appropriate quality and can be used to prove the rights. Legal risk is limited as well by the fact that counterparties do not grant guarantees on each other.
The Group's and the Company's principal financial liabilities comprise trade and other payables. The main purpose of these financial liabilities is to finance the Group's and the Company's operations. The Group and the Company have various financial assets such as trade and other receivables, loans granted and cash which arise directly from their operations. The Company and the Group have not used any derivative instruments and borrowings so far, as management considered that there is no necessity for them.
The main risks arising from the financial instruments are market risk (including currency risk, cash flow and fair value interest rate risk and price risk), liquidity risk and credit risk. The risks are identified and disclosed below.
Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents, credit exposures to outstanding trade receivables and loans granted. The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk. The credit risk is managed by the third party UAB INVL Farmland Management according to the agreement (Note 7). The third party seeks to ensure that rental contracts are entered into only with lessees with an appropriate credit history, from some of lessees advance lease payments are required.
At the date of financial statements there are no indications of worsening credit quality of trade and other receivables, which are neither due, nor impaired, due to constant control by the Group of receivable balances. The maximum exposure to credit risk is disclosed in Notes 12 and 13. There are no transactions of the Group or the Company that occur outside Lithuania.
With respect to credit risk arising from cash and cash equivalents the Group's and the Company's exposure to credit risk arises from default of the counterparty, with a maximum exposure equal to the carrying amount of these instruments.
For banks and financial institutions, only independently rated parties with high credit ratings are accepted.
The credit quality of cash and cash equivalents can be assessed by reference to external credit ratings of the banks:
| Group | Company | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Moody's short-term ratings | ||||
| Prime-1 | 208 | 366 | 100 | 135 |
| Prime-2 | - | - | - | - |
| Not Prime | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 209 | 367 | 101 | 136 |
The Group has no borrowings and loans granted. The Company has loans granted to its subsidiaries with fixed interest rates for one year. Therefore, the Group and the Company are not exposed to cash flow interest rate risk.
The Group and the Company holds assets and liabilities denominated only in the euro. Therefore, the Group and the Company are not exposed to foreign exchange risk.
The Group is not exposed to price risk of financial instruments as it does not hold any equity securities or commodities.
The Group's and the Company's policy is to maintain sufficient cash and cash equivalents. The liquidity risk of the Group and the Company is controlled on an overall Group level. The Group and the Company have not been facing any liquidity issues so far. The proceeds from rent and cash balances are sufficient to settle all liabilities.
The Group's liquidity ratio (total current assets / total current liabilities) as at 31 December 2016 was approximately 1.77 (2.87 as at 31 December 2015). The Company's liquidity ratio as at 31 December 2016 was approximately 2.29 (3.71 as at 31 December 2015).
The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group's financial liabilities as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 based on contractual undiscounted payments.
| On demand | Less than 3 months |
4 to 12 months |
2 to 5 years |
More than 5 years |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade and other payables | ||||||
| Other liabilities | - 13 |
118 3 |
- - |
- - |
- - |
118 16 |
| Balance as at 31 December 2016 | 13 | 121 | - | - | - | 134 |
| Trade and other payables | - | 105 | - | - | - | 105 |
| Other liabilities | 6 | 6 | - | - | - | 12 |
| Balance as at 31 December 2015 | 6 | 111 | - | - | - | 117 |
The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Company's financial liabilities as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 based on contractual undiscounted payments.
| On demand | Less than 3 months |
4 to 12 months |
2 to 5 years |
More than 5 years |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade and other payables | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Other liabilities | 13 | 6 | 19 | |||
| Balance as at 31 December 2016 | 13 | 8 | 21 | |||
| Trade and other payables | - | 2 | - | - - |
2 | |
| Other liabilities | 6 | 6 | - | - | - | 12 |
| Balance as at 31 December 2015 | 6 | 8 | - | - | - | 14 |
The primary objective of the capital management is to ensure that the Group and the Company maintain a strong credit health and healthy capital ratios in order to support their business and maximise shareholder value. The Company's management supervises the investments so that they are in compliance with requirements applied to the capital, specified in the appropriate legal acts, as well as provide the Group's management with necessary information.
The Group's and the Company's capital comprises share capital, share premium, reserves and retained earnings.
The Group and the Company manage their capital structure and make adjustments to it, in light of changes in economic conditions and specific risks of their activity. To maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Company may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares. No changes were made in the objectives, policies or processes during the year 2016 and 2015.
The Company is obliged to keep its equity ratio at not less than 50 % of its share capital, as imposed by the Law on Companies of Republic of Lithuania. The Company and the subsidiaries complied with this requirement as at 31 December 2016 and 2015, except one dormant subsidiary as at 31 December 2015. In 2016 the appropriate measures were taken by the Company and the share capital of the subsidiary was increased by cash instalments by the Company.
The fair value hierarchy has the following levels:
Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices);
Level 3: Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs).
The following table provides the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group's assets measured at fair value in the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2016.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets of the Group | ||||
| Investment properties (Note 10) | - | 12,335 | - 12,335 |
The following table provides the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group's assets measured at fair value in the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2015.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets of the Group | ||||
| Investment properties (Note 10) | - | 11,237 | - 11,237 |
There were no transfers of assets between the levels of the fair value hierarchy during 2016 and 2015.
There were no liabilities measured at fair value in the Group's and the Company's statements of financial position.
The Group's and the Company's principal financial instruments that are not carried at fair value in the statement of financial position are cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, loans granted, trade and other payables.
The carrying amount of the cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables of the Group and the Company as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 approximated their fair value because they are short-term and the impact of discounting is immaterial.
The carrying amount of loans granted by the Company approximates their fair value because the interest rates are reviewed at the end of each financial year and adjusted in line with market rates changes. Their fair value is based on cash flows discounted using 4.5 % interest rate as at 31 December 2016 and 2015. It is Level 3 fair value measurement.
The Group had the following subsidiaries, owned directly by the Company, as at 31 December 2016 and 2015:
| Name | Country of incorporation and place of business |
Proportion of shares (voting rights) directly held by the Company (%) |
Nature of business |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAB Avižėlė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Beržytė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Dirvolika | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Duonis | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Ekotra | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Kvietukas | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Laukaitis | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Lauknešys | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Linažiedė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Pušaitis | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Puškaitis | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Sėja | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Vasarojus | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Žalvė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Žemgalė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Žemynėlė | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Žiemkentys | Lithuania | 100.00 | Agricultural land owner and lessor |
| UAB Cooperor | Lithuania | 100.00 | Dormant |
All subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidation.
In December 2016 the Company has additionally invested EUR 3 thousand increasing the share capital of one dormant subsidiary by cash instalments. In December 2015 the Company has additionally invested EUR 34 thousand increasing the share capital of two subsidiaries by converting loans granted.
The following table presents the movements of investments in subsidiaries of the Company:
| 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|
| At 1 January | 5,581 | 4,866 |
| Share of net profit of subsidiaries | 1,040 | 681 |
| Increase of share capital | 3 | 34 |
| At 31 December | 6,624 | 5,581 |
Management of the Company has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board of Directors that are used to make strategic decisions. All financial information, including the measure of profit, total assets and total liabilities, is analysed as a single reporting segment - agricultural land segment, therefore is not further disclosed in these financial statements. The Company and its subsidiaries are domiciled in Lithuania. There are no transactions of the Group or the Company that occur outside Lithuania. Therefore, the management has neither analysed revenue, nor other financial indicators by geographical areas. All revenue of the Group is received from one type of service – rent of land. Therefore, the Group has not disclosed any breakdown of revenue by product and services type and by geographical areas.
There is no single customer, from which the Group has received more than 10% of its revenue.
The Group has entered into leases of the Group's investment properties under operating lease agreements. The majority of the agreements have remaining terms of between 1 and 5 years.
Future rentals receivable under operating leases as at 31 December were as follows:
| 2016 | 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Within one year | |||
| - non-cancellable lease | 146 | 54 | |
| - non-cancellable amount of cancellable lease | 382 | 462 | |
| - minimum lease payments total | 528 | 516 | |
| From one to five years | |||
| - non-cancellable lease | 534 | 178 | |
| - minimum lease payments total | 534 | 178 | |
| - cancellable amount of cancellable lease | 663 | 1,070 | |
| 1,197 | 1,248 | ||
| After five years | |||
| - non-cancellable lease | - | - | |
| - minimum lease payments total | - | - | |
| - cancellable amount of cancellable lease | 73 | 15 | |
| 73 | 15 | ||
| Total | 1,798 | 1,779 | |
| - non-cancellable lease | 680 | 232 | |
| - non-cancellable of cancellable lease | 382 | 462 | |
| - minimum lease payments total | 1,062 | 694 | |
| - cancellable amount of cancellable lease | 736 | 1,085 | |
Cancellable lease agreements can be cancelled under the following terms:
The Group has signed land plot administration agreement with UAB INVL Farmland Management on 30 June 2015. UAB INVL Farmland Management, is a company owned by AB Invalda INVL. The agreement came into force on 1 July 2015. According to the agreement administration fees paid to UAB INVL Farmland Management will be 7% of annual rent revenues and 0,5% market capitalization of AB INVL Baltic Farmland. Success fee is also set and it consists of 20 % from the share of the return exceeding the pre-determined annual return of 5 % plus inflation. If the carrying amount of past due trade receivables arising from the current year would exceed 5 % of yearly turnover (revenue plus VAT), the excess shall be fully compensated by UAB INVL Farmland Management. In 2016 the Group has recognised land plots administration fees of EUR 174 thousand, from which success fee amounted to EUR 101 thousand, and UAB INVL Farmland Management has compensated EUR 15 thousand of past due trade receivables. In 2015 the Group has recognised land plots administration fees of EUR 117 thousand, from which success fee amounted to EUR 78 thousand.
| Group | Company | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Components of the income tax expenses | ||||
| Current year income tax | (31) | (28) | (27) | (24) |
| Deferred income tax expenses | (174) | (113) | - | (4) |
| Income tax expenses charged to profit or loss – total | (205) | (141) | (27) | (28) |
There is no income tax expense (credit) recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.
Deferred income tax asset and liability were estimated at 15% rates as at 31 December 2016 and 2015.
The movement in deferred income tax assets and liabilities of the Group during 2016 is as follows:
| Transfer of tax | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance as at 31 December 2015 |
Recognised in profit or loss during the year |
losses within group |
Balance as at 31 December 2016 |
|
| Deferred tax asset | ||||
| Tax loss carry forward for indefinite period of time |
46 | (9) | (1) | 36 |
| Recognised deferred income tax asset | 46 | (9) | (1) | 36 |
| Asset netted with liability of the same legal entities |
(46) | 9 | 1 | (36) |
| Deferred income tax asset, net | ||||
| Deferred tax liability | ||||
| Investment properties | (992) | (165) | (1,157) | |
| Deferred income tax liability | (992) | (165) | (1,157) | |
| Liability netted with asset of the same legal | ||||
| entities | 46 | (9) | (1) | 36 |
| Deferred income tax liability, net | (946) | (174) | (1) | (1,121) |
| Deferred income tax, net | (946) | (174) | (1) | (1,121) |
The movement in deferred income tax assets and liabilities of the Group during 2015 is as follows
| Balance as at 31 December 2014 |
Recognised in profit or loss during the year |
Balance as at 31 December 2015 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax asset | |||
| Tax loss carry forward for indefinite period of time | 57 | (11) | 46 |
| Recognised deferred income tax asset | 57 | (11) | 46 |
| Asset netted with liability of the same legal entities | (53) | 7 | (46) |
| Deferred income tax asset, net | 4 | (4) | - |
| Deferred tax liability | |||
| Investment properties | (890) | (102) | (992) |
| Deferred income tax liability | (890) | (102) | (992) |
| Liability netted with asset of the same legal entities | 53 | (7) | 46 |
| Deferred income tax liability, net | (837) | (109) | (946) |
| Deferred income tax, net | (833) | (113) | (946) |
The Company has any taxable temporary differences in 2016 and has not recognised any deferred tax assets or liabilities.
The movement in deferred income tax assets and liabilities of the Company during 2015 is as follows:
| Balance as at 31 December 2014 |
Recognised in profit or loss during the year |
Balance as at 31 December 2015 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Deferred tax asset | |||
| Tax loss carry forward for indefinite period of time | 4 | (4) | - |
| Deferred income tax asset, net | 4 | (4) | - |
| Deferred tax liability | - | - | - |
| Deferred income tax liability, net | - | - | - |
| Deferred income tax, net | 4 | (4) | - |
The Group's deferred tax liability will be recovered after more than 12 months.
The reconciliation of the total income tax to the theoretical amount that would arise using the tax rate of the Group and the Company is as follows:
| Group | Company | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Profit before income tax | 1,398 | 979 | 1,220 | 866 |
| Tax calculated at the tax rate of 15 % | (210) | (147) | (183) | (130) |
| Tax effect of non-deductible expenses and non-taxable income Income tax expenses recorded in the statement of comprehensive |
5 | 6 | 156 | 102 |
| income | (205) | (141) | (27) | (28) |
In 2016 and 2015 non-taxable income of the Company was share of net profit of subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method.
Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing 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.
The weighted average number of shares for 2016 was as follows:
| Calculation of weighted average for the year 2016 | Number of shares (thousand) |
Par value (EUR) |
Issued/366 (days) |
Weighted average (thousand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares issued as at 31 December 2015 | 3,291 | 0.29 | 366/366 | 3,291 |
| Acquired own shares as at 22 June 2016 | (63) | 0.29 | 192/366 | (33) |
| Shares issued as at 31 December 2016 | 3,228 | 0.29 | 3,258 |
The weighted average number of shares for 2015 was as follows:
| Calculation of weighted average for the year 2015 | Number of shares (thousand) |
Par value (EUR) |
Issued/365 (days) |
Weighted average (thousand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares issued as at 31 December 2014 | 3,292 | 0.29 | 365/365 | 3,292 |
| Acquired own shares as at 2 March 2015 | (1) | 0.29 | 304/365 | (1) |
| Shares issued as at 31 December 2015 | 3,291 | 0.29 | 3,291 |
The following table reflects the income and share data used in the basic earnings per share computations:
| Group | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | |
| Net profit (loss), attributable to the equity holders of the parent | 1,193 | 838 |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares (thousand) | 3,258 | 3,291 |
| Basic earnings (deficit) per share (EUR) | 0.37 | 0.25 |
For 2016 and 2015 diluted earnings per share of the Group and the Company are the same as basic earnings per share.
10 Investment properties
The movements of investment properties during 2016 and 2015 were:
| 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fair value hierarchy | Level 2 | |
| Balance as at 1 January | 11,237 | 10,558 |
| Additions | - | - |
| Subsequent expenditure | - | 1 |
| Disposals | - | - |
| Gain from fair value adjustment | 1,107 | 699 |
| Loss from fair value adjustment | (9) | (21) |
| Balance as at 31 December | 12,335 | 11,237 |
| Unrealised gains and losses for the period included within 'Net gains (losses) from fair value adjustments on investment property' in the statement of comprehensive income |
1,098 | 678 |
Investment properties are stated at fair value and are valued by accredited valuer UAB korporacija Matininkai using sales comparison method. The valuations were performed in December 2016 and in November 2015.
The fair value represents the price that would be received selling an asset in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. An investment property's fair value was based on the market approach by reference to sales in the market of comparable properties. Market approach refers to the prices of the analogues transactions in the market. These values are adjusted for differences in key attributes such as land plot size and productivity. The most significant input into this valuation approach is price per hectare.
There were no changes to the valuation techniques during the period.
On 1 May 2014 changes to the Agricultural Land Acquisition temporary law entered into force, providing restrictions of the purchase of agricultural land (including restriction of purchase of shares in the legal entity owning agricultural land). These restrictions mean that the Group cannot purchase additional agricultural land and/or acquire shares in entities owning agricultural land. As a result of restrictions the land sale market in Lithuania became less liquid. There were no other restrictions on the realisation of investment properties or the remittance of income and proceeds of disposals during 2016 and 2015. No contractual obligations to purchase investment properties existed at the end of the period.
| Group | Loans and receivables | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | ||
| Assets as per statement of financial position | |||
| Trade and other receivables excluding tax prepayments | 43 | 18 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 209 | 367 | |
| Total | 252 | 385 | |
| Company | Loans and receivables | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||
| Assets as per statement of financial position | |||
| Loans granted to subsidiaries – non-current assets | 4,656 | 4,875 | |
| Loans granted to subsidiaries – current assets | - | 5 | |
| Trade and other receivables excluding tax prepayments | 5 | 8 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 101 | 136 | |
| Total | 4,762 | 5,024 | |
| Group | Financial liabilities at amortised cost | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||
| Liabilities as per statement of financial position | |||
| Trade payables | 118 | 105 | |
| Other current liabilities excluding taxes and employee benefits |
16 | 12 | |
| Total | 134 | 117 | |
| Company | Financial liabilities at amortised cost | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | ||
| Liabilities as per statement of financial position | |||
| Trade payables | 2 | 2 | |
| Other current liabilities excluding taxes and employee benefits |
19 | 12 | |
| Total | 21 | 14 | |
AB INVL BALTIC FARMLAND, company code 303299781, Gynėjų str. 14, Vilnius, Lithuania CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016
(all amounts are in EUR thousand unless otherwise stated)
The Company's loans granted are described below:
| 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|
| Loans granted to subsidiaries – non-current assets | 4,656 | 4,875 |
| Loans granted to subsidiaries – current assets | - | 5 |
| Total loans granted | 4,656 | 4,880 |
| The movements of loans granted to subsidiaries during the year were: | ||
| Balance as at 31 December 2014 | 4,907 | |
| Loans granted during year | 8 | |
| Loans repayment received | (41) | |
| Loans converted to increased share capital | (34) | |
| Interest charged | 220 | |
| Interest received | (180) | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2015 | 4,880 | |
| Loans granted during year | - | |
| Loans repayment received | (311) | |
| VAT receivable arising from interest on loans granted to subsidiaries converted to loans granted | 4 | |
| Interest charged | 211 | |
| Interest received | (128) | |
| Balance as at 31 December 2016 | 4,656 |
The contractual maturity of loans granted to subsidiaries is 31 December 2017 according to the agreements, but the Company classifies them as long term, because intends to prolong them on maturity date. Effective interest rate of loans is 4.5 %. At each year end maturity of the loans granted is prolonged for one extra year and new market interest rate is determined.
