OREANDA-NEWS. On 25 June 2009 was announced, that the press-conference attended by Oleg Zherebtsov, Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, Alexey Bobrov, Director General of the network, has taken place.

Within the framework of this press-conference, the concept of the company’s management, concerning its activity and its place in the Russian retail, has been represented, and the key achievements and resource opportunities of "Lenta" have been outlined.

Managers of the network announced their plans to increase the company’s proceeds for 28 %, up to 70 billion roubles, increase in the operational profit and EBITDA parameter in 2009. The dynamics in the company’s basic parameters for January - May has been shown: in the current year the company’s proceeds increased, in comparison with the parameters of similar period of 2008, for 20 %, operational profit - for 37 %, EBITDA - for 72 %.

Alexey Bobrov has noted that "Lenta" plans to reduce the debt load which remained stable within several years. The volume of the company’s current debt made 12 billion roubles by the beginning of 2009. The debt structure includes the long-term syndicated credit of foreign banks and "short" credits of SberBank and VTB. The company has recently paid the first tranche of the syndicated credit, and it will pay two more tranches by the end of the year. Also the company will carry out investments in renovation, reconstruction of the operating shops, also investments in IT, development and construction are planned. With such goals in view, about 55 million dollars have been allocated to the budget for 2009.

Oleg Zherebtsov has noted that "Lenta" plans to generate profit not through gross extras, but through increase of the turnover. The company has all resources for this purpose: the level of popularity of the network in the regions of its presence makes 93 % on the average. The number of holders of Lenta’s permanent customer cards, through April 2008 to April, 2009 has increased for 29 %, and currently makes 3 million.

O.Zherebtsov has also added that the company reserves the interest to attraction of investor, though there is no need for it in urgent customer search. He has emphasized that Lenta still remains one of the most respected and trusted companies. And people are the great share in Lenta’s value and capital.