Form 20-F
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 20-F

 


(Mark One)

¨ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report                         

For the transition period from              to             .

Commission file number: 000-50483

 


CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 


Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

3F, Building 63-64

No. 421 Hong Cao Road

Shanghai 200233, People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

NONE

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

Name of each exchange and Title of each class on which registered:

American Depositary Shares, each representing one ordinary share, par value

US$0.01 per ordinary share, Nasdaq National Market

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

NONE

(Title of Class)

 


Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 32,037,609 ordinary shares, par value US$0.01 per ordinary share.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    ¨  Yes    x  No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    ¨  Yes    x  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

¨  Large accelerated filer    x  Accelerated filer    ¨  Non-accelerated filer

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    ¨  Item 17    x  Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     ¨  Yes    x  No

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

INTRODUCTION

   3
PART I      

Item 1.

   Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers    5

Item 2.

   Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable    5

Item 3.

   Key Information    5

Item 4.

   Information on the Company    27

Item 4A.

   Unresolved Staff Comments    39

Item 5.

   Operating and Financial Review and Prospects    39

Item 6.

   Directors, Senior Management and Employees    54

Item 7.

   Major Shareholder and Related Party Transactions    63

Item 8.

   Financial Information    66

Item 9.

   The Offer and Listing    67

Item 10.

   Additional Information    69

Item 11.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    77

Item 12.

   Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities    77

PART II

     

Item 13.

   Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies    77

Item 14.

   Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds    77

Item 15.

   Controls and Procedures    78

Item 16A.

   Audit Committee Financial Expert    78

Item 16B.

   Code of Ethics    78

Item 16C.

   Principal Accountant Fees and Services    78

Item 16D.

   Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees    79

Item 16E.

   Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers    79
PART III      

Item 17.

   Financial Statements    79

Item 18.

   Financial Statements    79

Item 19.

   Exhibits    80

 

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INTRODUCTION

In this annual report, unless otherwise indicated,

(1) the terms “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our” and “Ctrip” refer to Ctrip.com International, Ltd., its predecessor entities and subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information, also include its affiliated Chinese entities;

(2) “shares” and “ordinary shares” refer to our ordinary shares, and “preferred shares” refers to our convertible preferred shares, all of which were converted into our ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial public offering on December 12, 2003;

(3) “ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents one ordinary share, and “ADRs” refers to the American depositary receipts which evidence our ADSs;

(4) “China” and “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China, and solely for the purpose of this annual report, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; and

(5) all references to “RMB” and “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China and all references to “U.S. dollars,” “US$,” “dollars” and “$” are to the legal currency of the United States.

Any discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding.

This annual report on Form 20-F includes our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and as of December 31, 2004 and 2005.

We and certain selling shareholders of our company completed the initial public offering of 4,700,000 ADSs, each then representing two of our ordinary shares, par value US$0.01 per ordinary share, on December 12, 2003. On December 9, 2003, we listed our ADSs on the Nasdaq National Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “CTRP.”

Certain selling shareholders of our company completed a public offering and sale of 1,914,000 ADSs, each then representing two of our ordinary shares, par value US$0.01 per ordinary share, on December 21, 2004.

On April 11, 2006, we effected a change of the ratio of our ADSs to ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing two (2) ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing one (1) ordinary share. Unless otherwise indicated, ADSs and per ADS amount in this annual report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the change in ratio for all periods presented.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This annual report on Form 20-F contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “is/are likely to,” the negative of these terms, and other similar expressions. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including the following risks:

 

    a slow-down of economic growth in China may adversely affect our growth and profitability;

 

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    declines or disruptions in the travel industry generally could reduce our revenue;

 

    The trading price of our ADSs has been volatile historically and may continue to be volatile regardless of our operating performance;

 

    if we are unable to maintain existing travel suppliers, or establish new arrangements with travel suppliers similar to those we currently have, our business may suffer;

 

    if we fail to further increase our brand recognition, we may face difficulty in obtaining new business partners and consumers, and our business may be harmed;

 

    If we are unable to attract, train and retain key individuals and highly skilled employees, our business may be adversely affected;

 

    if we do not compete successfully against new and existing competitors, we may lose our market share, and our profitability may be adversely affected;

 

    our limited operating history makes evaluating our business and prospects difficult;

 

    our business may be harmed if our infrastructure and technology are damaged or otherwise fail or become obsolete;

 

    our business may be severely disrupted if we lose the services of our key executives; and

 

    if the ownership structure of our affiliated Chinese entities and the contractual arrangements among us, our affiliated Chinese entities and their shareholders are found to be in violation of any PRC laws or regulations, we and or our affiliated Chinese entities may be subject to fines and other penalties, which may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on these statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in Item 3.D. of this Annual Report, Key Information — Risk Factors and other risks outlined in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law.

 

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PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not Applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not Applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

A. Selected Financial Data

The following table presents the selected consolidated financial information for our business. You should read the following information in conjunction with Item 5 “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with those statements, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for these periods, which are not included in this annual report.

Certain accounts for prior years have been reclassified with no effect on net income or retained earnings to conform to the 2005 financial statement presentation. Additionally, all ADS data have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the current ADS to ordinary share ratio for all periods presented.

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2001     2002     2003     2004     2005     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$(2)  
     (in thousands, except for per ordinary share and per ADS data)  

Consolidated Statement of Operation Data:

            

Net revenues

   43,984     100,049     173,147     333,820     521,225     64,586  

Cost of services

   (7,940 )   (13,673 )   (26,223 )   (51,637 )   (88,627 )   (10,982 )

Gross profit

   36,044     86,376     146,924     282,183     432,598     53,604  

Operating expenses

            

Product development

   (7,759 )   (13,365 )   (20,684 )   (37,959 )   (57,510 )   (7,126 )

Sales and marketing

   (30,359 )   (32,308 )   (47,571 )   (72,863 )   (112,274 )   (13,912 )

General and administrative

   (16,621 )   (16,055 )   (19,579 )   (36,895 )   (41,535 )   (5,147 )

Share-based compensation(1)

   (22 )   (462 )   (1,583 )   (1,958 )   (1,777 )   (220 )

Other expenses incurred for joint venture companies

   (935 )   (915 )   —       —       —       —    

Total operating expenses

   (55,696 )   (63,105 )   (89,417 )   (149,675 )   (213,096 )   (26,405 )

Income (loss) from operations

   (19,652 )   23,271     57,507     132,508     219,502     27,199  

Net interest income and other income

   2,049     1,293     6,062     13,174     35,590     4,410  

Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense), minority interests and share of income (loss) of joint venture companies

   (17,603 )   24,564     63,569     145,682     255,092     31,609  

Income tax benefit (expense)

   2,342     (10,043 )   (10,249 )   (12,517 )   (30,577 )   (3,789 )

Minority interests

   —       71     (79 )   (39 )   (269 )   (33 )

Share of income (loss) of joint venture companies

   —       (398 )   573     —       —       —    

Net income (loss)

   (15,261 )   14,194     53,814     133,126     224,246     27,787  

Earnings Per Ordinary Share and Per ADS Data:

            

Accretion for Series B preferred shares

   (14,316 )   (16,493 )   (12,366 )   —       —       —    

Dividends to holders of preferred shares

   —       (16,762 )   —       —       —       —    

Deemed dividends to holders of Series A and Series B preferred shares for spin-off of joint venture companies(3)

   —       —       (2,829 )   —       —       —    

Deemed dividends upon repurchase of preferred shares

   —       —       (35,336 )   —       —       —    

Amount allocated to participating preference shareholders

   —       —       (1,910 )   —       —       —    

Net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders

   (29,577 )   (19,061 )   1,373     133,126     224,246     27,787  

Earnings (loss) per ordinary share or per ADS(4), basic

   (3.26 )   (2.00 )   0.13     4.33     7.06     0.87  

Earnings (loss) per ordinary share or per ADS(4), diluted

   (3.26 )   (2.00 )   0.11     4.23     6.91     0.86  

Cash dividends per ordinary share paid(5)

   —       1.11     —       —       1.26     0.15  

 

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     As of December 31,
     2001     2002     2003    2004    2005    2005
     RMB     RMB     RMB    RMB    RMB    US$
     (in thousands)

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

               

Cash

   42,464     38,931     471,969    615,875    735,062    91,083

Other current assets

   45,932     20,580     37,223    54,991    116,253    14,405

Non-current assets

   20,529     37,744     48,013    69,852    184,586    22,873

Total assets

   108,925     97,255     557,205    740,718    1,035,901    128,361

Current liabilities

   12,962     13,093     63,917    138,744    270,314    33,495

Minority interests

   —       828     564    603    871    108

Series B preferred shares(6)

   108,470     124,963     —      —      —      —  

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)

   (12,507 )   (41,629 )   492,724    601,371    764,716    94,758

(1) Share-based compensation was related to the associated operating expense categories as follows:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,
     2001    2002    2003    2004    2005    2005
     RMB    RMB    RMB    RMB    RMB    US$
     (in thousands)

Product development

   5    131    411    550    403    50

Sales and marketing

   1    27    136    188    258    32

General and administrative

   16    304    1,036    1,220    1,116    138

 

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(2) Translation from RMB amounts into U.S. dollars was made at a rate of RMB8.0702 to US$1.00. See “Exchange Rate Information.”

 

(3) On August 27, 2003, we resolved to distribute all of our equity interest in Home Inns & Hotels Management (Hong Kong) Limited to the then existing holders of our ordinary shares and Series A and Series B preferred shares on a pro rata as-converted basis based on the carrying value of the equity interest in the amounts of RMB2 million, RMB1 million and RMB2 million, respectively.

 

(4) Each ADS represents one ordinary share.

 

(5) The dividends recognized represent dividends totaling RMB27 million distributed out of our reserves in December 2002 to holders of ordinary shares, and Series A preferred shares and Series B preferred shares on a pro rata as-converted basis at a dividend rate of RMB1.11, or US$0.1341 per ordinary share. On July 8, 2005, we distributed dividends in the aggregate amount of RMB40 million to our shareholders of record as of December 31, 2004, at a dividend rate of RMB1.26, or US$0.1525 per ordinary share.

 

(6) Prior to the forfeiture of the redemption feature in September 2003, Series B preferred shares were not included as part of shareholders’ equity as such shares were redeemable at the option of the holder.

Exchange Rate Information

We have published our financial statements in RMB. Our business is primarily conducted in China in RMB. The conversion of RMB into U.S. dollars in this annual report is based on the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For your convenience, this annual report contains translations of some RMB or U.S. dollar amounts for 2005 at US$1.00 : RMB8.0702, which was the noon buying rate in effect as of December 31, 2005. The prevailing rate at June 15, 2006 was US$1.00 : RMB7.9990. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated below, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade.

The following table sets forth information concerning exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar for the periods indicated. These rates are provided solely for your convenience and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this annual report or will use in the preparation of our periodic reports or any other information to be provided to you. The source of these rates is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

     Noon Buying Rate

Period

   Period End    Average(1)    Low    High
     (RMB per US$1.00)

2001

   8.2766    8.2770    8.2786    8.2676

2002

   8.2800    8.2770    8.2800    8.2669

2003

   8.2767    8.2772    8.2800    8.2765

2004

   8.2765    8.2768    8.2771    8.2765

2005

   8.0702    8.1826    8.2765    8.0702

2006

           

January

   8.0608    8.0654    8.0702    8.0596

February

   8.0415    8.0512    8.0616    8.0415

March

   8.0167    8.0350    8.0505    8.0167

April

   8.0165    8.0143    8.0248    8.0040

May

   8.0215    8.0131    8.0300    8.0005

June (through June 15)

   7.9990    8.0101    8.0225    7.9985

(1) Annual averages are calculated from month-end rates. Monthly averages are calculated using the average of the daily rates during the relevant period.

 

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B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not Applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not Applicable.

D. Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Company

A slow-down of economic growth in China may adversely affect our growth and profitability.

Our business and operations are primarily based in China and almost all of our revenues are derived from our operations in China. Accordingly, our financial results have been, and are expected to continue to be, affected by the growth in the economy and travel industry in China. Although the economy in China has grown significantly in the past decades, we cannot assure you that growth will continue or that any slow-down will not have a negative effect on our business. Any slow-down of economic growth in China could reduce expenditures for travel, which in turn may adversely affect our operating results and financial condition.

Declines or disruptions in the travel industry generally could reduce our revenue.

A large part of our business is currently driven by the trends that occur in the travel industry in China, including the hotel, airline and packaged-tour sectors. As the travel industry is highly sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels, it tends to decline during general economic downturns. In addition, other adverse trends or events that tend to reduce travel and are likely to reduce our revenues include:

 

    an outbreak of avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or any other serious contagious diseases;

 

    increased prices in the hotel, airline, or other travel-related industries;

 

    increased occurrence of travel-related accidents;

 

    natural disasters or poor weather conditions; and

 

    terrorist attacks or threats of terrorist attacks or wars.

 

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We could be severely affected by declines or disruptions in the travel industry and in many cases, have little or no control over those changes.

The trading price of our ADSs has been volatile historically and may continue to be volatile regardless of our operating performance.

The trading price of our ADSs has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations. During the year of 2005, the trading prices of our ADSs on the Nasdaq ranged from $18.07 to $33.35 per ADS and the closing sale price on June 15, 2006 was $48.72 per ADS. The price of our ADSs may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, such as quarterly variations in operating results; new governmental restrictions or regulations relating to our business markets; conditions or trends in the online travel and e-commerce industries; changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts; the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us; and news reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic conditions.

In addition, the stock market in general, and the market prices for Internet-related companies and companies with operation in China in particular, have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our ADSs, regardless of our operating performance. Additionally, volatility or a lack of positive performance in our stock price may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, all of whom have been granted stock options awards. See “—Risks Related to the Shares and ADSs — The market price for our ADSs may be volatile.”

If we are unable to maintain existing hotel suppliers, or establish new arrangements with hotel suppliers similar to those we currently have, our business may suffer.

If we are unable to maintain satisfactory relationships with our existing hotel suppliers, or if our hotel suppliers establish similar or more favorable relationships with our competitors, our operating results and our business would be harmed, because we would not have the necessary supply of hotel rooms or hotel rooms at satisfactory rates to meet the needs of our customers. Our business depends significantly upon our ability to contract with hotels in advance for the guaranteed availability of certain hotel rooms. We rely on hotel suppliers to provide us with rooms at discounted prices. However, our contracts with our hotel suppliers are not exclusive and most of the contracts must be renewed semi-annually or annually. We cannot assure you that our hotel suppliers will renew our contracts in the future on terms similar to those we currently have. Furthermore, in order to maintain and grow our business, we will need to establish new arrangements with hotels in our existing markets and in new markets. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify appropriate hotels or enter into arrangements with those hotels on favorable terms, if at all. This failure could harm the growth of our business and adversely affect our operating results and financial condition, which consequently will impact the price of our ADSs.

 

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If we are unable to maintain existing arrangements with our airline ticket suppliers, our business may be harmed.

We derive significant benefits, including revenues, from our arrangements with major domestic airlines in China and many international airlines operating flights originating from China. Our airline ticket suppliers allow us to book and sell tickets on their behalf and collect commissions on tickets booked and sold through us. Although we currently have supply relationships with these airlines, these airlines also compete with us for ticket bookings and have entered into similar arrangements with many of our competitors and may continue to do so in the future. Such arrangements may be on better terms than we have. We cannot assure you that any of these airlines will continue to have supplier relationships with us. The loss of these supplier relationships would impair our operating results and financial condition as we would lose an increasingly significant source of our revenues.

If we fail to further increase our brand recognition, we may face difficulty in obtaining new business partners and consumers, and our business may be harmed.

We believe that establishing, maintaining and enhancing the Ctrip brand is a critical aspect of our efforts to grow our customer base and obtain new business partners. Some of our potential competitors already have well-established brands in the travel industry. The promotion of our brand will depend largely on our success in maintaining a sizeable and active customer base, providing high-quality customer service and organizing effective marketing and advertising programs. If our current customer base significantly declines, or the quality of our customer services substantially deteriorates, or if we fail to cost-effectively promote and maintain our brand, our business, operating results and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.

If we are unable to attract, train and retain key individuals and highly skilled employees, our business may be adversely affected.

If our business continues to expand, we will need to hire additional employees, including travel supplier management personnel to maintain and expand our travel supplier network, information technology and engineering personnel to maintain and expand our websites, customer service center and systems, and customer service representatives to serve an increasing number of customers. If we are unable to identify, attract, hire, train and retain sufficient employees in these areas, users of our websites and customer service center may have negative experience and turn to our competitors, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

New competitors face low entry barriers to our industry, and if we do not compete successfully against new and existing competitors, we may lose our market share, and our profitability may be adversely affected.

We compete primarily with other consolidators of hotel accommodations and flight reservation services based in China, such as eLong, Inc., which raised significant amount of funds in its initial public offering in 2004 and secured the financial backing of InterActiveCorp. We also compete with traditional travel agencies.

In the future, we may also face competition from new players in the hotel consolidation market in China and abroad that may enter China in the future. We may face

 

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more competition from hotels and airlines as they enter the discount rate market directly or through alliances with other travel consolidators. In addition, as more international travelers visit China, international travelers may become an increasingly important customer base. Competitors that have strategic alliance with consolidators aboard may have greater channels that will direct on-line booking to their websites for travel needs in China. Our industry is characterized by relatively low fixed costs. In addition, like all other consolidators, we do not have exclusive arrangements with our travel suppliers. The combination of these two factors presents potential entrants to our industry with relatively low entry barriers.

Increased competition could reduce our operating margins and profitability and result in loss of market share. Some of our existing and potential competitors may have competitive advantages, such as significantly greater financial, marketing and strategic relationships and alliances or other resources or name recognition, and may be able to imitate and adopt our business model. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully compete against new or existing competitors. In the event we are not able to compete successfully, our business will be materially and adversely affected.

Our limited operating history makes evaluating our business and prospects difficult.

We began our operations in 1999. As a result, we have a limited operating history for you to evaluate our business. It is also difficult to evaluate our prospective business, because we may not have sufficient experience to address the risks frequently encountered by early stage companies using new and unproven business models and entering new and rapidly evolving markets, including markets for online commerce and frequent independent travelers. These risks include our potential failure to:

 

    obtain new customers at reasonable cost, retain existing customers, encourage repeat purchases or convert visitors to our websites into customers;

 

    increase awareness of the Ctrip brand and continue to build user loyalty;

 

    retain existing hotels, airlines and other suppliers of travel services or expand our service offerings on satisfactory terms from our travel suppliers;

 

    adequately and efficiently operate, upgrade and develop the systems that we use to process customers’ reservations;

 

    maintain adequate control of our expenses;

 

    attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

    respond to technological changes; or

 

    respond to competitive market conditions.

If we are unsuccessful in addressing any of these risks, our business will be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Our business may be harmed if our infrastructure and technology are damaged or otherwise fail or become obsolete.

Our customer service center and substantially all of our computer and communications systems are located at a single facility in Shanghai and are therefore vulnerable to damage or interruption from human error, computer viruses, fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, physical or electronic break-ins, sabotage, vandalism, natural disasters and similar events. We currently do not have backup systems and do not carry business interruption insurance to compensate us for losses that may occur.

We use an internally developed booking software system that supports nearly all aspects of our booking transactions. Our business may be harmed if we are unable to upgrade our systems and infrastructure fast enough to accommodate future traffic levels, or to avoid obsolescence, or successfully integrate any newly developed or purchased technology with our existing system. Capacity constraints could cause unanticipated system disruptions, slower response times, poor customer service, impaired quality and speed of reservations and confirmations, and delays in reporting accurate financial and operating information. These factors could cause us to lose customers and suppliers, which will have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our key executives, and our business may be severely disrupted if we lose their services.

Our future success depends heavily upon the continued services of our key executives. We rely on their expertise in business operations, finance and travel services and on their relationships with our shareholders, suppliers and regulators. We do not maintain key-man life insurance for any of our key executives. If one or more of our key executives are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to easily replace them. Therefore, our business may be severely disrupted and we may incur additional expenses to recruit and train personnel, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

In addition, if any of these key executives joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers and suppliers. Each of our executive officers has entered into an employment agreement with us that contains confidentiality and non-competition provisions. If any disputes arise between our executive officers and us, we cannot assure you of the extent to which any of these agreements would be enforced in China, where most of these executive officers reside and hold most of their assets, in light of the uncertainties with China’s legal system. See “—The principal shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business” and “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign investment in the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision businesses, and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the application and implementation of PRC laws and regulations.

We are a Cayman Islands company and a foreign person under PRC law. Due to foreign ownership restrictions in the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision industries, we conduct part of our business through contractual arrangements with our affiliated Chinese entities. These entities hold the licenses and approvals that are essential for our business operations.

 

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In the opinion of our PRC counsel, our current ownership structure, the ownership structure of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and our affiliated Chinese entities, the contractual arrangements among us, our wholly-owned subsidiaries, our affiliated Chinese entities and their shareholders, and our business operations, as described in this report, are in compliance with existing PRC laws, rules and regulations. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that PRC government authorities will not ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel.

If we and our affiliated Chinese entities are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation, levying fines, confiscating our income, or the income of our affiliated Chinese entities, revoking our business licenses, or the business licenses of our affiliated Chinese entities, requiring us and our affiliated Chinese entities to restructure our ownership structure or operations, and requiring us or our affiliated Chinese entities to discontinue any portion or all of our Internet content provision, air- ticketing, travel agency or advertising businesses.

Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations, and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If our affiliated Chinese entities violate our contractual arrangements with them, our business could be disrupted, our reputation may be harmed and we may have to resort to litigation to enforce our rights which may be time-consuming and expensive.

As the PRC government restricts foreign ownership of Internet content provision, air-ticketing, travel agency and advertising businesses in China, we depend on our affiliated Chinese entities, in which we have no ownership interest, to conduct part of our non- hotel reservation business activities through a series of contractual arrangements, which are intended to provide us with effective control over these entities. Although we have been advised by our PRC counsel that these contractual arrangements are valid, binding and enforceable under current PRC laws, these arrangements are not as effective in providing control as direct ownership of these businesses. For example, our affiliated Chinese entities could violate our contractual arrangements with them by, among other things, failing to operate our air-ticketing, packaged-tour or advertising business in an acceptable manner. In any such event, we would have to rely on the PRC legal system for the enforcement of those agreements, which could be uncertain. Any legal proceeding could result in the disruption of our business, damage to our reputation, diversion of our resources and incurrence of substantial costs. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

The principal shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business.

Our director, Qi Ji, and our officers, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu, are also the principal shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities. Thus, conflicts of interest between their duties

 

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to our company and our affiliated Chinese entities may arise. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, these persons will act entirely in our interests or that conflicts of interest will be resolved in our favor. In addition, these persons could violate their non-competition or employment agreements with us or their legal duties by diverting business opportunities from us to others, resulting in our loss of corporate opportunities. In any such event, we would have to rely on the PRC legal system for the enforcement of these agreements, which could be uncertain. Any legal proceeding could result in the disruption of our business, diversion of our resources and incurrence of substantial costs. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

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.

We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China and consulting and other fees paid to us by our affiliated Chinese entities. Current PRC regulations permit our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our subsidiaries in China are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Further, if our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy our liquidity requirements.

The PRC government regulates the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet industries. If we fail to obtain or maintain all pertinent permits and approvals or if the PRC government imposes more restrictions on these industries, our business may be adversely affected.

The PRC government regulates the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet industries. We are required to obtain applicable permits or approvals from different regulatory authorities to conduct our business, including separate licenses for Internet content provision, air-ticketing, advertising and travel agency activities. If we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, we may be subject to various penalties, such as fines or suspension of operations in these regulated businesses, which could severely disrupt our business operations. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

In particular, the Civil Aviation Administration of China, or CAAC, regulates pricing of air tickets as well as commissions payable to air- ticketing agencies. If restrictive policies are adopted by CAAC or any of its regional branches, our air-ticketing revenues may be adversely affected.

