E-mail

23 » Leasing and Service Arrangements

Operating Leases
The Group leases offices, retail stores, warehouses and equipment under leases with expiration dates of between one and sixteen years. Rent expenses are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Rent expenses (continuing operations) aggregated to € 278 million and € 171 million for the years ending December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

Minimum Lease Payments for Operating Leases € in millions 

   Dec. 31
2006
Dec. 31
2005
     
Within 1 year  171  117
Between 1 and 5 years  397  243
After 5 years  218  202
Total  786  562

 

Finance Leases
The Group also leases various premises for administration, warehousing, research and development as well as production, which are classified as finance leases.
The net carrying amount of these assets of € 10 million and € 12 million is included in property, plant and equipment as at December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Interest expenses were € 2 million (2005: € 1 million) and depreciation expenses were € 2 million (2005: € 3 million) for the year ending December 31, 2006. 

The minimum lease payments under these contracts over their remaining terms which extend up to 2016 and their net present values are as follows: 

 

Minimum Lease Payments for Finance Leases € in millions 

  Dec. 31
2006
Dec. 31
2005
     
Lease payments falling due:
 
 Within 1 year 2 3
 Between 1 and 5 years 6
7
 After 5 years 2 2
Total lease payments 10 12
Less: estimated amount representing interest
2 1
Obligation under finance leases
8 11
Thereof falling due:
   
 Within 1 year
3 3
 Between 1 and 5 years
3 7
 After 5 years
2 1

 

Service Arrangements
The Group has outsourced certain logistics and information technology functions, for which it has entered into long-term contracts. Financial commitments under these contracts mature as follows: 

 

Financial Commitments for Service Arrangements € in millions 

   Dec. 31
2006
 Dec. 31
2005
     
Within 1 year  43  38
Between 1 and 5 years  42  18
After 5 years  0  0
Total  85  56