As at 31 December 2016 and 2015, the Company loans granted were neither overdue, nor impaired and had no history of counterparty defaults. The Company's policy is to grant loans only to the subsidiaries controlled by it. The maximum credit risk as at the financial reporting date is the carrying amount of each category of amounts receivable as indicated above. The Company does not hold any collateral.
The carrying amount of loans granted by the Company approximates their fair value because the interest rates are reviewed at the end of each year and adjusted when market rates change. Their value is based on cash flows discounted using 4.5 % and interest rate as at 31 December 2016 and 2015. It is Level 3 fair value measurement.
| Group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2015 | |||
| Trade and other receivables, gross | 94 | 85 | ||
| Taxes receivable, gross | 39 | 36 | ||
| Less: allowance for doubtful trade and other receivables | (51) | (67) | ||
| 82 | 54 |
As at 31 December 2016 and 2015 the Company had receivable of EUR 5 thousand and EUR 8 thousand, which was VAT receivable arising from interest on loans granted to subsidiaries (the Company has elected to calculate VAT from interest). The receivable is neither past due nor impaired and has to be settled until 31 March 2017.
Changes in allowance for doubtful trade and other receivables for the year 2016 and 2015 have been included within 'Allowance for (reversal of) impairment of trade receivables' in the statement of comprehensive income.
The Group's trade and other receivables are non-interest bearing and are generally with a credit term of 30 days.
As at 31 December 2016 and 2015 the Group's trade and other receivables with nominal value of EUR 64 thousand and EUR 80 thousand, respectively, were past due and impaired. The net amount of EUR 13 thousand and EUR 13 thousand is presented in the statement of financial position of the Group as at 31 December 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Movements in the allowance for accounts receivable of the Group (assessed individually) were as follows:
| Individually impaired Group |
|
|---|---|
| Balance as at 31 December 2014 | 88 |
| Charge for the year | 5 |
| Write-offs charged against the allowance | - |
| Recoveries of amounts previously written-off | (26) |
| Balance as at 31 December 2015 | 67 |
| Charge for the year | 6 |
| Write-offs charged against the allowance | (10) |
| Recoveries of amounts previously written-off | (12) |
| Balance as at 31 December 2016 | 51 |
The ageing analysis of trade and other receivables of the Group as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 is as follows:
| Trade receivables past due but not impaired | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trade receivables neither past due nor impaired |
Less than 30 days |
30–90 days |
90–180 days |
More than 180 days |
Total | |
| 2016 | - | 3 | - | 22 | 5 | 30 |
| 2015 | - | - | 3 | - | 2 | 5 |
The total authorised number of ordinary shares is 3,291,549 (as of 31 December 2015: 3,291,549 shares) with a par value of EUR 0.29 per share. All the shares of the Company were fully paid. The Company's share capital and equity was formed in accordance with the procedure set forth in the terms of split-off on 29 April 2014.
From 29 January 2015 until 26 February 2015 the Company implemented share buy-back through the tender offer market. Maximum number of shares to be acquired was 16,471. Share acquisition price established at EUR 2.86 per share. During buy-back 710 shares (0.02% of share capital) were acquired for EUR 2 thousand, including brokerage fees. The acquired shares were settled on 2 March 2015. Acquired own shares do not have voting rights.
According to the decision of shareholders 2,660 acquired own shares were cancelled, and the reserve for the acquisition of own shares was decreased by EUR 8 thousand. Also the par value of shares was changed from LTL 1 to EUR 0.29. The changes in share capital were registered in the Register of Legal entities on 5 June 2015. From 5 June 2015 the total authorised number of ordinary shares is 3,291,549 with the par value of EUR 0.29 per share, the Company's authorized share capital is equal to EUR 954,549.21.
From 25 April 2016 until 20 June 2016 the Company implemented share buy-back through the tender offer market. Maximum number of shares to be acquired was 70,000. Share acquisition price established at EUR 3.21 per share. During buy-back 63,039 shares (1.92% of share capital) were acquired for EUR 203 thousand, including brokerage fees. The acquired shares were settled on 22 June 2016. Acquired own shares do not have voting rights.
Legal reserve is a compulsory reserve under Lithuanian legislation. Annual transfers of not less than 5 % of net profit, calculated in accordance with the statutory financial statements, are compulsory until the reserve reaches 10 % of the share capital. The reserve can be used only to cover the accumulated losses.
Reserve for the acquisition of own shares is formed for the purpose of buying own shares in order to keep their liquidity and manage price fluctuations. It can be formed by shareholders' decision at the Annual Shareholders Meeting from the profit available for distribution. The reserve cannot be used to increase the share capital. The reserve does not change when Company acquires own shares, but is utilised when own shares are cancelled. The shareholders can decide to transfer unused amounts of the reserve back to retained earnings at the Annual Shareholders Meeting.
A dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2015 of EUR 0.066 per share, amounting to a total dividend of EUR 217 thousand, was approved at the annual general meeting on 25 March 2016.
A dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2014 of EUR 0.06 per share, amounting to a total dividend of EUR 197 thousand, was approved at the annual general meeting on 24 March 2015.
The related parties of the Group were the shareholders of the Company, who have significance influence (Note 1), key management personnel, including companies under control or joint control of key management and shareholders having significant influence. AB Invalda INVL and the entities controlled by AB Invalda INVL are also considered to be related parties, because the shareholders of the Company, having significance influence, also have a joint control over AB Invalda INVL group through shareholders' agreement.
The Group's transactions with related parties during 2016 and related balances as at 31 December 2016 were as follows:
| 2016 Group |
Sales to related parties |
Purchases from related parties |
Receivables from related parties |
Payables to related parties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB Invalda INVL (accounting services) UAB INVL Farmland Management |
- | 15 | - | - |
| (administration fees) | - | 174 | - | 116 |
| - | 189 | - | 116 |
The Group's transactions with related parties during 2015 and related balances as at 31 December 2015 were as follows:
| 2015 Group |
Sales to related parties |
Purchases from related parties |
Receivables from related parties |
Payables to related parties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB Invalda INVL (accounting services) UAB INVL Farmland Management (sale of |
- | 16 | - | 1 |
| assets) UAB INVL Farmland Management |
7 | - | - | - |
| (administration fees) | - | 117 | - | 103 |
| AB FMĮ Finasta (services to issuer) | - | 2 | - | - |
| 7 | 135 | - | 104 |
The Company's related parties are the subsidiaries (Note 5), shareholders, who have significance influence (Note 1), key management personnel and companies under control or joint control of key management and shareholders with significant influence. AB Invalda INVL and the entities controlled by AB Invalda INVL are also considered to be related parties, because the shareholders of the Company, having significance influence, also have a joint control over AB Invalda INVL group through shareholders' agreement.
Transactions of the Company with subsidiaries in 2016 and 2015 and balances as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Interest income from related parties |
Receivables from related parties |
Interest income from related parties |
Receivables from related parties |
|
| Loans and borrowings | 211 | 4,656 | 220 | 4,880 | |
| VAT receivable arising from interest | - | 5 | - | 8 | |
| 211 | 4,661 | 220 | 4,888 |
The maturity of loans granted is till 31 December 2017, effective interest rate 4.5% (Note 12). As at 31 December 2015 the maturity of loans granted was till 31 December 2016, effective interest rate 4.5% (Note 12).
The Company's transactions with other related parties during 2016 and 2015 and related balances as at 31 December 2016 and 2015 were as follows:
| 2016 | 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Purchases from Payables to related parties related parties |
Purchases from related parties |
Payables to related parties |
||
| - | - | ||||
| AB Invalda INVL (accounting services) | 3 | - | 4 | 1 | |
| AB FMĮ Finasta (services to issuer) | - | - | 2 | - | |
| 3 | - | 6 | 1 |
The management remuneration contains short-term employees' benefits. Key management of the Company and the Group includes Board members and the Director of the Company, respectively. In 2016 and 2015 the Group's key management compensation was EUR 2 thousand and EUR 7 thousand, respectively. In 2016 and 2015 the Company's key management compensation was EUR 2 thousand and EUR 4 thousand, respectively.
There were no loans granted during the reporting period or outstanding at the end of the reporting period.
In 2016 to the Board members, which are shareholders of the Company, were paid EUR 18 thousand of dividends, net of tax. To the entities, which are controlled by the Board members, were paid EUR 115 thousand of dividends, net of tax. To the natural persons related to the Board members the Company paid EUR 53 thousand of dividends, net of tax.
In 2015 to the Board members, which are shareholders of the Company, the Company paid EUR 16 thousand of dividends, net of tax. To the entities, which are controlled by the Board members, the Company paid EUR 105 thousand of dividends, net of tax. To the natural persons related to the Board members the Company paid EUR 49 thousand of dividends, net of tax.
A dividend in respect of the year ended 31 December 2016 of EUR 0.07 per share, amounting to a total dividend of EUR 226 thousand, is to be proposed at the annual general meeting on 22 March 2017. These financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable.
In January 2017 the Group received letters from Ministry of Transport and Communications informing about possibility to take for the purpose of Rail Baltica project 6 land plots owned by the Group. The Group has no right to sell, pledge, restructure or in any other way restrict rights to those land plots. Cumulative area of the above mentioned land plots is 91.8 ha, while the value of the plots in the statement of financial position was EUR 448 thousand as at 31 December 2016. The Republic of Lithuania plans to finalize procedures of land redemption for public needs in the second half of 2018. Only after the procedures have been finalized will be clear how much of the land owned by the Group will be taken for the public needs and the size of the compensation received by the Group. The Group was informed that according to the preliminary results 11.47 ha of above mentioned land plots might possibly be taken for the public needs.
Prepared in accordance with The Rules for the Preparation and the Submission of the Periodic and Additional Information, approved by the decision No. 03-48 of the Board of the Bank of Lithuania passed on 28 February 2013.
Approved by the Board of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB on 27 February 2017.
| I. GENERAL INFORMATION 44 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reporting period for which the report is prepared 44 | |
| 2 | General information about the Issuer and other companies comprising the Issuer's group 44 | |
| 2.1. Information about the Issuer 44 | ||
| 2.2. Information on company's goals, philosophy and strategy 44 | ||
| 2.3. Information about the Issuer's group of companies 45 | ||
| 3 | Agreements with intermediaries on public trading in securities47 | |
| 4 | Information on Issuer's branches and representative offices47 | |
| II. INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITIES 47 | ||
| 5 | The order of amendment of Issuer's Articles of Association 47 | |
| 6 | Structure of the authorized capital48 | |
| 6.1. Information about the Issuer's treasury shares48 | ||
| 7 | Trading in Issuer's securities as well as securities, which are deemed to be a significant financial investment to the Issuer on a regulated market48 |
|
| 8 | Dividends51 | |
| 9 | Shareholders52 | |
| 9.1. Information about company's shareholders 52 | ||
| 9.2. Rights and obligations carried by the shares54 | ||
| 9.2.1. Rights of the shareholders54 | ||
| 9.2.2. Obligations of the shareholders54 | ||
| III. ISSUER'S MANAGING BODIES 55 | ||
| 10 | Structure, authorities, the procedure for appointment and replacement 55 | |
| 10.1. General Shareholders' Meeting55 | ||
| 10.1.1. Powers of the General Shareholders' Meeting 55 | ||
| 10.1.2. Convocation of the General Shareholders' Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB56 | ||
| 10.2. The Board56 | ||
| 10.2.1. Powers of the Board56 | ||
| 10.2.2. Procedure of work of the Board 57 | ||
| 10.3. The Director58 | ||
| 11 | Information about members of the Board, Company providing accounting services59 | |
| 12 | Information about the Audit Committee of the company61 | |
| Procedure of work of the audit committee 62 | ||
| 13 | Information on the amounts calculated by the Issuer, other assets transferred and guarantees granted to the Members of the Board, director and company providing accounting services63 |
|
| IV. INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUER'S AND ITS GROUP COMPANIES' ACTIVITY64 | ||
| 14 | Overview of the Issuer and its group activity64 | |
| 14.1. Business environment 64 | ||
| Group key figures 66 | ||
| The balance sheet and profit (loss) summary reports66 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Indexes67 | ||
| 14.2. Significant Issuer's and its group events during the reporting period, affect on the financial statement67 | ||
| The Company67 | ||
| The group68 | ||
| 14.3. Employees68 | ||
| 14.4. Information about agreements of the Company and the members of the Board, or the employees' agreements providing for compensation in case of the resignation or in case they are dismissed without a due reason or their employment is terminated in view of the change of the control of the Company68 |
||
| 15 | A description of the principal advantages, risks and uncertainties68 | |
| 15.1. Advantages of investments68 | ||
| 15.2. Risk factors 69 | ||
| Market-related risks 71 | ||
| 16 | Significant investments made during the reporting period71 | |
| 17 | Information about significant agreements to which the issuer is a party, which would come into force, be amended or cease to be valid if there was a change in issuer's controlling shareholder 71 |
|
| 18 | Information on the related parties' transactions71 | |
| 19 | Significant events since the end of the financial year72 | |
| 20 | Estimation of Issuer's and Group's activity last year and activity plans and forecasts 72 | |
| 20.1. Evaluation of implementation of goals for 2016 72 | ||
| 20.2. Activity plans and forecasts 72 | ||
| V. INFORMATION 73 | ||
| 21 | References to and additional explanations of the data presented in the annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements73 |
|
| 22 | Information on audit company 73 | |
| 23 | Data on the publicly disclosed information73 | |
| APPENDIX 1. INFORMATION ABOUT GROUP COMPANIES, THEIR CONTACT DETAILS 75 | ||
| APPENDIX 2. DISCLOSURE CONCERNING THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE GOVERNANCE CODE77 |
The report covers the financial period of INVL Baltic Farmland, starting from 1 January 2016 and ending on 31 December 2016.
| Name of the Issuer | The public joint-stock INVL Baltic Farmland, hereinafter INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
|---|---|
| Code | 303299781 |
| Registered address | Gynėjų str. 14, 01109, Vilnius, Lithuania |
| Telephone | +370 5 279 0601 |
| Fax | +370 5 279 0530 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | www.invlbalticfarmland.lt |
| Legal form | public joint-stock company |
| Date and place of registration | 29 April 2014. Register of Legal Entities |
| Register in which data about the Company are accumulated and stored |
Register of Legal Entities |
The main goal of INVL Baltic Farmland – to invest into agricultural land in Lithuania and, after renting it to farmers and agricultural companies, to ensure that income from rent will exceed inflation and make a profit from agricultural land price growth. Since prices of agricultural products are determined in the world markets, this investment allow to participate in the world food supply chain.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland was established on 29 April 2014 on the basis of a part of assets split-off from one of the leading asset management groups in the Baltic region Invalda INVL. INVL Baltic Farmland manages shares of 18 companies investing into agricultural land that are owning more than 3 thousand hectares of agricultural land in Lithuania. More than 98% of land is rented to farmers and agricultural companies.
Shares of INVL Baltic Farmland are listed on NASDAQ Vilnius stock exchange since 4 June 2014.
The administration of the INVL Baltic Farmland group owned land, according to the basic property administration agreement signed on 30 June 2015, is transmitted to the owned company INVL Farmland Management. Management fees paid for INVL Farmland Management are 7 percent of annual rental income of the companies - land owners as well as 0.5 percent of INVL Baltic Farmland market capitalization. Moreover there is a success fee which becomes valid only when consolidated equity of companies - land owners annual growth is higher than 5 percent plus inflation (High-Water Mark principle is applicable). Success fee is 20 percent of the consolidated equity in excess of the above mentioned benchmark.
As the company has signed the property administration agreement it employs a minimum number of people.
It is prohibitted for one person to have more than 500 hectares of land in Litnuania since 2014. That's why INVL Baltic Farmland development is limited and the generated funds are directed to the payment of dividends to shareholders.
Investments into agricultural land are classified as long term and are recommended for investors who are satisfied with the return on rent and possible income from increase of agricultural land prices.
INVL Baltic Farmland has 100% in 18 companies owning more than 3 thousand hectares of agricultural land in the most fertile regions of Lithuania. Companies - land owners and joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland, whose shareholder is Invalda INVL – one of the leading asset management groups in the Baltic region, on 30 June 2015 have signed a basic property administration agreement with INVL Farmland Management which administrates agricultural land owned by the companies in order to ensure steady growth of income for the shareholders and the value of the land.
Fig. 2.3.2. Agricultural land portfolio and agricultural land fertilisation of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB Plots belonging to the company are in the most fertile areas of Lithuania. They are highlighted in blue.
| Company name | District of company's activities | Owned land plot, hectares |
Cultivated cropland area, hectares |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avizele, UAB | Rokiskis dist., Anyksciai dist. | 113.82 | 107.51 |
| Berzyte, UAB | Birzai dist. | 150.49 | 145.99 |
| Dirvolika, UAB | Akmene dist., Joniskis dist., Siauliai dist. | 199.44 | 192.03 |
| Duonis, UAB | Jonava dist., Kedainiai dist., Ukmerge dist. | 183.63 | 178.44 |
| Ekotra, UAB | Vilkaviskis dist. | 238.76 | 228.70 |
| Kvietukas, UAB | Pakruojis dist., Pasvalys dist. | 124.59 | 118.94 |
| Laukaitis, UAB | Pakruojis dist., Pasvalys dist., Siauliai dist. | 204.10 | 193.44 |
| Lauknesys, UAB | Birzai dist., Pasvalys dist. | 109.94 | 107.83 |
| Linaziede, UAB | Alytus dist., Jonava dist., Kaisiadorys dist., Prienai dist. | 85.13 | 80.75 |
| Pusaitis, UAB | Radviliskis dist. | 82.44 | 81.10 |
| Puskaitis, UAB | Marijampole dist., Prienai dist., Vilkaviskis dist. | 210.74 | 204.20 |
| Seja, UAB | Kedainiai dist. | 91.40 | 88.67 |
| Vasarojus, UAB | Anyksciai dist., Panevezys dist., Ukmerge dist. | 375.73 | 364.85 |
| Zalve, UAB | Kupiskis dist. | 216.88 | 201.73 |
| Zemgale, UAB | Birzai dist., Kupiskis dist., Panevezys dist. | 241.80 | 232.06 |
| Zemynele, UAB | Sakiai dist., Vilkaviskis dist. | 72.57 | 70.81 |
| Ziemkentys, UAB | Panevezys dist., Pasvalys dist. | 414.83 | 402.31 |
| Total: 3,116.29 | 2,999.36 |
INVL Baltic Farmland has signed the agreements with these intermediaries:
Šiaulių bank, AB (Tilžės str. 149, Šiauliai, Lithuania, tel. +370 41 595 607) – the agreement on investment services, the agreement on management of securities accounting and agreement on dividend distribution.