 

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We may not be able to prevent others from using our intellectual property, which may harm our business and expose us to litigation.

We regard our domain names, trade names, trademarks and similar intellectual property as critical to our success. We try to protect our intellectual property rights by relying on trademark protection and confidentiality laws and contracts. The trademark and confidentiality protection in China may not be as effective in the United States. Policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive.

The steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our proprietary technology. Any misappropriation could have a negative effect on our business and operating results. Furthermore, we may need to go to court to enforce our intellectual property rights. Litigation relating to our intellectual property might result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.”

Our business could suffer if we do not successfully manage current growth and potential future growth.

Our business has grown rapidly during the last several years. We have rapidly expanded our operations and anticipate further expansion of our operations and workforce. Our growth to date has placed, and our anticipated future operations will continue to place, a significant strain on our management, systems and resources. In addition to training and managing our workforce, we will need to continue to improve and develop our financial and managerial controls and our reporting systems and procedures. We cannot assure you that we will be able to efficiently or effectively manage the growth of our operations, and any failure to do so may limit our future growth and hamper our business strategy.

Future acquisitions may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business.

Selective acquisitions form part of our strategy to further expand our business. If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire additional complementary companies, products or technologies. Future acquisitions and the subsequent integration of new companies into ours would require significant attention from our management. The diversion of our management’s attention and any difficulties encountered in any integration process could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business. Future acquisitions would expose us to potential risks, including risks associated with the assimilation of new operations, technologies and personnel, unforeseen or hidden liabilities, the diversion of resources from our existing businesses and technologies, inability to complete acquisitions, inability to realize anticipated benefits, failure to commercialize purchased technologies, inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions, and potential loss of, or harm to, relationships with employees, customers and suppliers as a result of integration of new businesses.

We may need additional capital and we may not be able to obtain it.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for the foreseeable future. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future

 

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developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If these resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

We rely on services from third parties to carry out our business and to deliver our products to customers, and if there is any interruption or deterioration in the quality of these services, our customers may not continue using our services.

We rely on third-party computer systems to host our websites, as well as third-party licenses for some of the software underlying our technology platform. In addition, we rely on third-party air-ticketing agencies to issue air tickets, confirmations and deliveries in some cities in China. Any interruption in our ability to obtain the products or services of these or other third parties or deterioration in their performance could impair the timing and quality of our own service. If our service providers fail to deliver air tickets in a timely manner to our customers, our services will not meet the expectations of our customers and our reputation and brand will be damaged. Furthermore, if our arrangements with any of these third parties are terminated, we may not find an alternate source of support on a timely basis or on terms as advantageous to us.

If our hotel suppliers or customers provide us with untrue information regarding our customers’ stay, our commission income and revenues may decrease.

A substantial portion of our revenues is represented by commissions which hotels pay us for room nights booked through us. Generally, we do not receive payment from our customers on behalf of our hotel suppliers, as our customers pay hotels directly. To confirm whether a customer adheres to the booked itinerary, we routinely make inquiries with the hotel and, occasionally, with the customer. We rely on the hotel and the customer to give us truthful information regarding the customer’s check-in and check-out dates, which information forms the basis for calculating the commission we are entitled to receive from the hotel. If our hotel suppliers or customers provide us with untrue information with respect to our customers’ length of stay at the hotels, we would not be able to recognize revenue to which we are entitled. In addition, using such untrue information may lead to inaccurate business projections and plans, which may adversely affect our business planning and strategy.

As we gradually expand into the merchant business, we may suffer losses if we are unable to predict the amount of inventory we will need to purchase.

We have gradually established limited merchant business relationships with selected travel service suppliers, particularly for our packaged-tour products. In the merchant business relationship, we buy hotel rooms and/or air tickets before selling them to our customers and thereby incur inventory risk. If we are unable to correctly predict demand for hotel rooms and air tickets that we are committed to purchase, we would be responsible for covering the cost of the hotel rooms and air tickets we are unable to sell, and our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.

 

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If tax benefits available to our subsidiaries in China are reduced or repealed, our results of operations could suffer.

Pursuant to applicable tax laws in China, companies established in China are generally subject to an enterprise income tax, or EIT, at a statutory rate of 33%. Our subsidiary, Ctrip Computer Technology, is currently entitled to a 15% EIT rate because it has been classified as a “new and high-technology enterprise.” In addition, our subsidiary, Ctrip Travel Information, is currently entitled to a 15% EIT rate due to its registration in the Pudong Economic Development Zone, which rate is further reduced by 50% for each of the years from 2005 to 2007 because it has been classified as a “software enterprise.” Our subsidiaries’ eligibility for the preferential tax treatment is subject to annual re-assessment by relevant government authorities. There is no assurance that our subsidiaries in China will continue to receive such or any other preferential tax treatment. If our subsidiaries are required to pay the statutory rate of 33% or other similar rate as a result of the PRC government’s change of applicable policies, our results of operations would be adversely affected.

We may be subject to additional business tax for our hotel reservation services.

Some of our hotel reservation services customers prepay for their expected hotel stays. They pay us the entire amount of hotel charges before checking in. As a result, we issue them invoices representing the entire amount of their expected hotel charges. Although we recognize as revenue only our hotel commissions, we cannot assure that, in these cases, the PRC tax authorities will not deem the entire invoiced amount as our revenue and impose business tax on such amount. Payment of business tax on the full amounts represented by these invoices may have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We have sustained losses in the past and may experience earnings declines or net losses in the future.

We sustained net losses in the periods prior to 2002. We cannot assure you that we can sustain profitability or avoid net losses in the future. We expect that our operating expenses will increase and the degree of increase in these expenses will be largely based on anticipated organizational growth and revenue trends. As a result, any decrease or delay in generating additional sales volume and revenue could result in substantial operating losses.

We may be subject to litigation for information provided on our websites, which may be time-consuming to defend.

Our websites contain information about hotels, flights, popular vacation destinations and other travel-related topics. It is possible that if any information, accessible on our websites, contains errors or false or misleading information, third parties could take action against us for losses incurred in connection with the use of such information. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming and costly to defend, result in litigation and divert management’s attention and resources.

 

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We could be liable for breaches of security on our websites and fraudulent transactions by users of our websites.

We conduct a portion of our transactions through our websites. In such transactions, secured transmission of confidential information (such as customers’ itineraries, hotel and other reservation information, credit card information, personal information and billing addresses) over public networks is essential to maintain consumer and supplier confidence. Our current security measures may not be adequate. Security breaches could expose us to litigation and possible liability for failing to secure confidential customer or supplier information and could harm our reputation and ability to attract customers.

The recurrence of SARS and other similar outbreaks such as avian flu may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results.

In early 2003, several regions in Asia, including Hong Kong and China, were affected by the outbreak of SARS. The travel industry in China, Hong Kong and some other parts of Asia suffered tremendously as a result of the outbreak of SARS. Although none of our employees was infected with SARS, our business and operating results were adversely affected. Since 2005 there have been reports on the occurrences of avian flu in various parts of China, including a few confirmed human cases.

A recurrence of an outbreak of SARS or any similar outbreak of other contagious diseases such as avian flu may adversely affect our business and operating results. Ongoing concerns regarding SARS, avian flu or any other contagious disease, particularly its effect on travel, could negatively impact our China-based customers’ desire to travel. If there is a recurrence of an outbreak of SARS or any similar outbreak of other contagious diseases such as avian flu, travel to and from disease-affected regions could be curtailed. Continued or additional restrictions on travel to and from these and other regions on account of outbreak of any contagious disease could have a material and adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Our quarterly results are likely to fluctuate because of seasonality in the travel industry in China.

Our business experiences fluctuations, reflecting seasonal variations in demand for travel services. For example, the first quarter of each year generally contributes the lowest portion of our annual net revenues primarily due to a slowdown in business activity around and during the Chinese New Year holiday, which occurs during the period. Consequently, our revenues may fluctuate from quarter to quarter.

We have limited business insurance coverage in China.

The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. Insurance companies in China offer limited business insurance products. As a result, we do not have any business liability or disruption insurance coverage for our operations in China. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster might result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and have a material and adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

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We face a greater risk of doubtful accounts as our corporate travel business increases in scale.

As we have recently begun to provide travel booking services to corporate customers which generally request credit terms, we expect our accounts receivable to increase. We cannot assure you that we will be able to collect payment fully and in a timely manner on our outstanding accounts receivable from our corporate travel service customers. As a result, we may face a greater risk of non-payments in our accounts receivable and, when our corporate travel business grows in scale, we may need to make increased provisions for doubtful accounts. Our operating results and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to successfully manage our accounts receivable.

As we must account for employee share options using the fair value method beginning from 2006, such accounting treatment could significantly reduce our net income.

Beginning in 2006, we are required to account for share-based compensation in accordance with recently issued FASB Statement No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, which requires a public company to recognize, as an expense, the fair value of share options and other share-based compensation to employees based on the vesting terms of the share-based awards. Historically, we recorded share-based compensation to the extent that the fair value of the shares on the date of grant exceeded the exercise price of the option. Beginning in 2006, we could have ongoing accounting charges significantly greater than those we would have recorded under our prior method of accounting for share options.

Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could have a material and adverse effect on the trading price of our ADSs.

We are subject to the reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on the effectiveness of such companies’ internal control over financial reporting in its annual report. In addition, an independent registered public accounting firm for a public company must attest to and report on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our company’s internal control over financial reporting. These requirements will first apply to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006. Management may not conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may still decline to attest to our management’s assessment or may issue a report that is qualified if such firm is not satisfied with our internal control over financial reporting or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if such firm interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, during the course of such evaluation, documentation and testing, we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to remedy in time to meet the deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Moreover, effective internal controls, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent fraud. As a result, any failure to achieve and maintain effective

 

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internal control over financial reporting could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could negatively impact the trading price of our ADSs. Furthermore, we may need to incur significant costs and use significant management and other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other requirements.

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government could have a material and adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could adversely affect our business.

Substantially all of our business operations are conducted in China. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are subject to a significant degree to economic, political and legal developments in China. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 20 years, growth has been uneven across different regions and among various economic sectors of China. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic development and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. Since early 2004, the PRC government has implemented certain measures to control the pace of economic growth. Such measures may cause a decrease in the level of economic activity in China, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Future movements in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and RMB may adversely affect the value of our ADSs.

The value of RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximately 2.5% appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2005. While the international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar.

Our revenues and costs are mostly denominated in RMB, while a significant portion of our financial assets are denominated in U.S. dollars. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. Any significant revaluation of RMB or U.S. dollar may adversely affect our cash flows, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs. For

 

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example, an appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would make any new RMB denominated investments or expenditures more costly to us, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for such purposes. An appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would also result in foreign currency translation losses for financial reporting purposes when we translate our U.S. dollar denominated financial assets into RMB, as RMB is our reporting currency.

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use our revenues effectively.

Because substantially all of our revenues are in the form of RMB, any restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to use revenue generated in RMB to fund our business activities outside China or to make dividend payments in U.S. dollars. The principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in China is the Foreign Currency Administration Rules (1996), as amended. Under the Rules, RMB is freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for direct investment, loan or investment in securities outside China unless the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China is obtained. Although the PRC government regulations now allow greater convertibility of RMB for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain. For example, foreign exchange transactions under our subsidiaries’ capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, remain subject to significant foreign exchange controls and the approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures. We cannot be certain that the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose more stringent restrictions on the convertibility of RMB, especially with respect to foreign exchange transactions.

Recent PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability and limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our subsidiary’s ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us.

SAFE issued a public notice in October 2005 requiring PRC residents to register with the local SAFE branch before establishing or controlling any company outside of China for the purpose of capital financing, referred to in the notice as a “special purpose offshore company.” PRC residents that are shareholders of special purpose offshore companies established before November 1, 2005 were required to register with the local SAFE branch before March 31, 2006.

We have notified beneficial owners of our company who we know are PRC residents to register with the local SAFE branch as required under the new SAFE notice. The failure or inability of beneficial owners of our company resident in the PRC to comply with the registration procedures set forth therein may subject such beneficial owners to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute profits to our company or otherwise adversely affect our business.

 

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Online payment systems in China are at an early stage of development and may restrict our ability to expand our online commerce service business.

Online payment systems in China are at an early stage of development. Although major Chinese banks are instituting online payment systems, these systems are not as widely available or acceptable to consumers in China as in the United States and other developed countries. In addition, only a limited number of consumers in China have credit cards or debit cards, relative to countries like the United States. The lack of adequate online payment systems may limit the number of online commerce transactions that we can service. If online payment services do not develop, our ability to grow our online commerce business may be limited.

The Internet market has not been proven as an effective commercial medium in China.

The market for Internet products and services in China has only recently begun to develop. The Internet penetration rate in China is lower than those in the United States and other developed countries. Since the Internet is an unproven medium for commerce in China, our future operating results from online services will depend substantially upon the increased use and acceptance of the Internet for distribution of products and services and facilitation of commerce in China.

The Internet may not become a viable commercial marketplace in China for various reasons in the foreseeable future. More salient impediments to Internet development in China include:

 

    consumer dependence on traditional means of commerce;

 

    inexperience with the Internet as a sales and distribution channel;

 

    inadequate development of the necessary infrastructure to facilitate online commerce;

 

    concerns about security, reliability, cost, ease of deployment, administration and quality of service associated with conducting business over the Internet;

 

    inexperience with credit card usage or with other means of electronic payment; and

 

    limited use of personal computers.

If the Internet is not widely accepted as a medium for online commerce in China, our ability to grow our online business would be impeded.

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.

We conduct our business primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiaries incorporated in China. Our subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China and, in particular, laws applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. In addition, we depend on several affiliated Chinese entities in China to honor their service agreements with us. Almost all of these agreements are governed by PRC law and disputes arising out of these agreements are expected to be decided by

 

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arbitration in China. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since the PRC legal system is still evolving, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties, which may limit remedies available to us. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

We have attempted to comply with the PRC government regulations regarding licensing requirements by entering into a series of agreements with our affiliated Chinese entities. If the PRC laws and regulations change, our business in China may be adversely affected.

To comply with the PRC government regulations regarding licensing requirements, we have entered into a series of agreements with our affiliated Chinese entities to exert our operational control over them and secure consulting fees and other payments from them. Although we have been advised by our PRC counsel that our arrangements with our affiliated Chinese entities are valid under current PRC law and regulations, we cannot assure you that we will not be required to restructure our organization structure and operations in China to comply with changing and new PRC laws and regulations. Restructuring of our operations may result in disruption of our business, diversion of management attention and the incurrence of substantial costs.

Our contractual arrangements with our affiliated Chinese entities may result in adverse tax consequences to us.

If the PRC tax authorities were to determine that the contractual arrangements between Ctrip Computer Technology and our affiliated Chinese entities were not made on an arm’s length basis and constituted a favorable transfer pricing, they could request that our affiliated Chinese entities make an upward adjustment to their respective taxable income for PRC income tax purposes, pay penalties for past underpayment of taxes, or terminate Ctrip Computer Technology’s preferential tax treatment. Any of these measures may result in adverse tax consequences to us and adversely affect our results of operations.

The continued growth of Chinese Internet market depends on the establishment of an adequate telecommunications infrastructure.

Although private sector Internet service providers currently exist in China, almost all access to the Internet is maintained through state-owned telecommunication operation under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of China’s Ministry of Information Industry. In addition, the national networks in China connect to the Internet through government-controlled international gateways. These international gateways are the only channels through which a domestic Chinese user can connect to the international Internet network. We rely on this infrastructure, China Telecom and China Netcom to provide data communications capacity primarily through local telecommunications lines. Although the government has announced plans to develop aggressively the national information infrastructure, we cannot assure you that this infrastructure will be developed. In addition, we will have no access to alternative networks and services, on a timely basis if at all, in the event of any infrastructure disruption or failure. The Internet infrastructure in China may not support the demands associated with continued growth in Internet usage.

 

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Risks Related to the Shares and ADSs

The future sales by our existing shareholders of a substantial number of our ADSs in the public market could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

If our existing shareholders sell substantial amounts of our ADSs, including those issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market, the market price of our ADSs could fall. Such sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. In particular, our largest shareholder, Rakuten, Inc., has right to demand us to register part or all of its shares at any time and sell them subsequently. Any future sales of a substantial number of our ADSs in the public market could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

The market price for our ADSs may be volatile.

The market price for our ADSs is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;

 

    announcements of new services by us or our competitors;

 

    changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;

 

    conditions in the Internet, online commerce or travel industries;

 

    changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other Internet, online commerce or travel companies;

 

    changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other companies that focus on the China market;

 

    announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

 

    additions or departures of key personnel; and

 

    potential litigation.

In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our ADSs.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and our ability to protect our rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and by the Companies Law (2004 Revision) and common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman

 

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Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and provides significantly less protection to investors. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulties in protecting their interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action before the federal courts of the United States. As a result, we may not be able to protect our interests if we are harmed in a manner that would otherwise enable us to sue in a United States federal court.

Your ability to bring an action against us or against our directors and officers, or to enforce a judgment against us or them, will be limited because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, because we conduct a substantial portion of our operations in China and because the majority of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States.

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and we conduct a substantial portion of our operations in China through our wholly- owned subsidiaries and several affiliated Chinese entities in China. Most of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and most of the assets of those persons are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in China in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.

You may not be able to exercise your right to vote.

As a holder of ADSs, you may instruct the depositary of our ADSs to vote the shares underlying your ADSs but only if we ask the depositary to ask for your instructions. Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.

Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.

We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make rights available to you in the United States unless we register the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Also, under the deposit agreement, the depositary bank will not make rights available to you those rights unless the distribution to ADS holders of both the rights and any related securities are either registered under the Securities Act, or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We are under

 

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no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in your holdings.

You may not receive distributions on ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to you.

The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. We have no obligation to register ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under U.S. securities laws. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive the distribution we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may have a material and adverse effect on the value of your ADSs.

You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.

Your ADSs represented by the ADRs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary thinks it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.

The sale, deposit, cancellation and transfer of the ADSs issued after exercise of rights may be restricted.

If we offer holders of our ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for additional shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights available to you. However, the depositary may allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them. In addition, U.S. securities laws may restrict the sale, deposit, cancellation and transfer of the ADSs issued after exercise of rights. However, we cannot make rights available to you in the United States unless we register the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act of 1933 or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Also, under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not distribute rights to holders of ADSs unless the distribution and sale of rights and the securities to which these rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs, or are registered under the provisions of the Securities Act. We can give no assurance that we can establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to these rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have a registration statement declared effective. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of your holdings as a result.

 

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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A. History and Development of the Company

We commenced our business in June 1999. In March 2000, we established a new holding company, Ctrip.com International, Ltd., in the Cayman Islands as an exempt company with limited liability under the Cayman Islands Companies Law, and soon thereafter, all of the shareholders of Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited transferred their shares to the holding company in exchange for shares of the holding company and Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited became our wholly-owned subsidiary.

Since our inception, we have conducted substantially all of our operations in China. We operate as a foreign investment enterprise in China through the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:

 

    Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or Ctrip Computer Technology;

 

    Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or Ctrip Travel Information; and

 

    Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or Ctrip Travel Network.

We also conduct part of our business in China through the following affiliated Chinese entities:

 

    Beijing Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Beijing Chenhao Xinye Air-Ticketing Service Co., Ltd.), or Beijing Ctrip, which holds domestic travel agency and air transport sales agency licenses;

 

    Shanghai Ctrip Commerce Co., Ltd., or Ctrip Commerce, which holds advertising and Internet content provider licenses;

 

    Guangzhou Ctrip Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Guangzhou Guangcheng Commercial Service Co., Ltd.), or Guangzhou Ctrip, which holds domestic travel agency and air transport sales agency licenses;

 

    Shanghai Huacheng Southwest Travel Agency Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Huacheng, which holds domestic travel agency and air transport sales agency license;

 

    Shanghai Ctrip Charming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Shanghai Cuiming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd), or Shanghai Ctrip Charming, which holds domestic and cross-border travel agency licenses; and

 

    Shenzhen Shencheng Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen Shencheng, which holds an air transport sales agency license.

 

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In March 2006, we formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, C-Travel International Limited, an exempted company with limited liability incorporated in the Cayman Islands, in connection with our investment in a minority stake in ezTravel Co., Ltd., a leading online travel service provider in Taiwan.

We formed Home Inns & Hotels Management (Hong Kong) Limited, or Home Inns, in 2001 to expand our business to include the hotel management service. Through a series of subsequent transactions, we reduced our interest in Home Inns to 31.16%. We spun off our remaining interest in Home Inns in August 2003 to focus on our core business of travel consolidation.

Our principal executive offices are located at 3F, Building 63-64, No. 421 Hong Cao Road, Shanghai 200233, People’s Republic of China, and our telephone number is (8621) 3406-4880.

B. Business Overview

We are a leading consolidator of hotel accommodations and air tickets in China. We aggregate information on hotels and flights and enable our customers to make informed and cost-effective hotel and flight bookings. We also sell packaged-tours that include transportation and accommodations. Since commencing operations in 1999, we have become one of the best-known travel brands in China. We pioneered the development of a reservation and fulfillment infrastructure that enables our customers to:

 

    choose and reserve hotel rooms in cities throughout China and selected cities abroad;

 

    book and purchase air tickets for domestic and international flights originating from China; and

 

    choose and reserve packaged-tours that include transportation and accommodations.

We target our services primarily at business and leisure travelers in China who do not travel in groups. This type of travelers, who are referred to in the travel industry as FITs and whom we refer to as independent travelers in this report, is a traditionally under-served yet fast-growing customer base in the China travel market. We act as agent in substantially all of our transactions and generally do not take any inventory risks with respect to the hotel rooms and air tickets booked through us. We derive our hotel reservation, air-ticketing and packaged-tour revenues mainly through commissions from hotels (primarily based on the transaction value of the rooms), air tickets and packaged-tour products, respectively, booked through our services.

We believe that we are the largest consolidator of hotel accommodations in China in terms of the number of room nights booked. We sold approximately 5.5 million hotel room nights in 2005. As of December 31, 2005, we had room supplier relationships with approximately 3,400 hotels in China and approximately 2,000 hotels abroad, which cover a broad range of hotels in terms of price, categories and geographic location. We believe our ability to offer reservations at highly rated hotels (three stars and above) is particularly attractive to our customers.

 

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The majority of our hotel suppliers fall into the three-, four- and five-star categories. Revenues from our bookings for three-, four- and five-star hotels comprised more than 90% of our revenues from our hotel reservation business in 2005.

We also believe that we are the largest consolidator of air tickets in China in terms of the number of air tickets booked and sold. We sold approximately 3.7 million tickets in 2005. Our airline ticket suppliers include all major Chinese airlines and many international airlines that operate flights originating from China. We are among the few airline ticket consolidators in China that maintain a centralized reservation system and ticket fulfillment infrastructure covering substantially all of major cities, destinations and airports of China. Our customers can make flight reservations on their chosen routes and arrange ticket payment and delivery through us directly or third-party agencies located in many major cities in China.

We offer our services to customers through an advanced transaction and service platform consisting of our centralized toll-free, 24 hour customer service center and bilingual websites. In 2005, transactions effected through our customer service center accounted for approximately 70% of our transaction volume.

Our revenues are primarily generated from the hotel reservation, air-ticketing and packaged-tour services. For information on revenues attributable to our different products, see Item 5.A.”—Results of Operations—Revenues.”

Products and Services

We began offering hotel reservation and air-ticketing services in October 1999. In 2005, we derived 65% of our revenues from the hotel reservation business and 29% of our revenues from the air-ticketing business. In addition, we offer other products and services including packaged-tours, mostly bundled by us, that cover hotel, air tickets and transportation.

Hotel Reservations. Our hotel booking volume has increased substantially since our inception. The following table shows the total room nights we sold for the periods indicated.

