Correspondence
September 6, 2011
VIA EDGAR AND FACSIMILE
Kathleen Collins, Accounting Branch Chief
Christine Davis, Assistant Chief Accountant
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Re:
|
|
Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the Company)
Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010
Filed on March 31, 2011 (the 2010 20-F)
File No. 001-33853 |
Dear Ms. Collins and Ms. Davis:
This letter sets forth the Companys responses to the comments contained in the letter dated
August 3, 2011 from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Staff) regarding the
2010 20-F. The comments are repeated below in bold and followed by the responses thereto.
* * *
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources, page 42
1. |
|
We note that you provide little or no discussion of cash provided by operating activities. In
this regard, we note significant fluctuations in accounts receivable, accounts payable and
advances from customers yet the reasons for such large changes and how they impacted operating
cash flow has not been disclosed. Please tell us how you considered expanding your disclosures
to include discussion of the underlying reasons for each material change to better explain the
variability in your cash flows. We refer you to Section IV.B.1 of SEC Release No. 33-8350 for
guidance. |
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the Companys net cash provided by
operating activities increased by approximately RMB522.6 million (US$79.2 million) from 2009
to 2010, while its net income increased by approximately RMB385.2 million (US$58.3 million)
during the same period, representing approximately 74.0% of the increase in the net cash
provided by
operating activities. The net income alone was sufficient to satisfy the Companys needs for
its business operations and liquidity. Therefore, the Company believed and disclosed in the
2010 20-F that the increase in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily due
to the increase in the net income resulting from its increased revenues.
1
The Company has noted the Staffs comments and will include in its future Form 20-F
filings expanded disclosure of reasons behind the key working capital items in the relevant
years in the following format. A discussion of the Companys operating cash flow changes in
2010 is included below for illustration purpose:
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to RMB1.6 billion (US$234.9
million) in 2010, primarily attributable to (i) our net income of RMB1.1 billion (US$159.4
million) in 2010; (ii) an add-back of RMB235.0 million (US$35.6 million) in non-cash items,
primarily relating to share-based compensation expenses and depreciation expenses; (iii) an
increase in accounts payable of RMB186.3 million (US$28.2 million), primarily due to the
increased volume of air-ticketing and packaged-tour services, as we are generally entitled
to certain credit terms from our suppliers; and (iv) an increase in advances from customers
of RMB232.2 million (US$35.2 million), primarily due to the increased demand for
packaged-tour services, as customers are usually required to make full payments for
packaged-tour services when ordering such services. These increases were partially offset by
an increase in accounts receivable of RMB179.5 million (US$27.2 million), primarily due to
the increased volume of corporate travel management services as our corporate customers
normally get certain credit terms from us for the full amount of prices for the air tickets
issued and hotel rooms reserved.
2. |
|
We note that your PRC subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends only out of its accumulated
profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Please tell
us how you considered providing disclosure similar to that on page F-21 within your liquidity
disclosures. Refer to Item 5.B.1(b) of Form 20-F. |
The Staffs comment is duly noted. The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the
referenced disclosure has been included on page 16 of the 2010 20-F in Item 3. Key
Information D. Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure Our
subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China are subject to restrictions on paying
dividends or making other payments to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy our
liquidity requirements.
In response to the Staffs comment, the Company will add a cross reference to the
specific risk factor within the liquidity disclosure under Item 5 in its future Form 20-F
filings.
2
3. |
|
We note that your ability to fund operations and to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid
by your PRC subsidiaries. Please tell us how you considered disclosing how your PRC
subsidiaries earn revenue. In this regard, your disclosure would describe how earnings of the
consolidated affiliated entities flow through your corporate structure. Also, pursuant to your
risk factor disclosure on page 18, we note that the PRC government controls the convertibility
of the RMB into foreign currencies. Tell us how you considered disclosing the impact that this
control may have on the flow of cash from your PRC entities. |
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the Companys PRC subsidiaries earn
revenues primarily through (i) providing hotel reservation services to customers in China as
such services are not subject to legal restrictions on foreign ownership; and (ii) providing
technical consulting and related services, staff training and information services and
platform maintenance services to the Companys affiliated Chinese entities in exchange for
service fees pursuant to the exclusive technical consulting and services agreements between
the Companys subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities. An English translation of the
Form of Consulting and Services Agreement has been incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.7
to the 2010 20-F. Such earnings will flow back to the Company when its wholly-owned PRC
subsidiaries distribute dividends out of their accumulated profits. With the dividends
received from its PRC subsidiaries, the Company historically distributed cash dividends to
its shareholders in each of 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The Company supplementally advises the Staff that under existing PRC foreign exchange
regulations, RMB is freely convertible for payments of current account items, including
profit distributions, without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange, or SAFE, as long as the Companys PRC subsidiaries comply with certain procedural
requirements. Accordingly, the Companys PRC subsidiaries may pay dividends to the Company
by converting RMB into foreign currencies without substantive restrictions.
