DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

Yandex N.V., the parent company (the “Company”), together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively “Yandex” or the “Group”), is a technology company that builds intelligent products and services powered by machine learning and other technologies.

Yandex N.V. was incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands in June 2004 and is the holding company of a number of subsidiaries globally.

On February 5, 2024, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with a purchaser consortium to sell all of the Group’s businesses in Russia and certain international markets (the “Sale”). The first closing pursuant to the Sale transaction is expected to take place in the coming weeks, with the second closing occurring within seven weeks following the first closing. Following the Sale, the Company will have no interest in the businesses to be divested in Russia and certain international markets (Note 19).

Basis of Presentation and Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

The Sale was approved by the Board in February 2024 and by the Company’s shareholders in March 2024. As of December 31, 2023, the Sale had not been approved and, accordingly, the result of operations of the businesses to be divested in the Sale are included consolidated financial results of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, and are not presented as discontinued operations or assets held for sale.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared assuming that the Group will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As described in Note 19, in the event that the Sale is not completed in a timely manner, it may be difficult or impossible to continue to finance the requirements of the Company or its retained businesses or to find alternative sources of financing. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Yandex N.V. and the entities it controls. All inter-company transactions and balances within the Group have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries are included in the consolidated balance sheets as a separate component of equity. The Group reports consolidated net income/(loss) inclusive of both the Company’s and the noncontrolling interests’ share, as well as amounts of consolidated net income/(loss) attributable to each of the Company and the noncontrolling interests.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and amounts of revenues and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates relate to fair value of assets and liabilities determined in connection with the business combinations (Note 3), impairment assessments of goodwill and intangible assets, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, fair values of share-based awards, deferred tax assets recoverability, fair value of the share consideration part of the convertible debt (Note 13) and tax provisions. The Group bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our parent company, Yandex N.V., is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Group’s other businesses, including those businesses to be divested, which are incorporated in other countries is generally the respective local currency. The Russian ruble is currently the Company’s reporting currency. All balance sheet items are translated into Russian rubles based on the exchange rate on the balance sheet date and revenue and expenses are translated at the monthly weighted average rates of exchange. Translation gains and losses are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments in other comprehensive income. Foreign exchange transaction gains and losses are included in other income/(loss), net in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Convenience Translation

Translations of amounts from RUB into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader have been made at the exchange rate of RUB 89.6883 to $1.00, the prevailing exchange rate as of December 31, 2023 (except as otherwise stated). No representation is made that the RUB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at such rate.

Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 and сonsolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 due to aggregation of certain line items in 2023.

The following table presents the impact of the reclassification on affected consolidated balance sheet line items as of December 31, 2022:

		As of December 31, 2022
	As previously reported	Reclassification	After reclassification
Selected Balance Sheet Data:	RUB	RUB	RUB
Term deposits	154	(154)	—
Other current assets	16,817	154	16,971
Long-term prepaid expenses	3,998	(3,998)	—
Other non-current assets	11,279	3,998	15,277

The following table presents the impact of the reclassifications on affected сonsolidated statements of cash flows line items for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022:

		2021			2022
	As previously reported	Reclassifications	After reclassifications	As previously reported	Reclassifications	After reclassifications
Selected Statements of Cash Flows Data:	RUB	RUB	RUB	RUB	RUB	RUB
Investments in non-marketable equity securities	(3,143)	3,143	—	(649)	649	—
Proceeds from investments in non-marketable equity securities	944	(944)	—	21	(21)	—
Other investing activities	47	(2,199)	(2,152)	143	(628)	(485)
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities	21,994	—	21,994	(22,738)	—	(22,738)

Certain Risks and Concentrations

During the period up to December 31, 2023 covered by the consolidated financial statements, the Group’s principal business activities, through its subsidiaries, have been in the Russian Federation. The ongoing geopolitical situation creates critical risks for the Group and its respective operations both in Russia and internationally. In addition, laws and regulations affecting businesses operating in the Russian Federation are subject to frequent changes and

inconsistent application, which could impact the Group’s financial position and results of operations. A significant portion of the Group’s revenue has been derived from online advertising, ride-hailing, Plus and entertainment services, food tech services and sales of goods, the markets for which is competitive and rapidly changing. Significant changes in these industries, or changes in users’ internet preferences or advertiser spending or ride-hailing/food delivery partners’ behavior could adversely affect the Group’s financial position and results of operations.