INVL Baltic Farmland, AB has no branches or representative offices.
The Articles of Association of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB may be amended by resolution of the General Shareholders' Meeting, passed by more than 2/3 of votes (except in cases provided for by the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania). Actual wording of the Articles of Association is dated as of 5 June 2015. The Company's Articles of Association is published on the Company's web page.
| Type of shares | Number of shares, units |
Total voting rights granted by the issued shares, units |
Nominal value, EUR |
Total nominal value, EUR |
Portion of the authorised capital, % |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary registered shares |
3,291,549 | 3,228,510 | 0.29 | 954,549.21 | 100 |
Table 6.1. Structure of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB authorised capital as of 31 December 2016.
All shares are fully paid-up and no restrictions apply on their transfer.
Subsidiaries of INVL Baltic Farmland have not implemented acquisition of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland directly or indirectly under the order of subsidiary by persons acting by their name. The company itself has acquired its own shares.
The General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB that was held on 28 October 2015 approved resolution to purchase its own shares. The period during which the company may acquire its own shares - 18 months from the day of this resolution. The maximum one share acquisition price – EUR 4.00, minimum one share acquisition price – EUR 2.87.
Seeking to fulfill shareholders will, expressed during voting for the implementation of the reserve for own shares, and seeking to ensure the right of choice for the shareholders to decide whether to hold or to sell shares of the company, Baltic INVL Farmland, AB initiated acquisition of own shares 1 time during the reporting period.
On 21 April 2016 INVL Baltic Farmland, AB announced about initiating acquisition of own shares since 25 April 2016. Share acquisition ended on 20 June 2016. Max number of shares to be acquired: 70,000. Share acquisition price: EUR 3.21 per share. On 21 June the company announced about acquisition of 1.92 percent of own shares. 63,039 units of shares were offered. The settlement for the acquired shares happened on 22 June 2016.
At the end of the reporting period the authorised capital of the company was EUR 954,549.21, shares issued (units) – 3,291,549, company's acquired own shares (units) – 63,039, the voting rights (units) granted by the issued shares – 3,228,510.
Shares issued, units 3,291,549 Shares with voting rights, units 3,228,510 Nominal value, EUR 0.29 Total nominal value, EUR 954,549.21 ISIN code LT0000128753 Name INL1L Exchange NASDAQ Vilnius List Baltic Secondary list Listing date 4 June 2014
Table 7.1. Main characteristics of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB shares admitted to trading
Company uses no services of liquidity providers.
| Price, EUR | Turnover, EUR | Last trading | Total turnover | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting period | high | low | last | high | low | last | date | quantity | EUR |
| 2014 2nd Q* | 3.450 | 3.000 | 3.240 | 2,505 | 7 | 142 | 30.06.2014 | 2,436 | 7,983 |
| 2014 3rd Q | 3.450 | 2.620 | 2.750 | 1,402 | 3 | 131 | 30.09.2014 | 3,148 | 9,384 |
| 2014 4th Q | 3.150 | 2.750 | 2.800 | 1,750 | 3 | 17 | 30.12.2014 | 2,292 | 6,625 |
| 2015 1st Q | 2.86 | 2.58 | 2.82 | 1,799.56 | 2.69 | 42.3 | 31.03.2015 | 2,455 | 6,647.69 |
| 2015 2nd Q | 3.01 | 2.61 | 2.79 | 5,499.57 | 5.4 | 22.32 | 30.06.2015 | 5,086 | 14,277.25 |
| 2015 3rd Q | 3.38 | 2.65 | 2.81 | 2,056.53 | 3.12 | 367.55 | 30.09.2015 | 3,346 | 10,215.73 |
| 2015 4th Q | 3.25 | 2.73 | 2.9 | 1,235 | 8.76 | 0 | 30.12.2015 | 1,970 | 5,831.7 |
| 2016 1st Q | 2.95 | 2.81 | 2.9 | 1,888.41 | 2.83 | 388.6 | 31.03.2016 | 7,230 | 20,750.74 |
| 2016 2nd Q | 3.25 | 2.81 | 2.96 | 9,610.52 | 5.62 | 0 | 30.06.2016 | 6,943 | 22,061.49 |
| 2016 3rd Q | 3.5 | 2.97 | 3.5 | 2,440.7 | 5.96 | 2,440.7 | 30.09.2016 | 2,158 | 6,844.82 |
| 2016 4th Q | 3.65 | 3.15 | 3.34 | 9,074.36 | 3.35 | 66.8 | 30.12.2016 | 6,714 | 23,658.84 |
* The data is provided since 4 June 2014, from the begining of the listing of the company in the Stock Exchange.
| Share price, EUR | 2014* | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| - open | 3.000 | 2.800 | 2.950 |
| - high | 3.450 | 3.380 | 3.700 |
| - low | 2.620 | 2.580 | 2.810 |
| - medium | 2.969 | 2.876 | 3.181 |
| - last | 2.800 | 2.900 | 3.340 |
| Turnover, units | 7,876 | 12,857 | 23,045 |
| Turnover, EUR | 23,992.4 | 36,972.37 | 73,315.89 |
| Traded volume, units | 133 | 199 | 219 |
* The data is provided since 4 June 2014, from the begining of the listing of the company in the Stock Exchange.
| Last trading date | Number of shares, units | Last price, EUR | Capitalisation, EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30.06.2014 | 3,294,209 | 3.24 | 10,673,237 |
| 30.09.2014 | 3,294,209 | 2.75 | 9,059,075 |
| 30.12.2014 | 3,292,259 | 2.80 | 9,218,325 |
| 31.03.2015 | 3,291,549 | 2.82 | 9,282,168.2 |
| 30.06.2015 | 3,291,549 | 2.79 | 9,183,421.7 |
| 30.09.2015 | 3,291,549 | 2.81 | 9,249,252.7 |
| 30.12.2015 | 3,291,549 | 2.90 | 9,545,492.1 |
| 31.03.2016 | 3,291,549 | 2.90 | 9,545,492.1 |
| 30.06.2016 | 3,228,510 | 2.96 | 9,556,390 |
| 30.09.2016 | 3,228,510 | 3.50 | 11,299,785 |
| 30.12.2016 | 3,228,510 | 3.34 | 10,783,223 |
* The data is provided since 4 June 2014, from the begining of the listing of the company in the Stock Exchange.
1 OMX index is an all-share index which includes all the shares listed on the Main and Secondary lists on the NASDAQ Vilnius with exception of the shares of the companies where a single shareholder controls at least 90% of the outstanding shares. The OMX Baltic Real Estate GI index is based on the Industry Classification Benchmark (ICB) developed by FTSE Group (FTSE).
Fig. 7.6. Change of share price of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB
The General Shareholders' Meeting decides upon dividend payment and sets the amount of dividends. The company pays out the dividends within 1 month after the day of adoption of the resolution on profit distribution.
The dividend payment policy was approved On 24 March 2015 by the General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB.
Persons have the right to receive dividends if they were shareholders of the company at the end of the tenth working day after the day of the General Shareholders' Meeting which issued the resolution to pay dividends.
According to the Law on Personal Income Tax and the Law on Corporate Income Tax, 15 % tax is applied to the dividends since 2014. The company is responsible for calculation, withdrawn and transfer (to the benefit of the State) of applicable taxes2 .
On 25 March 2016, the General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB decided to allocate EUR 0.066 dividend per share.
Dividends were allocated to the shareholders, who at the end of the tenth business day following the day of the General Shareholders Meeting that adopted a decision on dividend payment, i.e. on 11 April 2016 were shareholders of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB.
On 18 April 2016 INVL Baltic Farmland announced that the company will start to allocate dividends from 20 April 2016.
Dividends were allocated to those shareholders of the company, who has provided existing bank accounts.
| Company's | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net Asset Value per share, EUR | 3.02 | 3.21 | 3.51 |
| Price to book value (P/Bv) | 0.93 | 0.90 | 0.95 |
| Dividend yield | - | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| Dividends/ Net profit | - | 0.24 | 0.18 |
Table 8.1. Indexes related with shares
\*https://www.invlbalticfarmland.com/lit/en/investor-relations/indicator-formulas
2This information should not be treated as tax consultation.
The total number of shareholders in INVL Baltic Farmland was 3,471 on 31 December 2016. There are no shareholders entitled to special rights of control.
Table 9.1.1. Shareholders who held title to more than 5% of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB authorised capital and/or votes as of 31 December 2016.
| Share of the Number of shares |
Share of the votes, % | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of the shareholder or company |
held by the right of ownership, units |
authorised capital held, % |
Share of votes given by the shares held by the right of ownership, % |
Netiesiogiai turimi balsai, proc. |
Balsų dalis iš viso, proc. |
| LJB Investments, UAB code 300822575, Juozapavičiaus str. 9A, Vilnius |
977,751 | 29.70 | 30.29 | 0 | 30.29 |
| Irena Ona Mišeikienė | 931,831 | 28.31 | 28.86 | 0 | 28.86 |
| Lucrum Investicija, UAB code 300806471, Šeimyniškių str. 3, Vilnius |
664,310 | 20.18 | 20.57 | 2.043 | 22.61 |
| Alvydas Banys | 252,875 | 7.68 | 7.83 | 54.904 | 62.73 |
| Darius Šulnis | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 62.735 | 62.73 |
| Indrė Mišeikytė | 64,450 | 1.96 | 2.0 | 60,736 | 62.73 |
| Eglė Surplienė | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 62,737 | 62.73 |
3 Lucrum Investicija, UAB has 2.04% of votes according to a repurchase agreement.
4 According to Part 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 24 and Paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania, it is considered that Alvydas Banys has votes of LJB Investments, a company controlled by him, and also votes of Darius Sulnis and Indre Miseikyte, managers of INVL Baltic Farmland.
5 According to Part 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 24 and Paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania, it is considered that Darius Sulnis has votes of Lucrum Investicija, a company controlled by him, and also votes of Alvydas Banys and Indre Miseikyte, managers of INVL Baltic Farmland.According to Paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania, it is considered that Indre Miseikyte has votes of Alvydas Banys and Darius Sulnis, managers of INVL Baltic Farmland.
6 According to Paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania, it is considered that Indre Miseikyte has votes of Alvydas Banys and Darius Sulnis, managers of INVL Baltic Farmland.
7 According to Paragraph 2 of Article 24 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania, it is considered that Egle Surpliene has votes of Alvydas Banys, Darius Sulnis and Indre Miseikyte, managers of INVL Baltic Farmland.
Fig. 9.1.1. Votes as of 31 December 2016
| Shareholders | Share of votes given by the owned shares | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investors | Amount | Part, % | Amount | Part, % |
| Households | 3,455 | 99.54 | 1,583,789 | 49.06 |
| Private corporations | 11 | 0.32 | 1,644,266 | 50.93 |
| Financial institutions and insurance corporations |
5 | 0.14 | 455 | 0.01 |
| Viso | 3,471 | 3,228,510 |
9.1.2. Fig. Distribution of securities by investors' groups as of 31 December 2016
| Shareholders | Share of votes given by the owned shares | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regions | Amount | Part, % | Amount | Part, % |
| Lithuania | 3,424 | 98.65 | 3,218,653 | 99.69 |
| Other EU members | 29 | 0.84 | 8,116 | 0.25 |
| Non- EU countries | 18 | 0.52 | 1,741 | 0.05 |
| Total | 3,471 | 3,228,510 |
The Company's shareholders have the following property and non-property rights:
The shareholders have no property obligations to the Company, except for the obligation to pay up, in the established manner, all the shares subscribed for at their issue price.
If the General Shareholders' Meeting takes a decision to cover the losses of the Company from additional contributions made by the shareholders, the shareholders who voted "for" shall be obligated to pay the contributions. The shareholders who did not attend the General Shareholders' Meeting or voted against such a resolution shall have the right to refrain from paying additional contributions.
The person who acquired all shares in the company or the holder of all shares in the company who transferred a part of his shares to another person must notify the company of the acquisition or transfer of shares within 5 days from the conclusion of the transaction. The notice shall indicate the number of acquired or transferred shares, the nominal share price and the particulars of the person who acquired or transferred the shares (the natural person's full name, personal number and address; the name, legal form it has taken, registration number, address of the registered office of the legal person.)
Contracts between the company and holder of all its share shall be executed in a simple written form, unless the Civil Code prescribes the mandatory notarised form.
A shareholder shall repay the Company any dividend paid out in violation of the mandatory norms of the Law on Companies, if the Company proves that the shareholder knew or should have known thereof.
Each shareholder shall be entitled to authorise a natural or legal person to represent him when maintaining contacts with the Company and other persons.
| General Shareholder's Meeting | |
|---|---|
| The Board (3 members) | |
| Director |
The governing bodies of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB are: the General Shareholders' Meeting, sole governing body – the director and a collegial governing body – the Board. The Supervisory Board is not formed.
Persons who were shareholders of the Company at the close of the accounting day of the meeting (the 5th working day before the General Shareholders' Meeting) shall have the right to attend and vote at the General Shareholders' Meeting in person, unless otherwise provided for by laws, or may authorise other persons to vote for them as proxies or may conclude an agreement on the disposal of the voting right with third parties. The shareholder's right to attend the General Shareholders' Meeting shall also cover the right to speak and enquire.
The General Shareholders' Meeting may take decisions and shall be held valid if attended by the shareholders who hold the shares carrying not less than ½ of all votes. After the presence of a quorum has been established, the quorum shall be deemed to be present throughout the General Shareholders' Meeting. If a quorum is not present, the General Shareholders' Meeting shall be considered invalid and a repeat General Shareholders' Meeting must be convened, which shall be authorised to take decisions only on the issues on the agenda of the General Shareholders' Meeting that has not been held and to which the quorum requirement shall not apply.
An Annual General Shareholders' Meeting must be held every year at least within 4 months from the close of the financial year.
The General Shareholders' Meeting shall have the exclusive right to:
take a decision on transformation of the Company;
take a decision on restructuring of the Company;
elect and dismiss the liquidator of the Company, except the cases provided by the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania. The General Shareholders' Meeting may also decide on other matters assigned within the scope of its powers by the Articles of Association of the Company, unless these have been assigned under the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania within the scope of powers of other organs of the Company and provided that, in their essence, these are not the functions of the governing bodies.
The documents related to the agenda, draft resolutions on every item of agenda, documents what have to be submitted to the General Shareholders Meeting and other information related to realization of shareholders rights are available at the registered office of the Company during working hours.
The shareholders are entitled: (i) to propose to supplement the agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting submitting draft resolution on every additional item of agenda or, than there is no need to make a decision - explanation of the shareholder. Proposal to supplement the agenda is submitted in writing by registered mail or delivered in person against signature. The agenda is supplemented if the proposal is received no later than 14 before the General Shareholders Meeting; (ii) to propose draft resolutions on the issues already included or to be included in the agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting at any time prior to the date of the General Shareholders meeting (in writing, by registered mail or delivered in person against signature) or in writing during the General Shareholders Meeting; (iii) to submit questions to the Company related to the issues of agenda of the General Shareholders Meeting in advance but no later than 3 business days prior to the General Shareholders Meeting in writing by registered mail or delivered in person against signature.
Shareholder participating at the General Shareholders Meeting and having the right to vote must submit documents confirming personal identity. Each shareholder may authorize either a natural or a legal person to participate and to vote on the shareholder's behalf at the General Shareholders Meeting. The representative has the same rights as his represented shareholder at the General Shareholders Meeting. The authorized persons must have documents confirming their personal identity and power of attorney approved in the manner specified by law which must be submitted to the Company no later than before the commencement of registration for the General Shareholders Meeting. Shareholder is entitled to issue power of attorney by means of electronic communications for legal or natural persons to participate and to vote on its behalf at the General Shareholders Meeting. The shareholders must inform the Company about power of attorney issued by means of electronic communications no later than before the commencement of registration for the General Shareholders Meeting. The power of attorney issued by means of electronic communications and notice about it must be written and submitted to the Company by means of electronic communications.
Shareholder or its representative may vote in writing by filling general voting bulletin, in such a case the requirement to deliver a personal identity document does not apply. The form of general voting bulletin is presented at the Company's webpage. If shareholder requests, the Company shall send the general voting bulletin to the requesting shareholder by registered mail or shall deliver it in person against signature no later than 10 days prior to the General Shareholders Meeting free of charge. The filled general voting bulletin must be signed by the shareholder or its authorized representative. Document confirming the right to vote must be added to the general voting bulletin if authorized person is voting. The filled general voting bulletin must be delivered to the Company by means of electronic communications, registered mail or in person against signature no later than before the day of the General Shareholders Meeting.
For the convenience of the shareholders of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB the company provides notifications about convocation of General Shareholders Meeting, draft resolutions as well as general voting bulletins and resolutions adopted in the Meetings in the section For Investors reference Shareholders' Meeting Voting Results on the company's web page.
There was 1 (one) General Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB during the 2016.
The General Shareholders Meeting was held on 25 March 2016. All questions of agenda were voted in writing in advance. The decisions were made unanimously. During the General Shareholders Meeting of 25 March 2016 INVL Baltic Farmland, AB the Shareholders were presented with the consolidated annual report of the Company and independent auditor's report on the financial statements, approved the consolidated and companies financial statements for 2015, distribution of the profit of the Company.
The Board shall continue in office for the 4 year period or until a new Board is elected and commences its activities, but not longer than until the date of the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting to be held during the final year of the term of office of the Board. If individual members of the Board are elected, they shall serve only until the expiry of the term of office of the current Board.
The Board or its members shall commence their activities after the close of the General Shareholders' Meeting which elected the Board or its members. Where the Articles of Association of the Company are amended due to the increase in the number of its members, newly elected members of the Board may commence their activities solely from the date of registration of the amended Articles of Association. The Board shall elect the chairman of the Board from among its members.
The General Shareholders' Meeting may dismiss from the office the entire Board or its individual members (as well as the Chairman of the Board) before the expiry of their term of office. A member of the Board may resign from his post before the expiry of his term of office, notifying the Board in writing at least 14 calendar days in advance.