 

     For Quarters Ended
     March 31,
2004
   June 30,
2004
   September 30,
2004
   December 31,
2004
   March 31,
2005
   June 30,
2005
   September 30,
2005
   December 31,
2005
     (in thousands)

Room Nights

   850    1,050    1,130    1,190    1,100    1,390    1,440    1,520

We act as agent in substantially all of our hotel-related transactions. Our customers receive confirmed bookings and generally pay the hotels directly upon completion of their stays, and in general, we pay no penalty to the hotels if our customers do not check in. For some of our hotel suppliers, we earn pre-negotiated fixed commissions on hotel rooms we sell. For other hotels, we have commission arrangements that we refer to as the “ratchet system,” whereby our commission rate per room night is adjusted upward with the increase in the volume of room nights we sell for such hotel during such month.

We contract with hotels for rooms under two agency models, the “guaranteed allotment” model and the “on-request” model. Under our agreements with our hotel suppliers,

 

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hotels are generally required to offer us prices that are lower than their published prices, and notify us in advance if they have promotional sales, so that we can lower our prices accordingly.

In addition to the agreements that we enter into with all of our hotel suppliers, we enter into a supplemental agreement with each of the hotel suppliers with which we have a guaranteed allotment arrangement. Pursuant to this agreement, a hotel guarantees us a specified number of available rooms every day, allowing us to provide instant confirmations on such rooms to our customers before notifying the hotel. The hotel is required to notify us in advance if it will not be able to make the guaranteed rooms available to our customers due to reasons beyond its control.

As of December 31, 2005, we had contracted with approximately 3,400 hotels in China, of which approximately 1,500 hotels have guaranteed room allotments, allowing us to sell rooms to our customers even during peak seasons and provide instant confirmation. Rooms booked in hotels with which we have a guaranteed allotment arrangement currently account for a majority of our total hotel room transaction volume. With the remaining hotel suppliers, we book rooms on an “on-request” basis, meaning our ability to secure hotel rooms for our customers is subject to room availability at the time of booking. Our business development team continues to try to increase guarantee room allotment arrangements with our travel suppliers.

Air-ticketing. We believe that we are the largest consolidator of air tickets in China in terms of the number of air tickets booked and sold. We have experienced a significant growth in our air-ticketing business in recent years. The following chart shows the air tickets we sold for the periods indicated.

 

     For Quarters Ended
     March 31,
2004
   June 30,
2004
   September 30,
2004
   December 31,
2004
   March 31,
2005
   June 30,
2005
   September 30,
2005
   December 31,
2005
     (in thousands)

Number of air tickets sold

   310    380    490    540    680    800    1,020    1,170

We sell air tickets for all major domestic Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines and many international airlines operating flights that originate from cities in China, such as United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Air Canada, DragonAir and Lufthansa.

In air-ticketing transactions, a customer generally pays the ticket delivery agent upon delivery of the ticket. The customer also has the option of picking up a ticket at the ticketing office or, for certain flights, obtaining an electronic ticket. Generally, the customer pays a penalty to the airline if he or she cancels the ticket for the flight. We offer electronic ticketing, or E-ticketing, services to our customers for flights on major domestic airlines such as Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. We believe that E-ticketing allows our consumers to book air tickets and complete their trips more conveniently. In addition, we believe that E-ticketing allows us to execute air-ticketing transactions more efficiently. The airline industry, including airline ticket pricing, is regulated by CAAC. Therefore, we have no discretion in offering discounts on the air tickets we sell. Our commission rate per ticket generally has increased as the total number of tickets we sell for an airline increases.

 

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Packaged-tour. We offer independent leisure travelers bundled packaged-tour products, which include both air-ticketing and hotel reservations. Our packaged-tour products cover a variety of domestic and international destinations.

Other Products and Services. We offer travel-related businesses and other third parties the opportunity to advertise on our websites. We sell travel guidebooks, which provide useful information for independent travelers. We sell VIP membership cards that allow cardholders to enjoy certain priority in obtaining our services and receive discounts from many restaurants, clubs and bars in many cities in China. We also offer these membership cards free of charge to some of our customers who have purchased a certain amount of travel services from us. Other products and services accounted for a small portion of our total revenue in 2005.

Transaction and Service Platform

Our customers can reach us for their travel-related needs through either our toll-free customer service center or our bilingual websites located at www.ctrip.com and www.gotochina.com. In 2005, transactions executed through our customer service center and websites account for approximately 70% and 30%, respectively, of our total transactions.

Customer Service Center. Our centralized toll-free customer service center is located in Shanghai, China and is operated 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Customers can call our nationwide toll free number to consult with our customer service representatives, receive comprehensive, real-time hotel, flight and packaged-tour information and make travel bookings.

As of December 31, 2005, we employed approximately 1,500 customer service representatives, all of whom participated in a formal training program before commencing work. Unlike some companies in the United States that outsource their customer service to third-party call centers, our customer service representatives are in-house travel specialists.

At our technically advanced facility, we have implemented comprehensive performance measures to monitor our calls to ensure that our customers will receive quality service. We believe we have sufficient capacity to meet the currently anticipated increases in call volume. Nevertheless, if we exceed this capacity, we believe we can add, within a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost, additional phone lines, computer systems and customer service representatives to handle increasing call volumes without the need to undertake system redesign to our existing systems.

Internet Websites. We have a Chinese-language website located at www.ctrip.com and an English-language website located at www.gotochina.com. Our proprietary booking software is integrated with our websites, allowing a customer to complete a booking within minutes. In addition, our customers can use our editorial content for researching destinations and travel tips.

 

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Marketing and Brand Awareness

Through on-site promotions, cross-marketing, online marketing, advertising and our customer reward program, we have created a strong Ctrip brand that is commonly associated in China with value travel products and services and superior customer service. We will continue to use our focused marketing strategy to further enhance Ctrip’s brand awareness and acquire new customers.

On-Site Promotions. We have on-site promotion staff in more than 40 major cities in China. Our staff distributes membership cards and introductory brochures at various locations including airports and train and bus stations. To date, our on-site promotions have proven to be an effective marketing channel for us.

Cross-Marketing. We have entered into cross-marketing relationships with major Chinese domestic airlines, wireless service providers, financial institutions, and other corporations.

Our airline partners recommend our products and services to their mileage program members, and allow their members to accumulate miles by staying at hotels booked through us. Our wireless service provider partners direct their subscribers requesting travel information to our customer service center through automatic call forwarding, or to our websites through an Internet link on their websites. In addition, our bank partners recommend our products and services to their debit or credit card holders, and we allow their debit or credit card holders to use their cards to settle their payments for travel products purchased from us. In September 2004, we and China Merchants Bank jointly launched a dual-currency travel credit card through which holders of the credit card may book hotels, air tickets and packaged-tour products with us, and settle the payments in either RMB or U.S. dollars. The credit card holder is also entitled to certain VIP membership privileges with us. Total number of holders of this dual-currency travel credit card exceeded 600,000 as of the end of 2005. This is one of the joint-launching credit cards that have the largest number of holders in China.

Online Marketing. We have paid many of the leading Internet search engines and portals in China to prominently feature our websites.

Advertising. We advertise in top tier newspapers, radio broadcasting and traffic hubs in China’s major cities where we have a sales team. Based on our experience, this is an effective advertising method for increasing brand awareness and attracting new customers.

Customer Reward Program. To secure our customers’ loyalty and further promote our Ctrip brand, we provide our customers with a customer reward program. This program allows our customers to accumulate membership points calculated according to the services purchased by the customers. Our customers may then redeem these points for travel awards and other gifts.

Supplier Relationship Management

We have cultivated and maintained good relationships with our travel suppliers since our inception. We have a team of employees dedicated to enhance our relationship with existing travel suppliers and develop relationships with prospective travel suppliers.

 

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Furthermore, we have developed an electronic confirmation system that enables participating hotel suppliers to receive our customer’s reservation information and confirm such reservation through our online interface with the hotel supplier. We believe that the electronic confirmation system is a cost-effective and convenient way for hotels to interface with us. We have not had any material disputes with our travel suppliers with respect to the amount of commissions to which we were entitled.

Technology and Infrastructure

We believe that the quality of our technology differentiates us from our competitors in China. Our goal has been to build a reliable, scalable, updated and secure infrastructure to fully support our customer service center and website operations.

Since inception, we have supported substantial growth in our offline and online traffic and transactions with our present architecture. Our proprietary booking software is integrated with our websites and customer service center operations. Our hardware platform for the Internet consists of Hewlett-Packard servers. We have contracted with Avaya Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company and Dell Inc. for warranty services for our hardware platform. We maintain our databases on HP Superdome, HP RX4640, HP DL740, HP DL580, and conduct daily backup functions for off-site storage. We access the Internet backbone via two 100 megabit ethernet lines and another 20 megabit line for load balance and backup. Our customer service center operations are managed by an Avaya S8700 media server. We maintain all of our servers at our premises in Shanghai.

Competition

In the hotel consolidation market, we compete primarily with other consolidators of hotel accommodations, such as eLong, Inc., controlled by IAC/InterActiveCorp, which owns several online travel businesses, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire and the WWTE private label. We also compete with traditional travel agencies. We believe that the hotel room booking volume of our main competitors is significantly lower than ours. However, as the travel business in China continues to grow, we may face competition from new players in the hotel consolidation market in China and foreign travel consolidators that may enter the China market.

In the air-ticketing market, we compete primarily with other consolidators of air tickets with a multi-province airline ticket sales and fulfillment infrastructure in China, including eLong, Inc. In the markets where we face local competition, our competitors generally conduct ticketing transactions in person, and not over the Internet or through customer service centers. Many local air- ticketing agencies are primarily involved in the wholesale business and do not directly serve individual travelers, who are our targeted customers. However, as the airline ticket distribution business continues to grow in China, we believe that more companies involved in the travel services industry may develop their services that compete with our air-ticketing business.

 

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Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property rights include trademarks and domain names associated with the name “Ctrip” and copyright and other rights associated with our websites, technology platform, booking software and other aspects of our business. We regard our intellectual property as a factor contributing to our success, although we are not dependent on any patents, intellectual property related contracts or licenses other than some commercial software licenses available to the general public. We rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection, non-competition and confidentiality agreements with our employees to protect our intellectual property rights. We require our employees to enter into agreements to keep confidential all information relating to our customers, methods, business and trade secrets during and after their employment with us. Our employees are required to acknowledge and recognize that all inventions, trade secrets, works of authorship, developments and other processes made by them during their employment are our property.

We have registered our domain names www.ctrip.com and www.gotochina.com with www.register.com and www.opensrs.net, respectively, and the domain name www.ctrip.com.cn with China Internet Network Information Center, a domain name registration service in China, and have full legal rights over these domain names. We conduct our business under the Ctrip brand name and logo. We have registered the trademarks “Ctrip” and LOGO with the Trade Mark Office of the People’s Republic of China State General Administration for Industry and Commerce. We have also registered the trademark LOGO with the Registrar of Trade Marks in Hong Kong.

In 2005, LOGO was recognized as a “Famous Brand,” which was the highest recognition for consumer brands granted by the Shanghai municipal government.

PRC Government Regulations

Current PRC laws and regulations impose substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision businesses in China. As a result, we conduct these businesses in China through contractual arrangements with our affiliated PRC entities as well as certain independent air-ticketing agencies and travel agencies. Our director, Qi Ji, and our officers, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu, all of whom are PRC citizens, directly or indirectly own all or most of the equity in our affiliated Chinese entities.

According to our PRC counsel, Commerce & Finance Law Offices, the ownership structures, businesses and operations of our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China, as described in this report, comply with all existing PRC laws, rules and regulations.

Restrictions on Foreign Ownership

Air-ticketing. According to the Rules on Cognizance of Qualification for Civil Aviation Transporting Marketing Agencies (2006) and relevant foreign investment regulations regarding to civil aviation business, a foreign investor currently cannot own 100% of an air-ticketing agency in China. In addition, foreign invested air-ticketing agencies are not permitted to sell passenger tickets for domestic flights in China.

 

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Travel Agency. The principal regulation governing foreign ownership of travel agencies in China is the Establishment of Foreign-controlled and Wholly Foreign-owned Travel Agencies Tentative Provisions, as amended in February 2005. Currently, qualified foreign investors have been permitted to establish or own a travel agency upon the approval of the PRC government, subject to considerable restrictions as to its scope of business. For example, foreign travel agencies cannot arrange for the travel of persons from mainland China to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan or any other country. In addition, foreign travel agencies cannot establish branches.

Online Advertising. The principal regulations governing foreign ownership of advertising agencies in China are the Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue (2004) and the Administrative Regulations Concerning Foreign Invested Advertising Enterprises (2004). Under these regulations, prior to December 10, 2005, foreign investors (other than those qualified Hong Kong or Macau service providers which were permitted to own up to 100% of an advertising agency in China) were only allowed to own up to 70% of an advertising agency in China. Beginning on December 10, 2005, foreign investors are allowed to own 100% of an advertising agency in China subject to certain qualification requirements. However, for those advertising agencies who provide online advertising service, foreign ownership restrictions on the Internet content provision business are still applicable.

Internet Content Provision. The principal regulations governing foreign ownership of the Internet content provision business in China include:

 

    Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises (2001); and

 

    Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue (2004).

Under these regulations, a foreign entity is prohibited from owning more than 50% of a PRC entity that provides value-added telecommunications services, which includes Internet content provision services.

General Regulation of Businesses

Air-ticketing. The air-ticketing business is subject to the supervision of China National Aviation Transportation Association, or CNATA, and its regional branches. Prior to March 31, 2006, the principal regulation governing air-ticketing in China is the Administration on Civil Aviation Transporting Marketing Agency Business Regulations (1993). Currently the principal regulation governing air-ticketing in China is the Rules on Cognizance of Qualification for Civil Aviation Transporting Marketing Agencies (2006) which has taken effect since March 31, 2006.

Under these regulations, prior to May 19, 2005, an air-ticketing agency must obtain a permit from CAAC or its regional branch in every city in which the agency propose to conduct its air-ticketing business. On and after May 19, 2005, any entity that wishes to conduct the air-ticketing business in China must apply for an air-ticketing permit from CNATA. The regulations provide for a transitional grace period for air-ticketing agencies that have obtained a valid license from CAAC or its regional branch prior to the promulgation of the new rules. These agencies are permitted to use their original licenses until such licenses expire.

 

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Travel Agency. The travel industry is subject to the supervision of the China National Tourism Administration and local tourism administrations. The principal regulations governing travel agencies in China include:

 

    Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations (1996), as amended; and

 

    Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations Implementing Rules (2004).

Under these regulations, a travel agency must obtain a license from the China National Tourism Administration to conduct cross-border travel business, and a license from the provincial-level tourism administration to conduct domestic travel agency business.

Advertising. The State General Administration of Industry and Commerce is responsible for regulating advertising activities in China. The principal regulations governing advertising (including online advertising) in China include:

 

    Advertising Law (1994);

 

    Administration of Advertising Regulations (1987); and

 

    Implementing rules of the Administration of Advertising Regulations (2004).

Under these regulations, any entity conducting advertising activities must obtain an advertising permit from the local Administration of Industry and Commerce.

Internet Content Provision Service and Online Commerce. Our provision of travel-related content on our websites is subject to PRC laws and regulations relating to the telecommunications industry and Internet, and regulated by various government authorities, including the Ministry of Information Industry and the State General Administration of Industry and Commerce. The principal regulations governing the telecommunications industry and Internet include:

 

    Telecommunications Regulations (2000);

 

    The Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses (2001); and

 

    The Internet Information Services Administrative Measures (2000).

Under these regulations, Internet content provision services are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses, and a commercial operator of such services must obtain an Internet content provision license from the appropriate telecommunications authorities to conduct any commercial Internet content provision operations in China.

With respect to online commerce, there are no specific PRC laws at the national level governing online commerce or defining online commerce activities, and no government authority has been designated to regulate online commerce. There are existing regulations governing retail business that require companies to obtain licenses to engage in the business. However, it is unclear whether these existing regulations will be applied to online commerce.

 

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Regulation of Foreign Currency Exchange and Dividend Distribution

Foreign Currency Exchange. The principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in China is the Foreign Currency Administration Rules (1996), as amended. Under the Rules, RMB is freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for direct investment, loan or investment in securities outside China unless the prior approval of the State Administration for Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China is obtained.

Pursuant to the Foreign Currency Administration Rules, foreign investment enterprises in China may purchase foreign currency without the approval of the State Administration for Foreign Exchange of the PRC for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. They may also retain foreign exchange (subject to a cap approved by the State Administration for Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China) to satisfy foreign exchange liabilities or to pay dividends. In addition, if a foreign company acquires a company in China, the acquired company will also become a foreign investment enterprise. However, the relevant PRC government authorities may limit or eliminate the ability of foreign investment enterprises to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. In addition, foreign exchange transactions for direct investment, loan and investment in securities outside China are still subject to limitations and require approvals from the State Administration for Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China.

Dividend Distribution. The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends of wholly foreign-owned companies include:

 

    The Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1986), as amended; and

 

    Administrative Rules under the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (2001).

Under these regulations, foreign investment enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, unless such reserve funds have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

C. Organizational Structure

The following table sets out the details of our subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report:

 

Name

  

Country of Incorporation

   Ownership Interest  

Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

   China    100 %

Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

   China    100 %

Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

   China    100 %

Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited

   Hong Kong    100 %

C-Travel International Limited

   The Cayman Islands    100 %

 

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We conduct a majority of our business through our wholly-owned subsidiaries in China. Due to the current restrictions on foreign ownership of air-ticketing, travel agency, online advertising and Internet content provision businesses in China, we have conducted part of our operations in these businesses through a series of contractual arrangements between our PRC subsidiaries and our affiliated Chinese entities, including:

 

    Beijing Ctrip;

 

    Shanghai Ctrip Commerce;

 

    Guangzhou Ctrip;

 

    Shanghai Huacheng;

 

    Shanghai Ctrip Charming; and

 

    Shenzhen Shencheng.

Qi Ji, our co-founder and director, Min Fan, our co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Jianmin Zhu, our Vice President, are principal owners of our affiliated Chinese entities. Each of them has signed an irrevocable power of attorney to appoint our Chief Financial Officer, Jane Jie Sun, as attorney-in-fact to vote on all matters of our affiliated Chinese entities for a period of ten years until 2016.

D. Property, Plant and Equipment

Our customer service center, principal sales, marketing and development facilities and administrative offices are located on premises comprising approximately 10,200 square meters in an industry park in Shanghai, China. We own approximately 2,500 square meters of our premises and lease 1,223 square meters of our premises from a company controlled by the spouse of our Chairman, James Jianzhang Liang. We have branch offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Qingdao, Shenyang, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Nanjing. We also maintain a sales network in more than 40 cities in China. We believe that we will be able to obtain adequate facilities, principally through the leasing of appropriate properties, to accommodate our expansion plans in the near future.

On February 3, 2005, we entered into a Land Early Development Cost Compensation Agreement with Shanghai Hong Qiao Lin Kong Economic Development Park Co., Ltd., pursuant to which, in consideration of approximately RMB65 million, we acquired land use rights for approximately 16,670 square meters of land in the Shanghai Hong Qiao Lin Kong Economic Development Park for our new information and technology center (the “New Premises”).

On February 13, 2006, we entered into a construction agreement with Shanghai No. 1 Construction Co., Ltd. to construct a new information and technology center on the New Premises, which when completed will house our principal executive offices, 24-hour customer service center, product development center and administrative and support facilities. The total cost for the construction agreement is approximately RMB115 million.

The aggregate investment for the new premises including the land cost, construction cost and other improvement cost is estimated to be approximately between US$25 million and US$30 million, of which US$6 million has been paid with the remainder due at the completion of the construction of the new premises, which is expected to be around mid-2007.

 

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ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and their related notes included in this annual report on Form 20-F. This report contains forward-looking statements. See “Introduction — Forward-Looking Information.” In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided under the caption “Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 20-F. We caution you that our businesses and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties.

A. Overview

We are a leading consolidator of hotel accommodations and airline tickets in China. We aggregate information on hotels and flights and enable our customers to make informed and cost-effective hotel and flight bookings. We also offer packaged-tour products and other products and services.

In 2005, we derived 65%, 29%, 4% and 2% of our revenues from our hotel reservation, air ticketing, packaged-tour and other businesses, respectively.

Major Factors Affecting the Travel Industry

A variety of factors affect the travel industry in China, and hence our results of operations and financial condition, including:

Growth in the Overall Economy and Demand for Travel Services in China. We expect that our financial results will continue to be affected by the overall growth of the economy and demand for travel services in China. According to the 2005 China Statistical Yearbook and the 2005 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communiqué published by the National Bureau of Statistics published on February 28, 2006, the gross domestic product, or GDP, of China grew from RMB11.0 trillion (US$1.3 trillion) in 2001 to RMB18.2 trillion (US$2.3 trillion) in 2005, representing a compound annual growth rate of 13.4%. GDP per capita in the same period rose from RMB8,676 (US$1,048) to RMB13,985 (US$1,733), representing a 12.7% compound annual growth rate. This growth led to a significant increase in the demand for travel services. According to the 2005 China Statistical Yearbook and the 2005 National Economic and Social Development Statistical Communiqué published by the National Bureau of Statistics published on February 28, 2006, domestic tourism spending grew from RMB352.2 billion (US$42.5 billion) in 2001 to RMB528.6 billion (US$65.5 billion) in 2005, representing a compound annual growth of 10.7%. We anticipate that demand for travel services in China will continue to increase in the foreseeable future as the economy in China continues to grow. However, any adverse changes in economic conditions of China, such as a slow-down of the Chinese economy, could have a material and adverse effect on the travel industry in China, which in turn would harm our business.

 

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Seasonality in the Travel Service Industry. The travel service industry is characterized by seasonal fluctuations and accordingly our revenues may vary from quarter to quarter. To date, the revenues generated during the summer season of each year generally are higher than those generated during the winter season, mainly because the summer season coincides with the peak business and leisure travel season, while the winter season of each year includes the Chinese New Year holiday, during which our customers reduce their business activities. These seasonality trends are difficult to discern in our historical results because our revenues have grown substantially since inception. However, our future results may be affected by seasonal fluctuations in the use of our services by our customers.

Disruptions in the Travel Industry. Individual travelers tend to modify their travel plans based on the occurrence of events such as:

 

    the outbreak of serious epidemics;

 

    travel-related accidents;

 

    bad weather;

 

    natural disasters;

 

    threats of war or incidents of terrorism;

 

    general economic downturns; and

 

    increased prices in the hotel, airline or other travel-related industries.

During the period from March 2003 through June 2003, the economies of several countries in Asia, including China, were severely affected by the outbreak of SARS. Our business and our operating results during that period were also adversely affected. Since 2005 there have been reports on the occurrences of avian flu in various parts of China, including a few confirmed human cases. If there is a recurrence of an outbreak of SARS or any similar outbreak of other contagious diseases such as avian flu, it may adversely affect the travel industry and has a material and adverse effect on our business and operating results.

Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

Revenues

Revenue Composition and Sources of Revenue Growth. We have experienced significant revenue growth since we commenced operations in 1999. Our revenues grew from RMB6.9 million in 2000 to RMB556.2 million (US$68.9 million) in 2005, representing a compound annual growth rate of 141%.

We generate our revenues primarily from the hotel reservation and air-ticketing businesses. The table below sets forth the revenues from our principal lines of business as a percentage of our revenues for the periods indicated.

 

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     Year Ended December 31,  
     2003     2004     2005  

Revenues:

      

Hotel reservation

   84 %   78 %   65 %

Air-ticketing

   11     18     29  

Packaged-tour*

   3     3     4  

Others

   2     1     2  
                  

Total revenues

   100 %   100 %   100 %

* Certain of our packaged-tour revenues were recorded on a gross basis. See “— Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations — Revenues — Packaged-tour.”

As we generally do not take ownership of the products and services being sold and act as agent in substantially all of our transactions, our risk of loss due to obligations for cancelled hotel and airline ticket reservations is minimal. Accordingly, we recognize revenues primarily based on commissions earned rather than transaction value.