A major part of the Group’s revenue is collected on a prepaid basis; credit terms are extended to major sales agencies and to larger loyal clients.

No individual customer or groups of affiliated customers represented more than 10% of the Group’s consolidated revenues in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Financial instruments that can potentially subject the Group to a significant concentration of credit risk consist primarily of accounts receivable, sales financing receivable, cash and cash equivalents. The primary focus of the Group’s treasury strategy is to preserve capital and meet liquidity requirements.

The Group’s treasury policy addresses the level of credit exposure by working with different geographically diversified banking institutions, subject to their conformity to an established minimum credit rating for banking relationships.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when the control of promised goods or services is transferred to the Group’s customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Group identifies its contracts with customers and all performance obligations within those contracts. The Group then determines the transaction price and allocates the transaction price to the performance obligations based on their standalone selling prices within the Group’s contracts with customers, recognizing revenue when, or as, the Group satisfies its performance obligations. The Group excludes from the measurement of its revenues any tax collected on behalf of third parties.

The Group’s principal revenue streams and their respective accounting treatments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 are discussed below:

Online Advertising Revenues

The Group’s online advertising revenues are generated from serving online ads on its own websites and on the websites of members of the Yandex Advertising Network (platform for ads placement). Advance payments received by the Group from advertisers are recorded as deferred revenue on the Group’s consolidated balance sheets and recognized as online advertising revenues in the period services are provided.

In accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Group reports online advertising revenues gross of fees paid to Yandex Advertising Network members, because the Group is the principal to its advertisers and retains collection risk. The Group records fees paid to advertising network members as traffic acquisition costs, a component of cost of revenues.

The Group recognizes online advertising revenues based on the following principles:

The Group’s Yandex Direct service offers advertisers the ability to place performance-based ads on Yandex and Yandex Advertising Network member websites and mobile applications targeted to users’ search queries and behavior profile or website content. The Group recognizes as revenues fees charged to advertisers as “click throughs” (cost per click or CPC) occur or users take specified actions, like placing an order on the website or mobile application or filling out a request (cost per action or CPA). A “click through” occurs each time a user clicks on one of the performance based ads that are displayed next to the search results or on the content pages of Yandex or Yandex Advertising Network members’ websites.

The Group recognizes revenue from brand advertising on its websites and on Yandex Advertising Network member websites as “impressions” are delivered. An “impression” is delivered when an advertisement appears on pages viewed by users.

The Group may accept a lower consideration than the amount promised per the contract for certain revenue transactions and certain customers may receive cash-based incentives or credits, which are accounted for as variable consideration when estimating the amount of revenue to recognize. The Group believes that there will be no significant changes to the estimates of variable consideration.

Revenues from ride-hailing and logistics services

For ride-hailing and logistics services provided to individual users, the Group is not a principal and reports only commission fees as revenue. For services provided to corporate clients the Group acts as the principal and revenue and related costs are recorded gross. Revenue is recognized at the time the taxi ride or delivery is completed, which is when the Group assesses the performance obligation to be satisfied, and in the amount that reflects the consideration that the Group expects to receive in exchange for the service. For the contracts with customers where revenues exceed promotional discounts to users and minimum fare guarantees to drivers, the discounts and guarantees are netted against revenues. In case discounts to users and minimum fare guarantees exceed the related cumulative revenues, the excess is presented in sales, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of operations.