In response to the Staffs comment, the Company will add the following disclosure in
its future Form 20-F filings under Item 4. Information on the Company C. Organizational
Structure:
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and rely on dividends from
our subsidiaries in China and consulting and other fees paid to our subsidiaries by our
affiliated Chinese entities.
3
4. |
|
Tell us how you considered providing disclosures describing the restrictions imposed by
statutory limits on the loans to your PRC subsidiaries as described in the risk factor on page
30 and how such restrictions could materially and adversely affect your liquidity and ability
to fund operations. In your discussion, include a quantitative or qualitative analysis to
provide investors with sufficient
information to understand the amount of statutory limits and whether it is reasonably likely
that the company would exceed these limits. |
The Staffs comment is duly noted. The Company respectfully advises the Staff that
under the current PRC regulations, loans, either from the Company or from third-party
sources outside of China, incurred by the Companys subsidiaries in China to finance their
activities cannot exceed statutory limits, which equal the difference between the respective
approved total investment amount and the registered capital of such PRC subsidiary, and must
be registered with the SAFE or its local branches. In the past, the Companys subsidiaries
have mainly funded their operations and cash needs from the Companys initial capital
injections and cash generated from such subsidiaries operations. Historically, the Company
has extended two loans to two of its PRC subsidiaries in the amount of US$11.0 million and
US$7.5 million, respectively, which are within the respective statutory limit of these two
PRC subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2010, the loan in the amount of US$7.5 million was
fully repaid and the loan in the amount of US$11.0 million had an outstanding balance of
US$5.6 million. Other than these discussed above, none of the Companys PRC subsidiaries had
any outstanding loans as of December 31, 2010.
The Company further advises the Staff that, based on the capital needs and cash
generated from operations of its PRC subsidiaries, it does not believe that its PRC
subsidiaries would need to incur substantial debts to fund their respective operations in
China in the near future, and even if they need to incur debts, they could manage to obtain
short-term loans from PRC banks and financial institutions, which are not subject to the
statutory limits referenced above. Based on the above, the Company does not believe that it
is reasonably likely that its PRC subsidiaries would need to incur debts exceeding their
respective statutory debt limits. Therefore, after due consideration of the potential risks
in this regard, the Company does not believe the statutory debt limits on its PRC
subsidiaries are material to its business operations in China.
Item 18. Financial Statements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Major variable interest entities, page F-8
5. |
|
We note that you have concluded that you are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs listed on
page F-7. Please tell us why you believe each of the significant control and economic benefits
agreements are enforceable under PRC and local law. If you consider this enforceability
conclusion to be a significant consolidation judgment and/or assumption please revise your
disclosure accordingly. Refer to ASC 810-10-50-2AA. |
4
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that as disclosed on pages 15 and 54 of the
2010 20-F, the Company has been advised by Commerce & Finance Law Offices, the Companys PRC
legal counsel, that the control and economic benefit agreements between the Companys PRC
subsidiaries and its affiliated Chinese entities are valid, binding and enforceable under
the current laws and regulations of China. Commerce & Finance Law Offices has expressly
consented to the references to its opinions in the 2010 20-F and such consent has been filed
as Exhibit 15.2 to the 2010 20-F. Furthermore, the Company respectfully advises the Staff
that the control and economic benefit agreements used by the Company are commonly used by
foreign private issuers that operate in China in order to comply with legal restrictions on
foreign ownership in certain industries. In the Companys case, such restricted industries
are air-ticketing, travel agency, online advertising and value-added telecommunications
businesses. The Company believes the control and economic benefit agreements which establish
the Companys organizational structure are similar to those used by other foreign private
issuers operating in the same industries in China. Based on the public filings made by other
foreign private issuers based in China, the Company notes that these foreign private issuers
have been advised by their respective PRC legal counsels that the control and economic
benefit agreements which establish their respective organizational structure are valid,
binding and enforceable under the current laws and regulations of China.
Based on the above, the Company believes that the control and economic benefit
agreements are enforceable under PRC laws and does not consider this enforceability
conclusion to be a significant consolidation judgment or assumption.