Because current PRC laws and regulations impose substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision businesses in China, we conduct part of our air-ticketing and packaged-tour businesses through our affiliated Chinese entities. Historically, we generated a portion of our revenues from fees charged to these entities. See “—Arrangements with Affiliated Chinese Entities” for a description of our relationship with these entities.

Hotel Reservation. Revenues from our hotel reservation business have been our primary source of revenue since our inception. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, revenues from our hotel reservation business accounted for RMB153 million, RMB276 million and RMB363 million (US$45 million), respectively, or 84%, 78% and 65% respectively, of our revenues.

We derive our hotel reservation revenues through commissions from hotels, primarily based on the room rates paid by our customers. We recognize revenue when we receive confirmation from a hotel that a customer who booked the hotel through us has stayed and checked out from the hotel. While we generally agree in advance on fixed commissions with a particular hotel, we also enter into a commission arrangement with many of our hotel suppliers that we refer to as the “ratchet system.” Under the ratchet system, our commission per room night for a given hotel increases for the month if we sell in excess of a pre-agreed number of room nights with such hotel within the month.

Air-Ticketing. Since early 2002, the air-ticketing business has been growing rapidly. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, revenues from our air ticketing business accounted for RMB20 million, RMB63 million and RMB163 million (US$20 million), respectively, or 11%, 18% and 29%, respectively, of our revenues.

We conduct our air-ticketing business through Beijing Ctrip, Shanghai Huacheng, Guangzhou Ctrip and Shenzhen Shencheng, all of which are our affiliated Chinese entities, as well as a network of independent air-ticketing service companies. Commissions from air-ticketing services rendered are recognized after air tickets are issued. We generally receive a higher commission rate per ticket as the total number of tickets we sell for an airline increases, subject to any applicable regulatory restrictions.

 

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Packaged-tour. Our packaged-tour business has grown rapidly in the past three years. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, revenues from our packaged tour business accounted for RMB5 million, RMB10 million and RMB23 million (US$3 million), respectively. We conduct our packaged-tour business mainly through Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming. Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming bundle the packaged-tour products and receive referral fees from different travel suppliers for different components and services of the packaged-tour sold through our transaction and service platform. Referral fees are recognized as net revenues after the packaged-tour services are rendered. Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming also, from time to time, act as principal in connection with the packaged-tour services provided by them. When Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming act as principal, they recognize gross amounts received from customers as revenues after the packaged-tour services are rendered.

Other Businesses. Our other business lines primarily consist of advertising services, sales of Ctrip travel guidebooks and sales of our VIP membership cards. We place our customers’ advertisements on our websites and in our introductory brochures. We sell VIP membership cards that allow cardholders to enjoy certain priority in obtaining our services and receive discounts from many restaurants, clubs and bars in many cities in China. We conduct the advertising business through Ctrip Commerce, and we recognize revenue when Ctrip Commerce renders advertising services.

Cost of Services

Cost of services are costs directly attributable to rendering our revenues, which consist primarily of payroll compensation, telecommunication expenses and other direct expenses incurred in connection with our transaction and service platform. Payroll compensation accounted for 60%, 60% and 62% of our cost of services in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Telecommunication expenses accounted for 26%, 19% and 14% of our cost of services in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.

Cost of services accounted for 15%, 15% and 17% of our net revenues in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. We believe our relatively low ratio of cost of services to revenues is primarily due to competitive labor costs in China and high efficiency of our customer service system. Our cost efficiency was further enhanced by our website operations, which require significantly fewer service staff to operate and maintain.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses consist primarily of product development expenses, sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and share-based compensation.

Product development expenses primarily include expenses we incur to develop our travel suppliers network and expenses we incur to develop, maintain and monitor our transaction and service platform.

Sales and marketing expenses primarily comprise payroll compensation and benefits for our sales and marketing personnel, expenses for customer reward program, advertising expenses, commissions for our marketing partners for referring customers to us, production costs of marketing materials and membership cards and expenses associated with our membership reward program. Our sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues had declined from 2003 to 2004 and remained unchanged from 2004 to 2005 due to our more effective and focused marketing efforts to promote our brand and services.

 

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General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll compensation, benefits and travel expenses for our administrative staff, administrative office expenses, as well as professional service fees. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues have decreased over the past three years.

Share-based compensation is the difference, if any, between the estimated fair value of our ordinary shares and the amount an employee is required to pay to acquire the shares, as determined on the date the share option is granted. We amortize share-based compensation and charge it to expense over the three-year vesting period of the underlying options. We have adopted SFAS 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” beginning from January 1, 2006, and could have ongoing accounting charges significantly greater than those we would have recorded under our prior method of accounting for share options.

Income Taxes and Financial Subsidies

Income Taxes. Our effective income tax rate was 16%, 9% and 12% for 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Pursuant to the applicable tax laws in China, companies established in China are generally subject to EIT at a statutory rate of 33%. The 33% EIT rate applies to our subsidiaries, affiliated Chinese entities and joint venture companies established in China, except for our subsidiaries, Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Information, and our affiliated Chinese entities, Shanghai Huacheng and Shenzhen Shencheng.

 

    Our subsidiary, Ctrip Computer Technology, is currently entitled to a 15% EIT rate because it has been classified as a “new and high technology enterprise.” Ctrip Computer Technology’s qualification as a “new and high technology enterprise” is subject to annual re-assessment by relevant government authorities.

 

    Our subsidiary, Ctrip Travel Information, is currently entitled to a 15% EIT rate due to its registration in the Pudong Economic Development Zone and such rate is further reduced by 50% for each of the years from 2005 to 2007 due to its classification as a “software enterprise.” Ctrip Travel Information’s qualification as a “software enterprise” is also subject to annual re-assessment by relevant government authorities.

 

    Our affiliated Chinese entity, Shanghai Huacheng, is entitled to a 30% tax reduction for each of the years from 2004 to 2006 due to its classification as an entity that provides job opportunities for unemployed individuals. Shanghai Huacheng’s preferential tax treatment is also subject to annual re-assessment by relevant government authorities.

 

    Our affiliated Chinese entity, Shenzhen Shencheng, is entitled to a preferential tax rate of 15% as granted by the local tax bureau, because it is registered in the city of Shenzhen in China.

Our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities either have received approvals from the relevant government authorities, or are in the process of being assessed by the relevant

 

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government authorities, with respect to their qualification assessment. Based on our past experience and information currently available, we expect that our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities will pass the re-assessment and continue to be entitled to the preferential tax treatments in 2006.

Our future effective income tax rate depends on various factors, such as tax legislation, the geographic composition of our pre-tax income and non-tax deductible expenses incurred. Our management carefully monitors these factors and timely adjusts the effective income tax rate accordingly.

Financial Subsidies. In 2003, 2004 and 2005, our subsidiaries in China received business tax rebates in the form of financial subsidies from the government authorities in Shanghai in the amount of approximately RMB5 million, RMB6 million and RMB18 million (US$2 million), respectively, which we recorded as other income on a cash basis.

Such financial subsidies were granted to us at the sole discretion of the government authorities. We cannot assure you that our subsidiaries will continue to receive business tax rebates or other financial subsidies in the future.

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities on the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the financial reporting period. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experiences and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, which together form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require higher degrees of judgment than others in their application. We consider the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements as their application places the most significant demands on management’s judgment.

Revenue Recognition. We describe our revenue recognition policies in our consolidated financial statements. In considering Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements” and Emerging Issues Task Force 99-19 “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,” we believe that our policies for revenue recognition and presentation of statement of operations are appropriate. The factors we have considered include whether we are able to achieve the pre-determined specific performance targets by travel suppliers for recognition of the incentive commissions in addition to the fixed- rate and our risk of loss due to obligations for cancelled hotel and airline ticket reservations. As we operate primarily as agent to the travel suppliers and our risk of loss due to obligations for cancelled hotel and airline ticket reservations is minimal, we recognize commissions on a net basis.

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Long-Lived Assets. In addition to the original cost of goodwill, intangible assets and long-lived assets, the recorded value of these assets is impacted by a number of policy elections, including estimated useful lives, residual values and impairment charges. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill

 

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and Other Intangible Assets,” provides that intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives and goodwill will not be amortized but rather will be tested at least annually for impairment. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets” requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable from its undiscounted future cash flow. For each of 2003, 2004 and 2005, we did not recognize any impairment charges for goodwill, intangible assets or long-lived assets based on the expanding and prospective business of our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities. Throughout the past year, there were no circumstances or events that indicated that the assets may be impaired. If different judgments or estimates had been utilized, material differences could have resulted in the amount and timing of the impairment charge.

Customer Reward Program. We offer a customer reward program that allows customers to receive travel awards and other gifts based on accumulated membership points that vary depending on the products and services purchased by the customers. Because we have an obligation to provide such travel awards and other gifts, we recognize a liability and corresponding expense for the related future obligations. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, our provisions for the customer reward program were approximately RMB10 million and RMB20 million (US$2 million), respectively. We estimate our liabilities under our customer reward program based on accumulated membership points and our estimate of probability of redemption. If actual redemption differs significantly from our estimate, it will result in an adjustment to our liability and the corresponding expense.

Share-Based Compensation. We have share option plans to grant share options to officers, directors, and employees of our company. We account for these plans under Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” the intrinsic value approach, with the required disclosures under the related accounting guidance in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. For 2003, 2004 and 2005, we recognized share-based compensation under the share option plans in the amounts of RMB2 million, RMB2 million and RMB2 million (US$0.2 million), respectively. While we believe that the share-based compensation we recognized for the plans under APB No. 25 is appropriate, changes in our assumptions, including estimated fair value of our ordinary shares, will result in an adjustment to our deferred share-based compensation and the corresponding share-based compensation. As of December 31, 2005, we have recorded share-based compensation to the extent that the fair value of the shares on the date of grant exceeds the exercise price of the option. We recognize compensation expense over the related vesting periods. Beginning in 2006, we will adopt SFAS 123R, “Share-Based Payment,” and will recognize the fair value of the share-based awards as an expense in the income statement accordingly.

Deferred Tax Valuation Allowances. We provide a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets to the extent we consider it to be more likely than not that we will be unable to realize all or part of such assets. Our future realization of our deferred tax assets depends on many factors, including our ability to generate taxable income within the period during which temporary differences reverse or before our tax loss carryforwards expire, the outlook for the Chinese economy and overall outlook for our industry. We consider these factors at each balance sheet date and determine whether valuation allowances are necessary. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, we recorded deferred tax assets of RMB1 million and RMB2 million (US$0.3 million), respectively. If, however, unexpected events occur in the

 

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future that would prevent us from realizing all or a portion of our net deferred tax assets, an adjustment would result in a charge to income in the period in which such determination was made.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated both in amount and as a percentage of net revenues.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2003     2004     2005  
    

RMB

(in thousands)

    %    

RMB

(in thousands)

    %    

RMB

(in thousands)

   

USD

(in thousands)

    %  

Revenues:

              

Hotel reservation

   153,389     89     276,043     83     362,857     44,962     70  

Air ticketing

   20,323     12     63,006     19     162,645     20,154     31  

Packaged- tour*

   4,789     3     10,480     3     22,756     2,820     4  

Others

   4,178     2     4,500     1     7,957     986     2  

Total revenues

   182,679     106     354,029     106     556,215     68,922     107  

Less: Business tax and related surcharges

   (9,532 )   (6 )   (20,209 )   (6 )   (34,990 )   (4,336 )   (7 )

Net revenues

   173,147     100     333,820     100     521,225     64,586     100  

Cost of services

   (26,223 )   (15 )   (51,637 )   (15 )   (88,627 )   (10,982 )   (17 )

Gross profit

   146,924     85     282,183     85     432,598     53,604     83  

Operating expenses:

              

Product development

   (20,684 )   (12 )   (37,959 )   (11 )   (57,510 )   (7,126 )   (11 )

Sales and marketing

   (47,571 )   (27 )   (72,863 )   (22 )   (112,274 )   (13,912 )   (22 )

General and administrative

   (19,579 )   (11 )   (36,895 )   (11 )   (41,535 )   (5,147 )   (8 )

Share-based compensation

   (1,583 )   (1 )   (1,958 )   (1 )   (1,777 )   (220 )   (0 )

Total operating expenses

   (89,417 )   (51 )   (149,675 )   (45 )   (213,096 )   (26,405 )   (41 )

Income from operations

   57,507     34     132,508     40     219,502     27,199     42  

Interest income

   401     0     5,543     2     12,661     1,569     2  

Other income

   5,661     3     7,631     2     22,929     2,841     5  

Income before income tax expense, minority interests and share of loss in joint venture companies

   63,569     37     145,682     44     255,092     31,609     49  

Income tax expense

   (10,249 )   (6 )   (12,517 )   (4 )   (30,577 )   (3,789 )   (6 )

Minority interests

   (79 )   (0 )   (39 )   (0 )   (269 )   (33 )   (0 )

Share of income of joint venture companies

   573     0     —       —       —       —       —    

Net income

   53,814     31     133,126     40     224,246     27,787     43  

* Certain of our packaged-tour revenues were booked on a gross basis. See “— Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations —Revenues — Packaged-tour.”

 

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2005 compared to 2004

Revenues

Revenues were RMB556 million (US$69 million) in 2005, an increase of 57% over RMB354 million in 2004. This revenue growth was principally driven by the substantial volume growth in hotel room nights booked and air tickets sold in 2005.

Hotel Reservation. Revenues from our hotel reservation business increased by 31% to RMB363 million (US$45 million) in 2005 from RMB276 million in 2004, primarily as a result of the continued rapid growth in our hotel room nights sales volume. The total number of hotel room nights booked in 2005 was over 5.5 million compared to over 4.2 million in 2004. In 2005, the average commission per room night had remained at approximately RMB66 compared to 2004.

Air Ticketing. Revenues from our air ticketing business increased substantially by 158% to RMB163 million (US$20 million) in 2005 from RMB63 million in 2004, primarily due to strong growth of air tickets sales volume as we continued to expand our air ticketing capabilities significantly. The total number of air tickets sold in 2005 was approximately 3.7 million, compared to approximately 1.7 million in 2004. In 2005, the average commission per ticket sold increased to RMB44 form RMB37 in 2004.

Packaged-tour. Packaged-tour revenues increased substantially from RMB10 million in 2004 to RMB23 million (US$3 million) in 2005, an increase of 117% as we continued growing our packaged-tour business. See “—Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations — Revenues — Packaged-tour.”

Other businesses. Revenues from other businesses increased by 77% from RMB5 million in 2004 to RMB8 million (US$1 million) in 2005, primarily due to increased sales of our advertising service, Ctrip travel guidebooks and special marketing alliance projects in 2005.

Business tax and related surcharges

Our business tax and related surcharges increased by 73% from RMB20 million in 2004 to RMB35 million (US$4 million) in 2005 as a result of our increased revenues in all of our business lines.

Cost of Services

Cost of services in 2005 increased by 72% to RMB89 million (US$11 million) from RMB52 million in 2004. This increase was primarily attributable to increased costs associated with our air-ticketing and packaged-tour businesses and, to a less extent, the expansion of our hotel reservation business.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in 2005 increased by 42% to RMB213 million (US$26 million) from RMB150 million in 2004, primarily due to a significant increase in product development expenses as well as sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses. However, operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 45% in 2004 to 41% in 2005, reflecting the scalability and profitability of our business platform.

 

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Product Development. Product development expenses increased by 52% to RMB58 million (US$7 million) in 2005 from RMB38 million in 2004, primarily due to increased staff hiring mainly for the air-ticketing and packaged-tour businesses.

Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 54% to RMB112 million (US$14 million) in 2005 from RMB73 million in 2004, primarily attributable to increased expenses in connection with our customer reward program, advertisements expenses, as well as increased salary and benefit expenses for the increased number of sales and marketing staff and increased costs for promotional materials.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by 13% to RMB42 million (US$5 million) in 2005 from RMB37 million in 2004, primarily due to increased salary and benefits for the increased number of general and administrative staff.

Share-based Compensation. Share-based compensation decreased by 9% to RMB1.8 million (US$220,000) in 2005 from RMB2.0 million in 2004, primarily due to the effect of amortization of share-based compensation expenses associated with share options issued before December 2003.

Interest Income. Interest income increased to RMB13 million (US$2 million) in 2005 from RMB6 million in 2004 because of the increased cash generated from operation.

Other Income. Other income increased by 200% to RMB23 million (US$3 million) in 2005 from RMB8 million in 2004, primarily due to higher amount of financial subsidies we received in 2005.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was RMB31 million (US$4 million) in 2005, an increase of 144% over RMB13 million in 2004, primarily because of the increase of our taxable income in 2005. Our effective income tax rate in 2004 was lower than that in 2005 because one of our subsidiaries, namely, Ctrip Travel Information, was exempted from paying EIT in 2004 while it was subject to a 7.5% EIT in 2005.

2004 compared to 2003

Revenues

Revenues were RMB354 million in 2004, an increase of 94% over RMB183 million in 2003. This revenue growth was principally driven by the substantial volume growth in hotel room nights booked and air tickets sold in 2004.

Hotel Reservation. Revenues from our hotel reservation business increased by 80% to RMB276 million in 2004 from RMB153 million in 2003, primarily as a result of the continued rapid growth in our hotel room nights sales volume, offset by the negative impact of SARS to our hotel reservation business in the first half of 2003. The total number of hotel room nights booked in 2004 was over 4.2 million compared to over 2.4 million in 2003.

 

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Air Ticketing. Revenues from our air ticketing business increased significantly by 210% to 63 million in 2004 from RMB20 million in 2003, primarily due to strong growth of air tickets sales volume as we continued to expand our air ticketing capabilities significantly, offset by the negative impact of SARS to our air ticketing business in the first half of 2003. The total number of air tickets sold in 2004 was approximately 1.7 million, compared to approximately 610,000 in 2003.

Packaged-tour. Packaged-tour revenues increased significantly from RMB5 million in 2003 to RMB 10 million in 2004, an increase of 119% as we continued growing our packaged-tour business. See “—Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations — Revenues — Packaged-tour.”

Other businesses. Revenues from other businesses increased by 8% from RMB4 million in 2003 to RMB5 million in 2004, primarily due to increased sales of our advertising service and special marketing alliance projects in 2004.

Business tax and related surcharges

Our business tax and related surcharges increased by 112% from RMB10 million in 2003 to RMB20 million in 2004 as a result of our increased revenues in all of our business lines.

Cost of Services

Cost of services in 2004 increased by 97% to RMB52 million from RMB26 million in 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to the hiring of additional customer service representatives and increased telecommunication expenses resulting from the overall expansion of our hotel reservation and air ticketing businesses.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses in 2004 increased by 67% to RMB150 million from RMB89 million in 2003, primarily due to a significant increase in product development expenses as well as sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses. However, operating expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 52% in 2003 to 45% in 2004, reflecting the scalability and profitability of our business platform.

Product Development. Product development expenses increased by 84% to RMB38 million in 2004 from RMB21 million in 2003, primarily due to increased salary and benefit expenses for the increased number of product development staff mainly in the air-ticketing and packaged-tour sectors.

Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 53% to RMB73 million in 2004 from RMB48 million in 2003, primarily because of increased salary and benefit expenses for the increased number of sales and marketing staff, increased expenses in connection with our customer reward program, advertisements and commission payments to our marketing partners.

General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by 88% to RMB37 million in 2004 from RMB20 million in 2003, primarily due to increased salary and benefits for the increased number of general and administrative staff and increased professional service fees.

 

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Share-based Compensation. Share-based compensation increased by 24% to RMB2.0 million in 2004 from RMB1.6 million in 2003, primarily due to the effect of amortization of share-based compensation expenses associated with share options issued in 2003.

Interest Income. Interest income increased significantly to RMB6 million in 2004 from RMB401,000 in 2003 because of the increase in our cash balance and the increase in the interests rates of our bank deposits.

Other Income. Other income increased by 35% to RMB8 million in 2004 from RMB6 million in 2003, primarily due to an increase in other expenses, offset in part by the higher amount of financial subsidies we received in 2004.

Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was RMB13 million in 2004, an increase of 22% over RMB10 million in 2003, primarily because of the increase of our taxable income in 2004. Our effective income tax rate in 2004 was lower than 2003 because a substantial portion of our income was generated by Ctrip Travel Information, which was exempted from paying EIT in 2004.

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity. The following table sets forth the summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year ended December 31,  
     2003     2004     2005     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

   74,661     162,731     231,364     28,669  

Net cash used in investing activities

   (12,706 )   (14,320 )   (72,816 )   (9,023 )

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   369,609     (4,311 )   (30,340 )   (3,760 )

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   433,038     143,906     119,187     14,768  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   38,931     471,969     615,875     76,315  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   471,969     615,875     735,062     91,083  

Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB231 million (US$29 million) in 2005, compared to RMB163 million in 2004 and RMB75 million in 2003, primarily due to the increase in our net revenue resulting from our increased transaction volume, coupled with the increased operating margin.

Net cash used in investing activities amounted to RMB73 million (US$9 million) in 2005, compared to net cash used in investing activities of RMB14 million in 2004 and RMB13 million in 2003. This increase in 2005 from the prior two years was due to our purchase of the land use right for our new premises, construction of our new facilities, and purchase of additional servers, workstations, computers, computer software and other items related to our network infrastructure.

 

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Net cash used in financing activities amounted to RMB30 million (US$4 million) in 2005, compared to net cash used in financing activities of RMB 4 million in 2004, and net cash provided by financing activities of RMB370 million in 2003. This change in 2005 is primarily attributable to the fact that dividends paid to shareholders amounted to RMB40 million (US$5 million) in 2005, partially offset by the proceeds of RMB10 million (US$1 million) from the exercise of share options. The change in 2004 from 2003 was primarily attributable to the fact that we received the net proceeds of RMB369 million from our initial public offering in 2003 and paid the expenses related thereto in 2004, partially offset by the proceeds we received in connection with the exercise of the employee share options in 2004.

Capital Resources. We have financed our capital expenditure requirements with cash flows from operations and through the sale of our Series A preferred shares and Series B preferred shares and our initial public offering in 2003.

Our principal capital expenditures for 2003 and 2004 consisted of expenditures on our network infrastructure. The capital expenditures for 2005 consisted of the purchase price for the land use right of our new premises, expenditures on the construction of our new facilities, and the purchase of other capital equipment. Our capital expenditures for 2003, 2004 and 2005 were approximately RMB10 million, RMB16 million and RMB73 million (US$9 million), respectively.

Our main capital expenditure for 2006 will include construction of a new information and technology center and purchase of additional servers, workstations, computers, computer software and other items. We plan to build a new information and technology center on the premises and move our principal executive offices, 24-hour customer service center, product development center and administrative and support facilities to the new premises. The aggregate investment for the new premises is estimated to be approximately between US$25 million and US$30 million, of which US$6 million were paid in 2005, and the remainder will be paid by the completion of the construction of the new premises, which is expected to be around mid-2007. Capital expenditures in 2006 have been, and are expected to continue to be, funded through operating cash flows and through our existing capital resources.

As of December 31, 2005, our primary source of liquidity was RMB735 million (US$91 million) of cash. Except as disclosed in this annual report, we have no outstanding bank loans or financial guarantees or similar commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of third parties. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs, including our cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures, for the foreseeable future. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue.

C. Research and Development

Our research and development efforts consist of continuing to develop our proprietary technology as well as incorporating new technologies from third parties. We intend to continue to upgrade our proprietary booking, customer relationship management and yield management software to keep up with the continued growth in our transaction volume and the rapidly evolving technological conditions. We will also seek to continue to enhance our electronic confirmation system and promote such system with more hotel suppliers, as we believe that the electronic confirmation system is a cost-effective and convenient way for hotels to interface with us. In addition, we have utilized and will continue to utilize the products and services of third parties to support our technology platform.