The Board shall have all authorities provided for in the Articles of Association of the Company as well as those assigned to the Board by the laws. The activities of the Board shall be based on collegial consideration of issues and decision-making as well as shared responsibility to the General Shareholders' Meeting for the consequences of the decisions made. Striving for as big benefit for the Company and shareholders as possible and in order to ensure the integrity and transparency of the control system, the Board closely cooperates with the manager of the Company. The procedure of work of the Board shall be laid down in the rules of procedure of the Board.
The Board shall consider and approve:
The Board shall elect and dismiss from office the manager of the Company, fix his salary and set other terms of the employment contract, approve his job description, provide incentives for and impose penalties against him.
The Board shall determine which information shall be considered to be the Company's commercial secret and confidential information. Any information which must be publicly available under the laws may not be considered to be the commercial secret and confidential information.
The Board shall take the following decisions:
The Board shall analyse and evaluate the information submitted by the manager of the Company on:
The Board shall analyse and assess a set of Company's and consolidated annual financial statements and draft of profit/loss appropriation and shall submit them to the General Shareholders' Meeting together with the annual report of the Company.
It shall be the duty of the Board to convene and organise the General Shareholders' Meetings in due time.
The order of the formation of the Board of the company should ensure objective, impartial and fair representation of minority shareholders of the company: names and surnames of the candidates to become members of the Board of the company, information about their education, qualification, professional background, positions taken in supervisory and management Boards of other companies, owned block of shares in other companies, larger than 1/20, potential conflicts of interest, information on whether the candidates are applied to administrative sanctions or punishment for violations / crimes against the economy, business policy, property, property rights and property interests, or
do they have no obligations neither functions which would threaten the safe and reliable operations of the company, or whether candidates meet the legal requirements made for the Managers, are disclosed not later than 10 days prior the General Shareholders' Meeting in which the election of the Members of the Board is intended, so that the shareholders would have sufficient time to make an informed voting decision
In order to maintain a proper balance in terms of the current qualifications possessed by its members, the desired composition of the Board of the company are determined with regard to the company's structure and activities. The Board plans to evaluate its performance once a year.
Any Member of the Board of the company must confound companies property with its own property and do not use it or information which they received while holding position as the Members of the Board for personal benefit or for the benefit of third party on other way than the General Shareholders Meeting and the Board allows it.
Any Member of the Board of the company within 5 (five) days must inform the Manager or the Chairman of the company on any subsequent changes in provided information that have been submitted for shareholders prior to the election of the Member of the Board. Changes in provided information are disclosed in the company's annual report.
Each Member of the Board actively participates in the Meetings of Board and devotes sufficient time and attention to perform his duties as the Member of the Board.
11 Meetings of the Board of the company have been held in 2016. Since the start of the company, the compostion of the Board has not changed and consisted from: Alvydas Banys, Indrė Mišeikytė and Darius Šulnis. Avydas Banys attended all the Meetings of the Board: one of which attended by distance. Indrė Mišeikytė attended all the Meetings of the Board personally. Darius Šulnis attended all the Meetings of the Board personally.
The manager of the Company (the Director) shall be elected and dismissed from office by the Board which shall also fix his salary, approve his job description, provide incentives and impose penalties. An employment contract shall be concluded with the Director. The Director shall assume office after the election, unless otherwise provided for in the contract concluded with him. If the Board adopts a decision on his removal from office, the employment contract therewith shall be terminated.
In his activities, the Director shall be guided by laws and other legal acts, the Articles of Association of the Company, decisions of the General Shareholders' Meeting and the Board, his job description. The Director is accountable to the Board.
The Director shall organise daily activities of the Company, hire and dismiss employees, conclude and terminate employment contracts therewith, provide incentives and impose penalties.
The Director shall act on behalf of the Company and shall be entitled to enter into transactions at his own discretion. The Director may conclude the transactions to invest, dispose of or lease the fixed assets for the book value which exceeds 1/20 of the authorised capital of the Company (calculated individually for every type of transaction), to pledge or mortgage the fixed assets for the book value which exceeds 1/20 of the authorised capital of the Company (calculated for the total amount of transactions), to offer surety or guarantee for the discharge of obligations of third parties for the amount which exceeds 1/20 of the authorised capital of the Company, to acquire the fixed assets for the price which exceeds 1/20 of the authorised capital of the Company, provided there is a decision of the Board to enter into these transactions.
The Director shall be responsible for:
The Director must keep commercial secrets and confidential information of the Company which he learned while holding this office.
The Board of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB was elected during the General Shareholders' Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB the company split-off from Invalda LT, AB (current name – Invalda INVL) on 28 April 2014. Mr. Banys was elected as the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Šulnis and Ms. Mišeikytė were elected as the Members of the Board. Mr. Sulnis were appointed as a director of the company since the establishment of the company, he held this position until 29 June 2015. From 30 June 2015 Egle Surpliene holds position as a director of the company.
| Alvydas Banys – Chairman of the Board | |
|---|---|
| The term of office | From 2014 untill 2018 |
| Educational background and qualifications |
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Faculty of Civil Engineering. Master in Engineering and Economics. Junior Scientific co-worker. Economic's Institute of Lithuania's Science Academy. |
| Work experience | Since 1 July 2013 Invalda INVL, AB – Advisor Since 2007 LJB Investments, UAB – Director Since 2007 JLB Property, UAB – Director 1996 – 2006 Invalda, AB – Vice President 1996 – 2007 Nenuorama, UAB – President |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
Personally: 252,875 units of shares, 7.68 % of authorised capital, 7.83 % of votes. Together with controlled company LJB Investments: 1,230,626 units of shares, 37.38 % of authorized capital, 38.12 % of votes. Total votes (together with Members of the Board of INVL Baltic Farmland) – 62.73 %. |
| Participation in other companies |
Invalda INVL, AB – Chairman of the Board INVL Baltic Real Estate, AB – Chairman of the Board (till 2016-11-10) Litagra, UAB – Member of the Board |
| Indrė Mišeikytė – Member of the Board | |
|---|---|
| The term of office | From 2014 untill 2018 |
| Educational background and qualifications |
Vilnius Gedimino Technical University. Faculty of Architecture. Master in Architecture |
| Work experience | Since May 2012 Invalda INVL, AB – Advisor Since June 2013 Invalda Privatus Kapitalas, AB – Advisor Since 2002 Inreal Valdymas, UAB – Architect Since 2002 Gildeta, UAB – Architect |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
Personally: 64,450 units of shares, 1.96 % of authorised capital, 2 % of votes. Total votes (together with Members of the Board of INVL Baltic Farmland) – 62.73 %. |
| Participation in other companies |
Invalda INVL, AB – Member of the Board Invalda Privatus Kapitalas, AB – Member of the Board INVL Baltic Real Estate, AB – Member of the Board (till 2016-11-10) |
| Darius Šulnis - valdybos narys | |
|---|---|
| The term of office | From 2014 untill 2018 |
| Educational background and qualifications |
Duke University (USA). Business Administration. Global Executive MBA. Vilnius University. Faculty of Economics. Master in Accounting and Audit. Financial broker's license (General) No. A109. |
| Work experience | Since the beginning of the 2015 – general director of INVL Asset Management, UAB. 2006 – 2011 Invalda, AB – President. 2011 – 2013 Invalda, AB – Advisor. Since May 2013 Invalda INVL, AB – President. 2002 – 2006 Invalda Real Estate, UAB (current name Inreal Valdymas) – Director 1994 – 2002 FBC Finasta, AB – Director |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
Personally: 0 units of shares, 0.00 % of authorised capital and votes. Together with controlled company Lucrum Investicija: 664,310 units of shares, 20.18 % of authorised capital, 22.61 % of votes (including votes granted by the shares transferred by the repurchase agreement). Total votes (together with Members of the Board of INVL Baltic Farmland) – 62.73 %. |
| Participation in other companies |
Invalda INVL, AB – Member of the Board, the president Litagra, UAB – Member of the Board INVL Asset Management, UAB – Chairman of the Board, general director IPAS INVL Asset Management (Latvia) – Member of the Supervisory Board AS INVL atklātajs pensiju fonds (Latvia) – Member of the Supervisory Board |
| Šiaulių bankas, AB – Member of the Supervisory Board | |
|---|---|
| Eglė Surplienė – Director | |
| The term of office | Vilnius University, Faculty of Economic Cybernetics and Finance, Economic Cybernetics studies, Economics – mathematics diploma (equivalent of Master's degree) 2009 – Award in Financial Planning (CII program and exam) certificate. 2005 – OMX Vilnius dealer certificate 1996 – General financial broker license |
| Educational background and qualifications |
September 2014 - present –Director, UAB Margio investicija October 2009 - present – Wealth manager, UAB FPI Geroves Valdymas March 2009 - present – Director, UAB DIM investment Autumn 2006 - October 2009 – Wealth manager, VIP Clients manager, AB FBC Finasta, AB bank Finasta June 2005 - July 2006 – Project manager, UAB Zabolis ir partneriai June 1999 - June 2005 – Member, Deputy Director of the Commission, Securities Commission of Lithuania June 1995 - June 1999 – Head of Issuer Division, UAB FMI Vilfima June 1993 - June 1995 - Member of Market Regulation Division, Securities Commission of Lithuania |
| Work experience | Personally: 0 units of shares, 0.00 % of authorised capital and votes. Total votes (together with Members of the Board of INVL Baltic Farmland) – 62.73 %. |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
Birstono investicija, UAB – Member of the Board, UAB Tuta, UAB – Member of the Board Green Vilnius hotel, UAB – Member of the Board |
Invalda INVL, AB provides accounting services and preparation of the documents related with bookkeeping for INVL Baltic Farmland, AB according to an agreement signed on 30 April 2014 No. 20140430/03.
The Audit Committee consists of 2 members, one of whom is independent. The members of the Audit Committee are elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting. The main functions of the Committee are the following:
The Member of the Audit Committee of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB may resign from his post before the expiry of term of office, notifying the Board of the company in writing at least 14 calendar days in advance. When the Board of the Company receives the notice of resignation and estimates all circumstances related to it, the Board may pass the decision either to convene the Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting to elect the new member of the Audit Committee or to postpone the question upon the election of the new member of the Audit Committee until the nearest General Shareholders Meeting. In any case the new member is elected till the end of term of office of the operating Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee is a collegial body, taking decisions during meetings. The Audit Committee may take decisions and its meeting should be considered valid, when both members of the Committee participate in it. The decision should be passed when both members of the Audit Committee vote for it. The Member of the Audit Committee may express his will – for or against the decision in question, the draft of which he is familiar with – by voting in advance in writing. Voting in writing should be considered equal to voting by telecommunication end devices, provided text protection is ensured and it is possible to identify the signature. The right of initiative of convoking the meetings of the Audit Committee is held by both Members of the Audit Committee. The other Member of the Audit Committee should be informed about the convoked meeting, questions that will be discussed there and the suggested drafts of decisions not later than 3 (three) business days in advance in writing (by e-mail or fax). The meetings of the Audit Committee should not be recorded, and the taken decisions should be signed by both Members of the committee. When both Audit Committee Members vote in writing, the decision should be written down and signed by the secretary of the Audit Committee who should be appointed by the Board of the Company. The decision should be written down and signed within 7 (seven) days from the day of the meeting of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee should have the right to invite the Manager of the Company, Member(s) of the Board, the chief financier, and employees responsible for finance, accounting and treasury issues as well as external auditors to its meetings. Members of the Audit Committee may receive remuneration for their work in the committee at the maximum hourly rate approved by the General Shareholders' Meeting.
The General Shareholders Meeting which took place on 23 December 2014 decided to elect Danute Kadanaite, the lawyer at Legisperitus UAB, and Tomas Bubinas, CFO at Biotechpharma UAB to the Audit Committee of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB for the 4 (four) years term of office.
| Danutė Kadanaitė – Member of the Audit Committee | |
|---|---|
| The term of office | Since 2014 until 2018 |
| Educational background and qualifications |
2004 – 2006 Mykolas Romeris University. Faculty of Law. Master in Financial Law 2000 – 2004 m. Faculty of Law, BA in Law 1997 International School of Management |
| Work experience | Since 2009 Lawyer. Legisperitus, UAB 2008 – 2009 Lawyer, Finasta FBC 2008 – Lawyer, Invalda, AB 1999 – 2002 Administrator, Office of Attorney of Law Arturas Sukevicius 1994 – 1999 Legal Consultant, Financial brokerage company Apyvarta, UAB |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
- |
| Tomas Bubinas – Independent Member of the Audit Committee | |
|---|---|
| The term of office | Since 2014 until 2018 |
| Educational background and qualifications |
2004 - 2005 Baltic Management Institute (BMI), Executive MBA 1997 - 2000 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. ACCA. Fellow Member 1997 Lithuanian Sworn Registered Auditor 1988 - 1993 Vilnius University, Msc. in Economics |
| Work experience | Since 2013 Chief Operating Officer at Biotechpharma, UAB 2010 - 2012 Senior Director, Operations. TEVA Biopharmaceuticals (USA) 2004 - 2010 CFO for Baltic countries, Teva Pharmaceuticals 2001 - 2004 m. CFO, Sicor Biotech 1999 - 2001 Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers 1994 - 1999 Senior Auditor, Manager, Coopers & Lybrand. |
| Owned amount of shares in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
- |
CEO of the company is entitled only to a fixed salary. The company does not have a policy concerning payment of a variable part of remuneration to the management.
During the year 2016 to the Board members, which are shareholders of the Company, were paid EUR 18 thousand of dividends, net of tax. To the entities, which are controlled by the Board members, were paid EUR 115 thousand of dividends, net of tax. Natural persons, who are related to the Board members of the company, were paid EUR 53 thousand of dividends, net of tax. There were no assets transferred, no guarantees granted, no bonuses paid and no special payouts made by the company to its managers. The Members of the Board were not granted with bonuses by other companies of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB group.
INVL Baltic Farmland, AB Group and the Company for the company providing accounting services respectively paid EUR 15 thousand and EUR 3 thousand during the reporting period (in 2015 – respectively EUR 16 thousand and EUR 4 thousand; in 2014 – respectively EUR 10 thousand and EUR 2 thousand).
Table 13.1. Information about calculated remuneration for the CEO of the issuer for 2014-2016
| 29.04.2014 – 31.12.2014 | 01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015 | 01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For members of administration (the CEO) | 2,326 | 2,652 | 1,487 |
Lithuanian economy maintains a moderate growth rate. In 2016 GDP grew by 2.2% annual rate. One of the main reasons is domestic consumption, supported by shrinking unemployment and growing revenue. Although export slightly decreased, it can be explained by smaller prices of oil products and fertilizers.
2016 was more difficult for agricultural sector. Grain harvest amounted to 6.41 million tons, i.e. 12% less than a year ago, in Lithuania. Due to unfavorable weather fertility dropped by 16% although cultivated area was larger by 4%. Lithuanian Statistics department calculates that the best fertility was in Siauliai, Kaunas and Marijampole districts.
Situation for dairy farms has started improving since the middle of 2016. Recovery in dairy products markets has lifted prices of raw milk too. In December a raw milk price was by 35% above the previous year's level.
Looking at the longer term tendencies the situation of agricultural sector has been improving and efficiency has been growing. Fertility of crops almost doubled during the last 10 years. Value added has also grown by a solid rate. It is supported by investments to agricultural machinery, scaling of farms, better know-how. Sector is also highly strengthened by payments to farmers. During the last 10 years 8 billion euros were provided for participants in agricultural farming and rural development. Increased support usually converts into a growth of land price and rent price.
Contrary to slowing agricultural land transactions land rental market was gaining momentum. Existing land purchase constraints increase a demand for land rent. Rental prices are positively related to payments for farmers. Moreover, rent is interesting for big farmers and agricultural companies as well because it gives priority to acquire the land in case of owner's decision to sell.
Since May 2014 changes to the Agricultural Land Acquisition temporary law entered into force. Under these changes, persons cannot acquire more than 500 hectares of agricultural land. Also, the amount of people having pre-emptive right to purchase the land was expanded. Restrictions define that persons who own more than 25 percent of shares in agricultural land companies, as well as persons who own more than 25 percent in several companies are held as related parties. Therefore, those willing to purchase additional agricultural land have to have documents proving that the person, during the last 10 years before the deal, was engaged in agricultural activity for at least 3 years and has declared his farmland as well as crop. For legal entities restrictions define that they have to additionally provide documents proving that more than 50 percent of their business annual income comes from farming activities and company is economically sound. The Agricultural Land Acquisition temporary law has been fairly criticized. Due to this the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania has started considerations to liberalize the law.
INVL Baltic Farmland has 100% in 18 companies owning more than 3 thousand hectares of agricultural land in the most fertile regions of Lithuania.
Companies – land owners and joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland on 30 June 2015 signed a basic property administration agreement with INVL Farmland Management which administrates agricultural land owned by the companies.
Due to the restrictions INVL Baltic Farmland is unable to invest in agricultural land in Lithuania as well as unable to take control of the companies owning agricultural land.
In a long term the company seeks to gain profit from a growth of rent as well as an increase of the land value. In the last quarter of 2016 the valuation of land plots took place and the total value of the managed land increased by 9.8% to EUR 12.3 million, or EUR 4.1 thousand per hectare on average.