6. |
|
Explain to us how your disclosure addresses the types, nature and changes of risks associated
with your involvement with the VIEs as they relate to cash flows, financial position and
operating performance. Refer to ASC 810-10-50-2AA. For example, we note your disclosures on
page 15 where you indicate that if you or affiliated Chinese entities were found to be in
violation of PRC regulations, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities could, among other
things, revoke you or your affiliated Chinese entities business licenses, discontinue any
portion or all of your value-added telecommunications, air-ticketing, travel agent or
advertising businesses or could require you to restructure your ownership structure. Please
tell us how your current disclosures address the impact such actions may have on you and on
your ability to consolidate the affiliated Chinese entities. |
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that as discussed in response to comment 5,
the Company believes its involvement with the VIEs are similar to the other foreign private
issuers based in China. The Company further advises the Staff that as disclosed on pages 15
and 28 of the 2010 20-F, Commerce & Finance Law Offices, the Companys PRC legal counsel, is
of the opinion that the ownership structures, businesses and operations of the Companys
subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China, as described in the 2010 20-F, comply
with all existing PRC laws, rules and regulations.
5
However, as disclosed on pages 15 of the 2010 20-F, the Company cannot be certain that
the PRC government authorities will not ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of
its PRC legal counsel due to the lack of official interpretation and clear guidelines.
Furthermore, as disclosed on page 20 of the 2010 20-F, there is a risk that the Company may
be required to restructure its organizational structure and operations in China to comply
with changing and new PRC laws and regulations. If the Company and its consolidated
affiliated Chinese entities are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws
or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the
relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such
violations, including those actions and penalties discussed in the referenced risk factor on
page 15. In particular, if the PRC government authorities impose penalties which cause the
Company to lose its rights to direct the activities of and receive economic benefits from
its consolidated affiliated Chinese entities, the Company may lose the ability to
consolidate and reflect in its financial statements the operation results of its affiliated
Chinese entities.
In response to the Staffs comment, the Company will expand the discussion in the
referenced risk factor and the notes to the consolidated financial statements in its future
Form 20-F filings.
7. |
|
We note your risk factor disclosures on pages 15 and 19 regarding the uncertainties in the
PRC legal system. Please tell us how you considered including a discussion of how the PRC
legal system could limit your ability to enforce the contractual arrangements should your
affiliated Chinese entities fail to perform their obligations under the contractual
arrangements. Refer to ASC 810-10-50-2AA. |
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that as discussed in response to comment 5,
the Company believes that the contractual arrangements with its affiliated Chinese entities
are enforceable under the current laws and regulations of China. The Company further advises
the Staff that as disclosed on page 53 of the 2010 20-F, the affiliated Chinese entities are
principally owned by certain officers of the Company who are also shareholders of the
Company. Therefore, the Company believes the interests of these shareholders are generally
aligned with the interest of the Company.
The Company further advises the Staff that as disclosed on page 15 of the 2010 20-F, in
the event that the affiliated Chinese entities and their respective shareholders fail to
perform their contractual obligations, the Company may have to rely on the PRC legal system
to enforce its rights, and therefore be subject to the uncertainties with respect to the PRC
legal system as discussed on page 19 of the 2010 20-F. The Company believes that it has made
sufficient disclosure of the risks in the 2010 20-F, including the risk that the PRC
government authorities may ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of its PRC legal
counsel with respect to the enforceability of the contractual arrangements. In response to
the Staffs comment,
the Company will include the referenced disclosure in the risk factors in its notes to
the consolidated financial statements in its future Form 20-F filings.
6
8. |
|
We note your disclosure on page F-9 of the key agreements you have with your VIEs. Please
tell us how you considered providing additional details for each contract including, but not
limited to, the contractual term of each contract, whether each contract is renewable
including which party has the renewal rights, and whether any party has a right to terminate
the contract. |
The Staffs comment is duly noted. In response to the Staffs comment, the Company will
expand the disclosure of the terms of these agreements to include the discussion of the
contractual term, renewal and termination rights, to the extent applicable, in both the
forepart and the notes to the consolidated financial statements in its future Form 20-F
filings.
The Company will also include the other details, such as the terms of the contracts,
disclosed on pages 54 and 55 of the 2010 20-F under Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related
Party Transactions B. Related Party Transactions Arrangements with Consolidated
Affiliated Chinese Entities to the relevant notes to the consolidated financial statements
in its future Form 20-F filings.
* * *
7
If you have any additional questions or comments regarding the 2010 20-F, please contact the
undersigned at (86 21) 3406-4880 Ext. 12200 or the Companys U.S. counsel, Julie Gao of Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, at (852) 3740 4850. Thank you very much.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
|
|
|
/s/ Jane Jie Sun
|
|
|
Jane Jie Sun |
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
cc:
|
|
James Jianzhang Liang, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Min Fan, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
JP Gan, Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, Ctrip.com International, Ltd.
Z. Julie Gao, Esq., Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Alison Wong, PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company |
8