The Group uses its ride-hailing platform to provide various services to individual users, Fleet Management Companies (“FMCs”, which are companies that manage and employ large numbers of drivers), individual drivers and corporate clients. For ride-hailing services individual users access the platform for free and the Group has no performance obligation to individual users. Accordingly, for ride-hailing and logistic services taxi FMCs, individual drivers and corporate clients are considered the Group’s customers. For logistics services the Group not only has performance obligations to FMCs and individual drivers but also to end-users. These obligations involve connecting individual users with drivers via its ride-hailing platform.

Principal vs. Agent Considerations

The Group evaluates the presentation of revenue on a gross versus net basis based on whether it acts as a principal by controlling the service provided to the passenger or whether it acts as an agent by enabling individual drivers to interact directly with service users and provide the service to the user.

In its relationship with FMCs, individual drivers and individual users, the Group is not a principal. The Group enables drivers to obtain rides or deliveries and receive payment for the orders and enables individual users to place an order through the use of the Group’s technology applications. While the Group facilitates setting the price for the orders, the driver and the user have the discretion to accept the transaction price through the Group’s technology application. The Group is not responsible for fulfilling the transportation services being provided to the service user, nor does the Group have inventory risk related to these services. Accordingly, the Group acts as an agent in the transaction. The Group reports revenue on a net basis, reflecting the fee owed to the Group from the drivers and individual users as revenue, and not the gross amount collected from the individual user.

The Group has exercised judgment in determining whether the Group is the principal or agent in transactions with corporate clients since the Group subcontracts FMCs or individual drivers to deliver the transportation service promised to corporate clients. The Group presents revenue on a gross basis based upon its conclusion that it controls the transportation service provided to corporate clients. In reaching this conclusion, the Group considered the following key facts and circumstances:

● The Group takes strong measures to ensure the quality of transportation services promised to its corporate customers, such as setting quality and response requirements for FMCs and individual drivers in order for them to be eligible to offer corporate rides.

● The platform’s backend provides on-demand analytics and expense reporting capabilities to corporate clients, thus reducing their administrative costs. The Group considers this to be a significant part of the corporate client’s user experience.

● The Group is contractually responsible for providing on-demand transportation services to corporate clients (in order to service corporate clients, the Group enters into an additional contract with FMCs pursuant to

which the FMC is the service provider and the Group is the service recipient). In case of customer dissatisfaction, the Group, rather than FMCs or individual drivers, must provide a remedy.

● The Group is required to compensate FMCs and individual drivers regardless of whether the corporate client accepts a ride or not; therefore, the Group has inventory risk.

● The Group has full discretion in setting ride prices for corporate clients.

Revenues from sales of goods

The Group’s revenues from sales of goods in the period primarily consists of e-grocery revenues, revenues from goods sold through the Group’s marketplace platform and revenues from devices sold.

E-grocery revenues are generated from the sale and delivery of consumer products to individual customers. Products are ordered through mobile applications and websites and then delivered from the Group’s hyperlocal dark stores.

Marketplace platform revenues are generated from the sale of own goods to individual customers through the Group’s multi-category e-commerce marketplace.

Revenue from sale of goods is recognized when control of the goods is transferred to the customers, which generally occurs upon delivery.

Revenues from food delivery services

For food delivery services provided to individual users, the Group is not a principal and reports only commission fees as revenue. For food delivery services performed by the Group and not the restaurant itself, the Group recognizes revenue gross of the amounts payable to third-party delivery agents as the Group has the primary responsibility for the fulfilment of the delivery service. Third-party delivery costs are recorded as cost of goods sold. The promotional discounts reduce the Group’s revenue once the discount is applied by the user and generally such discounts do not give rise to a material right, except for the Group’s loyalty program. The Group recognizes revenue when the food has been successfully delivered, which is when the performance obligation has been completed.