In the graph bellow it can be observed how the price of agricultural land varies geographically:
14.1.1. Fig. Agricultural land prices in Lithuania Source: Centre of Registers
| 31 December 2014 | 31 December 2015 | 31 December 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controlled cultivated cropland area, ha | 3,002 | 3,003 | 3,000 |
| Book value of land, | 10,558* | 11,237* | 12,335* |
| Average rental income per hectare | 109 | 149 | 172 |
| Consolidated equity | 9,931 | 10,570 | 11,343 |
| Number of votes, units | 3,292,259 | 3,291,549 | 3,228,510 |
| Book value of one share | 3.02 | 3.21 | 3.51 |
*Investment properties are stated at fair value and are valued by accredited valuer UAB korporacija Matininkai using sales comparison method. The valuation was performed in June-July 2014, in November 2015 and December 2016.
| Balance sheet | Group | Company | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.12.2014 | 31.12.2015 | 31.12.2016 | 31.12.2014 | 31.12.2015 | 31.12.2016 | |
| Investment property | 10,558 | 11,237 | 12,335 | - | - | - |
| Investments into subsidiaries | - | - | - | 4,866 | 5,581 | 6,624 |
| Loans granted | - | - | - | 4,907 | 4,880 | 4,656 |
| Trade receivables | 23 | 54 | 82 | - | 8 | 5 |
| Deferred tax assets | 4 | - | - | 4 | - | - |
| Cash | 210 | 367 | 209 | 170 | 136 | 101 |
| Other assets | 5 | 7 | 6 | - | 7 | 6 |
| Deferred income tax liabilities | 837 | 946 | 1 121 | - | - | - |
| Other current liabilities | 32 | 149 | 168 | 16 | 42 | 49 |
| Consolidated equity | 9,931 | 10,570 | 11,343 | 9,931 | 10,570 | 11,343 |
| Profit (loss) | 29.04.2014 – 31.12.2014 |
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015 |
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016 |
29.04.2014 – 31.12.2014 |
01.01.2015 – 31.12.2015 |
01.01.2016 – 31.12.2016 |
| Revenue | 230 | 460 | 531 | - | - | - |
| Revaluation of investment property | - | 678 | 1,098 | - | - | - |
| Income before tax | 110 | 979 | 1,398 | 111 | 866 | 1,220 |
| Net prtofit | 89 | 838 | 1,193 | 89 | 838 | 1,193 |
| 2014 m. | 2015 m. | 2016 m. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (ROE), % | 0.90 | 8.18 | 10.89 |
| Return on Assets (ROA), % | 0.80 | 7.46 | 9.82 |
| Liquidity ratio | 7.31 | 2.87 | 1.77 |
| Operating profit margin (pretax profit margin), % | 47.83 | 212.83 | 263.28 |
| Operating profit excluding revaluation of investment property margin, % |
47.83 | 65.43 | 56.50 |
| Earning per share (EPS), EUR | 0.03 | 0.25 | 0.37 |
| Price earning ratio (P/E) | 93.33 | 11.60 | 9.03 |
| Net profit margin (%) | 38.70 | 182.17 | 224.67 |
| EBITDA margin (%) | 48.70 | 65.87 | 56.50 |
\*https://www.invlbalticfarmland.com/lit/en/investor-relations/indicator-formulas
the general shareholders meeting and an audited annual information for 2016; 3 May 2017 – preliminary operating results and factsheet for 3 months of 2017; 21 July 2017 - Interim information for 6 months of 2017; 7 November 2017 – preliminary operating results and factsheet for 9 months of 2017.
The companies during the reporting period rented agricultural land for farmers and agricultural companies and performed usual.
There is only one employee (director) at INVL Baltic Farmland, AB. Invalda INVL, AB provides accounting services for the company. Employment agreements are concluded following requirements of the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania. Employees are employed and laid off following requirements of the Labour Code. There are no special employees' rights and duties described in the employment agreements.
There were 2 employees working at INVL Baltic Farmland and INVL Baltic Farmland subsidiary companies on 31 December 2016 (31 December 2015 – 2, 31 December 2014 – 5).
14.4. INFORMATION ABOUT AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, OR THE EMPLOYEES' AGREEMENTS PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION IN CASE OF THE RESIGNATION OR IN CASE THEY ARE DISMISSED WITHOUT A DUE REASON OR THEIR EMPLOYMENT IS TERMINATED IN VIEW OF THE CHANGE OF THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY.
There are no agreements of the company and the Members of the Board, or the employees' agreements providing for compensation in case of the resignation or in case they are dismissed without a due reason or their employment is terminated in view of the change of the control of the company.
Agricultural land prices in Lithuania are among the lowest in the European Union, and much lower than in neighboring Poland. This is caused by increased land fragmentation and other reasons.
After recent market turmoil, investors are paying more and more attention on capital preservation. Investment in agricultural land is backed by assets which has only a small possibility of devaluation. Historical data shows that land, in the long term, is characterized by strong core capital preservation features. Unlike investments in exhaustible metals, oil and gas resources, a well-managed agricultural land is a completely renewable resource, which remains productive forever.
Agricultural land, as an asset class, has a positive correlation with inflation. Historically, agricultural land values rose faster than inflation, therefore agricultural land is an effective insurance against inflation and a capital preservation tool. It may be attractive to investors, who are worried about governments' inflationary policies.
Unlike other popular insurance against inflation measures, such as precious metals, land provides a regular income to the investor, which, in the low interest environment, is often higher than the deposit or bond interest. Although land investment does not bring the highest income in the real estate sector, not depreciating assets with strong price growth potential and close to 100 % occupation (unlike commercial real estate, high-quality agricultural land demand is always high, regardless of the economic environment) generate the income.
By placing agricultural land in a diversified portfolio, investors can reduce the risk of income shortage at a time when other assets generate little or no income. While the long-term rise in agricultural commodity prices positively affect the value of land, short-term fluctuations in the price of production are assumed by the farmer rather than the landowner.
In developed countries agricultural land had higher profits than other asset classes, including equities, bonds and commercial real estate, despite the lower risk (measured as the standard deviation of the annual return).
Agricultural land yield has a low or even negative correlation with traditional asset classes like stocks and bonds, and a small positive correlation with residential and commercial real estate. These features make farmland an attractive diversification tool that can reduce the impact of general market fluctuations on diversified portfolio.
Investment in agricultural land is classified as a real estate, but has unique features. This allowed agricultural land to protect itself from extreme falls in the value of assets, which were experienced by residential and commercial property during the crisis.
Information, provided in this section, should not be considered complete and covering all aspects of the risk factors associated with the activity and securities of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland will invest in agricultural land in Lithuania through its owned private companies. In 1 January 2014 changes to the Agricultural Land Acquisition temporary law (No. IX-1314) entered into force, providing restrictions of the purchase of agricultural land (including restriction of purchase of shares in the legal entity owning agricultural land). These restrictions mean that the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland and its owned private companies will not be able to purchase agricultural land additionally and/or acquire shares in companies owning agricultural land.
Prohibition stated in the law can reduce the amount of buyers of agricultural land, owned by subsidiaries of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland, and thus the liquidity and price of the asset.
The value of the investment in agricultural land can vary in the short term, depending on the harvest, prices of agricultural products, local demand and supply fluctuations, competition between farmers and financial situation. Investment in agricultural land should be carried out in the medium and long term, so that investor can avoid the short-term price fluctuations. Investing in real estate is connected with the long-term risks. After failure of investments or under other ill-affected circumstances (having been unable to pay for the creditors) the bankruptcy proceedings may be initiated.
Agricultural products and other commodities prices are historically characterized by very large fluctuations, on which, in many cases, depends the price of agricultural land. The main factor affecting profitability of agricultural business is the price of the crop (wheat, canola, etc.), but fuel, labor, fertilizers' and other commodity prices also affect the cost of agricultural activity, therefore their increase lowers profit margins and reduces the ability to pay higher prices for agricultural land leases. If high fuel, fertilizer and labor costs coincide with the fall of agricultural output prices, farmers and investors in the agricultural sector may suffer a loss.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland will seek to lease its owned agricultural land to farmers and agricultural companies for the highest price possible. Factors that could adversely affect the agricultural sector may be: weather conditions (floods, droughts, heavy rains, hail, frost, weeds, pests, diseases, fire, climate change related worsening conditions and others). Any of these factors, together or separately, could have a negative impact on farmers' incomes and farmland values. Part of the risks, not all, can be insured, but the insurance costs reduce agricultural profitability, thus not all Lithuanian farmers do it.
Lithuanian and the European Union farmers' activities and profits are highly dependent on the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) - EU and national subsidies for agricultural activities. Recent changes to the CAP are valid for the period 2014 – 2020.
Elimination of direct payments could have a negative impact on agricultural land rents and values.
Investments in agricultural land under certain market conditions are relatively illiquid, thus finding buyers for these lands can take time. Investors may consider the investment in agricultural land only if they do not have needs for the sudden liquidity.
Lithuanian law, the European Union directives and other legislative changes may affect the income of farmers and agricultural land rents. For example, changes affecting agricultural products price controls, export restrictions, customs entry or withdrawal, more stringent environmental restrictions could adversely affect the profitability of agriculture.
Tax laws change may lead to a greater taxation of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland and its group companies, which in turn may reduce the profits and assets of the company.
It is likely that during its operational period the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland will face both inflation and deflation risks as investments in agricultural land are long term. If the profit from the agriculture land rent will be less than the inflation rate, it will result in loss of purchasing power. It is estimated that investment in agricultural land profitability is highly correlated with inflation.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland will seek to lease agricultural land plots in the highest price possible to farmers in Lithuania and agricultural companies. There is a risk that tenants of the land will not fulfil their obligations - it would adversely affect the profit of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland. Large parts of liabilities not fulfilled in time may cause disturbances in activities of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland, there might be a need to seek additional sources of financing, which may not always be available.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland also bears the risk of holding funds in bank accounts or investing in short-term financial instruments.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland may be faced with a situation where it will not be able to settle with suppliers and other creditors in time. The company will seek to maintain adequate liquidity levels or secure funding in order to reduce this risk.
Interest rate risk mainly includes loans with a variable interest rate. The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland plans to use very small amount of debt. Rising interest rates worldwide may adversely affect the values of property - agricultural land.
Three shareholders of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland together with related parties hold more than 60 percent of shares and their voting will influence the election of the Members of the Boards of company, essential decisions regarding management of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland, operations and financial position. There is no guarantee that the decisions made by the major shareholders' will always coincide with the opinion and interest of the minority shareholders. Large shareholders have the right to block the proposed solutions of other shareholders.
The public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland established in the process of Split-Off of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL (former name – Invalda LT) and took over 14.45 percent of assets, equity and liabilities of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. If certain public joint-stock company's Invalda INVL obligations will not be distributed to all companies operating after the
separation, then all post-split-off-based companies will be jointly liable for it. Each of the companies' responsibility will be limited by the size of equity, attributable under the Split-Off conditions.
When any obligation of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL under the terms of the Split-Off will be assigned to one of the company, established after the Split-Off, that company will be liable to answer the obligation. If this company does not meet the whole or part of the obligation, and there is no additional guarantee provided to creditors under the Company Law, all post-split-off companies will be jointly liable for that obligation (or part of it). Each of the companies' responsibility will be limited by the size of equity, attributable under the split-off conditions.
Shareholders of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland bear the risk of incurring losses due to adverse changes in the market price of the shares. The stock price drop may be caused by negative changes in assets value and profitability of the company, general stock market trends in the region and the world. Trading of shares of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland may depend on comments of the brokers and analysts and published independent analyzes of the company and its activities. The unfavorable analysts' outlook of the shares of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland may adversely affect the market price of the shares. Non-professional investors assessing the shares are advised to seek the assistance of intermediaries of public trading or other experts in this field.
If demand for shares decreases or they are deleted from the stock exchange, investors will face the problem of realization of shares. If the financial situation of the public joint-stock company's INVL Baltic Farmland deteriorates, the demand for company's shares may drop, which will lead to fall in share price.
Dividend payment to the shareholders of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland is not guaranteed and will depend on the profitability, investment plans and the overall financial situation of the company.
Changes in the equity-related legislation or state tax policy can change shares attractiveness of the public joint-stock company INVL Baltic Farmland. This may reduce the liquidity of the shares of the company and/or price.
When inflation increases, the risk, that the stock price change may not offset the current rate of inflation, appears. In this case, the real returns from capital gain on market shares for traders may be less than expected.
During the reporting period INVL Baltic Farmland, AB has not made any acquisitions.
There are no significant agreements of the company which would come into force, be amended or cease to be valid if there was a change in issuer's controlling shareholder.
Information on the related parties' transactions is disclosed in consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 16 point of explanatory notes.
There were no events since the end of the financial year.
The initial forecast of INVL Baltic Farmland for year 2016 was income of EUR 530 thousand and net profit of EUR 300 thousand.
INVL Baltic Farmland had revenue of EUR 531 thousand in 2016 and earned unaudited net profit of EUR 1,193 thousand for the year. Profit was forecasted under the assumption that the value of agricultural land holdings in the balance sheet would not change, but a valuation conducted by the company Matininkai showed that it had increased by 9.8% to EUR 12.3 million, or EUR 4.1 thousand per hectare. Excluding the effects of the property revaluation and related deferred profit tax and management fees, INVL Baltic Farmland's profit would have been EUR 346 thousand.
The main reasons for the profit growth was better than expected debt repayment, wherefore there were no provisions formed, and the provisions that were formed in the past were restored.
According to this, it can be said that INVL Baltic Farmland exceeded the revenue and profit forecasts for 2016.
INVL Baltic Farmland will continue focusing on enhancing the quality of owned land and environmental sustainability.
Taking into consideration the lease agreements, total income should be around 575 thousand EUR in 2017. Net profit for the year is expected to be around EUR 350 thousand. These predictions are based on the assumption that there will be no changes in land value and no transactions in 2017.
The shareholders are proposed to approve EUR 0.07 dividend per share and totally pay EUR 226 thousand of dividends. INVL Baltic Farmland's dividend policy stipulates that dividend payments to shareholders should be no less than EUR 0.06 per share.
All data is presented in consolidated and company's financial statements explanatory notes of 2016.
The company have not approved criteria for selection of the audit company, but normally 'big 4' audit firms (Deloitte, KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst and Young) are invited to participate. In the General Shareholders' Meeting of the company held 28 October 2015 the audit company PricewaterhouseCoopers, UAB was elected to provide audit services on annual financial statements of the company for the financial year of 2015, 2016, 2017. It was decided to set remuneration of EUR 6 thousand plus VAT for the audit of the annual financial statements.
| Audit company | PricewaterhouseCoopers, UAB |
|---|---|
| Address of the registered office | J. Jasinskio str. 16B, LT-03163, Vilnius |
| Enterprise code | 111473315 |
| Telephone | (+370 5) 239 2300 |
| Fax | (+370 5) 239 2301 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | www.pwc.com/lt |
The audit company does not provide any other than audit services to the company. No internal audit is performed in the company.
The information publicly disclosed of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB during 2016 is presented on the company's website www.invlbalticfarmland.lt.
| Table 23.1. Summary of publicly disclosed information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of disclosure | Brief description of disclosed information |
|---|---|
| 02.02.2016 | AB INVL Baltic Farmland preliminary operating results and factsheet for 12 months of 2015 |
| 29.02.2016 | Audited results of INVL Baltic Farmland group of 2015 |
| 29.02.2016 | Convocation of the Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland and draft resolutions |
| 29.02.2016 | INVL Baltic Farmland plans to earn EUR 300 thousand net profit in 2015 |
| 25.03.2016 | Resolutions of the Shareholders Meeting of INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
| 25.03.2016 | Annual information of the public joint - stock company INVL Baltic Farmland |
| 18.04.2016 | Procedure for the payout of dividends for the year 2015 |
| 21.04.2016 | On acquisition of own shares |
| 26.04.2016 | AB INVL Baltic Farmland unaudited results and factsheet for 3 months of 2016 |
| 21.06.2016 | INVL Baltic Farmland, AB will buy-back 1.92 shares |
| 22.06.2016 | Notification on transaction concluded by the manager of the company |
| 22.06.2016 | Amount of voting rights in INVL Baltic Farmland, AB |
| 20.07.2016 | Unaudited results of INVL Baltic Farmland for 6 months of 2016 |
| 24.10.2016 | AB INVL Baltic Farmland unaudited results and factsheet for 9 months of 2016 |
| Date | Person | Number of securities |
Security price (EUR) |
Total value of 1 transaction (EUR) |
Form of transaction |
Type of transaction |
Place of transaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22.06.2016 | Indrė Mišeikytė | 1,308 | 3.21 | 4,198.68 | transfer | Share purchase/sale |
AUTO |
| 22.06.2016 | LJB Investments, UAB |
24.973 | 3.21 | 80,163.33 | transfer | Share purchase/sale |
AUTO |
| 22.06.2016 | Lucrum investicija, UAB |
13,478 | 3.21 | 43,264.38 | transfer | Share purchase/sale |
AUTO |
| Company | Registration information | Type of activity | Contact details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekotra, UAB | Code 303112623 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Puskaitis, UAB | Code 303112769 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Zemynele, UAB | Code 303112559 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Kvietukas, UAB | Code 303112678 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Lauknesys, UAB | Code 303112655 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Vasarojus, UAB | Code 303004626 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Laukaitis, UAB | Code 303112694 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Ziemkentys, UAB | Code 303112648 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Zemgale, UAB | Code 303112744 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Avizele, UAB | Code 303113077 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius; Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
Investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Berzyte, UAB | Code 303112915 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
| Company | Registration information | Type of activity | Contact details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duonis, UAB | Code 303112790 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Pusaitis, UAB | Code 3031131032 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Zalve, UAB | Code 303113045 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Seja, UAB | Code 303113013 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Dirvolika, UAB | Code 303112954 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Linaziede, UAB | Code 303112922 Registration addressGyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 01.08.2013 |
investments into agricultural land. Rent of the agricultural land. |
Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
|
| Cooperor, UAB | Code 303252162 Registration address Gyneju str. 14, Vilnius Legal form – private limited liability company Registration date 27.02.2014 |
Carries no activity | Telephone +370 5 279 0601 Fax +370 5 279 0530 E-mail [email protected] |
INVL Baltic Farmland, AB, following Article 21 paragraph 3 of the Law on Securities of the Republic of Lithuania and item 24.5 of the Listing Rules NASDAQ Vilnius, discloses its compliance with the Governance Code, approved by NASDAQ Vilnius for the companies listed on the regulated market, and its specific provisions.
| Yes / No / Not |
||
|---|---|---|
| Principles/ Recommendations | Appli | Commentary |
| Cable |
The overriding objective of a Company should be to operate in common interests of all the shareholders by optimizing over time shareholder value.