 

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D. Trend Information

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005 that are reasonably likely to have a material and adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In connection with our air-ticketing business, we on behalf of our affiliated Chinese entities are required by CAAC to provide guarantees for tickets obtained from various airlines. As of December 31, 2005, the amount under these guarantee arrangements was approximately RMB180 million. Based on historical experience and information currently available, we do not believe that it is probable that we will be required to pay any amount under these guarantee arrangements. Therefore, we have not recorded any liability beyond what is required in connection with these guarantee arrangements.

Operating lease obligations for the year 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are RMB8.7 million, RMB2.6 million, RMB0.4 million and RMB0.3 million respectively. Rental expenses amounted to approximately RMB4 million, RMB6 million and RMB9 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Rental expense is charged to the statements of income when incurred.

F. Contractual Obligations

The following sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2005:

 

     Payments Due by Period
     Total   

Less Than

1 Year

  

1-3

Years

  

3-5

Years

  

More Than

5 Years

     (in RMB thousands)

Operating lease obligations

   11,950    8,685    2,980    285    —  

Purchase obligations

   122,344    99,533    22,811    —      —  
                        
   134,294    108,218    25,791    285    —  

 

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We have outstanding purchase obligations totaling RMB122 million, most of which are related to the construction of the new information and technology center and purchase of additional customer service center equipment mentioned above. We will accrue the amount once the services are rendered by our service providers. While the table above indicates our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2005, the actual amounts we are eventually required to pay may be less in the event that any agreements are renegotiated, cancelled or terminated.

G. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk. Our exposure to interest rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest income generated by excess cash deposited in banks. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. Based on our cash balance, one percentage point decrease in interest rates would result in approximately RMB150,000 decrease in our interest income on an annual basis. Our future interest income may fluctuate in line with changes in interest rates. However, the risk associated with fluctuating interest rates is principally confined to our interest-bearing cash deposits, and, therefore, our exposure to interest rate risk is limited.

Foreign Exchange Risk. We are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency exposures. Some of our expenses are denominated in foreign currencies while almost all of our revenue is denominated in RMB. As we hold assets dominated in U.S. dollars, including our bank deposits, any changes against our functional currencies could potentially result in a charge to our income statement and a reduction in the value of our U.S. dollar denominated assets. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Future movements in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and RMB may adversely affect the value of our ADSs.”

H. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — a Replacement of APB Opinion No.20 and FASB Statement No.3” (“SFAS No. 154”), which requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of every voluntary change in accounting principle unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors beginning in our fiscal year 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which replaced SFAS No. 123 and superseded APB No. 25. SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. Under SFAS No. 123R, the pro forma disclosures previously permitted no longer will be an alternative to financial statement recognition. In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) regarding the SEC’s interpretation of SFAS No. 123R and the valuation of share-based payments for public companies.

We will adopt SFAS No. 123R and related FASB Staff Position starting from the first

 

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quarter of 2006. We will apply the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of share-based payments to employees, and will recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. We will apply the modified prospective method, which requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options upon adoption of SFAS No. 123R. We estimate the stock option compensation expense for the first quarter of 2006, due to the effect of adoption of SFAS No. 123R, to be less than RMB15 million.

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

A. Directors and Senior Management

The names of our current directors and executive officers, their ages as of the date of this report and the principal positions with Ctrip.com International, Ltd. held by them are as follows:

 

Directors and Executive Officers

   Age   

Position/Title

James Jianzhang Liang

   36    Co-founder; Chairman of the Board

Min Fan

   41    Co-founder; Chief Executive Officer

Jane Jie Sun

   37    Chief Financial Officer

Neil Nanpeng Shen

   38    Co-founder; Director

Qi Ji

   39    Co-founder; Director

Gabriel Li(1)

   38    Deputy Chairman of the Board

JP Gan(1) (2)

   34    Director

Suyang Zhang(2)

   47    Director

Robert Stein(1)

   44    Director

Yoshihisa Yamada

   42    Director

Victor Shengli Wang

   51    Vice President

Han Ding

   38    Vice President

Jianmin Zhu

   37    Vice President

Maohua Sun

   34    Vice President

James Lan Tang

   38    Vice President

Tao Yang

   30    Vice President

(1) Member of Audit Committee.

 

(2) Member of Compensation Committee.

Each of the foregoing directors will hold office until such director’s successor is elected and duly qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, bankruptcy, insanity, resignation or removal. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of our company.

Biographical Information

James Jianzhang Liang is one of the co-founders of our company. Mr. Liang served as Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to January 2006 and a member of our board of directors since our inception. He has been Chairman of our board since August 2003. Prior to

 

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founding Ctrip, Mr. Liang held a number of technical and managerial positions with Oracle Corporation from 1991 to 1999 in the United States and China, including the head of the ERP consulting division of Oracle China from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Liang currently serves on the board of Home Inns. Mr. Liang received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology. He also attended an undergraduate program at Fudan University.

Min Fan is one of the co-founders of our company and has served as the Chief Executive Officer of our company since January 2006. Mr. Fan served as our Chief Operating Officer from November 2004 to January 2006. Prior to that, he served as our Executive Vice President from 2000 to November 2004. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Fan was the Chief Executive Officer of Shanghai Travel Service Company, a leading domestic travel agency in China. From 1990 to 1997, he served as the Deputy General Manager and in a number of other senior positions at Shanghai New Asia Hotel Management Company, which was one of the leading hotel management companies in China. Mr. Fan obtained his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He also studied at the Lausanne Hotel Management School of Switzerland in 1995.

Jane Jie Sun has served as our Chief Financial Officer since December 2005. Ms. Sun has extensive experience in SEC reporting, finance and accounting. Prior to joining us, Ms. Sun served as the head of the SEC and External Reporting Division of Applied Materials, Inc., where she worked from 1997 to 2005. Prior to joining Applied Materials, Inc., Ms. Sun worked with KPMG LLP as an audit manager in Silicon Valley, California for five years. Ms. Sun is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of State of California Certified Public Accountant. Ms. Sun received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Business School of University of Florida with High Honors. She also attended the undergraduate program at the Beijing University Law School.

Neil Nanpeng Shen is one of the co-founders of our company and has been our company’s director since our inception. Mr. Shen is the Founding Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital China. Mr. Shen served as our Chief Financial Officer from 2000 to October 2005 and as President from August 2003 to October 2005. Prior to founding Ctrip, Mr. Shen had worked for more than eight years in the investment banking industry in New York and Hong Kong. He was a director at Deutsche Bank Hong Kong where he worked from 1996 to 1999. Prior to 1996, he had worked at Chemical Bank, Lehman Brothers and Citibank in various investment banking areas. Currently, Mr. Shen is the Deputy Chairman of Home Inns and also an independent director and the chairman of the audit committee of Focus Media Holding Limited, a Nasdaq-listed media advertising company based in China. Mr. Shen received his Master’s degree from the School of Management at Yale University and his Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Qi Ji is one of the co-founders of our company. He has served as our director since our inception. Other than performing his duties as a director of our company, Mr. Ji is not involved in our daily operations and business affairs. Mr. Ji is the Chief Executive Officer of Powerhill Holdings Ltd. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Home Inns from 2002 to January 2005. He was the President of our company from 1999 to early 2002. Prior to founding Ctrip, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Shanghai Sunflower High-Tech Group which he founded in 1997. He headed the East China Division of Beijing Zhonghua Yinghua Intelligence System Co., Ltd. from 1995 to 1997. He received both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

 

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Gabriel Li has served at different times on our board of directors since 2000. Mr. Li has been Deputy Chairman of our board since August 2003. Mr. Li is a managing director of Orchid Asia Group Management Co., LLC. Mr. Li was a managing director of The Carlyle Group from December 2002 to October 2003. Prior to rejoining The Carlyle Group, he was a managing director of Robertson Stephens Private Equity Growth in San Francisco in 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Li had worked as a director at The Carlyle Group from 2000 to 2002, a partner at Orchid Asia Holdings, LLC from 1997 to 2000 and an associate at McKinsey & Co. in Hong Kong and Los Angeles from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Li graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Berkeley and received his Masters of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Masters of Business Administration from the Stanford Business School.

JP Gan has served as our director since 2002. Mr. Gan is the Chief Financial Officer of KongZhong Corporation, a Nasdaq listed wireless internet company. Prior to joining KongZhong, Mr. Gan was a director of The Carlyle Group responsible for venture capital investments in the Greater China region from 2000 to 2005. Mr. Gan worked at the investment banking division of Merrill Lynch, in Hong Kong from 1999 to 2000, and worked at Price Waterhouse in the United States from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Gan obtained his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the United States.

Suyang Zhang has served as our director since November 2004. He previously served as our director from December 1999 to June 2004. Mr. Zhang is currently a Vice President of IDG Technology Venture Investment Inc., where he has worked since 1996, and General Manager of Shanghai Pacific Technology Venture Fund Co., Ltd., where he has worked since 1994. Mr. Zhang has led his firms’ investments in a number of high-tech projects in the areas of electronics, telecommunications and software in recent years. He previously served as a Division Manager of Shanghai Bell, Deputy Director of Shanghai Telephone Equipment Manufacturing Company, and General Manager of Shanghai Vantone Industrial Co. Ltd. He currently serves on the boards of several companies, including Home Inns and Baud Data Communications Co., Ltd. Mr. Zhang holds a Bachelor of Electronics Engineering from Shanghai University, an Executive Masters of Business Administration from China European International Business School.

Robert Stein has served as our director since October 2003. Mr. Stein is a member of the Managing Board for WestLB AG, responsible for Investment Banking & Asset Management and Treasury, along with international geographical responsibilities. Previously, Mr. Stein was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Adelphi Capital Partners, a financial service private equity and advisory firm. In addition, Mr. Stein has held several advisory positions including membership on Singapore Government’s Economic Review Committee and as Chair of the Financial Services Working Group, as well as previously as a director of the Singapore Stock Exchange. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Stein held various senior positions at Deutsche Bank, including Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank Group Asia Pacific. Mr. Stein holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Biochemistry from Dartmouth College and a Master’s degree in International and Development Economics from University College, Oxford University.

Yoshihisa Yamada has served as our director since June 2004. Yoshihisa Yamada is a Senior Executive Officer and Director of Rakuten Inc. and the President of Rakuten Travel,

 

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Inc. Prior to joining Rakuten in 2000, Mr. Yamada worked at Goldman Sachs in Tokyo from 1999 to 2000 and worked at the Industrial Bank of Japan from 1987 to 1999. Mr. Yamada holds a Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Tokyo and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.

Victor Shengli Wang has served as our Vice President since 2000. In 1997, Mr. Wang co-founded Beijing Modern Express Business Travel Services Co. Ltd., which we acquired in October 2000. From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Wang was the head of the General Plan Division of China Lantian Industrial Company. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Xian Electronics Science & Technology Institute.

Han Ding has served as our Vice President in charge of our air-ticketing business since March 2002 and currently is also the General Manager of our Beijing branch. Prior to joining us, Mr. Ding was Chief Executive Officer of Beijing Hai’an Air-ticketing Service Company, Ltd., which he founded in 1995. Previously, he was Secretary and director of the Hai’an Industry Group of Companies. Mr. Ding obtained his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China and his Bachelor’s degree from Anhui Institute of Finance and Trade in China.

Jianmin Zhu has served as our Vice President since 2003. Prior to joining us, he worked with several software and system integration companies, including Compaq and RPTI International Ltd. He was a Senior Consultant at Compaq from 1999 to 2000 and Technical Director of RPTI International Ltd. from 1995 to 1998. Mr. Zhu received his Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Maohua Sun has served as our Vice President since January 2005. Ms. Sun joined us in 2000 and has held a number of managerial positions at our company. Prior to joining us, Ms. Sun worked at the Jinjiang Group, a hotel management company in China, from 1994 to 2000. Ms. Sun received her Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

James Lan Tang has served as our Vice President since April 2005. Prior to joining us, he worked as a marketing manager in Perfetti Van Melle Co. Ltd. in Shanghai from 2000 to 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Tang worked as a marketing manager and a financial analysis manager at YueSai Kan – Coty Cosmetics Inc. in Shanghai from 1997 to 2000. Mr. Tang received his Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Master’s degree in Economics from Virginia Commonwealth University in the United States.

Tao Yang has served as our Vice President since January 2006. He has served in a number of managerial positions in our company since 2000. From February 1999 to March 2000, Mr. Yang served as Sales Manager of Global Sources Ltd., a leading technical information provider in the world. Mr. Yang obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers

We have entered into a standard form of director agreement with each of our directors. Under these agreements, in 2005, we paid an aggregate amount of compensation (inclusive of directors’ fees) to our directors as a group equal to US$479,964. Directors are reimbursed for all expenses incurred in connection with each Board of Directors meeting and when carrying out their duties as directors of our company. See “—Employee’s Stock Option Plans” for options granted to our directors in 2005.

 

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We have entered into standard forms of employment agreements with our executive officers. Under these agreements, in 2005, we paid an aggregate amount of cash compensation to our executive officers as a group equal to US$574,229. These agreements provide for terms of service, salary and additional cash compensation arrangements, all of which have been reflected in the 2005 aggregate compensation amount. See “—Employee’s Stock Option Plans” for options granted to our executive officers in 2005.

Employee’s Stock Option Plans

Our board of directors has adopted three stock option plans, namely, the 2005 Employee’s Stock Option Plan, or the 2005 Plan, the 2003 Employee’s Option Plan, or the 2003 Plan, and the 2000 Employee’s Stock Option Plan, or the 2000 Plan. The terms of the 2005 Plan, 2003 Plan and the 2000 Plan are substantially similar. The purpose of the Plans is to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to employees, officers and directors and to promote the success of our business. Our board of directors believes that our company’s long-term success is dependent upon our ability to attract and retain superior individuals who, by virtue of their ability and qualifications, make important contributions to our business.

We have granted options to purchase our ordinary shares under the 2000 Plan, of which 36,990 were outstanding as of April 30, 2006. We have not granted any options under the 2000 Plan since April 2003 and will not issue any additional options under the 2000 Plan. All of the outstanding options under the 2000 Plan are held by employees who are not senior executives or directors.

We have reserved an aggregate of 1,187,510 of our ordinary shares for issuance under the 2003 Plan, under which 483,476 options were issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2006. The following table summarizes, as of April 30, 2006, the outstanding options granted under our 2003 Plan to the individual executive officers and directors named below, and to the other optionees in aggregate, since our board of directors adopted the 2003 Plan. We will not issue any additional options under our 2003 Plan.

 

    

Ordinary Shares

Underlying Options

Granted

  

Exercise Price

(US$/Share)

   Date of Grant    Date of Expiration

Min Fan

   120,000    2.11    April 15, 2003    April 15, 2008

Gabriel Li

   10,000    6.00    October 27, 2003    October 27, 2008

Robert Stein

   10,000    6.00    October 27, 2003    October 27, 2008

Other employees

   343,476    From 2.11 to 16.705    From April 15, 2003
to October 4, 2004
   From April 15, 2008
to October 4, 2009
             

Total

   483,476         

We have reserved an aggregate of 3,000,000 ordinary shares for issuance under the 2005 Plan, under which 1,729,194 options were issued and outstanding as of April 30, 2006. The following table summarizes, as of April 30, 2006, the outstanding options granted under our 2005 Plan to the individual executive officers and directors named below, and to the other optionees in aggregate, since our board of directors adopted the 2005 Plan.

 

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Ordinary Shares

Underlying

Options Granted

  

Exercise Price

(US$/Share)

   Date of Grant    Date of Expiration

James Jianzhang Liang

   230,000    19.455    January 24, 2005    January 24, 2010
   150,000    26.225    December 9, 2005    December 9, 2010

Neil Nanpeng Shen

   80,000    19.455    January 24, 2005    January 24, 2010

Min Fan

   120,000    19.455    January 24, 2005    January 24, 2010
   100,000    26.225    December 9, 2005    December 9, 2010

Jane Jie Sun

   100,000    26.225    December 9, 2005    December 9, 2010

JP Gan

   30,000    22.56    May 13, 2005    May 13, 2010

Suyang Zhang

   30,000    19.455    January 24, 2005    January 24, 2010

Other employees

   889,194    From 19.455 to 30.50    From January 24, 2005
to February 13, 2006
   From January 24, 2010
to February 13, 2011
             

Total

   1,729,194         

The following paragraphs summarize the principal terms of our option plans.

Termination of Options. Where the option agreement permits the exercise or purchase of the options granted for a certain period of time following the recipient’s termination of service with us, or the recipient’s disability or death, the options will terminate to the extent not exercised or purchased on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the options, whichever occurs first.

Administration. Our stock option plans are administered by our board of directors or a committee designated by our board of directors constituted to comply with applicable laws. In each case, our board of directors or the committee it designates will determine the provisions, terms and conditions of each option grant, including, but not limited to, the option vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment upon settlement of the award, payment contingencies and satisfaction of any performance criteria.

Vesting Schedule. One-third of the options granted under our stock option plans vest 12 months after a specified vesting commencement date; an additional one-third vest 24 months after the specified commencement date and the remaining one-third vest 36 months after the specified commencement date, subject to the optionee continuing to be a service provider on each of such dates.

Option Agreement. Options granted under our stock option plans are evidenced by an option agreement that contains, among other things, provisions concerning exercisability and forfeiture upon termination of employment or consulting arrangement (by reason of death, disability or otherwise), as determined by our board.

Transfer Restrictions. Options granted under any of our 2000, 2003 and 2005 Plans may not be transferred in any manner by the optionee other than by will or the laws of succession and are exercisable during the lifetime of the optionee only by the optionee.

 

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Option Exercise. The term of options granted under the 2000 Plan may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. The term of options granted under the 2003 Plan may not exceed five years from the date of grant. The term of options granted under the 2005 Plan may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. As of the date hereof, under the relevant option agreements, all the options granted to our employees have the expiration term of five years from the date of grant thereof. These share options are vested over a period of three years. The consideration to be paid for our ordinary shares upon exercise of an option or purchase of shares underlying the option will be determined by the stock option plan administrator and may include cash, check, ordinary shares, a promissory note, consideration received by us under a cashless exercise program implemented by us in connection with our stock option plans, or any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

Third-Party Acquisition. If a third party acquires us through the purchase of all or substantially all of our assets, a merger or other business combination, all outstanding options or share purchase rights will be assumed or equivalent options or rights substituted by the successor corporation or parent or subsidiary of successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the options or share purchase rights, all options or share purchase rights will become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to such transaction and all unexercised awards will terminate unless, in either case, the awards are assumed by the successor corporation or its parent.

Termination of Plans. Unless terminated earlier, the 2005 Plan will terminate automatically in 2009, the 2003 Plan will terminate automatically in 2008 and the 2000 Plan will terminate automatically in 2010. Our board of directors has the authority to amend or terminate our stock option plans subject to shareholder approval to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law. However, no such action may (i) impair the rights of any optionee unless agreed by the optionee and the stock option plan administrator, or (ii) affect the stock option plan administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it under our stock option plans.

C. Board Practices

In 2005, our directors held meetings or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent 6 times. No director participated in fewer than 50% of all the meetings of our board and its committees on which he served after becoming a member of our board. No director is entitled to any severance benefits upon termination of his directorship with us. As of the date of this report, a majority of our directors meet the “independence” definition under The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules, or the Nasdaq Rules.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee. Our audit committee reports to the board regarding the appointment of our independent auditors, the scope and results of our annual audits, compliance with our accounting and financial policies and management’s procedures and policies relatively to the adequacy of our internal accounting controls.

Our audit committee consists of Messrs. JP Gan, Gabriel Li and Robert Stein, all of whom meet the audit committee independence standard under Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and the independence definition under Rules 4200 of the Nasdaq Rules. In addition, all the members of our audit

 

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committee qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined in the relevant Nasdaq Rules. In 2005, our audit committee held meetings or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent five times.

Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee reviews and evaluates and, if necessary, revises the compensation policies adopted by the management. Our compensation committee also determines all forms of compensation to be provided to our three most senior executive officers. In addition, the compensation committee reviews all annual bonuses, long-term incentive compensation, share options, employee pension and welfare benefit plans. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated.

Our compensation committee consists of Messrs. Suyang Zhang and JP Gan, both of whom meet the “independence” definition under the Nasdaq Rules. In 2005, our compensation committee held one meeting.

Duties of Directors

Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a statutory duty of loyalty to act honestly in good faith with a view to our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association. A shareholder has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached.

Terms of Directors and Officers

All directors hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. A director may only be removed by the shareholders who nominated and elected such director. Officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors.

D. Employees

As of December 31, 2005, we had approximately 3,600 employees, including 300 in management and administration, 1,500 in our customer service center, 700 in sales and marketing, and 1,100 in product development including supplier management personnel and technical support personnel. Most of our employees are based in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and we have certain on-site sales and marketing staffs in over 40 major cities in China. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.

E. Share Ownership

As of April 30, 2006, 32,217,863 of our ordinary shares were outstanding, excluding shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding options. Our shareholders are entitled to vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to shareholders vote. No shareholder has different voting rights from other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.

 

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The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares, taking into account the aggregate number of ordinary shares underlying share options that were outstanding as of, and exercisable within 60 days after, April 30, 2006, by (1) each of our directors and senior executive officers; and (2) each of our shareholders beneficially own more than 5.0% of our ordinary shares. For information regarding share options granted to our directors and senior executive officers, see Item 6.B. of this annual report, “— Compensation of Directors and Executive Officer.” Except as otherwise noted, the address of each person listed in the table is c/o Ctrip.com International, Ltd., 3rd Floor, Block 63, No. 421 Hong Cao Road, Shanghai, PRC.

 

     Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned(1)
 
     Number    %(2)  

Directors and Senior Executive Officers:

     

James Jianzhang Liang(3)

   462,008    1.4 %

Min Fan(4)

   226,404    0.7 %

Neil Nanpeng Shen(5)

   120,000    0.4 %

Gabriel Li(6)

   54,104    0.2 %

Qi Ji(7)

   120,366    0.4 %

Other directors and executive officers as a group of 10 persons each of whom individually owns less than 0.1%(8)

   121,374    0.4 %

Principal Shareholders:

     

Rakuten, Inc.(9)

   6,645,000    20.6 %

FMR Corp.(10)

   4,727,560    14.7 %

Notes:   (1)    Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities.
  (2)    For each person and group included in this table, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such person or group by the sum of 32,217,863, being the number of ordinary shares outstanding as of April 30, 2006, and the number of ordinary shares underlying share options held by such person or group that were exercisable within 60 days after April 30, 2006.
  (3)    Include 385,342 ordinary shares held by Mr. Liang and 76,666 ordinary shares that were issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after April 30, 2006 held by Mr. Liang.
  (4)    Include 66,404 ordinary shares held by Perfectpoint International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company owned by Mr. Fan and 160,000 ordinary shares that were issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after April 30, 2006 held by Mr. Fan.
  (5)    Include 80,000 ordinary shares held by SmartMaster International Limited, a British Virgin Islands company owned by Mr. Shen and 40,000 ordinary shares that were issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after April 30, 2006 held by Mr. Shen.
  (6)    Include 54,104 ordinary shares held by Mr. Li.
  (7)    Include 120,366 ordinary shares held by Powerhill Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company jointly owned by Mr. Ji and his spouse.
  (8)    Include 121,374 ordinary shares that were issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after April 30, 2006 held by ten of our current directors and executive officers as a group.
  (9)    Include 6,645,000 ordinary shares held by Rakuten, Inc. Rakuten, Inc. is a Japanese corporation listed on JASDAQ. The address for Rakuten, Inc. is Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-6118, Japan.
  (10)    Include 4,727,560 ordinary shares held by FMR Corp. Please see Schedule 13G/A filed by FMR Corp. on February 14, 2006 for information relating to FMR Corp. The address for FMR Corp. is 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

 

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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A. Major Shareholders

Please refer to Item 6. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Share Ownership.”