Revenues from Plus and entertainment services

The Group’s primary source of Plus and entertainment revenues is from monthly membership fees. Members of the Group’s streaming services are billed in advance of the start of their monthly membership and revenues are recognized ratably over each membership period. When the timing of the Group’s revenue recognition is different from the timing of customer payments, the Group recognizes either a contract asset or deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenues from car-sharing services

The Group derives its car-sharing revenues primarily from the short-term on-demand rentals of cars through the Yandex Drive free-floating car-sharing service and other related services. For its car-sharing business the Group uses the provisions of ASС 842 Leases to account for its car fleet rental revenues and other related products and services. The Group combines all lease and non-lease components of its car fleet rental contracts for which the timing and pattern of transfer corresponds to the lease service, except for revenue related to the Group’s customer loyalty program. The Group recognizes car fleet rentals revenues evenly over the period of rental as the control over the promised services is transferred to the customer and associated benefits are consumed. All of the Group’s leases, where the Group acts as a lessor, meet the criteria of ASC 842 Leases for classification as operating leases.

Other Revenue

The Group’s other revenue throughout the period has primarily consisted of revenue from Yandex Cloud platform, value added services from the Group’s Classifieds segment and revenues from goods sold on a commission basis through the Group’s marketplace platform.

The Group’s revenue from Yandex Cloud services is recognized in a period of service utilization based on the quantity of services consumed or ratably over the period of the contract for the services provided on subscription basis.

The Group’s revenue from its value added services is recognized over the period when the respective services are provided to users.

The Group offers programs that enable sellers to sell their products and fulfil orders through its marketplace. The Group is not the seller in these transactions. The commissions and any related fulfilment and shipping fees the Group earns from these arrangements are recognized when the services are rendered, which generally occurs upon delivery of the related products to the customer.

Loyalty Program

Under the Group’s loyalty program, the Group awards loyalty points to individual users who use the Group’s services. Loyalty points can be redeemed in the Group’s participating services and cannot be redeemed by users for cash. For loyalty points earned through the Group’s services, the Group calculates the amount of loyalty points that are expected to be redeemed and allocates the consideration received at the time of the initial transaction between the original performance obligation and the material right for additional services given to an individual user in the form of points based on their standalone selling prices. Consideration may represent the one received from an individual customer or a principal, in case the Group’s performance obligation is to enable a principal to provide the service to an individual customer.

Revenue is then recognized when loyalty points are redeemed and a service is provided. The estimated selling price of loyalty points is determined using historical data, including award redemption patterns by service and the type of users. The loyalty points have a redemption period of 3 years, as long as the user has an active subscription. Under current statistics major part of loyalty points are fully redeemed within one year.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues consists of cost of devices and other goods sold, traffic acquisition costs, cost of corporate ride-hailing and logistics services, logistics costs, content acquisition costs, personnel expenses, outsourced services (such as gasoline, insurance, maintenance and other services), content assets amortization and other cost of revenues.

Product Development Expenses

Product development expenses consist primarily of personnel costs incurred for the development of, enhancement to and maintenance of the Group’s search engine and other services and technology platforms. Product development expenses also include rent and utilities attributable to office space occupied by development staff. Product development expenses mainly relate to the relatively minor upgrades and enhancements and are expensed as incurred.

Software development costs, including costs to develop software products, are expensed as incurred. The development costs that meet the criteria for capitalization were not material for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Advertising and Promotional Expenses

The Group expenses advertising and promotional costs in the period in which they are incurred.

Social Security Contributions

The Group makes contributions to governmental pension, medical and social funds on behalf of its employees. These contributions are expensed as incurred. In Russia, the amount was calculated using a regressive rate (from 8.9% to 0.3% for accredited IT companies and from 31.3% to 15.3% for other companies in 2021, 2022 and 2023) based on the annual compensation of each employee. The rates for 2024 for other companies range from 31.3% to 15.3% and for accredited IT companies range from 7.8% to 1.3%.

Share-Based Compensation

The Company has historically granted restricted share units (“RSUs”), performance share units (“PSUs”), Synthetic Options and Business Unit Equity Awards (together, “Share-Based Awards”) to the Group’s employees and consultants.