| 1.1. A company should adopt and make public the | Yes | The Company constantly discloses information about group's |
|---|---|---|
| company's development strategy and objectives by clearly | activities and objectives including performance forecasts in | |
| declaring how the company intends to meet the interests of | notifications on material event, annual information. | |
| its shareholders and optimize shareholder value. | ||
| 1.2. All management bodies of a company should act in | Yes | The Board's and the President's activities are concentrated on |
| furtherance of the declared strategic objectives in view of | the fulfillment of the Company's strategic objectives taking | |
| the need to optimize shareholder value. | count of the shareholders' equity increase. | |
| 1.3. A company's supervisory and management bodies | Yes | The Supervisory Board is not formed. Nevertheless, the Board |
| should act in close co-operation in order to attain maximum | and the Director acts in close cooperation seeking to obtain | |
| benefit for the company and its shareholders. | the maximum benefit for the Company and its shareholders. | |
| The Board periodically reviews and assesses Company's | ||
| activity results. The Director may conclude the transactions | ||
| referred to in subparagraphs 3, 4, 5 and 6, paragraph 4, Article | ||
| 34 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, | ||
| provided that there is a decision of the Board to enter into | ||
| these transactions. | ||
| 1.4. A company's supervisory and management bodies | Yes | The Company respects all rights and interests of the persons |
| should ensure that the rights and interests of persons other | other than the Company's shareholders participating in or | |
| than the company's shareholders (e.g. employees, creditors, | connected with the Company's operation. | |
| suppliers, clients, local community), participating in or | ||
| connected with the company's operation, are duly | ||
| respected. |
Principle II: The corporate governance framework
The corporate governance framework should ensure the strategic guidance of the Company, the effective oversight of the Company's management bodies, an appropriate balance and distribution of functions between the Company's bodies, protection of the shareholders' interests.
| 2.1. Besides obligatory bodies provided for in the Law on | No | Due to its size, it is not expedient to form the Supervisory |
|---|---|---|
| Companies of the Republic of Lithuania – a General | Board. Considering that only collegial management body - the | |
| Shareholders' Meeting and the Chief Financial Officer, it is | Board is formed in the Company. The Director of the | |
| recommended that a company should set up both a collegial | Company is accountable to the Board. | |
| supervisory body and a collegial management body. The | ||
| setting up of collegial bodies for supervision and | ||
| management facilitates clear separation of management and | ||
| supervisory functions in the company, accountability and | ||
| control on the part of the Chief Executive Officer, who, in | ||
| its turn, facilitate a more efficient and transparent | ||
| management process. | ||
| 2.2. A collegial management body is responsible for the | Yes | The functions set forth in this recommendation are performed |
| strategic management of the company and performs other | by the collegial management body – the Board. | |
| key functions of corporate governance. A collegial | ||
| supervisory body is responsible for the effective supervision | ||
| of the company's management bodies. |
| 2.3. When a company chooses to form only one collegial | No | Only one collegial body is formed in the Company - the |
|---|---|---|
| body, it is recommended that it should be a supervisory | Board. It performs all essential management functions and | |
| body, i.e. the Supervisory Board. In such a case, the | ensures accountability and control of the Director of the | |
| Supervisory Board is responsible for the effective | Company. The Supervisory Board is not formed in the | |
| monitoring of the functions performed by the company's | Company. | |
| Chief Financial Officer. | ||
| 2.4. The collegial supervisory body to be elected by the | Yes | The provisions set forth in III and IV principles are applied on |
| General Shareholders' Meeting should be set up and should | the Board's formation and activity as long as that does not | |
| act in the manner defined in Principles III and IV. Where a | contradict with the essence and purpose of this body. | |
| company should decide not to set up a collegial supervisory | ||
| body but rather a collegial management body, i.e. the Board, | ||
| Principles III and IV should apply to the Board as long as | ||
| that does not contradict the essence and purpose of this | ||
| body. | ||
| 2.5. Company's management and supervisory bodies | Yes | There are 3 independent Board members in the Company who |
| should comprise such number of Board (executive | are seeking benefit to the Company and its shareholders. | |
| directors) and Supervisory (non-executive directors) Board | ||
| members that no individual or small group of individuals | ||
| can dominate decision-making on the part of these bodies. | ||
| 2.6. Non-executive directors or members of the Supervisory | No | The Supervisory Board is not formed in the Company, and |
| Board should be appointed for specified terms subject to | there are no non–executive directors either. | |
| individual re-election, at maximum intervals provided for in | ||
| the Lithuanian legislation with a view to ensuring necessary | ||
| development of professional experience and sufficiently | ||
| frequent reconfirmation of their status. A possibility to | ||
| remove them should also be stipulated however this | ||
| procedure should not be easier than the removal procedure | ||
| for an executive director or a member of the Management | ||
| Board. | ||
| 2.7. Chairman of the collegial body elected by the General | Yes | The Chairman of the Board is not and has not been the |
| Shareholders' Meeting may be a person whose current or | manager of the Company. His current or past office | |
| past office constitutes no obstacle to conduct independent | constitutes has no obstacles to conduct independent and | |
| and impartial supervision. Where a company should decide | impartial supervision. | |
| not to set up a Supervisory Board but rather the Board, it is | ||
| recommended that the chairman of the Board and Chief | ||
| Financial Officer of the company should be a different | ||
| person. Company's Chief Financial Officer should not be | ||
| immediately nominated as the chairman of the collegial | ||
| body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting. When | ||
| a company chooses to departure from these |
||
| recommendations, it should furnish information on the | ||
| measures it has taken to ensure impartiality of the | ||
| supervision. |
Principle III: The order of the formation of a collegial body to be elected by a General Shareholders' Meeting.
The order of the formation a collegial body to be elected by a General Shareholders' Meeting should ensure representation of minority shareholders, accountability of this body to the shareholders and objective monitoring of the Company's operation and its management bodies.
| 3.1. The mechanism of the formation of a collegial body to | Yes | The Board operates impartially, objectively and represents the |
|---|---|---|
| be elected by a General Shareholders' Meeting (hereinafter | interests of all shareholders equally. | |
| in this Principle referred to as the 'collegial body') should | ||
| ensure objective and fair monitoring of the company's | ||
| management bodies as well as representation of minority | ||
| shareholders. | ||
| 3.2. Names and surnames of the candidates to become | Yes | According to the Board's rules of procedure, at least 10 days |
| members of a collegial body, information about their | before the General Shareholders' Meeting, where it is planned | |
| education, qualification, professional background, positions | to elect Board members (member), the information about the | |
| taken and potential conflicts of interest should be disclosed | candidates to the Board will be fully disclosed to the |
| early enough before the General Shareholders' Meeting so that the shareholders would have sufficient time to make an informed voting decision. All factors affecting the candidate's independence, the sample list of which is set out in Recommendation 3.7, should be also disclosed. The collegial body should also be informed on any subsequent changes in the provided information. The collegial body should, on yearly basis, collect data provided in this item on its members and disclose this in the company's annual report. |
shareholders with the indication of the candidates' names, surnames, their membership in supervisory and management bodies of other companies, shareholding of other companies exceeding 1/20, and all other circumstances that can affect the independence of the candidate as well as the data on their education, qualifications, professional experience, other important information. The Board members inform the Chairman of the Board in case of the changes of the data. The information of these changes shall be disclosed to the shareholders in the Company's periodical reports. Information about current members of the Board, their educational background, qualification, professional experience, participation in other companies is disclosed in Company's website. |
|
|---|---|---|
| 3.3. Should a person be nominated for members of a collegial body, such nomination should be followed by the disclosure of information on candidate's particular competences relevant to his/her service on the collegial body. In order shareholders and investors are able to ascertain whether member's competence is further relevant, the collegial body should, in its annual report, disclose the information on its composition and particular competences of individual members which are relevant to their service on the collegial body. |
Yes | Information about the composition of the Board, members' education, work experience and participation in other companies is disclosed in Company's periodical reports and website. |
| 3.4. In order to maintain a proper balance in terms of the current qualifications possessed by its members, the desired composition of the collegial body shall be determined with regard to the company's structure and activities, and have this periodically evaluated. The collegial body should ensure that it is composed of members who, as a whole, have the required diversity of knowledge, judgment and experience to complete their tasks properly. The members of the Audit Committee, collectively, should have a recent knowledge and relevant experience in the fields of finance, accounting and/or audit for the stock exchange listed companies. At least one of the members of the Remuneration Committee should have knowledge of and experience in the field of remuneration policy. |
Yes | The company operates in the market less than one year. In the future the company will regularly assess the composition of the Board with consideration to the nature of Company's activity and structure. The Board members have sufficient experience to perform its functions and the required diversity of knowledge to complete their tasks properly. The Audit Committee members have the required experience. The Remuneration Committee is not formed. |
| 3.5. All new members of the collegial body should be offered a tailored program focused on introducing a member with his/her duties, corporate organization and activities. The collegial body should conduct an annual review to identify fields where its members need to update their skills and knowledge. 3.6. In order to ensure that all material conflicts of interest |
No No |
Presently, members of the Board do not perform the assessment of their skills and knowledge. The Board members are delegated by the largest shareholders, |
| related with a member of the collegial body are resolved properly, the collegial body should comprise a sufficient number of independent members. |
but represents the interests of all shareholders. Independent board members are not elected. |
|
| 3.7. A member of the collegial body should be considered to be independent only if he is free of any business, family or other relationship with the company, its controlling shareholder or the management of either, that creates a conflict of interest such as to impair his judgment. Since all cases when member of the collegial body is likely to become dependent are impossible to list, moreover, relationships and circumstances associated with the determination of |
No | Members of the Board are elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting. They are independent and in their actions seek the benefit to the Company and its shareholders, however fail to meet the recommendation on independency. |
independence may vary amongst companies and the best practices of solving this problem are yet to evolve in the course of time, assessment of independence of a member of the collegial body should be based on the contents of the relationship and circumstances rather than their form. The key criteria for identifying whether a member of the collegial body can be considered to be independent are the following:
he/ she is not an executive director or member of the Board (if a collegial body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting is the Supervisory Board) of the company or any associated company and has not been such during the last five years;
he/ she is not an employee of the company or some any company and has not been such during the last three years, except for cases when a member of the collegial body does not belong to the senior management and was elected to the collegial body as a representative of the employees;
he/ she is not receiving or has been not receiving significant additional remuneration from the company or associated company other than remuneration for the office in the collegial body. Such additional remuneration includes participation in share options or some other performance based pay systems; it does not include compensation payments for the previous office in the company (provided that such payment is no way related with later position) as per pension plans (inclusive of deferred compensations);
he/she is not a controlling shareholder or representative of such shareholder (control as defined in the Council Directive 83/349/EEC Article 1 Part 1);
he/ she does not have and did not have any material business relations with the company or associated companies within the past year directly or as a partner, shareholder, director or superior employee of the subject having such relationship. A subject is considered to have business relations when it is a major supplier or service provider (inclusive of financial, legal, counselling and consulting services), major client or organization receiving significant payments from the company or its group;
he/she is not and has not been, during the last three years, partner or employee of the current or former external audit company of the company or associated companies;
he/she is not an executive director or member of the Board in some other company where executive director of the company or member of the Board (if a collegial body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting is the Supervisory Board) is non-executive director or member of the Supervisory Board, he/she may not also have any other material relationships with executive directors of the company that arise from their participation in activities of other companies or bodies;
he/she has not been in the position of a member of the collegial body for over than 12 years;
he/ she is not a close relative to an executive director or member of the Board (if a collegial body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting is the Supervisory Board) or to any person listed in above items 1 to 8. Close relative is
| considered to be a spouse (common-law spouse), children | ||
|---|---|---|
| and parents. | ||
| 3.8. The determination of what constitutes independence is | No | No Board members' independency assessment and |
| fundamentally an issue for the collegial body itself to | announcement practice is applicable in the Company. | |
| determine. The collegial body may decide that, despite a | ||
| particular member meets all the criteria of independence | ||
| laid down in this Code, he can not be considered | ||
| independent due to special personal or company-related | ||
| circumstances. | ||
| 3.9. Necessary information on conclusions the collegial | No | No Board members' independency assessment and |
| body has come to in its determination of whether a particular | announcement practice is applicable in the Company. | |
| member of the body should be considered to be independent | ||
| should be disclosed. When a person is nominated to become | ||
| a member of the collegial body, the company should | ||
| disclose whether it considers the person to be independent. | ||
| When a particular member of the collegial body does not | ||
| meet one or more criteria of independence set out in this | ||
| Code, the company should disclose its reasons for | ||
| nevertheless considering the member to be independent. In | ||
| addition, the company should annually disclose which | ||
| members of the collegial body it considers to be | ||
| independent. | ||
| 3.10. When one or more criteria of independence set out in | No | No Board members' independency assessment and |
| this Code has not been met throughout the year, the | announcement practice is applicable in the Company. | |
| company should disclose its reasons for considering a | ||
| particular member of the collegial body to be independent. | ||
| To ensure accuracy of the information disclosed in relation | ||
| with the independence of the members of the collegial body, | ||
| the company should require independent members to have | ||
| their independence periodically re-confirmed. | ||
| 3.11. In order to remunerate members of a collegial body for | Not | The Board members are not remunerated for their work and |
| their work and participation in the meetings of the collegial | applicable | participation in the meeting of the Board from the Company's |
| body, they may be remunerated from the company's funds. | funds. | |
| The General Shareholders' Meeting should approve the | ||
| amount of such remuneration. | ||
| Principle IV: The duties and liabilities of a collegial body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting | ||
| The corporate governance framework should ensure proper and effective functioning of the collegial body elected by the General | ||
| Shareholders' Meeting, and the powers granted to the collegial body should ensure effective monitoring of the Company's management | ||
| bodies and protection of interests of all the Company's shareholders. | ||
| 4.1. The collegial body elected by the General |
Yes | The Board submits Company's annual financial statement and |
| Shareholders' Meeting (hereinafter in this Principle referred | consolidated annual financial statement, profit distribution | |
| to as the 'collegial body') should ensure integrity and | drafts to the General Shareholders' Meeting, delivers | |
| transparency of the company's financial statements and the | consolidated annual report, also performs all other functions | |
| control system. The collegial body should issue |
set forth in the legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania. | |
| recommendations to the company's management bodies | ||
| and monitor and control the company's management | ||
| performance. | ||
| 4.2. Members of the collegial body should act in good faith, | Yes | According to the information held with the Company, all |
| with care and responsibility for the benefit and in the | Board members act in good will with respect to the Company, | |
| interests of the company and its shareholders with due | are guided by the interests of the Company, not by the | |
| regard to the interests of employees and public welfare. | personal or third parties' interests, and seek to preserve their | |
| Independent members of the collegial body should (a) under | independency while adopting the decisions. | |
| all circumstances maintain independence of their analysis, | ||
| decision-making and actions (b) do not seek and accept any | ||
| unjustified privileges that might compromise their |
||
| independence, and (c) clearly express their objections should a member consider that decision of the collegial |
||
| body is against the interests of the company. Should a | ||
|---|---|---|
| collegial body have passed decisions independent member | ||
| has serious doubts about, the member should make adequate | ||
| conclusions. Should an independent member resign from | ||
| his office, he should explain the reasons in a letter addressed | ||
| to the collegial body or Audit Committee and, if necessary, | ||
| respective company-not-pertaining body (institution). | ||
| 4.3. Each member should devote sufficient time and | Yes | The Board members perform their functions properly: they |
| attention to perform his duties as a member of the collegial | actively participate in the Board meetings and devote | |
| body. Each member of the collegial body should limit other | sufficient time for the performance of their duties as Board | |
| professional obligations of his (in particular any |
members. | |
| directorships held in other companies) in such a manner | ||
| they do not interfere with proper performance of duties of a | ||
| member of the collegial body. In the event a member of the | ||
| collegial body should be present in less than a half of the | ||
| meetings of the collegial body throughout the financial year | ||
| of the company, shareholders of the company should be | ||
| notified. | ||
| 4.4. Where decisions of a collegial body may have a | Yes | The Board treats all shareholders honestly and impartially. |
| different effect on the company's shareholders, the collegial | ||
| body should treat all shareholders impartially and fairly. It | ||
| should ensure that shareholders are properly informed on | ||
| the company's affairs, strategies, risk management and | ||
| resolution of conflicts of interest. The company should have | ||
| a clearly established role of members of the collegial body | ||
| when communicating with and committing to shareholders. | ||
| 4.5. It is recommended that transactions (except |
No | There were no significant transactions concluded between the |
| insignificant ones due to their low value or concluded when | company and its shareholders, members of the managing | |
| carrying out routine operations in the company under usual | bodies. According to the company's Board Rules of | |
| conditions), concluded between the company and its | Procedure it is necessary to inform the members of the Board | |
| shareholders, members of the supervisory or managing | if any of such transactions are concluded, but it is not provided | |
| bodies or other natural or legal persons that exert or may | that the Board have to consider or approve such transactions | |
| exert influence on the company's management should be | before they are concluded. | |
| subject to approval of the collegial body. The decision | ||
| concerning approval of such transactions should be deemed | ||
| adopted only provided the majority of the independent | ||
| members of the collegial body voted for such a decision. | ||
| 4.6. The collegial body should be independent in passing | Yes | The Board is independent while adopting decisions which are |
| decisions that are significant for the company's operations | significant for the activity and strategy of the Company. | |
| and strategy. Taken separately, the collegial body should be | ||
| independent of the company's management bodies. | ||
| Members of the collegial body should act and pass decisions | ||
| without an outside influence from the persons who have | ||
| elected it. Companies should ensure that the collegial body | ||
| and its committees are provided with sufficient |
||
| administrative and financial resources to discharge their | ||
| duties, including the right to obtain, in particular from | ||
| employees of the company, all the necessary information or | ||
| to seek independent legal, accounting or any other advice on | ||
| issues pertaining to the competence of the collegial body | ||
| and its committees. When using the services of a consultant | ||
| with a view to obtaining information on market standards | ||
| for remuneration systems, the remuneration committee | ||
| should ensure that the consultant concerned does not at the | ||
| same time advice the human resources department, | ||
| executive directors or collegial management organs of the | ||
| company concerned. |
4.7. Activities of the collegial body should be organized in a manner that independent members of the collegial body could have major influence in relevant areas where chances of occurrence of conflicts of interest are very high. Such areas to be considered as highly relevant are issues of nomination of company's directors, determination of directors' remuneration and control and assessment of the company's audit. Therefore when the mentioned issues are attributable to the competence of the collegial body, it is recommended that the collegial body should establish Nomination, Remuneration, and Audit Committees. Companies should ensure that the functions attributable to the Nomination, Remuneration, and Audit Committees are carried out. However they may decide to merge these functions and set up less than three committees. In such case a company should explain in detail reasons behind the selection of alternative approach and how the selected approach complies with the objectives set forth for the three different committees. Should the collegial body of the company comprise small number of members, the functions assigned to the three committees may be performed by the collegial body itself, provided that it meets composition requirements advocated for the committees and that adequate information is provided in this respect. In such case provisions of this Code relating to the committees of the collegial body (in particular with respect to their role, operation, and transparency) should apply, where relevant, to the collegial body as a whole.