B. Related Party Transactions

Arrangements with Affiliated Chinese Entities

Current PRC laws and regulations impose substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision businesses in China. Therefore, we conduct part of our operations in our non-hotel reservation businesses through a series of agreements between our PRC subsidiaries and our affiliated Chinese entities, which hold the licenses and approvals for conducting the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and Internet content provision businesses in China. We do not hold any ownership interest in our affiliated Chinese entities. Min Fan, who is a co-founder, shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of our company, Qi Ji, who is a co-founder, shareholder and director of our company, and Jianmin Zhu, who is a Vice President of our company, are the principal owners of most of the equity in each of our affiliated Chinese entities. Qi Ji and Ctrip Commerce own 35.56% and 64.44%, respectively, of Beijing Ctrip. Qi Ji and Min Fan own 16.72% and 83.28%, respectively, of Ctrip Commerce. Ctrip Commerce and Qi Ji own 90% and 8.33% of Shanghai Huacheng, respectively. Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu own 90% and 10%, respectively, of Guangzhou Ctrip as well as Shenzhen Shencheng. Min Fan owns 66% of Shanghai Ctrip Charming.

We believe that the terms of these agreements are no less favorable than the terms that we could obtain from disinterested third parties. The terms of the agreements with the same title between us and our respective affiliated Chinese entities are almost identical except for the amount of the business loans to the shareholders of each entity and the amount of service fees paid by each entity. We believe that Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu will not receive any personal benefits from these agreements except as shareholders of Ctrip. According to our PRC counsel, Commerce & Finance Law Offices, these agreements are valid, binding and enforceable under the current laws and regulations of China. The principal terms of these agreements are described below.

Powers of Attorney. Each of Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu has irrevocably appointed our Chief Financial Officer, Jane Jie Sun, as attorney-in-fact to vote on their behalf on all matters they are entitled to vote on, including matters relating to the transfer of any or all of their respective equity interests in our affiliated Chinese entities and the appointment of the chief executive officer of our affiliated Chinese entities. The appointment of Ms. Sun as the attorney-in-fact will terminate if she is no longer employed by one of our subsidiaries in China. The term of each of the powers of attorney is ten years.

Exclusive Technical Consulting and Services Agreements. Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network provide our affiliated Chinese entities with technical consulting and related services and staff training and information services. We also maintain their network platforms. The initial term of these agreements is ten years. In consideration for our services, our affiliated Chinese entities agree to pay our service fees, which are subject to

 

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quarterly adjustment based on their actual operating results. For the first quarter of 2006, Ctrip Commerce paid Ctrip Computer Technology a quarterly fee of RMB1,600,000 (US$199,600); Beijing Ctrip paid Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network a quarterly fee based on the number of air tickets sold in the quarter, at the rate of RMB43 (US$5) per ticket and RMB98 (US$12) per person per tour; Shanghai Huacheng paid Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network a quarterly fee based on the number of air tickets sold in the quarter, at the rate of RMB32 (US$4) per ticket; Guangzhou Ctrip paid Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network a quarterly fee based on the number of air tickets sold and the number of packaged-tour products sold in the quarter, at the rate of RMB33 (US$4) per ticket and RMB35 (US$4) per person per tour; Shanghai Ctrip Charming paid Ctrip Computer Technology a quarterly fee based on the number of packaged-tour products sold in the quarter, at the rate of RMB167 (US$21) per person per tour; and Shenzhen Shencheng paid Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network a quarterly fee based on the number of air tickets sold in the quarter, at the rate of RMB30 (US$4) per ticket.

Share Pledge Agreements. Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu pledge their respective equity interests in our affiliated Chinese entities as a guarantee for the payment by our affiliated Chinese entities of technical and consulting services fees to us under the exclusive technical consulting and services agreements described above. In the event any of our affiliated Chinese entity breaches any of its obligations under the service agreement with us, we are entitled to sell the equity interests held by Qi Ji, Min Fan and/or Jianmin Zhu, as the case may be, and retain the proceeds from such sale or require any of them to transfer his equity interest without consideration to the Chinese citizen(s) designated by us. We will endeavor to enforce our rights in full under the share pledge agreement in the event that any affiliated Chinese entity breaches its obligations under the exclusive technical consulting and services agreement with us.

Trademark License Agreements. We grant our affiliated Chinese entities licenses to use our registered trademarks on their websites for a license fee of RMB3,000 (US$372) per year. The terms of these agreements are ten years and may be extended by us for one year.

Software License Agreements. We grant our affiliated Chinese entities the right to use our software for a royalty fee of RMB3,000 (US$372) per year. The terms of these agreements are one year and may be extended by us for one year.

Business Loan Arrangements. Due to government restrictions on foreign ownership of air-ticketing, travel agencies, Internet content provision and advertising businesses in China, we have made business loan arrangements with Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu, with the sole and exclusive purpose of providing funds necessary for the capitalization or acquisition of our affiliated Chinese entities. These loan amounts were injected into the affiliated Chinese entities as capitals and cannot be accessed for any personal uses. In the event that the PRC government lifts its substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising or Internet content provision business in China, as applicable, we will exercise our exclusive option to purchase all of the outstanding equity interests of our affiliated Chinese entities, as described in the following paragraph, and the business loan arrangements will be cancelled in connection with such purchase. However, it is uncertain when, if at all, the PRC government will lift any or all of these restrictions. The following table sets forth the amount of each business loan arrangement, the date the loan arrangement was entered into, the principal, interest, maturity date and outstanding balance of the business loan, the borrower and the affiliated Chinese entity.

 

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Date of Loan
Agreement
  Borrower  

Affiliated

Chinese
Entity

  Principal   Interest   Maturity Date   Outstanding Balance
            (in
thousands
of RMB)
  (in
thousands
of US$)
          (in
thousands
of RMB)
  (in
thousands
of US$)
September 10, 2003   Qi Ji   Beijing
Ctrip
  1,549.5   192.0   None   September 10, 2013   1,549.5   192.0
September 10, 2003   Min Fan   Ctrip
Commerce
  980.0   121.4   None   September 10, 2013   980.0   121.4
September 10, 2003   Qi Ji   Ctrip
Commerce
  1,020.0   126.4   None   September 10, 2013   1,020.0   126.4
January 15, 2004   Min Fan   Ctrip
Commerce
  4,100.0   508.0   None   January 15, 2014   4,100.0   508.0
August 1, 2004   Jianmin Zhu   Guangzhou
Ctrip
  50.0   6.2   None   August 1, 2014   50.0   6.2
September 10, 2003   Min Fan   Guangzhou
Ctrip
  450.0   55.8   None   September 10, 2013   450.0   55.8
August 1, 2004   Jianmin Zhu   Guangzhou
Ctrip
  150.0   18.6   None   August 1, 2014   150.0   18.6
March 1, 2004   Min Fan   Guangzhou
Ctrip
  1,350.0   167.3   None   March 1, 2014   1,350.0   167.3
October 30, 2003   Min Fan   Shanghai
Ctrip
Charming
  4,290.0   531.6   None   October 30, 2013   1,980.0   245.3
February 6, 2004   Min Fan   Shenzhen
Shencheng
  1,350.0   167.3   None   February 6, 2014   1,350.0   167.3
August 1, 2004   Jianmin Zhu   Shenzhen
Shencheng
  150.0   18.6   None   August 1, 2014   150.0   18.6
April 12, 2004   Ji Qi   Shanghai
Huacheng
  250.0   31.0   None   April 12, 2014   250.0   31.0

Exclusive Option Agreements. As consideration for our entering into the business loan arrangements described above, each of Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu has granted us an exclusive, irrevocable option to purchase all of their equity interests in our affiliated Chinese entities at any time we desire, subject to compliance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations. If we exercise these options, we will cancel the outstanding business loans we extended to Qi Ji, Min Fan and Jianmin Zhu to fund our affiliated Chinese entities.

Operating Agreements. We guarantee the performance by our affiliated Chinese entities of contracts, agreements or transactions with third parties relating to the business operations of our affiliated Chinese entities. As consideration for our entering into these performance guarantees, our affiliated Chinese entities agree to pledge their accounts receivable and all of their assets for our benefit. In addition, our affiliated Chinese entities and their shareholders agree not to enter into any transaction that would affect the assets, obligations, rights or operations of our affiliated Chinese entities without our prior written consent. They also agree to accept our guidance with respect to day-to-day operations, financial management systems and the appointment and dismissal of key employees.

The agreements described above were entered into in or after September 2003. Prior to September 2003, we had services agreements with Beijing Ctrip, Shanghai Huacheng and Ctrip Commerce, whereby we rendered consulting, technology, administrative, marketing and other services to them, and issued invoices to them on a monthly basis based on the

 

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amount of service fees determined at our sole discretion. These service agreements have been terminated and replaced with the currently effective exclusive technical consulting and services agreements.

Stock Option Grants

Please refer to Item 6. “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Employee’s Stock Option Plans.”

Certain Leased Property in Shanghai

We lease approximately 1,223 square meters of our premises in Shanghai from a company controlled by the spouse of our Chairman, James Jianzhang Liang. Our lease term commenced on May 1, 2003 and will expire on February 1, 2007. Currently, the annual rent under this lease is RMB550,000 (US$68,152).

C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

We have appended consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any pending material litigation or other legal proceeding and are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation or other legal proceeding that may have a material adverse impact on our business or operations. However, we may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims, both asserted and unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business.

Dividend Policy

In December 2002, we declared and paid out of our reserves cash dividends totaling RMB27 million, which represented a return of capital, to holders of our ordinary and preferred shares. Separately, as part of our restructuring in connection with our initial public offering, we spun off Home Inns in August 2003 and distributed our Home Inns shares to our then-shareholders in the form of dividends on a pro rata as-converted basis. We did not pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares, or indirectly on our ADSs, with respect to 2003.

In November 2004, our board of directors and shareholders approved our proposed distribution of cash dividends equal to 30% of our net income for 2004 to the shareholders of record as of December 31, 2004, if our net income for 2004 exceeds US$10 million. Our net income was US$16 million in 2004, and we distributed dividends in the aggregate amount of approximately US$5 million to our shareholders of record as of December 31, 2004, at a dividend rate of US$0.1525 per ordinary share or per ADS, before giving effect to the ADS issuance fee payable to the depositary. The dividends were distributed on July 8, 2005.

 

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Our board and shareholders have approved the proposed distribution of 30% of our audited net income for 2005 to our shareholders as dividends. We intend to distribute such dividends around July of 2006 and retain the remainder of our available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business.

We rely on dividends, consulting and other fees paid to us by our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China. In accordance with current PRC laws and regulations, our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China are required to allocate to their general reserves at least 10% of their respective after-tax profits for the year determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Each of our subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities in China may stop allocations to its general reserve if such reserve has reached 50% of its registered capital. In addition, Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information and Ctrip Travel Network are required to allocate portions of their respective after-tax profits to their enterprise expansion funds and staff welfare and bonus funds at the discretion of their boards of directors. Our affiliated Chinese entities in China are required to allocate at least 5% of their respective after-tax profits to their respective statutory welfare funds. Allocations to these statutory reserves and funds can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to us in forms of loans, advances, or cash dividends.

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether we will distribute dividends in the future, subject to the approval of our shareholders. Even if our board of directors determines to distribute dividends, the form, frequency and amount of our dividends will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors as the board of directors may deem relevant. Any dividend we declare will be paid to the holders of ADSs, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement. Any dividend we declare will be distributed by the depositary bank to the holders of our ADSs. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, including those represented by the ADSs, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.

B. Significant Changes

We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.

ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

A. Offering and Listing Details.

Our ADSs have been listed on the Nasdaq National Market since December 9, 2003. Our ADSs are traded under the symbol “CTRP.”

For 2003 (December 9, 2003 through December 31, 2003), the trading price of our ADSs on Nasdaq ranged from $12.00 to $21.53 per ADS. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the trading price ranged from US$11.33 to US$28.46 per ADS. For the year ended December 31, 2005, the trading price ranged from US$18.07 to US$33.35 per ADS.

The following table provides the high and low trading prices for our ADSs on the Nasdaq National Market for the periods presented and all prices have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the change in ratio effective on April 11, 2006 for all periods presented.

 

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     Sales Price
     High    Low

2003 (from December 9, 2003)

   21.53    12.00

2004

   28.46    11.33

First Quarter

   20.82    12.38

Second Quarter

   17.50    11.33

Third Quarter

   18.46    14.55

Fourth Quarter

   28.46    16.63

2005

   33.35    18.07

First Quarter

   23.30    18.54

Second Quarter

   27.00    18.07

Third Quarter

   33.35    24.30

Fourth Quarter

   33.33    25.58

2006

     

First Quarter

   42.31    27.82

Monthly Highs and Lows

     

December 2005

   30.23    26.02

January 2006

   34.25    27.82

February 2006

   38.99    30.41

March 2006

   42.31    36.28

April 2006

   48.73    41.45

May 2006

   52.17    44.40

June 2006 (through June 15, 2006)

   50.34    43.00

B. Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

C. Markets

Our ADSs, have been listed on the Nasdaq National Market since December 9, 2003 under the symbol “CTRP.”

D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

E. Dilution

Not applicable.

F. Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. Share Capital

Not applicable.

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

We incorporate by reference into this Annual Report the description of our amended and restated memorandum of association contained in our F-1 Registration Statement (File No. 333-110455) originally filed with the Commission on November 13, 2003, as amended. Our shareholders adopted our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association at an extraordinary shareholder meeting on December 8, 2003.

C. Material Contracts

Other than the contracts described in Item 3.D., “Property, Plant and Equipment,” Item 4, “Information on the Company,” Item 6.B., “Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers,” and as listed in Item 19, “Exhibits”, we and our subsidiaries have not entered into any material contracts that are not in the ordinary course of business for the two years immediately preceding the date of this annual report.

D. Exchange Controls

China’s government imposes control over the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximately 3.0% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar by the end of 2005. While the international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar.

Pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Control Regulations issued by the State Council on January 29, 1996 and effective as of April 1, 1996 (and amended on January 14, 1997) and the Administration of Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange Regulations which came into effect on July 1, 1996 regarding foreign exchange control, or the Regulations, conversion of RMB into foreign exchange by foreign investment enterprises for current account items, including the distribution of dividends and profits to foreign investors of joint ventures, is permissible. Foreign investment enterprises are permitted to remit foreign exchange from their foreign exchange bank account in China on the basis of, inter alia, the terms of the relevant joint venture contracts and the board resolutions declaring the distribution of the dividend and payment of profits. Conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and remittance of foreign currencies for capital account items, including direct investment, loans, security investment, is still subject to the approval of SAFE, in each such transaction. On January 14, 1997, the State Council amended the Foreign Exchange Control Regulations and added, among other things, an important provision, as Article 5 provides that the State shall not impose restrictions on recurring international payments and transfers.

 

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Under the Regulations, foreign investment enterprises are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account items (but not for other items). In addition, foreign investment enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business upon the production of valid commercial documents and, in the case of capital account item transactions, document approval from SAFE.

Currently, foreign investment enterprises are required to apply to SAFE for “foreign exchange registration certificates for foreign investment enterprises.” With such foreign exchange registration certificates (which are granted to foreign investment enterprises, upon fulfilling specified conditions and which are subject to review and renewal by SAFE on an annual basis) or with the foreign exchange sales notices from the SAFE (which are obtained on a transaction-by-transaction basis), foreign-invested enterprises may enter into foreign exchange transactions at banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business to obtain foreign exchange for their needs.

E. Taxation

The following summary of the material Cayman Islands and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this report, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.

Cayman Islands Taxation

In the opinion of our Cayman Islands counsel, Maples and Calder, the Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.

United States Federal Income Taxation

The following discussion describes the material United States federal income tax consequences under present law of an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares. This summary applies only to investors that hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets and that have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. This discussion is based on the tax laws of the United States as in effect on the date of this report and on United States Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the date of this report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below.

 

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The following discussion does not deal with the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:

 

    banks;

 

    financial institutions;

 

    insurance companies;

 

    broker dealers;

 

    traders that elect to mark to market;

 

    tax-exempt entities;

 

    persons liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

    persons holding an ADS or ordinary share as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction;

 

    holders that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting stock;

 

    persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities; or

 

    persons who acquired ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as consideration.

Investors are urged to consult their tax advisors about the application of the United States federal tax rules to their particular circumstances as well as the state and local and foreign tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares.

The discussion below of the United States federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” applies to you if you are the beneficial owner of ADSs or ordinary shares and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

    a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

    a corporation or partnership organized under the laws of the United States, any State or the District of Columbia;

 

    an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source;

 

    a trust that (1) is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more United States persons or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

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If you are a beneficial owner of ADSs or ordinary shares and you are not described as a U.S. Holder, you will be considered a “Non-U.S. Holder.” Non-U.S. Holders should consult the discussion below regarding the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to Non-U.S. Holders.

The discussion below assumes that the representations contained in the deposit agreement are true and that the obligations in the deposit agreement and any related agreement have been and will be complied with in accordance with the terms. If you hold ADSs, you should be treated as the holder of the underlying ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for United States federal income tax purposes.

The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties to whom ADSs are pre-released may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming, by U.S. Holders of ADSs, of foreign tax credits for United States federal income tax purposes. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, as described below. Accordingly, the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders could be affected by future actions that may be taken by the U.S. Treasury or parties to whom ADSs are pre-released.

U.S. Holders

Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs or Ordinary Shares

Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, the gross amount of dividends paid with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be included in your gross income as ordinary dividend income on the date of receipt by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or by you, in the case of ordinary shares, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as computed under United States federal income tax principles). The dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, it will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your ADSs or ordinary shares, and to the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds your tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain.

Dividends paid in RMB will be included in your income as a U.S. dollar amount based on the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or by you, in the case of ordinary shares, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars at that time. If you do not receive U.S. dollars on the date the dividend is distributed, you will be required to include either gain or loss in income when you later exchange the RMB for U.S. dollars. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount that you include in income upon receipt of the dividend and the amount that you receive when you actually exchange the RMB for U.S. dollars. The gain or loss generally will be ordinary income or loss from United States sources.

 

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With respect to individual taxpayers for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2011 such dividends may be qualified dividend income which is taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate provided that (1) the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable, are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, (2) we are not a passive foreign investment company (as discussed below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend was paid or the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. For this purpose, ADSs listed on Nasdaq will be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares.

Dividends will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares will be “passive income” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, “financial services income.” For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006, dividends distributed by us with respect to ADSs or ordinary shares generally will constitute “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.”

Taxation of Disposition of Shares

Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an ADS or ordinary share equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the ADS or ordinary share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the ADS or ordinary share. If the consideration you receive for the ADS or ordinary share is not paid in U.S. dollars, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the payment received. In general, the U.S. dollar value of such a payment will be determined on the date of receipt of payment if you are a cash basis taxpayer and on the date of disposition if you are an accrual basis taxpayer. However, if the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable, are treated as traded on an established securities market and you are either a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer who has made a special election, you will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized in a foreign currency by translating the amount received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale. The gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss. If you are an individual who has held the ADS or ordinary share for more than one year, you will be eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitation. Any such gain or loss that you recognize generally will be treated as United States source income or loss (in the case of losses, subject to certain limitations).

Passive Foreign Investment Company

Based on the market value of our ADSs, the composition of our assets and income and our operations, we believe that we were not a passive foreign investment company for United Sates federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2005. A non-U.S. corporation is considered a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year if either

 

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    at least 75% of its gross income is passive income (the “income test”), or

 

    at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”).

We are treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, more than 25% (by value) of the stock.

We must make a separate determination each year as to whether we are a passive foreign investment company. As a result, our passive foreign investment company status may change. In particular, because the total value of our assets for purposes of the asset test generally will be calculated using the market price of our ADSs and ordinary shares, our passive foreign investment company status will depend in large part on the market price of our ADSs and ordinary shares. Accordingly, fluctuation in the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares may result in us becoming a passive foreign investment company in future taxable years. If we are a passive foreign investment company for any year during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a passive foreign investment company for all succeeding years during which you own ADSs or ordinary shares. However, if we cease to be a passive foreign investment company, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the passive foreign investment company regime by making a deemed sale election with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable.

If we are a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the ADSs or ordinary shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules

 

    the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares,

 

    the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we were a passive foreign investment company, will be treated as ordinary income, and

 

    the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year.

The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the ADSs or ordinary shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets.

 

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If we are a passive foreign investment company, you may avoid taxation under the rules described above by making a “qualified electing fund” election to include your share of our income on a current basis, or a “deemed sale” election once we no longer qualify as a passive foreign investment company. However, you may make a qualified electing fund election only if we agree to furnish you annually with certain tax information, and we do not intend to prepare or provide such information.

Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” in a passive foreign investment company may make a mark-to-market election for such stock of a passive foreign investment company to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. If you make a valid mark-to-market election for the ADSs or ordinary shares, you will include in income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs or ordinary shares as of the close of your taxable year over your adjusted basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. You are allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ADSs or ordinary shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, deductions are allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the ADSs or ordinary shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment also applies to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the ADSs or ordinary shares, as well as to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ADSs or ordinary shares. Your basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make such a market-to-market election, the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not passive foreign investment companies would apply to distributions by us (except that the lower applicable capital gains rate would not apply).

The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable Treasury regulations. The ADSs are currently listed on Nasdaq, which is a qualified exchange for these purposes. Consequently, if the ADSs remain listed on Nasdaq and are regularly traded, the mark-to-market election would be available to you if you hold ADSs, were we to become a passive foreign investment company.

If you hold ADSs or ordinary shares in any year in which we are a passive foreign investment company, you would be required to file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 regarding distributions received on the ADSs or ordinary shares and any gain realized on the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares.

Non-U.S. Holders

If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on dividends paid by us unless the income is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

You generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares unless such gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States or you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more and certain other conditions exist.

 

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Dividends and gains that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States generally will be subject to tax in the same manner as they would be if you were a U.S. Holder. Effectively connected dividends and gains received by a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may also be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower tax treaty rate.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting for U.S. federal income tax purposes will apply to distributions made on the ADSs or ordinary shares paid within the United States to a non-corporate U.S. Holder and on sales of the ADSs or ordinary shares to or through a United States office of a broker by a non-corporate U.S. Holder. Payments made outside the United States will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances.

In addition, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax will apply to distributions made on ADSs or ordinary shares within the United States to a non-corporate U.S. Holder and on sales of ADSs or ordinary shares to or through a United States office of a broker by a non-corporate U.S. Holder who:

 

    fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number,

 

    is notified by the Internal Revenue Service that backup withholding will be required, or

 

    fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

The amount of any backup withholding collected will be allowed as a credit against United States federal income tax liability provided that appropriate returns are timely filed.

A Non-U.S. Holder generally may eliminate the requirement for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status to the payer, under penalties of perjury, on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN.

F. Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.

G. Statement by Experts

Not applicable.

H. Documents on Display

We have previously filed with the Commission our registration statement on Form F-1, as amended and prospectus under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to our ordinary shares. We have also previously filed with the Commission our registration statement on Form F-2, as amended and prospectus under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to the sale of 1,914,000 ADSs by certain selling shareholders.

 

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We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20-F no later than six months after the close of each fiscal year, which is December 31. Copies of reports and other information, when so filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates at the SEC’s public reference room located at Room 1580, 100F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a Web site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

We will furnish our shareholders with annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP.

I. Subsidiary Information

For a listing of our subsidiaries, see Item 4. C. of this annual report, “Information on the Company — Organizational Structure”.

ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Please refer to Item 5. “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Not Applicable.

PART II

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None.

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On April 11, 2006, we effected a change of the ratio of our ADSs to ordinary shares from one (1) ADS representing two (2) ordinary shares to one (1) ADS representing one (1) ordinary share.

 

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ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

As required by Rule 13a-15(d), under the Exchange Act, our management, including Min Fan, our Chief Executive Officer, and Jane Jie Sun, our Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the period covered by this report have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on that evaluation, it has been determined that there has been no such change during the period covered by this report.