The Group estimates the fair value at the grant date of Synthetic Options and Business Unit Equity Awards that are expected to vest using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) pricing model or the Monte-Carlo pricing model and recognizes the fair value on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The fair value of RSUs is measured based on the fair market values of the underlying shares on the dates of grant. The fair value of PSUs is measured using the Monte-Carlo pricing model. These models incorporate assumptions such as stock price volatility, contractual terms, maturity, risk free rates and expected dividends. The expense per RSU, Synthetic Option and business unit equity award is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. PSUs awards have a graded vesting provision and the expense recognition is accelerated.

The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of Share-Based Awards represent the Group’s best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. As a result, if factors change or the Group uses different assumptions, the Group’s share-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. The Group accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Cancellation of an award accompanied by the concurrent grant of a replacement award is accounted for as a modification of the terms of the cancelled award (“modification awards”). The compensation costs associated with modification awards are recognized if either the original vesting condition or the new vesting condition has been achieved. Such compensation costs cannot be less than the grant-date fair value of the original award. The incremental compensation cost is measured as the excess of the fair value of the replacement award over the fair value of the cancelled award at the cancellation date. Therefore, in relation to the modification awards, the Group recognizes share-based compensation over the vesting periods of the new awards, which comprises (1) the amortization of the incremental portion of share-based compensation over the remaining vesting term and (2) any unrecognized compensation cost of the original award, using either the original term or the new term, whichever is higher for each reporting period.

Income Taxes

Current provision for income tax is calculated as the estimated amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxing authorities based on the taxable income for the period. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and for carryforwards. Deferred tax assets, including those for operating loss carryforwards, and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the deferred tax asset or liability is expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, management consider all available evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, limitations and enacted changes to the tax legislation in respective jurisdictions, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations.

The Group accounts for uncertainty in tax positions recognized in the consolidated financial statements by recognizing a tax benefit from tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits. For those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Group recognizes tax benefit measured as the largest amount with a realization possibility exceeding 50 percent. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold at the effective date to be recognized.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity during a period from non-owner sources. U.S. GAAP requires the reporting of comprehensive income in addition to net income. Comprehensive income of the Group includes net income and foreign currency translation adjustments. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023 total comprehensive income included, in addition to net income, the effect of translating the financial statements of the Group’s legal entities domiciled outside of Russia from these entities’ functional currencies into Russian rubles.

Accumulated other comprehensive income of RUB 24,258 and RUB 16,575 ($184.9) as of December 31, 2022 and 2023, respectively, consists solely of cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment.

Noncontrolling Interests

Interests held by third parties in consolidated majority-owned subsidiaries are presented as noncontrolling interests, which represent the noncontrolling stockholders’ interests in the underlying net assets of the Group’s consolidated majority-owned subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests that are not redeemable are reported in the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets. The net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest reflects the share of the net income/(loss) of the Group’s consolidated subsidiaries, in which there are noncontrolling interests.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments carried on the balance sheets such as cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits, restricted cash, accounts receivable, sales financing receivable, funds receivable, liabilities under the reverse factoring programs, content liabilities, bank deposits and loans to customers, bank deposits and liabilities, accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities approximate their respective fair values due to the short-term nature of those instruments.

Fair value considerations related to the business combination entered into during the reporting period and other Group’s financial instruments are disclosed in Note 3 and Note 6, respectively.

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. A three-tier fair value hierarchy is established as a basis for considering such assumptions and for inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:

Level 1—observable inputs that reflect 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 or indirectly; and

Level 3— unobservable inputs that are supported by little of no market activities.

Term Deposits

Bank deposits are classified as cash and cash equivalents if the original maturities are three months or less. Bank deposits, which have original maturities of longer than three months, are classified as (i) current term deposits if they are repayable in less than twelve months; and (ii) non-current term deposits if they are repayable in more than one year.