4.8. The key objective of the committees is to increase efficiency of the activities of the collegial body by ensuring that decisions are based on due consideration, and to help organize its work with a view to ensuring that the decisions it takes are free of material conflicts of interest. Committees should exercise independent judgment and integrity when exercising its functions as well as present the collegial body with recommendations concerning the decisions of the collegial body. Nevertheless the final decision shall be adopted by the collegial body. The recommendation on creation of committees is not intended, in principle, to constrict the competence of the collegial body or to remove the matters considered from the purview of the collegial body itself, which remains fully responsible for the decisions taken in its field of competence.
4.9. Committees established by the collegial body should normally be composed of at least three members. In companies with small number of members of the collegial body, they could exceptionally be composed of two members. Majority of the members of each committee should be constituted from independent members of the collegial body. In cases when the Company chooses not to set up a Supervisory Board, Remuneration and Audit Committees should be entirely comprised of non-executive directors. Chairmanship and membership of the committees should be decided with due regard to the need to ensure that committee membership is refreshed and that undue reliance is not placed on particular individuals.
No Due to simplicity of the Company's management structure and small number of employees, it is not expedient to form the Nomination and Remuneration committees.
4.10. Authority of each of the committees should be determined by the collegial body. Committees should perform their duties in line with authority delegated to them and inform the collegial body on their activities and performance on regular basis. Authority of every committee stipulating the role and rights and duties of the committee should be made public at least once a year (as part of the information disclosed by the company annually on its corporate governance structures and practices). Companies should also make public annually a statement by existing committees on their composition, number of meetings and attendance over the year, and their main activities. Audit Committee should confirm that it is satisfied with the independence of the audit process and describe briefly the actions it has taken to reach this conclusion.
4.11. In order to ensure independence and impartiality of the committees, members of the collegial body that are not members of the committee should commonly have a right to participate in the meetings of the committee only if invited by the committee. A committee may invite or demand participation in the meeting of particular officers or experts. Chairman of each of the committees should have a possibility to maintain direct communication with the shareholders. Events when such are to be performed should be specified in the regulations for committee activities.
4.12. Nomination Committee.
4.12.1. Key functions of the Nomination Committee should be the following:
1) identify and recommend, for the approval of the collegial body, candidates to fill Board vacancies. The Nomination Committee should evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the management body, prepare a description of the roles and capabilities required to assume a particular office, and assess the time commitment expected. Nomination Committee can also consider candidates to members of the collegial body delegated by the shareholders of the company;
2) assess on regular basis the structure, size, composition and performance of the supervisory and management bodies, and make recommendations to the collegial body regarding the means of achieving necessary changes;
3) assess on regular basis the skills, knowledge and experience of individual directors and report on this to the collegial body;
4) properly consider issues related to succession planning; 5) review the policy of the management bodies for selection and appointment of senior management.
4.12.2. Nomination Committee should consider proposals by other parties, including management and shareholders. When dealing with issues related to executive directors or members of the Board (if a collegial body elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting is the Supervisory Board) and senior management, Chief Financial Officer of the company should be consulted by, and entitled to submit proposals to the Nomination Committee. 4.13. Remuneration Committee.
4.13.1. Key functions of the Remuneration Committee should be the following:
1) make proposals, for the approval of the collegial body, on the remuneration policy for members of management bodies and executive directors. Such policy should address all forms of compensation, including the fixed remuneration, performance-based remuneration schemes, pension arrangements, and termination payments. Proposals considering performance-based remuneration schemes should be accompanied with recommendations on the related objectives and evaluation criteria, with a view to properly aligning the pay of executive director and members of the management bodies with the long-term interests of the shareholders and the objectives set by the collegial body; 2) make proposals to the collegial body on the individual remuneration for executive directors and member of management bodies in order their remunerations are consistent with company's remuneration policy and the evaluation of the performance of these persons concerned. In doing so, the Committee should be properly informed on the total compensation obtained by executive directors and members of the management bodies from the affiliated companies;
3) ensure that remuneration of individual executive directors or members of management body is proportionate to the remuneration of other executive directors or members of management body and other staff members of the company;
4) periodically review the remuneration policy for executive directors or members of management body, including the policy regarding share-based remuneration, and its implementation;
5) make proposals to the collegial body on suitable forms of contracts for executive directors and members of the management bodies;
6) assist the collegial body in overseeing how the company complies with applicable provisions regarding the remuneration-related information disclosure (in particular the remuneration policy applied and individual remuneration of directors);
7) make general recommendations to the executive directors and members of the management bodies on the level and structure of remuneration for senior management (as defined by the collegial body) with regard to the respective information provided by the executive directors and members of the management bodies.
4.13.2. With respect to stock options and other share-based incentives which may be granted to directors or other employees, the Committee should:
1) consider general policy regarding the granting of the above mentioned schemes, in particular stock options, and make any related proposals to the collegial body;
2) examine the related information that is given in the company's annual report and documents intended for the use during the General Shareholders' Meeting;
3) make proposals to the collegial body regarding the choice between granting options to subscribe shares or granting
| options to purchase shares, specifying the reasons for its choice as well as the consequences that this choice has. 4.13.3. Upon resolution of the issues attributable to the competence of the Remuneration Committee, the Committee should at least address the chairman of the collegial body and/or Chief Financial Officer of the company for their opinion on the remuneration of other executive directors or members of the management bodies. 4.13.4. The Remuneration Committee should report on the exercise of its functions to the shareholders and be present at the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting for this purpose. |
||
|---|---|---|
| 4.14. Audit Committee. 4.14.1. Key functions of the Audit Committee should be the following: 1) observe the integrity of the financial information provided by the company, in particular by reviewing the relevance and consistency of the accounting methods used by the company and its group (including the criteria for the consolidation of the accounts of companies in the group); 2) at least once a year review the systems of internal control and risk management to ensure that the key risks (inclusive of the risks in relation with compliance with existing laws and regulations) are properly identified, managed and reflected in the information provided; 3) ensure the efficiency of the internal audit function, among other things, by making recommendations on the selection, appointment, reappointment and removal of the head of the internal audit department and on the budget of the department, and by monitoring the responsiveness of the management to its findings and recommendations. Should there be no internal audit authority in the company, the need for one should be reviewed at least annually; 4) make recommendations to the collegial body related with selection, appointment, reappointment and removal of the external auditor (to be done by the General Shareholders' Meeting) and with the terms and conditions of his engagement. The Committee should investigate situations that lead to a resignation of the audit company or auditor and make recommendations on required actions in such situations; 5) monitor independence and impartiality of the external auditor, in particular by reviewing the audit company's compliance with applicable guidance relating to the rotation of audit partners, the level of fees paid by the company, and similar issues. In order to prevent occurrence of material conflicts of interest, the Committee, based on the auditor's disclosed inter alia data on all remunerations paid by the company to the auditor and network, should at all times monitor nature and extent of the non-audit services. Having regard to the principals and guidelines established in the May 16, 2002 Commission Recommendation 2002/590/EC, the Committee should determine and apply a formal policy establishing types of non-audit services that are (a) excluded, (b) permissible only after review by the Committee, and (c) permissible without referral to the Committee; |
Yes | The members of the Audit Committee are elected by the General Shareholders' Meeting. The main functions of the Audit Committee should be the following: - provide recommendations with selection, appointment, reappointment and removal of an external Audit Company as well as the terms and conditions of engagement with the Audit Company; - monitor the process of external audit; - monitor how the external auditor and Audit Company follow the principles of independence and objectivity; - observe the process of preparation of financial reports of the Company; - monitor the efficiency of the internal control and risk management systems of the Company; once a year review the need of the internal audit function; monitor the implementation of the audit firm's recommendations and comments imposed by the Board and the manager of the company. In conducting of the mentioned above functions, the Audit committee supervises the process of preparation of annual accounts and gives recommendations to the Board on provision of the annual accounts for the approval of the shareholders. Furthermore, the Audit commitee analizes the independance and other criterias of the potential auditors and gives the necessary conclusions to the management. The Audit committee prepares activity report on the main conclusions regarding Company's activity. |
6) review efficiency of the external audit process and responsiveness of management to recommendations made in the external auditor's management letter.
4.14.2. All members of the Committee should be furnished with complete information on particulars of accounting, financial and other operations of the company. Company's management should inform the Audit Committee of the methods used to account for significant and unusual transactions where the accounting treatment may be open to different approaches. In such case a special consideration should be given to company's operations in offshore centers and/or activities carried out through special purpose vehicles (organizations) and justification of such operations. 4.14.3. The Audit Committee should decide whether participation of the chairman of the collegial body, Chief Financial Officer (or superior employees in charge of finances, treasury and accounting), or internal and external auditors in the meetings of the Committee is required (if required, when). The Committee should be entitled, when needed, to meet with any relevant person without executive directors and members of the management bodies present.
4.14.4. Internal and external auditors should be secured with not only effective working relationship with management, but also with free access to the collegial body. For this purpose the Audit Committee should act as the principal contact person for the internal and external auditors.
4.14.5. The Audit Committee should be informed of the internal auditor's work program, and should be furnished with internal audit's reports or periodic summaries. The Audit Committee should also be informed of the work program of the external auditor and should be furnished with report disclosing all relationships between the independent auditor and the company and its group. The Committee should be timely furnished information on all issues arising from the audit.
4.14.6. The Audit Committee should examine whether the company is following applicable provisions regarding the possibility for employees to report alleged significant irregularities in the company, by way of complaints or through anonymous submissions (normally to an independent member of the collegial body), and should ensure that there is a procedure established for proportionate and independent investigation of these issues and for appropriate follow-up action.
4.14.7. The Audit Committee should report on its activities to the collegial body at least once in every six months, at the time the yearly and half-yearly statements are approved.
4.15. Every year the collegial body should conduct the assessment of its activities. The assessment should include evaluation of collegial body's structure, work organization and ability to act as a group, evaluation of each of the collegial body member's and Committee's competence and work efficiency and assessment whether the collegial body has achieved its objectives. The collegial body should, at least once a year, make public (as part of the information the company annually discloses on its management structures and practices) respective information on its internal
Yes The Board once a year conducts self-assessment of its activities.
During 2016 the Board structure and composition remained unchanged. The Board assesses its organization and the minutes of the Board meetings positively. The Board members actively participate in Board meetings and devote sufficient time and attention to the board member's duties. Members of the Board attend the meetings in person or remotely.
2016 ANNUAL REPORT | 87
| organization and working procedures, and specify what | In 2016 the Board analyzed available information, discussed |
|---|---|
| material changes were made as a result of the assessment of | and adopted decisions on all main issues concerning the |
| the collegial body of its own activities. | activities of INVL Baltic Farmland and its group. |
| In 2016 the Board initiated one shareholders meeting. | |
| Seeking to fulfill shareholders will, expressed during voting | |
| for the implementation of the reserve for own shares, and | |
| seeking to ensure the right of choice for the shareholders to | |
| decide whether to hold or to sell shares of the company, the | |
| Board initiated acquisition of own shares 1 time during the | |
| reporting period. | |
Principle V: The working procedure of the Company's collegial bodies.
The working procedure of supervisory and management bodies established in the Company should ensure efficient operation of these bodies and decision-making and encourage active co-operation between the Company's bodies.
| 5.1. The company's supervisory and management bodies | Yes | The activity of the Board is chaired by the chairman who is |
|---|---|---|
| (hereinafter in this Principle the concept 'collegial bodies' | also responsible for convocation of the meetings as well as | |
| covers both the collegial bodies of supervision and the | preparation of the agenda. Frequency of the meetings and | |
| collegial bodies of management) should be chaired by | questions of the agenda depend on the particular events or | |
| chairpersons of these bodies. The chairperson of a collegial | projects or they are related with ordinary functions of the | |
| body is responsible for proper convocation of the collegial | Board prescribed by legal acts. | |
| body meetings. The chairperson should ensure that | ||
| information about the meeting being convened and its | ||
| agenda are communicated to all members of the body. The | ||
| chairperson of a collegial body should ensure appropriate | ||
| conducting of the meetings of the collegial body. The | ||
| chairperson should ensure order and working atmosphere | ||
| during the meeting. | ||
| 5.2. It is recommended that meetings of the company's | Yes | The Board meetings are held at least once per quarter. |
| collegial bodies should be carried out according to the | ||
| schedule approved in advance at certain intervals of time. | ||
| Each company is free to decide how often to convene | ||
| meetings of the collegial bodies, but it is recommended that | ||
| these meetings should be convened at such intervals, which | ||
| would guarantee an interrupted resolution of the essential | ||
| corporate governance issues. Meetings of the company's | ||
| Supervisory Board should be convened at least once in a | ||
| quarter, and the company's Board should meet at least once | ||
| a month8. | ||
| 5.3. Members of a collegial body should be notified about | Yes | The Board meetings are being convened by the Chairman. The |
| the meeting being convened in advance in order to allow | Chairman of the Board informs members about the meeting | |
| sufficient time for proper preparation for the issues on the | by phone or by email. | |
| agenda of the meeting and to ensure fruitful discussion and | ||
| adoption of appropriate decisions. Alongside with the notice | ||
| about the meeting being convened, all the documents | ||
| relevant to the issues on the agenda of the meeting should | ||
| be submitted to the members of the collegial body. The | ||
| agenda of the meeting should not be changed or | ||
| supplemented during the meeting, unless all members of the | ||
| collegial body are present or certain issues of great | ||
| importance to the company require immediate resolution. |
8 The frequency of meetings of the collegial body provided for in the recommendation must be applied in those cases when both additional collegial bodies are formed at the company, the board and the supervisory board. In the event only one additional collegial body is formed in the company, the frequency of its meetings may be as established for the supervisory board, i.e. at least once in a quarter.
5.4. In order to co-ordinate operation of the company's collegial bodies and ensure effective decision-making process, chairpersons of the company's collegial bodies of supervision and management should closely co-operate by co-coordinating dates of the meetings, their agendas and resolving other issues of corporate governance. Members of the company's Board should be free to attend meetings of the company's Supervisory Board, especially where issues concerning removal of the Board members, their liability or remuneration are discussed.
No The Company may not implement this recommendation since only the Board is formed.
Principle VI: The equitable treatment of shareholders and shareholder rights.
The corporate governance framework should ensure the equitable treatment of all shareholders, including minority and foreign shareholders. The corporate governance framework should protect the rights of the shareholders.
| 6.1. It is recommended that the company's capital should consist only of the shares that grant the same rights to voting, ownership, dividend and other rights to all their holders. |
Yes | Shares which compose the authorized capital of the Company grant equal rights to all shareholders. |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2. It is recommended that investors should have access to the information concerning the rights attached to the shares of the new issue or those issued earlier in advance, i.e. before they purchase shares. |
Yes | The Company informs shareholders about the rights of newly issued shares. Information about the rights of already issued shares is provided in the Shareholders' Policy approved by the Board, the Articles of the Association, Company's annual report. |
| 6.3. Transactions that are important to the company and its shareholders, such as transfer, investment, and pledge of the company's assets or any other type of encumbrance should be subject to approval of the General Shareholders' Meeting. All shareholders should be furnished with equal opportunity to familiarize with and participate in the decision-making process when significant corporate issues, including approval of transactions referred to above, are discussed. |
Yes | Shareholders of the Company have equal opportunities to get familiarized and participate in adopting decisions important to the Company. Approval of the General Shareholders' Meeting is also necessary in cases stipulated in Chapter V of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania. No other cases when the approval of the General Shareholders' Meeting should be obtained are foreseen, since it would impair Company's business considering the nature of the Company's activity. |
| 6.4. Procedures of convening and conducting a General Shareholders' Meeting should ensure equal opportunities for the shareholders to effectively participate at the meetings and should not prejudice the rights and interests of the shareholders. The venue, date, and time of the shareholders' meeting should not hinder wide attendance of the shareholders. Prior to the shareholders' meeting, the Company's supervisory and management bodies should enable the shareholders to lodge questions on issues on the agenda of the General Share-holders' Meeting and receive answers to them. |
Yes | The procedures of convening and conducting of the General Shareholders' Meeting comply with the provisions of legal acts and provide the shareholders with equal opportunities to participate in the meetings get familiarized with the draft resolutions and materials necessary for adopting the decision in advance, also give questions to the Board members. |
| 6.5. If is possible, in order to ensure shareholders living abroad the right to access to the information, it is recommended that documents on the course of the General Shareholders' Meeting, should be placed on the publicly accessible website of the company not only in Lithuanian language, but in English and /or other foreign languages in advance. It is recommended that the minutes of the General Shareholders' Meeting after signing them and/or adopted resolutions should be also placed on the publicly accessible website of the company. Seeking to ensure the right of foreigners to familiarize with the information, whenever feasible, documents referred to in this recommendation should be published in Lithuanian, English and/or other foreign languages. Documents referred to in this recommendation may be published on the publicly |
Yes | The information about General Shareholders' Meetings are published in Lithuanian and English on the Company's website. |
| accessible website of the company to the extent that | ||
|---|---|---|
| publishing of these documents is not detrimental to the | ||
| company or the company's commercial secrets are not | ||
| revealed. | ||
| 6.6. Shareholders should be furnished with the opportunity | Yes | The Company's shareholders are furnished with the |
| to vote in the General Shareholders' Meeting in person and | opportunity to participate in the General Shareholders' | |
| in absentia. Shareholders should not be prevented from | Meeting both personally and via an attorney, if such a person | |
| voting in writing in advance by completing the general | has a proper authorization or if an agreement on the transfer | |
| voting ballot. | of voting rights was concluded in the manner set forth in the | |
| legal acts. The Company provides the shareholders with | ||
| conditions to vote by completing the general voting ballot. | ||
| 6.7. With a view to increasing the shareholders' |
No | Shareholders can vote via an attorney or by completing the |
| opportunities to participate effectively at General |
general voting ballot but for the meantime shareholders can | |
| Shareholders' Meetings, the companies are recommended | not participate and vote in General Shareholders' Meetings | |
| to expand use of modern technologies by allowing the | via electronic means of communication. | |
| shareholders to participate and vote in General |
||
| Shareholders' Meetings via electronic means of |
||
| communication. In such cases security of transmitted | ||
| information and a possibility to identify the identity of the | ||
| participating and voting person should be guaranteed. | ||
| Moreover, companies could furnish its shareholders, | ||
| especially shareholders living abroad, with the opportunity | ||
| to watch shareholder meetings by means of modern | ||
| technologies. |
Principle VII: The avoidance of conflicts of interest and their disclosure
The corporate governance framework should encourage members of the corporate bodies to avoid conflicts of interest and assure transparent and effective mechanism of disclosure of conflicts of interest regarding members of the corporate bodies.
| 7.1. Any member of the company's supervisory and | Yes | The | Board | members | fully | comply | with | these |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| management body should avoid a situation, in which his/her | recommendations. | |||||||
| personal interests are in conflict or may be in conflict with | ||||||||
| the company's interests. In case such a situation did occur, | ||||||||
| a member of the company's supervisory and management | ||||||||
| body should, within reasonable time, inform other members | ||||||||
| of the same collegial body or the company's body that has | ||||||||
| elected him/her, or to the company's shareholders about a | ||||||||
| situation of a conflict of interest, indicate the nature of the | ||||||||
| conflict and value, where possible. | ||||||||
| 7.2. Any member of the company's supervisory and | ||||||||
| management body may not mix the company's assets, the | ||||||||
| use of which has not been mutually agreed upon, with | ||||||||
| his/her personal assets or use them or the information which | ||||||||
| he/she learns by virtue of his/her position as a member of a | ||||||||
| corporate body for his/her personal benefit or for the benefit | ||||||||
| of any third person without a prior agreement of the General | ||||||||
| Shareholders' Meeting or any other corporate body | ||||||||
| authorised by the meeting. | ||||||||
| 7.3. Any member of the company's supervisory and | ||||||||
| management body may conclude a transaction with the | ||||||||
| company, a member of a corporate body of which he/she is. | ||||||||
| Such a transaction (except insignificant ones due to their | ||||||||
| low value or concluded when carrying out routine | ||||||||
| operations in the company under usual conditions) must be | ||||||||
| immediately reported in writing or orally, by recording this | ||||||||
| in the minutes of the meeting, to other members of the same | ||||||||
| corporate body or to the corporate body that has elected | ||||||||
| him/her or to the company's shareholders. Transactions |
Principle VIII: Company's remuneration policy
Remuneration policy and procedure for approval, revision and disclosure of directors' remuneration established in the Company should prevent potential conflicts of interest and abuse in determining remuneration of directors, in addition it should ensure publicity and transparency both of Company's remuneration policy and remuneration of directors.