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

See Item 6.C. of this annual report, “Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Board Practices.”

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers, employees and agents, including certain provisions that specifically apply to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, financial controller, vice presidents and any other persons who perform similar functions for us. We have filed our code of business conduct and ethics as an exhibit to our annual report on Form 20-F for our fiscal year 2003, and posted the code on our www.ctrip.com website. We hereby undertake to provide to any person without charge, a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics within ten working days after we receive such person’s written request.

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated. We did not pay any tax related or other fees to our auditors during the periods indicated below.

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,
     2003    2004    2005
     RMB    RMB    RMB    USD

Audit fees(1)

   1,005,834    1,678,773    1,941,258    240,546

Audit-related fees(2)

   4,939,352    275,903    173,005    21,438

All other fees(3)

   —      578,610    1,636,174    202,743

(1) “Audit fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors for the audit of our annual financial statements.

 

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(2) “Audit-related fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for assurance and related services by our principal auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees.” Services comprising the fees disclosed under the category of “Audit-related fees” involve principally the issue of comfort letter, rendering of listing advice, and other audit-related services for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

 

(3) “All other fees” means the aggregate fees billed in 2004 and 2005 for services rendered in connection with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Our audit committee pre-approves all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services and tax services, as well as, to a very limited extent, specifically designated non-audit services which, in the opinion of the audit committee, will not impair the independence of the registered public accounting firm. Beginning from the first quarter of 2006, our audit committee has pre-approved our payment of expenses under US$5,000 related to a research tool of accounting literature provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm and our management are required to report to the audit committee on the quarterly basis regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval.

ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

We are in compliance with Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules with respect to the audit committee.

ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.

We do not have an equity securities repurchase program and did not repurchase any of our equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2005.

PART III

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The consolidated financial statements for Ctrip.com International, Ltd. and its subsidiaries are included at the end of this annual report.

 

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ITEM 19. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number
 

Document

1.1   Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2003)
2.1   Specimen American Depositary Receipt of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2003)
2.2   Specimen Stock Certificate of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2003)
4.1   Form of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. Stock Option Plans (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) and Exhibit 10.23 from our Registration Statement on Form F-2 (file no. 333-121080) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003 and December 8, 2004, respectively)
4.2   Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s directors and executive officers. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.3   Translation of Form of Labor Contract for Employees of the Registrant’s subsidiaries in China. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.4   Employment Agreement between the Registrant and James Jianzhang Liang. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.5*   Employment and Confidentiality Agreement between the Registrant and Jane Jie Sun.
4.6   Employment Agreement, between the Registrant and Min Fan. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.7   Translation of Form of Consulting and Services Agreement between Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)

 

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Exhibit
Number
 

Document

4.8   Translation of Form of Business Loan Agreement between Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited and a Shareholder of an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.9   Translation of Form of Exclusive Option Agreement among Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited, an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant and the Shareholder of the Entity, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.10   Translation of Form of Share Pledge Agreement among Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and a Shareholder of an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.11   Translation of Form of Trademark License Agreement between Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.12   Translation of Form of Software License Agreement between Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.13   Translation of Form of Operating Agreement between Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.14   Translation of Lease Agreement dated May 1, 2003 between Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Yu Zhong (Shanghai) Consulting Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)

 

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Exhibit
Number
 

Document

4.15   Translation of Form of Power of Attorney by a shareholder of an Affiliated Chinese Entity of the Registrant, as currently in effect. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.16   Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement, effective as of September 10, 2003, between the Registrant and Qi Ji. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-110455) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003)
4.17   Form of Director Agreement between the Registrant and its director (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2004)
4.18   Land Early Development Cost Compensation Agreement dated February 3, 2005 between Shanghai Hong Qiao Lin Kong Economic Development Park Co., Ltd. and Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 22, 2005)
4.19*   Translation of Construction Agreement dated February 13, 2006 between Shanghai No. 1 Construction Co., Ltd. and Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
8.1*   Subsidiaries of the Registrant
11.1   Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2004)
12.1*   CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
12.2*   CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.1*   CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2*   CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1*   Consent of Maples and Calder
15.2*   Consent of Commerce & Finance Law Office

* Filed with this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
By  

/s/ Min Fan

Name:   Min Fan
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Date: June 26, 2006

 

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CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  

Consolidated Statements of income and comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005

   F-1

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2005

   F-2

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005

   F-3

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005

   F-4

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-5


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[Letterhead of PricewaterhouseCoopers]

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Ctrip.Com International, Ltd.:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, of shareholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company

Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China

June 15, 2006


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CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2004 AND 2005

 

     2003     2004     2005     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  

Revenues:

        

Hotel reservation

   153,388,686     276,042,944     362,856,812     44,962,555  

Air-ticketing

   20,322,986     63,005,651     162,645,049     20,153,782  

Packaged-tour

   4,788,727     10,479,780     22,755,626     2,819,710  

Others

   4,178,419     4,500,698     7,957,187     985,996  
                        

Total revenues

   182,678,818     354,029,073     556,214,674     68,922,043  
                        

Less: business tax and related surcharges

   (9,532,290 )   (20,208,996 )   (34,989,970 )   (4,335,700 )
                        

Net revenues

   173,146,528     333,820,077     521,224,704     64,586,343  
                        

Cost of services

   (26,222,490 )   (51,637,069 )   (88,627,315 )   (10,982,047 )
                        

Gross profit

   146,924,038     282,183,008     432,597,389     53,604,296  
                        

Operating expenses:

        

Product development

   (20,683,821 )   (37,959,208 )   (57,509,840 )   (7,126,198 )

Sales and marketing

   (47,571,050 )   (72,863,325 )   (112,273,503 )   (13,912,109 )

General and administrative

   (19,578,959 )   (36,894,361 )   (41,534,886 )   (5,146,698 )

Share-based compensation*

   (1,583,409 )   (1,958,022 )   (1,776,852 )   (220,175 )
                        

Total operating expenses

   (89,417,239 )   (149,674,916 )   (213,095,081 )   (26,405,180 )
                        

Income from operations

   57,506,799     132,508,092     219,502,308     27,199,116  
                        

Interest income

   400,557     5,542,520     12,660,661     1,568,816  

Other income

   5,661,636     7,631,760     22,929,045     2,841,200  
                        

Income before income tax expense, minority interests and share of income of joint venture companies

   63,568,992     145,682,372     255,092,014     31,609,132  
                        

Income tax expense

   (10,249,404 )   (12,517,121 )   (30,577,400 )   (3,788,927 )

Minority interests

   (79,496 )   (38,961 )   (268,790 )   (33,307 )

Share of income of joint venture companies

   573,423     —       —       —    
                        

Net income

   53,813,515     133,126,290     224,245,824     27,786,898  
                        

Accretion for Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares

   (12,365,534 )   —       —       —    

Deemed dividends to holders of Series A and Series B Preferred Shares for spin-off of joint venture companies

   (2,829,064 )   —       —       —    

Deemed dividends upon repurchase of Preferred Shares

   (35,336,150 )   —       —       —    

Amount allocated to participating preference shareholders

   (1,909,600 )   —       —       —    
                        

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

   1,373,167     133,126,290     224,245,824     27,786,898  
                        

Other comprehensive income:

        

Translation adjustments

   1,474,545     193,673     (9,021,663 )   (1,117,898 )
                        

Comprehensive income

   55,288,060     133,319,963     215,224,161     26,669,000  
                        

Earnings per ordinary share and per ADS

        

— Basic

   0.13     4.33     7.06     0.87  
                        

— Diluted

   0.11     4.23     6.91     0.86  
                        

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding

        

— Basic

   10,605,957     30,712,466     31,762,419     31,762,419  
                        

— Diluted

   12,312,207     31,504,702     32,441,131     32,441,131  
                        

_________

        

*  Share-based compensation was related to the associated operating expense categories as follows:

    

   

Product development

   (411,359 )   (550,573 )   (402,693 )   (49,899 )

Sales and marketing

   (136,189 )   (187,850 )   (258,523 )   (32,034 )

General and administrative

   (1,035,861 )   (1,219,599 )   (1,115,636 )   (138,242 )

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2004 AND 2005

 

     2004     2005     2005  
     RMB     RMB     US$  

ASSETS

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   615,875,363     735,061,898     91,083,479  

Restricted cash

   —       6,600,000     817,824  

Accounts receivable

   35,418,477     63,440,215     7,861,046  

Due from related parties

   59,252     602,043     74,601  

Prepayments and other current assets

   18,503,778     43,475,298     5,387,140  

Deferred tax assets, current

   1,009,403     2,135,171     264,575  
                  

Total current assets

   670,866,273     851,314,625     105,488,665  
                  

Long-term loans to related parties

   500,000     —       —    

Long-term deposits

   26,715,547     54,284,801     6,726,574  

Long-term prepayment

   —       66,430,515     8,231,582  

Property, equipment and software

   31,897,651     53,552,243     6,635,802  

Goodwill

   9,515,849     9,515,849     1,179,134  

Other intangible assets

   1,222,353     803,050     99,508  
                  

Total assets

   740,717,673     1,035,901,083     128,361,265  
                  

LIABILITIES

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   30,150,303     72,353,392     8,965,502  

Due to a related party

   3,378,980     2,329,155     288,612  

Salary and welfare payable

   14,110,730     21,343,901     2,644,780  

Taxes payable

   23,421,257     16,050,032     1,988,802  

Advances from customers

   6,526,639     28,172,743     3,490,959  

Provisions for customer reward program

   10,462,103     19,776,193     2,450,521  

Dividend payable

   39,937,887     67,273,747     8,336,069  

Other payables and accruals

   10,755,790     43,014,910     5,330,092  
                  

Total current liabilities

   138,743,689     270,314,073     33,495,337  
                  

Minority interests

   602,616     871,406     107,978  

Commitments and contingencies

      

Shareholders’ equity

      

Share capital (US$0.01 par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized, 31,565,040 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2004; 32,037,609 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2005)

   2,613,542     2,652,142     328,634  

Additional paid-in capital

   511,367,287     524,928,856     65,045,334  

Statutory reserves

   19,256,862     41,769,481     5,175,768  

Deferred share-based compensation

   (2,258,908 )   (465,255 )   (57,651 )

Cumulative translation adjustments

   1,382,060     (7,639,603 )   (946,643 )

Retained earnings

   69,010,525     203,469,983     25,212,508  
                  

Total shareholders’ equity

   601,371,368     764,715,604     94,757,950  
                  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   740,717,673     1,035,901,083     128,361,265  
                  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2004 AND 2005

 

   

Ordinary shares

(US$0.01 par value)

   

Series A
Convertible
Preferred Share

(US$0.01 par value)

   

Series B
Redeemable
Convertible

Preferred Share
(US$0.01 par value)

   

Series C
Convertible
Preferred Share

(US$0.01 par value)

   

Additional

paid-in

capital

   

Statutory
reserves

 

Deferred

share-based
compensation

   

Cumulative

translation
adjustments

   

Retained

earnings

(accumulated
Deficit)

   

Total

shareholders’
equity (deficit)

 
    Number
of shares
   

Par

value

    Number
of shares
   

Par

value

    Number
of shares
   

Par

value

    Number
of shares
   

Par

value

             
          RMB           RMB           RMB           RMB     RMB     RMB   RMB     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Balance as of December 31, 2002

  9,520,698     788,314     4,320,000     357,696     —       —       —       —       —       —     (1,077,460 )   101,188     (41,798,873 )   (41,629,135 )

Accretion for Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       (12,365,534 )   (12,365,534 )

Spin-off of joint venture companies

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       (4,611,623 )   (4,611,623 )

Reclassification upon removal of redemption rights for Series B Convertible Preferred Shares

  —       —       —       —       7,193,464     595,621     —       —       136,732,417     —     —       —       —       137,328,038  

Issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares

  —       —       —       —       —       —       2,180,755     180,570     82,619,430     —     —       —       —       82,800,000  

Repurchase of shares upon issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares

  (842,938 )   (69,792 )   (382,482 )   (31,671 )   (636,891 )   (52,735 )   —       —       (82,645,802 )   —     —       —       —       (82,800,000 )

Conversion of Preferred Shares into ordinary shares upon initial public offering

  15,953,131     1,320,919     (3,937,518 )   (326,025 )   (6,556,573 )   (542,886 )   (2,180,755 )   (180,570 )   (271,438 )   —     —       —       —       —    

Issuance of ordinary shares

  5,400,000     447,120     —       —       —       —       —       —       355,722,337     —     —       —       —       356,169,457  

Exercise of share option

  144,000     11,923     —       —       —       —       —       —       908,068     —     —       —       —       919,991  

Deferred share-based compensation

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       5,501,356     —     (3,917,947 )   —       —       1,583,409  

Appropriations to statutory reserves

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       5,531,309   —       —       (5,489,810 )   41,499  

Translation adjustments

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       1,474,545     —       1,474,545  

Net income

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       53,813,515     53,813,515  
                                                                                 

Balance as of December 31, 2003

  30,174,891     2,498,484     —       —       —       —       —       —       498,566,368     5,531,309   (4,995,407 )   1,575,733     (10,452,325 )   492,724,162  
                                                                                 

Exercise of share option

  1,390,149     115,058     —       —       —       —       —       —       13,579,396     —     —       —       —       13,694,454  

Deferred share-based compensation

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       (778,477 )   —     2,736,499     —       —       1,958,022  

Appropriations to statutory reserves

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       13,725,553   —       —       (13,725,553 )   —    

Dividends

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       (39,937,887 )   (39,937,887 )

Translation adjustments

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       (193,673 )     (193,673 )

Net income

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       133,126,290     133,126,290  
                                                                                 

Balance as of December 31, 2004

  31,565,040     2,613,542     —       —       —       —       —       —       511,367,287     19,256,862   (2,258,908 )   1,382,060     69,010,525     601,371,368  
                                                                                 

Exercise of share option

  472,569     38,600     —       —       —       —       —       —       13,578,370     —     —       —       —       13,616,970  

Deferred share-based compensation

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       (16,801 )   —     1,793,653     —       —       1,776,852  

Appropriations to statutory reserves

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       22,512,619   —       —       (22,512,619 )   —    

Dividends

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —         (67,273,747 )   (67,273,747 )

Translation adjustments

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       (9,021,663 )   —       (9,021,663 )

Net income

  —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —       —     —       —       224,245,824     224,245,824  
                                                                                 

Balance as of December 31, 2005

  32,037,609     2,652,142     —       —       —       —       —       —       524,928,856     41,769,481   (465,255 )   (7,639,603 )   203,469,983     764,715,604  
                                                                                 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003, 2004 AND 2005

 

     2003     2004     2005     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB     US$  

Cash flows from operating activities:

        

Net income

   53,813,515     133,126,290     224,245,824     27,786,898  

Adjustments for:

        

Share-based compensation

   1,583,409     1,958,022     1,776,852     220,175  

Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software and other intangible assets

   6,013,402     7,450,585     8,833,010     1,094,522  

Minority interests

   79,496     38,961     268,790     33,306  

Loss from disposal of property, equipment and software

   24,928     553,942     95,717     11,861  

Share of income of joint venture companies

   (573,423 )   —       —       —    

Appropriations to statutory reserves

   41,499     —       —       —    

Increase in restricted cash

   —       —       (6,600,000 )   (817,824 )

Increase in accounts receivable

   (14,970,300 )   (6,478,777 )   (28,021,738 )   (3,472,248 )

(Increase) decrease in due from related parties

   3,612,838     552,388     (542,791 )   (67,259 )

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

   (3,460,993 )   (5,676,788 )   (20,570,031 )   (2,548,887 )

Increase in long-term deposits

   (9,859,821 )   (15,523,270 )   (27,569,254 )   (3,416,180 )

(Increase) decrease in deferred tax assets

   51,843     (468,103 )   (1,125,768 )   (139,497 )

Increase in accounts payable

   13,692,698     15,456,246     42,203,089     5,229,497  

Increase (decrease) in due to related parties

   2,767,422     (639,304 )   289,043     35,816  

Increase in salary and welfare payable

   7,417,997     4,311,020     7,233,171     896,282  

Increase (decrease) in taxes payable

   7,332,438     14,092,163     (7,371,225 )   (913,388 )

Increase in advances from customers

   1,948,349     2,686,796     21,646,104     2,682,226  

Increase in provisions for customer reward program

   2,411,267     5,753,433     9,314,090     1,154,135  

Increase in other payables and accruals

   2,734,001     5,537,317     7,259,120     899,496  
                        

Net cash provided by operating activities

   74,660,565     162,730,921     231,364,003     28,668,931  
                        

Cash flows from investing activities:

        

Proceeds from disposal of equity interest in a former subsidiary

   199,962     —       —       —    

Purchase of property, equipment and software

   (9,896,098 )   (16,130,030 )   (31,885,163 )   (3,950,975 )

Purchase of land use right

   —       —       (41,430,515 )   (5,133,766 )

Purchase of other intangible assets

   (1,010,638 )   —       —       —    

(Increase) decrease in long-term loans to related parties

   (210,000 )   1,810,000     500,000     61,956  

Decrease in cash arising from deconsolidation of a former subsidiary

   (1,789,594 )   —       —       —    
                        

Net cash used in investing activities

   (12,706,368 )   (14,320,030 )   (72,815,678 )   (9,022,785 )
                        

Cash flows from financing activities:

        

Proceeds from issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares

   82,800,000     —       —       —    

Proceeds from initial public offering, net of issuance costs of RMB33,719,000 paid

   368,688,999     —       —       —    

Payment of issuance costs of initial public offering

   —       (12,309,120 )   —       —    

Proceeds from exercise of share option

   919,991     7,998,415     9,597,760     1,189,283  

Repurchase of ordinary and Series A and B Convertible Preferred Shares

   (82,800,000 )   —       —       —    

Cash received by a subsidiary on issuance of ordinary shares from minority shareholders

   —       —       —       —    

Dividends paid

   —       —       (39,937,887 )   (4,948,810 )
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   369,608,990     (4,310,705 )   (30,340,127 )   (3,759,527 )
                        

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

   1,474,545     (193,673 )   (9,021,663 )   (1,117,898 )

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

   433,037,732     143,906,513     119,186,535     14,768,721  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

   38,931,118     471,968,850     615,875,363     76,314,758  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   471,968,850     615,875,363     735,061,898     91,083,479  
                        

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

        

Cash paid during the year for income taxes

   5,903,981     12,757,167     26,754,036     3,315,164  

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

   (12,309,120 )   —       (25,000,000 )   (3,097,817 )

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts expressed in RMB unless otherwise stated)

1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”), its subsidiaries and certain variable interest entities (“VIE” or “VIEs”). The Company, its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs are collectively referred to as the “Group”.

The Group is principally engaged in the provision of travel related services including hotel reservation, air-ticketing, packaged-tour services, as well as, to a lesser extent, Internet-related advertising and other related services. The Group had also been engaged in hotel management operations in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) through Home Inns & Hotels Management (Hong Kong) Limited (“Home Inns Hong Kong”).

Home Inns Hong Kong was incorporated in Hong Kong as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on May 8, 2001. Subsequent to the issuance of convertible preferred shares by Home Inns Hong Kong on February 28, 2003, the Company ceased to have control over Home Inns Hong Kong. Accordingly, investment in Home Inns Hong Kong was accounted for by equity method until August 27, 2003 when all equity interest of the Company in Home Inns Hong Kong was distributed to the then existing holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and ordinary shares as share dividends on a pro rata as-converted basis (Note 2).

On December 9, 2003, the Company registered its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States and was listed on the NASDAQ National Market in the United States of America by offering 2,700,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADS”), each ADS then represented two ordinary shares, at US$18 per ADS to the public. The net proceeds to the Company from the offering amounted to RMB356,169,457, net of issuance costs paid.

2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

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

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and certain VIEs. All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries and certain VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation.

A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors; to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statue or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.

 

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Table of Contents

The Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46—“Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of ARB No. 51” (“FIN 46”) in July 2003. FIN 46 requires certain VIEs to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Accordingly, the financial statements of the following VIEs are consolidated into the Company’s financial statements since July 1, 2003 or their respective date of establishment/ acquisition, whichever is later:

 

Name of VIE

   Date of establishment/acquisition

Beijing Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Ctrip” formerly Beijing Chenhao Xinye Air-Ticketing Service Co., Ltd.)

   Acquired on January 15, 2002

Shanghai Ctrip Commerce Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Ctrip Commerce”)

   Established on July 18, 2000

Shanghai Huacheng Southwest Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Huacheng”)

   Established on March 13, 2001

Guangzhou Ctrip Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (“Guangzhou Ctrip” formerly Guangzhou Guangcheng Commercial Service Co., Ltd.)

   Established on April 28, 2003

Shanghai Ctrip Charming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Ctrip Charming”)

   Acquired on September 23, 2003

Shenzhen Shencheng Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Shencheng)

   Established on April 13, 2004

The Company has voting control over the above VIEs based on the irrevocable powers of attorney and other related agreements between the Company and the principal shareholders of the VIEs, which consist of a director and two senior executives of the Company (Note 2). Such director and officers collectively own a 100% equity interest in all of the VIEs except for Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming which are 1.67% and 34% owned by third parties, respectively. The Company has consolidated the assets and liabilities of the above VIEs in accordance with transition guidance under FIN 46.

Variable interest entities

As of December 31, 2005, the Company conducts a part of its operations through a series of agreements with certain VIEs as stated in Note 2 above. These VIEs are used solely to facilitate the Group’s participation in Internet content provision, advertising business, travel agency and air-ticketing services in the PRC where foreign ownership in these areas is restricted.

Shanghai Ctrip Commerce is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce holds an Internet content provider (“ICP”) license and advertising license and is primarily engaged in the provision of advertising business on the Internet website. A director and a senior executive of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Shanghai Ctrip Commerce. The registered capital of Shanghai Ctrip Commerce as of December 31, 2005 is RMB6,100,000.

Shanghai Huacheng is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Huacheng holds a domestic travel agency license and an air transport sales agency license and mainly provides domestic tour services and air-ticketing services. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce and a director of the Company collectively hold 98.33% of the equity interest in Shanghai Huacheng. The registered capital of Shanghai Huacheng as of December 31, 2005 is RMB3,000,000.

Beijing Ctrip, formerly known as Beijing Chenhao, renamed on March 21, 2005. The Company is a domestic company incorporated in Beijing, the PRC. Beijing Ctrip holds an air transport sales agency license and domestic travel agency license and is mainly engaged in the provision of air-ticketing services. A director of the Company and Shanghai Ctrip Commerce collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Beijing Ctrip. The registered capital of Beijing Ctrip as of December 31, 2005 is RMB2,000,000.

Guangzhou Ctrip, formerly known as Guangzhou Guangcheng Commercial Service Co., Ltd., renamed on April 20, 2006. The Company is a domestic company incorporated in Guangzhou, the PRC. Guangzhou Ctrip holds air transport sales agency license and domestic travel agency license and is mainly engaged in the provision of air-ticketing services. Two senior executives of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Guangzhou Ctrip. The registered capital of Guangzhou Ctrip as of December 31, 2005 is RMB2,000,000.

Shanghai Ctrip Charming is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Ctrip Charming holds domestic and cross-border travel agency licenses and mainly provides domestic and cross-border tour services. A senior executive of the Company holds 66% of the equity interest in Shanghai Ctrip Charming. The registered capital of Shanghai Ctrip Charming as of December 31, 2005 is RMB1,500,000.

 

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Shenzhen Shencheng is a domestic company incorporated in Shenzhen, the PRC. Shenzhen Shencheng holds air transport sales agency license and is engaged in the provision of air-ticketing service. Two senior executives of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Shenzhen Shencheng. The registered capital of Shenzhen Shencheng as of December 31, 2005 is RMB1,500,000.

The capital injected by the director or senior executives are funded by the Company and were recorded as long-term business loans to related parties prior to the adoption of FIN 46. The Company does not have any ownership interest in these VIEs.