Funds Receivable

Funds receivable relates to online payments processing. When customers pay for certain Group’s services using credit cards or a payment system, there is a clearing period of several days before the cash is received by the Group.

Sales Financing Receivable

Sales financing receivable represents receivable from individual users who use the Group’s Yandex Pay service, Split. This service allows individual users to pay for the Group’s services or goods purchased in installments.

Allowance for Credit Losses

The Group maintains an allowance for credit losses for expected uncollectible accounts receivable and sales financing receivable, which is recorded as an offset to the respective receivable, and changes in such amounts are classified as sales, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The Group determined that the expected loss rates should be calculated using the historical loss rates adjusted for current market conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions such as changes in inflation rates to inform adjustments to historical loss data. The historical rates are calculated for each of the aging categories used for pooling receivables. To determine the collected portion of each bucket, the collection time of each receivable is identified. To determine the appropriate allowance for expected credit losses, the Group considers certain historical information, credit quality indicators, such as aging, collection history, and creditworthiness of debtors. The Group assesses collectability by reviewing accounts receivable on a collective basis where similar characteristics exist and on an individual basis when the Group identifies specific customers with known disputes or collectability issues.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting of products available for sale, are primarily accounted for using the weighted average method, and are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost includes all costs incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition. The Group estimates the net realizable value of such inventories based on analysis and assumptions. A change to the carrying value of inventories is recorded to cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of operations.

Liabilities under the reverse factoring programs

The Group established a reverse factoring program with certain banks whereby a bank acts as the Group’s paying agent and pays the Group’s suppliers and marketplace sellers on the date the payables are due. There are no assets pledged or other forms of guarantees provided as a security under the program.

Liabilities under the reverse factoring programs are recorded:

● in the accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities line in the consolidated balance sheets, if the program does not significantly extend payment terms beyond the normal terms agreed with other of the Group’s marketplace sellers that are not participating. The respective Group payments made under the program are reflected in cash flow from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows; and

● in the debt line in the consolidated balance sheets, if the program significantly extends payment terms beyond the normal terms agreed with other of the Group’s suppliers and marketplace sellers that are not participating. The respective Group payments made under the program are reflected in cash flow from financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method over their useful lives. Capital expenditures incurred before property and equipment are ready for their intended use are capitalized as assets not yet in use.

Depreciable amount of property and equipment is its cost less its residual (salvage) value (if applicable). Depreciation is computed under the straight-line method using estimated useful lives as follows:

	Estimated useful lives
Infrastructure systems and equipment	3.0-10.0 years
Office furniture and equipment	3.0 years
Buildings	10.0-20.0 years
Land rights	50.0 years
Leasehold improvements	the shorter of 5.0 years or the remaining period of the lease term
Other property and equipment	2.0‑10.0 years

Land is not depreciated.

Depreciation of assets included in assets not yet in use commences when they are ready for the intended use.

Leases

The Group determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception by assessing whether the arrangement contains an identified asset and whether it has the right to control the identified asset. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Group’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Group’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. ROU assets are based on the measurement of the lease liability and also include any lease payments made prior to or on lease commencement and exclude lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred, as applicable.

To determine the present value of its lease payments, the Group utilizes the interest rate implicit in the lease agreement. If the implicit interest rate in the Group’s leases is unknown, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of future lease payments. The Group gives consideration to its credit risk, term of the lease and total lease payments and adjusts for the impacts of collateral, as necessary, when calculating its incremental borrowing rates. The lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain the Group will exercise any such options. Lease costs for the Group’s operating leases are recognized on a straight-line basis within operating expenses over the lease term. Finance lease assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term unless the Group is reasonably certain to exercise an option to purchase the underlying asset within the depreciation and amortization line of the consolidated statements of operations. The interest component of finance leases is included in interest expense and recognized using the effective interest method over the lease term.