8.1. A Company should make a public statement of the company's remuneration policy (hereinafter the remuneration statement) which should be clear and easily understandable. This remuneration statement should be published as a part of the company's annual statement as well as posted on the company's website. No The Company does not prepare a remuneration policy since the majority of VIII principle items are not relevant for the present structure of the Company. Information about the benefits and loans for the members of the management bodies is provided in the periodical reports, financial statements. 8.2. Remuneration statement should mainly focus on directors' remuneration policy for the following year and, if appropriate, the subsequent years. The statement should contain a summary of the implementation of the remuneration policy in the previous financial year. Special attention should be given to any significant changes in company's remuneration policy as compared to the previous financial year. 8.3. Remuneration statement should leastwise include the following information: 1) explanation of the relative importance of the variable and non-variable components of directors' remuneration; 2) sufficient information on performance criteria that entitles directors to share options, shares or variable components of remuneration; 3) an explanation how the choice of performance criteria contributes to the long-term interests of the company; 4) an explanation of the methods, applied in order to determine whether performance criteria have been fulfilled; 5) sufficient information on deferment periods with regard to variable components of remuneration; 6) sufficient information on the linkage between the remuneration and performance; 7) the main parameters and rationale for any annual bonus scheme and any other non-cash benefits; 8) sufficient information on the policy regarding termination payments; 9) sufficient information with regard to vesting periods for share-based remuneration, as referred to in point 8.13 of this Code; 10) sufficient information on the policy regarding retention of shares after vesting, as referred to in point 8.15 of this Code; 11) sufficient information on the composition of peer groups of companies the remuneration policy of which has
been examined in relation to the establishment of the remuneration policy of the company concerned;
12) a description of the main characteristics of supplementary pension or early retirement schemes for directors;
13) remuneration statement should not include commercially sensitive information.
8.4. Remuneration statement should also summarize and explain company's policy regarding the terms of the contracts executed with executive directors and members of the management bodies. It should include, inter alia, information on the duration of contracts with executive directors and members of the management bodies, the applicable notice periods and details of provisions for termination payments linked to early termination under contracts for executive directors and members of the management bodies.
8.5. Remuneration statement should also contain detailed information on the entire amount of remuneration, inclusive of other benefits, that was paid to individual directors over the relevant financial year. This document should list at least the information set out in items 8.5.1 to 8.5.4 for each person who has served as a director of the company at any time during the relevant financial year.
8.5.1. The following remuneration and/or emolumentsrelated information should be disclosed:
the total amount of remuneration paid or due to the director for services performed during the relevant financial year, inclusive of, where relevant, attendance fees fixed by the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting;
the remuneration and advantages received from any undertaking belonging to the same group;
the remuneration paid in the form of profit sharing and/or bonus payments and the reasons why such bonus payments and/or profit sharing were granted;
if permissible by the law, any significant additional remuneration paid to directors for special services outside the scope of the usual functions of a director;
compensation receivable or paid to each former executive director or member of the management body as a result of his resignation from the office during the previous financial year;
total estimated value of non-cash benefits considered as remuneration, other than the items covered in the above points.
8.5.2. As regards shares and/or rights to acquire share options and/or all other share-incentive schemes, the following information should be disclosed:
the number of share options offered or shares granted by the company during the relevant financial year and their conditions of application;
the number of shares options exercised during the relevant financial year and, for each of them, the number of shares involved and the exercise price or the value of the interest in the share incentive scheme at the end of the financial year;
the number of share options unexercised at the end of the financial year; their exercise price, the exercise date and the main conditions for the exercise of the rights;
all changes in the terms and conditions of existing share options occurring during the financial year.
8.5.3. The following supplementary pension schemesrelated information should be disclosed:
when the pension scheme is a defined-benefit scheme, changes in the directors' accrued benefits under that scheme during the relevant financial year;
when the pension scheme is defined-contribution scheme, detailed information on contributions paid or payable by the company in respect of that director during the relevant financial year.
8.5.4. The statement should also state amounts that the company or any subsidiary company or entity included in the consolidated annual financial report of the company has paid to each person who has served as a director in the company at any time during the relevant financial year in the form of loans, advance payments or guarantees, including the amount outstanding and the interest rate.
8.6. Where the remuneration policy includes variable components of remuneration, companies should set limits on the variable component(s). The non-variable component of remuneration should be sufficient to allow the company to withhold variable components of remuneration when performance criteria are not met.
8.7. Award of variable components of remuneration should be subject to predetermined and measurable performance criteria.
8.8. Where a variable component of remuneration is awarded, a major part of the variable component should be deferred for a minimum period of time. The part of the variable component subject to deferment should be determined in relation to the relative weight of the variable component compared to the non-variable component of remuneration.
8.9. Contractual arrangements with executive or managing directors should include provisions that permit the company to reclaim variable components of remuneration that were awarded on the basis of data which subsequently proved to be manifestly misstated.
8.10. Termination payments should not exceed a fixed amount or fixed number of years of annual remuneration, which should, in general, not be higher than two years of the non-variable component of remuneration or the equivalent thereof.
8.11. Termination payments should not be paid if the termination is due to inadequate performance.
8.12. The information on preparatory and decision-making processes, during which a policy of remuneration of directors is being established, should also be disclosed. Information should include data, if applicable, on authorities and composition of the remuneration committee, names and surnames of external consultants whose services have been used in determination of the remuneration policy
| as well as the role of Annual General Shareholders' | ||
|---|---|---|
| Meeting. | ||
| 8.13. Shares should not vest for at least three years after | ||
| their award. | ||
| 8.14. Share options or any other right to acquire shares or to | ||
| be remunerated on the basis of share price movements | ||
| should not be exercisable for at least three years after their | ||
| award. Vesting of shares and the right to exercise share | ||
| options or any other right to acquire shares or to be | ||
| remunerated on the basis of share price movements, should | ||
| be subject to predetermined and measurable performance | ||
| criteria. | ||
| 8.15. After vesting, directors should retain a number of | ||
| shares, until the end of their mandate, subject to the need to | ||
| finance any costs related to acquisition of the shares. The | ||
| number of shares to be retained should be fixed, for | ||
| example, twice the value of total annual remuneration (the | ||
| non-variable plus the variable components). | ||
| 8.16. Remuneration of non-executive or supervisory | ||
| directors should not include share options. | ||
| 8.17. Shareholders, in particular institutional shareholders, | ||
| should be encouraged to attend General Shareholders' | ||
| Meetings where appropriate and make considered use of | ||
| their votes regarding directors' remuneration. | ||
| 8.18. Without prejudice to the role and organization of the | ||
| relevant bodies responsible for setting directors' |
||
| remunerations, the remuneration policy or any other | ||
| significant change in remuneration policy should be | ||
| included into the agenda of the Annual General |
||
| Shareholders' Meeting. Remuneration statement should be | ||
| put for voting in Annual General Shareholders' Meeting. | ||
| The vote may be either mandatory or advisory. | ||
| 8.19. Schemes anticipating remuneration of directors in | Not | In 2016 the schemes, on which basis the managers were |
| shares, share options or any other right to purchase shares | applicable | remunerated in shares, share selection transactions or other |
| or be remunerated on the basis of share price movements | rights to acquire the shares or be remunerated based on the | |
| should be subject to the prior approval of Annual General | share price movements were not applied in the Company. | |
| Shareholders' Meeting by way of a resolution prior to their | ||
| adoption. The approval of scheme should be related with the | ||
| scheme itself and not to the grant of such share-based | ||
| benefits under that scheme to individual directors. All | ||
| significant changes in scheme provisions should also be | ||
| subject to shareholders' approval prior to their adoption; the | ||
| approval decision should be made in Annual General | ||
| Shareholders' Meeting. In such case shareholders should be | ||
| notified on all terms of suggested changes and get an | ||
| explanation on the impact of the suggested changes. | ||
| 8.20. The following issues should be subject to approval by | ||
| the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting: | ||
| 1) grant of share-based schemes, including share options, to | ||
| directors; | ||
| 2) determination of maximum number of shares and main | ||
| conditions of share granting; | ||
| 3) the term within which options can be exercised; | ||
| 4) the conditions for any subsequent change in the exercise | ||
| of the options, if permissible by law; | ||
| 5) all other long-term incentive schemes for which directors are eligible and which are not available to other employees |
of the company under similar terms. Annual General Shareholders' Meeting should also set the deadline within which the body responsible for remuneration of directors may award compensations listed in this article to individual directors.
8.21. Should national law or company's Articles of Association allow, any discounted option arrangement under which any rights are granted to subscribe the shares at a price lower than the market value of the share prevailing on the day of the price determination, or the average of the market values over a number of days preceding the date when the exercise price is determined, should also be subject to the shareholders' approval.
8.22. Provisions of Articles 8.19 and 8.20 should not be applicable to schemes allowing for participation under similar conditions to company's employees or employees of any subsidiary company whose employees are eligible to participate in the scheme and which has been approved in the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting.
8.23. Prior to the Annual General Shareholders' Meeting that is intended to consider decision stipulated in Article 8.8, the shareholders must be provided an opportunity to familiarize with draft resolution and project-related notice (the documents should be posted on the company's website). The notice should contain the full text of the sharebased remuneration schemes or a description of their key terms, as well as full names of the participants in the schemes. Notice should also specify the relationship of the schemes and the overall remuneration policy of the directors. Draft resolution must have a clear reference to the scheme itself or to the summary of its key terms. Shareholders must also be presented with information on how the company intends to provide for the shares required to meet its obligations under incentive schemes. It should be clearly stated whether the company intends to buy shares in the market, hold the shares in reserve or issue new ones. There should also be a summary on scheme-related expenses the company will suffer due to the anticipated application of the scheme. All information given in this article must be posted on the company's website.
Principle IX: The role of stakeholders in corporate governance
The corporate governance framework should recognize the rights of stakeholders as established by law and encourage active co-operation between companies and stakeholders in creating the Company value, jobs and financial sustainability. For the purposes of this Principle, the concept "stakeholders" includes investors, employees, creditors, suppliers, clients, local community and other persons having certain interest in the Company concerned.
9.1. The corporate governance framework should assure that the rights of stakeholders that are protected by law are respected. Yes The Company respects the rights of interest holders and allows the interest holders to participate in the management of the Company in the manner set forth by the laws. The detailed information about planned events has been constantly discosed in line with reuirements of legal acts; therefore, the investors (shareholders) have enough opportunities to familiarize with necessary information as well as vote on decisions. More detailed explanation about disclosure procedure is provided below in the part 10. 9.2. The corporate governance framework should create conditions for the stakeholders to participate in corporate governance in the manner prescribed by law. Examples of mechanisms of stakeholder participation in corporate governance include: employee participation in adoption of certain key decisions for the company; consulting the employees on corporate governance and other important issues; employee participation in the company's share
| capital; creditor involvement in governance in the context | |
|---|---|
| of the company's insolvency, etc. | |
| 9.3. Where stakeholders participate in the corporate | |
| governance process, they should have access to relevant | |
| information. | |
| Principle X: Information disclosure and transparency | |
| The corporate governance framework should ensure that timely and accurate disclosure is made on all material information regarding the | |
| Company, including the financial situation, performance and governance of the Company. | |
| 10.1. The company should disclose information on: | Yes | Information set forth in this recommendation is disclosed in |
|---|---|---|
| the financial and operating results of the company; | the notifications on material event, periodical reports. This | |
| company objectives; | information is also published on Company's website. | |
| persons holding by the right of ownership or in control of a | ||
| block of shares in the company; | ||
| members of the company's supervisory and management | ||
| bodies, Chief Financial Officer of the company and their | ||
| remuneration; | ||
| material foreseeable risk factors; | ||
| transactions between the company and connected persons, | ||
| as well as transactions concluded outside the course of the | ||
| company's regular operations; | ||
| material issues regarding employees and other stakeholders; | ||
| governance structures and strategy. | ||
| This list should be deemed as a minimum recommendation, | ||
| while the companies are encouraged not to limit themselves | ||
| to disclosure of the information specified in this list. | ||
| 10.2. It is recommended to the company, which is the parent | ||
| of other companies, that consolidated results of the whole | ||
| group to which the Company belongs should be disclosed | ||
| when information specified in item 1 of Recommendation | ||
| 10.1 is under disclosure. | ||
| 10.3. It is recommended that information on the |
||
| professional background, qualifications of the members of | ||
| supervisory and management bodies, Chief Financial | ||
| Officer of the company should be disclosed as well as | ||
| potential conflicts of interest that may have an effect on their | ||
| decisions when information specified in item 4 of | ||
| Recommendation 10.1 about the members of the company's | ||
| supervisory and management bodies is under disclosure. It | ||
| is also recommended that information about the amount of | ||
| remuneration received from the company and other income | ||
| should be disclosed with regard to members of the | ||
| company's supervisory and management bodies and Chief | ||
| Financial Officer as per Principle VIII. | ||
| 10.4. It is recommended that information about the links | ||
| between the company and its stakeholders, including | ||
| employees, creditors, suppliers, local community, as well | ||
| as the company's policy with regard to human resources, | ||
| employee participation schemes in the company's share | ||
| capital, etc. should be disclosed when information | ||
| specified in item 7 of Recommendation 10.1 is under | ||
| disclosure. | ||
| 10.5. Information should be disclosed in such a way that | Yes | The company discloses information via NASDAQ news |
| neither shareholders nor investors are discriminated with | distribution service so that the public in Lithuania and other | |
| regard to the manner or scope of access to information. | EU countries should have equal access to the information. The | |
| Information should be disclosed to all simultaneously. It is | information is disclosed in Lithuanian and English. | |
| recommended that notices about material events should be | The company publishes its information prior to or after the | |
| announced before or after a trading session on the | trade sessions on the NASDAQ Vilnius. The company does |
| NASDAQ Vilnius, so that all the company's shareholders | not disclose information that may have an effect on the price | |
|---|---|---|
| and investors should have equal access to the information | of shares in the commentaries, interview or other ways as long | |
| and make informed investing decisions. | as such information is publicly announced via NASDAQ | |
| news distribution service. | ||
| 10.6. Channels for disseminating information should |
Yes | The information is disclosed in Lithuanian and English |
| provide for fair, timely and cost-efficient access to relevant | simultaneously via NASDAQ news distribution service. It is | |
| information by users. It is recommended that information | also published on company's website. | |
| technologies should be employed for wider dissemination | ||
| of information, for instance, by placing the information on | ||
| the company's website. It is recommended that information | ||
| should be published and placed on the company's website | ||
| not only in Lithuanian, but also in English, and, whenever | ||
| possible and necessary, in other languages as well. | ||
| 10.7. It is recommended that the company's annual reports | Yes | The company publishes all information indicated in this |
| and other periodical accounts prepared by the company | recommendation on its website. | |
| should be placed on the company's website. It is | ||
| recommended that the company should announce |
||
| information about material events and changes in the price | ||
| of the company's shares on the Stock Exchange on the | ||
| company's website too. | ||
| Principle XI: The selection of the Company's auditor | ||
| The mechanism of the selection of the Company's auditor should ensure independence of the firm of auditor's conclusion and opinion. | ||
| 11.1. An annual audit of the company's financial reports | Yes | The annual Company's and consolidated financial statements |
| and interim reports should be conducted by an independent | and consolidated annual report are conducted by the | |
| firm of auditors in order to provide an external and objective | independent audit company. The interim financial statements | |
| opinion on the company's financial statements. | are not conducted by the audit company. | |
| 11.2. It is recommended that the company's Supervisory | Yes | The candidate audit company is suggested to the General |
| Board and, where it is not set up, the company's Board | Shareholders' Meeting by the Board. | |
| should propose a candidate firm of auditors to the General | ||
| Shareholders' Meeting. | ||
| 11.3. It is recommended that the company should disclose | Not | The audit company does not provide non-audit services to the |
| to its shareholders the level of fees paid to the firm of | applicable | Company. |
| auditors for non-audit services rendered to the company. | ||
| This information should be also known to the company's | ||
| Supervisory Board and, where it is not formed, the | ||
| company's Board upon their consideration which firm of | ||
| auditors to propose for the General Shareholders' Meeting. |
Building tools?
Free accounts include 100 API calls/year for testing.
Have a question? We'll get back to you promptly.