The Group determines lease payments related to the use of the underlying leased assets at lease commencement and lease modification dates. Based on the terms of the individual lease agreement, such lease payments may represent fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments) or variable lease payments. Variable lease payments mainly relate to car leases and represent mileage-based payments.

The Group accounted for lease concessions (rent discounts and rent deferrals) received as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic as if they were part of the enforceable rights and obligations in the original contracts by recognizing negative variable lease cost.

The Group separates its leases into property and car leases by their class of underlying assets. For property leases the Group separately accounts for lease and non-lease components based on the identifiable standalone price of such non-lease components and, as a result, allocates part of lease contract consideration to the non-lease component and accounts for it separately. For car leases the Group has elected to not separate lease and non-lease components for any leases within its existing classes of assets and, as a result, accounts for any lease and non-lease components as a single lease component. The Group has also elected to not apply the recognition requirement to any leases within its existing classes of assets with a term of 12 months or less.

For classification of car leases into operating and finance lease the Group determines an economic life of such class of assets as 5-12 years depending on the category of the car.

A change to the terms and conditions of a contract that results in a change in the scope of or the consideration for a lease is assessed by the Group to determine whether the modified contract contains a lease. If the modification results in a separate contract, the Group continues to account for the unmodified original contract and a separate new contract arising from the modification. If the modification is not a separate contract, the Group remeasures the corresponding ROU asset and lease liability, adjusted for the circumstances of the particular contract and its modification. In the event of a full or a partial termination, any difference between the changes in lease liability and ROU asset is recognized in profit or loss at the effective date of the modification.

Investment in the Finance Lease

Investment in the finance lease consists of sales-type leases of cars and represents net unpaid rentals. The terms of the sales-type leases are from 2 to 5 years, with the possibility of early redemption and secured by the leased assets. The Group recognizes net investment in the lease and derecognizes the assets leased.

Net investment in the lease is calculated as the aggregate of minimum lease payments net of reimbursable expenses, representing the amounts guaranteed by the lessee and any unguaranteed residual value (together - gross investment in the lease), discounted at the interest rate implicit in the lease. The interest rate implicit in the lease is the discount rate that, at the inception of the lease, causes the present value of the gross investment in the lease to be equal to the fair value of the leased assets. The difference between the gross investment in the lease and the net investment in the lease represents unearned finance income.

Unearned finance income is recognized as finance lease income over the lease term in a manner that produces a constant rate of return on the net investment in the lease based on the implicit interest rate.

Equity Method Investments

Investments in the stock of entities in which the Group can exercise significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control are accounted under the equity method. The Group records its share of the results of these companies within the income/(loss) from equity method investments line on the consolidated statements of operations or as an adjustment to equity to reflect the Group’s share in the changes of the investee’s capital.

Following the loss of significant influence over equity method investments without readily determinable fair values the Group accounts for these investments under the measurement alternative at its cost less impairment.

The Group reviews its equity method investments for other-than-temporary impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the investment may not be fully recoverable. Investments identified as having an indication of impairment are subject to further analysis to determine if the impairment is other-than-temporary and this analysis requires estimating the fair value of the investment. The determination of fair value of the investment involves considering factors such as current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the companies including current earnings trends and forecasted cash flows, and other company and industry specific information. Once a decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment charge is recorded to other income/(loss), net in the consolidated statements of operations and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase consideration over the Group’s share of fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. During the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Group may apply adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with a corresponding offset to goodwill. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested for impairment at least annually.

The Group performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether further impairment testing on goodwill is necessary. If the Group believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. The quantitative impairment test is performed by comparing the carrying value of each reporting unit’s net assets (including allocated goodwill) to the fair value of those net assets. If the reporting unit’s carrying amount is greater than its fair value, the Group recognizes a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value.

The Group recognized goodwill impairment in the amount of nil, nil and RUB 1,136 ($12.7) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.

The Group amortizes intangible assets using the straight-line method and estimated useful lives of assets ranging from 1 to 15.9 years, with a weighted-average remaining useful life of 7.4 years:

	Estimated useful lives
Acquisition-related intangible assets:
Trade names and domain names	2.7-10.0 years
Customer relationships	4.9-15.9 years
Software	3.0-6.0 years
Supplier relationships	4.4-4.5 years
Other technologies and licenses	the shorter of 5.0 years or the underlying license terms

Impairment of Long-lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

The Group evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets other than goodwill for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. When such a determination is made, management’s estimate of undiscounted cash flows to be generated by the assets is compared to the carrying value of the assets to determine whether impairment is indicated. If impairment is indicated, the amount of the impairment recognized in the consolidated financial statements is determined by estimating the fair value of the assets and recording a loss for the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value. This fair value is usually determined based on estimated discounted cash flows.

Content assets and channels programming expenses

The Group licenses and produces content assets in order to offer users unlimited viewing or limited viewing of films and series (or titles) via subscription, transaction and advertising models. Most of the content license agreements are for a fixed fee. Payments for content assets, including additions to streaming assets and the changes in related liabilities, are classified within net cash from operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. For licensed content assets, the Group recognizes the assets per content and records a corresponding liability at the gross amount of the liability when the license period begins and all the following conditions have been met:

● the cost of the content asset is known or reasonably determinable;

● the content asset is accepted in accordance with the conditions of agreement; and

● the content asset is available for its first streaming or showing.

The Group recognizes content assets (licensed and produced) as a separate line item in the Group’s consolidated balance sheets.

For produced content, the Group capitalizes costs associated with content production, including development costs, direct costs and production overheads when incurred. These amounts are included in the content assets line in the consolidated balance sheets. Produced content assets are expected to be amortized within four years after launch. For films and series predominantly monetized individually, the amortization of capitalized costs is based on the proportion of the film’s (or series’) revenues recognized for such period to the film’s (or series’) estimated remaining ultimate revenues (i.e., the total revenue to be received throughout a film’s or series’ life cycle).

For the advertising model, the Group’s general policy is to amortize each content’s costs on a straight-line basis over its license period. For the subscription and transaction model, the Group’s general policy is to amortize each content asset based on the estimated viewing patterns. The Group amortizes content assets (licensed and produced) in the cost of revenues line of the consolidated statements of operations. The Group reviews factors impacting the amortization of content assets on an ongoing basis.

The Group’s video business model is subscription-based, rather than based on revenues generated from the advertising or the transaction models. The principal content assets, both licensed and produced, are reviewed in aggregate at a film group level when an event or change in circumstances indicates a change in the expected usefulness of the content asset or that the fair value may be less than unamortized cost. To date, the Group has not identified any

such event or changes in circumstances. If such changes are identified in the future, these aggregated content assets will be stated at the lower of unamortized cost or fair value.

The Group also incurs programming expenses related to the rights to distribute the third-party programmed channels, platforms and related content through the Group’s streaming platform to end consumers. Programming is generally acquired under multiyear distribution agreements, with fees typically fixed or based on the number of customers that receive the programming. Programming arrangements are accounted for as executory contracts with expenses generally recognized ratably thought the distribution period or based on the rates in the agreements within the cost of revenues line of the consolidated statements of operations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2022-04, “Liabilities - Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations”, which requires entities that use supplier finance programs in connection with the purchase of goods and services to disclose key terms of the programs. The standard does not affect the recognition, measurement or financial statement presentation of supplier finance program obligations. The amendments in this ASU are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2022, except for the amendment on rollforward information, which is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2023.

The Group adopted the standard effective January 1, 2023, without a material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

Effect of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07 "Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures" which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2024, and for interim periods beginning January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09 "Income Taxes (Topics 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures" to expand the disclosure requirements for income taxes, specifically related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Group is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on the consolidated financial statements.

No other recent accounting pronouncements were issued by FASB or the SEC that are believed by management to have a material impact on the Group’s present or future consolidated financial statements.