As of December 31, 2005, the Company has various agreements with its consolidated VIEs, including loan agreements, exclusive technical consulting and services agreements, share pledge agreements, exclusive option agreements and other operating agreements.

Details of certain key agreements with the VIEs are as follows:

Powers of Attorney: The equity owners of the VIEs irrevocably appointed the Company’s officers to vote on their behalf on all matters they are entitled to vote on, including matters relating to the transfer of any or all of their respective equity interests in VIEs and the appointment of the chief executive officer of the VIEs.

Share Pledge Agreements: The equity owners pledge their respective equity interests in the VIEs as a guarantee for the payment by the VIEs of technical and consulting services fees under the exclusive technical consulting and services agreements described above.

Exclusive Technical Consulting and Services Agreements: The Company provides the VIEs with technical consulting and related services and information services. The Company is the exclusive provider of these services. The initial term of these agreements is ten years. In consideration for those services, the VIEs agree to pay the Company service fees. The service fees are eliminated upon consolidation.

Business Loan Agreement: Loans were granted to certain directors and officers with the sole and exclusive purpose of providing funds necessary for the capitalization and acquisition of the VIEs. As soon as the Chinese government lifts its substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising, or Internet content provision business in the PRC, as applicable, the Company will exercise its exclusive option to purchase all outstanding equity interest of the VIEs and the Business Loan Agreements will be cancelled.

Foreign currencies

The Company’s reporting currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”). The Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs, with an exception of the subsidiary located in Hong Kong, use RMB as their functional currency. The Company’s functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates, which is RMB for most of the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs. The Company’s subsidiary located in Hong Kong operates primarily using the Hong Kong dollar (“HK$”), and therefore, the HK$ has been determined to be the functional currency for the subsidiary.

Transactions denominated in currencies other than functional currencies are translated at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of income. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the applicable exchange rates quoted by the PBOC at the balance sheet dates. All such exchange gains and losses are included in the statements of income. The exchange differences for the translation of group companies balances are included in translation adjustments, which is a separate component of shareholders’ equity on the consolidated financial statements.

Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars (“US$”) are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB8.0702, on December 31, 2005, representing the noon buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No representation is intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on December 31, 2005, or at any other rate.

 

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Cash and cash equivalents

Cash includes currency on hand and deposits held by financial institutions that can be added to or withdrawn without limitation. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and with original maturities from the date of purchase of generally three months or less. Our cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and demand deposits placed with banks or other financial institutions.

Restricted cash

Restricted cash represents cash which can not be withdrawn without the permission of a third party. The Group’s restricted cash is substantially cash balance on deposit required by one of its business partners, which is not allowed to be withdrawn until the cooperation agreement expires in March 2006.

Property, equipment and software

Property, equipment and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives, taking into account any estimated residual value:

 

Building   20 years

Leasehold improvements

  Lesser of the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets
Website-related equipment   5 years
Computer equipment   5 years
Furniture and fixtures   3-5 years
Software   5 years

Construction in progress is stated at cost. Any internal costs that are capitalized are limited to those costs that can be directly identified with the design, engineering, or construction of a specific project and should not include any costs related to production, general corporate overhead, or similar activities. In 2005, the Company started the construction of a new information and technology center in Shanghai. All direct costs of constructing the center are capitalized as construction in progress until the new building is substantially completed and available for use.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, - “Business Combination” (“SFAS No. 141”) requires that all business combinations be accounted for under the purchase method and that certain acquired intangible assets in a business combination be recognized as assets apart from goodwill. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, - “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No. 142”) requires that ratable amortization of goodwill be replaced with tests of the goodwill’s impairment performed at least annually and that identifiable intangible assets other than goodwill be amortized over their estimated useful lives. The Group adopted SFAS No. 142 in 2002 and performed the initial steps of the transitional impairment tests as required.

Separately identifiable intangible assets that have determinable lives continue to be amortized, and consist primarily of a customer list, a travel supplier agreement and a domestic and cross-border travel agency license. As required under SFAS No. 142, the Group continues to amortize intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from one to eight years. The Group has prospectively ceased the amortization of goodwill upon the adoption of SFAS No. 142.

No impairment on goodwill and other intangible assets was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 based on the test performed.

Impairment of long-lived assets

Since January 1, 2002, the Group has adopted SFAS No. 144, - “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the recognition and measurement of impairment losses for long-lived assets. In accordance with these standards, long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Group recognizes impairment of long-lived assets in the event that the net book value of such assets exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows attributable to such assets.

No impairment of long-lived assets was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

 

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Long-term loans to related parties

Long-term loans to related parties were made to a director and two senior executives of the Company to fund their acquisition or establishment of certain VIEs that are used solely to facilitate the Group’s participation in Internet content provision, advertising business, travel agency and air-ticketing services in the PRC where foreign ownership is restricted. The Group expects that it will continue to be involved in, and provide financial support to, the VIEs. Accordingly, to the extent losses not recoverable are incurred by the VIEs, the Group will accrue for such losses by recording a valuation allowance against long-term business loans to related parties. Upon adoption of FIN 46, the VIEs are consolidated and our long-term business loans to the related parties are eliminated upon consolidation.

Financial instruments

Financial instruments of the Group primarily comprise of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, due from related parties, long-term loans to related parties, accounts payable, due to related parties, advances from customers and other payables. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, their carrying value approximated their fair value.

Provisions for customer reward program

The Group’s customers participate in a reward program, which provides travel awards and other gifts to members based on accumulated membership points that vary depending on the services rendered and fees paid. The estimated incremental costs to provide free travel and other gifts are recognized as sales and marketing expense in the statements of income and accrued for as a current liability as members accumulate points. As members redeem awards or their entitlements expire, the provision is reduced correspondingly. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, the Group made provisions of RMB10,462,103 and RMB19,776,193, respectively, based on the estimated liabilities under the customer reward program.

Revenue recognition

The Group conducts its principal businesses primarily through Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Ctrip Computer Technology”), Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Ctrip Travel Information”) and Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Ctrip Travel Network”). Some of the operations of Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network are conducted through a series of services and other agreements with the VIEs.

Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information, Ctrip Travel Network and the VIEs are subject to business tax and related surcharges on the services provided in the PRC. In the statements of income, business tax and related surcharges are deducted from gross revenues to arrive at net revenues. The effective business tax and related surcharges rate is approximately 6% on gross revenues.

Hotel reservation services

The Group receives commissions from travel suppliers for hotel room reservations through the Group’s transaction and service platform. Commissions from hotel reservation services rendered are recognized after hotel customers have completed their stay at the applicable hotel and upon confirmation of pending payment of the commissions by the hotel. Contracts with certain travel suppliers contain incentive commissions typically subject to achieving specific performance targets and such incentive commissions are recognized when it is reasonably assured that the Group is entitled to such incentive commissions. The Group generally receives incentive commissions from monthly arrangements with hotels based on the number of hotel room reservations where customers have completed their stay. The Group presents revenues from such transactions on a net basis in the statements of income as the Group does not assume any inventory risks and generally has no obligations for cancelled hotel reservations.

Air-ticketing services

The Group receives commissions from travel suppliers for air-ticketing services through the Group’s transaction and service platform under various services agreements. Commissions from air-ticketing services rendered are recognized after air tickets are issued. The Group presents revenues from such transactions on a net basis in the statements of income as the Group does not assume any inventory risks and generally has no obligations for cancelled airline ticket reservations.

Packaged-tour

The Group receives referral fees from travel product providers for packaged-tour products and services through the Group’s transaction and service platform. Referral fees are recognized as commission on a net basis after the packaged-tour products are sold and collections are reasonably assured.

 

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Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming conduct domestic and cross-border travel tour services. Revenues, mainly referral fees, are recognized as commission on a net basis after the services are rendered. In case if Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Charming undertake the majority of the business risks and acts as principal related to the travel tour services provided, revenues are recognized at gross amounts received from customers after the services are rendered.

Other businesses

Other businesses comprise primarily Internet-related advertising services and the sale of VIP membership cards.

Shanghai Ctrip Commerce receives advertising revenue, which principally represent the sale of banners or sponsorship on the website from customers. Advertising revenues are recognized ratably over the fixed term of the agreement as services are provided.

Revenue from the sale of VIP membership cards is recognized when the products are sold, provided that no significant obligations remain for the Group.

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The allowance for doubtful accounts is our best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in our existing accounts receivable. Our reserve for doubtful accounts is based on (i) our specific assessment of the collectibility of all significant accounts; and (ii) any specific knowledge we have acquired that might indicate that an account is uncollectible. The facts and circumstances of each account may require us to use substantial judgment in assessing its collectibility.

Cost of services

Cost of services consists primarily of payroll compensation, telecommunication expenses, credit card service fee, direct cost of principal travel tour services, depreciation, rentals and related expenses incurred by the Group’s transaction and service platform which are directly attributable to the rendering of the Group’s travel related services and other businesses.

Product development

Product development costs include expenses incurred by the Group to develop the Group’s travel supplier networks as well as to maintain, monitor and manage the Group’s transaction and service platforms. The Group recognizes website and software development costs in accordance with Statement of Position (“SOP”) No. 98-1 - “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use”. As such, the Group expenses all costs that are incurred in connection with the planning and implementation phases of development and costs that are associated with repair or maintenance of the existing websites or the development of software and websites content. Costs incurred in the development phase are capitalized and amortized over the estimated product life.

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing costs consist primarily of costs of advertising expenses, commission fees, production costs of marketing materials, expenses associated with the Company’s customer reward program and payroll and related compensation for the Company’s sales and marketing personnel. Advertising expenses, amounted to RMB5,245,937, RMB10,648,334 and RMB16,750,270 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively, are charged to the statements of income when incurred.

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation arrangements in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25 - “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”), and complies with the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123 - “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). In general, compensation cost under APB No. 25 is recognized based on the difference, if any, between the estimated fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares and the amount an employee is required to pay to acquire the ordinary shares, as determined on the date the option is granted. Total compensation cost as determined at the grant date of option is recorded in shareholders’ equity as additional paid-in-capital with an offsetting entry recorded to deferred share-based compensation. Deferred share-based compensation is amortized on a straight-line basis and charged to expense over the vesting period of the underlying options.

 

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If the compensation cost for the Company’s share-based compensation plan had been determined based on the estimated fair value at the grant dates for the share option awards as prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income attributable to ordinary shareholders and earnings per ordinary share would have resulted in the pro forma amounts disclosed below:

 

     2003     2004     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders as reported

   1,373,167     133,126,290     224,245,824  

Add: Compensation expense under APB No. 25

   1,583,409     1,958,022     1,776,852  

Less: Compensation expense under SFAS No. 123

   (2,172,399 )   (5,720,437 )   (33,429,286 )
                  

Pro forma net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

   784,177     129,363,875     192,593,390  
                  

Basic earnings per ordinary share

      

— As reported

   0.13     4.33     7.06  
                  

— Pro forma

   0.07     4.21     6.06  
                  

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

      

— As reported

   0.11     4.23     6.91  
                  

— Pro forma

   0.06     4.11     5.94  
                  

The effects of applying SFAS No. 123 methodology in this pro forma disclosure are not indicative of future amounts. Additional share option awards in future years are expected.

The Company calculated the estimated fair value of share options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing method with the following assumptions:

 

     2003    2004    2005

Risk-free interest rate

   2.65%    2.65%    3.65%-4.44%

Expected life (years)

   5    5    4

Expected dividend yield

   0    0    0.66%

Volatility

   0    65% ~ 76%    55% ~ 64%

Fair value of options at grant date per ordinary share

   from US$0.6701
to US$2.8505
   from US$7.5838
to US$9.4613
   from US$8.7288
to US$11.7557

Operating leases

Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases net of any incentives received by the Group from the leasing company are charged to the statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease periods.

Taxation

Deferred income taxes are provided using the balance sheet liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of significant temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion of, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Other income

Other income primarily consists of financial subsidies and insurance sales income. During the year ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Group received financial subsidies amounted to RMB4,991,204, RMB6,165,086 and RMB17,917,051, respective, from local PRC government authority. Such amounts were recorded as other income in the statement of income. There are no defined rules and regulations to govern the criteria necessary for companies to enjoy such benefits and the amount of financial subsidy are determined at the discretion of the relevant government authority. Financial subsidies are recognized as other income when received.

Statutory reserves

The Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs are required to allocate at least 10% of their after-tax profit to the general reserve in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and regulations. The allocation to the general reserve can be stopped if such reserve has reached 50% of the registered capital of each company. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund, staff welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the board of directors of Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information and Ctrip Travel Network, the subsidiaries of the Company. In addition, the VIEs are required to allocate at least 5% of its after-tax profit to the statutory welfare fund. These reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to the Company in form of loans, advances, or cash dividends. During the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, appropriations to statutory reserves have been made of RMB5,531,309, RMB13,725,553 and RMB22,512,619, respectively.

 

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Dividends

Dividends are recognized when declared.

PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The Company’s PRC subsidiaries can only distribute dividends after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves (Note 2). Additionally, as the Company does not have any direct ownership in the VIEs, the VIEs cannot directly distribute dividends to the Company.

As a result of the aforementioned PRC regulation and the Company’s organizational structure, accumulated profits of the subsidiaries in PRC distributable in the form of dividends to the parent as of December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 are RMB50 million, RMB170 million and RMB285 million, respectively. The Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are able to enter into royalty and trademark license agreements or certain other contractual arrangements at the discretion of the Company without third party consent, for which the compensatory element of the arrangement is excluded from the accumulated profits.

On August 27, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors resolved to distribute all equity interest of the Company in Home Inns Hong Kong to the then existing holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and ordinary shares, respectively, as dividends on a pro rata as-converted basis, based on the carrying value of the equity interest which was RMB4,611,623. The allocation for the dividends to the then existing holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and ordinary shares were RMB808,827, RMB2,020,237 and RMB1,782,559, respectively. The number of shares of Home Inns Hong Kong distributed to the holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and ordinary shares were 1,543,427 shares, 3,855,067 shares and 3,401,506 shares, respectively.

On November 5, 2004, the Company announced that the shareholders have adopted a resolution to approve the Company’s proposed distribution of 30% of its net income for 2004 (as reported in the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004) to the shareholders as dividend provided that the Company’s net income for 2004 exceeds US$10 million. The Company’s Board of Directors has also approved such proposed dividend distribution. The Company has accrued RMB39,937,887 dividend payable for the year ended December 31, 2004.

On October 21, 2005, the Company announced that the shareholders have adopted a resolution to approve the Company’s proposed distribution of 30% of its net income for 2005 (as reported in the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005) as dividends to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2006. The Board of Directors has also approved such proposed dividend distribution. The Company has accrued RMB67,273,747 dividend payable for the year ended December 31, 2005.

Earnings per share

In accordance with SFAS No. 128, “Computation of Earnings Per Share” (“SFAS No. 128”) and EITF Issue 03-6, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128,” basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of unrestricted ordinary shares outstanding during the year using the two-class method. Under the two class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other participating securities based on their participating rights. The Company’s Series A, B and C Preferred Shares (Note 10-12) were participating securities. Diluted earnings per ordinary share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Ordinary equivalent shares consist of the ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the convertible preferred shares (using the if-converted method) and ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding share options (using the treasury stock method).

Segment reporting

The Company operates and manages its business as a single segment. In accordance with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segment of an Enterprise and Related Information”(SFAS No. 131) the Company’s chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the CEO, who reviews operating results to make decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance for the entire company. All material operating segments qualify for aggregation under SFAS No. 131 due to similarities in the following: customer base; economic characteristics; nature of products and services; nature of production processes, distribution method and regulatory environment. Since the Company operates in one reportable segment and in one group of similar products and services, all financial segment and product information required by SFAS No. 131 can be found in the Consolidated Statements.

The Company primarily generates its revenues from customers in China. Accordingly, no geographical segments are presented.

 

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Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections — a Replacement of APB Opinion No.20 and FASB Statement No.3” (“SFAS No. 154”), which requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of every voluntary change in accounting principal unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS No. 154 is effective for accounting changes and corrections of errors beginning in the Company’s fiscal year 2006. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which replaced SFAS No. 123 and superseded APB No. 25. SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on their grant date fair values. Under SFAS No. 123R, the pro forma disclosures previously permitted no longer will be an alternative to financial statement recognition. In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (“SAB 107”) regarding the SEC’s interpretation of SFAS No. 123R and the valuation of share-based payments for public companies.

The Company will adopt SFAS No. 123R and related FASB Staff Position starting from the first quarter of 2006. The Company will apply the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of share-based payments to employees, and will recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The Company will apply the modified prospective method, which requires that compensation expense be recorded for all unvested stock options upon adoption of SFAS No. 123R. The Company estimates the stock option compensation expense for the first quarter of 2006, due to the effect of adoption of SFAS No. 123R, to be less than RMB15 million.

Certain risks and concentration

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, due from related parties and prepayments and other current assets. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, substantially all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents was held in major financial institutions located in the PRC and in Hong Kong, which management considers to be of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are generally unsecured and denominated in RMB, and are derived from revenues earned from operations arising in the PRC.

No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2004 and 2005.

Reclassifications

Certain accounts for prior years have been reclassified with no effect on net income or retained earnings to conform to the 2005 financial statement presentation.

3. INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURE COMPANIES

In 2002, Home Inns Hong Kong, an investment holding company, together with a Chinese joint venture partner, established joint venture companies engaged in hotel investment, management and franchise operations in the PRC.

Prior to the spin-off of Home Inns Hong Kong, the operations of the joint venture companies were not included in the consolidated financial statements as the Group did not exercise effective control over these companies due to certain substantive participating rights held by the minority shareholders.

On August 27, 2003, all the equity interest in Home Inns Hong Kong and its interest in the joint venture companies were distributed to the then existing holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares and ordinary shares as share dividends on a pro rata as-converted basis.

Combined financial information of the joint venture companies as of and for the year ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, based on their management accounts, are as follows:

 

     2002     2003  
     RMB     RMB  
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Balance sheet:

    

Current assets

   5,448,470     —    

Less: current liabilities

   (2,331,894 )   —    

Non-current assets

   6,160,108     —    
            

Net assets

   9,276,684     —    
            

Statement of operations:

    

Revenues

   4,414,845     21,138,389 *

Net loss

   (723,316 )   715,479 *

* Comprised result of operations of the joint venture companies up to August 27, 2003.

 

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4. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Components of prepayments and other current assets as of December 31 are as follows:

 

     2004    2005
     RMB    RMB

Prepayments for hotel, air-ticketing reservation and packaged-tour business

   5,445,810    19,856,114

Employee advances

   295,181    448,497

Inventory for resale

   675,629    1,006,300

Rental and other deposits

   1,152,178    5,613,008

Prepayments for acquisition of property, equipment and software

   291,359    2,027,506

Prepayments for rental and advertisement

   2,970,890    3,905,203

Receivables from financial institution

   5,696,045    8,363,523

Interest receivable

   449,970    999,538

Others

   1,526,716    1,255,609
         

Total

   18,503,778    43,475,298
         

5. LONG-TERM DEPOSITS

The Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs are required to pay certain amounts of deposit to airline companies to obtain blank air tickets for sales to customers. The subsidiaries and VIEs are also required to pay deposit to local Travel Bureau as pledge for insurance of traveler’s safety. All long-term deposits are refundable and cancelable.

Components of long-term deposit as of December 31 are as follows:

 

     2004    2005
     RMB    RMB

Deposits paid to airline suppliers

   23,306,500    48,167,800

Deposit paid to travel bureau

   1,150,000    2,400,000

Others

   2,259,047    3,717,001
         

Total

   26,715,547    54,284,801
         

6. LONG-TERM PREPAYMENT

Long-term prepayment as of December 31, 2005 for amounted to RMB66,430,515 is related to the payment to acquire land use rights for approximately 16,670 square meters of land in Shanghai, on which the Group plans to build the aforementioned new information and technology center.

7. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE

Property, equipment and software and its related accumulated depreciation and amortization as of December 31 are as follows:

 

     2004     2005  
     RMB     RMB  

Building

   7,569,600     7,947,600  

Leasehold improvements

   6,424,504     3,780,782  

Website-related equipment

   8,870,806     11,421,158  

Computer equipment

   14,988,961     27,908,100  

Furniture and fixtures

   9,542,627     13,082,293  

Software

   621,363     5,152,363  

Construction in progress

   —       5,097,318  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

   (16,120,210 )   (20,837,371 )
            

Total net book value

   31,897,651     53,552,243  
            

 

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8. OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization and net book value of other intangible assets as of December 31 are as follows:

 

     2004     2005  
     RMB     RMB  

Other intangible assets —

    

Customer list

   1,766,206     1,766,206  

Cross-border travel agency license

   1,117,277     1,117,277  
            
   2,883,483     2,883,483  
            

Less: accumulated amortization —

    

Customer list

   (1,486,555 )   (1,766,206 )

Cross-border travel agency license

   (174,575 )   (314,227 )
            
   (1,661,130 )   (2,080,433 )
            

Net book value

   1,222,353     803,050  
            

The annual estimated amortization expense for the acquired intangible assets for the following years is as follows:

 

     Amortization
     RMB

2006

   139,660

2007

   139,660

2008

   139,660

2009

   139,660

2010 and thereafter

   244,410
    
   803,050
    

9. TAXATION

Cayman Islands

Under the current laws of Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gain. In addition, upon payments of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.

Hong Kong

The Company’s subsidiaries did not have assessable profits that were earned in or derived from Hong Kong during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Accordingly, no Hong Kong profit tax has been provided for.

China

The Company’s subsidiaries, its VIEs and joint venture companies registered in the PRC are subject to PRC Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) on the taxable income as reported in their respective statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with relevant PRC income tax laws. Normally, in accordance with “Income Tax Law of China for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign Enterprises,” the applicable EIT rates are 30% plus a local income tax of 3% except for Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information, Shanghai Huacheng and Shenzhen Shencheng.

Ctrip Computer Technology received approval from relevant PRC government authorities to be classified as a “High New Technology Development Enterprise” in September 2003 and subsequently received an approval from the relevant tax bureau to enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 15% for the year ended December 31, 2003. Accordingly, EIT previously accrued on a rate of 33% of approximately RMB5 million during the period from January 1, 2003 to September 30, 2003 was reversed to reflect the preferential EIT rate of 15% in the fourth quarter of 2003. Ctrip Computer Technology’s qualification for the above preferential EIT rate is subject to annual re-assessment by the relevant government authorities.

Ctrip Travel Information historically enjoyed a preferential income tax rate of 15% as it is registered in Pudong New District, Shanghai. During the fourth quarter of 2004, Ctrip Travel Information obtained approval from the relevant tax bureau for full exemption of income tax for 2004 and a 50% reduction of the income tax statutory rate for the period from 2005 to 2007 as it obtained the status of “software development company”. Accordingly, income tax previously paid for 2004 at the 15% rate of approximately RMB8 million was refunded and the amount has been reflected as a tax benefit for the fourth quarter of 2004. Ctrip Travel Information’s qualification for the above preferential EIT rate is also subject to annual re-assessment by the relevant government authorities.

 

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Table of Contents

Shanghai Huacheng is entitled to a 30% tax reduction for each of the years from 2004 to 2006 due to its classification as an entity that provides job opportunities for unemployed individuals. Shanghai Huacheng’s preferential tax treatment is also subject to annual re-assessment by relevant government authorities.

Shenzhen Shencheng is entitled to a preferential tax rate of 15% as granted by the local tax bureau, because it is registered in the city of Shenzhen in China.

Composition of income tax expense

The current and deferred portion of income tax expense included in the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31 are as follows:

 

     2003     2004     2005  
     RMB     RMB     RMB  

Current income tax expense

   (10,197,561 )   (12,985,224 )   (31,703,168 )

Recognition (utilization) of deferred tax assets

   (51,843 )   468,103     1,125,768  
                  

Income tax expense

   (10,249,404 )   (12,517,121 )   (30,577,400 )
                  

Reconciliation of the differences between statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate

A reconciliation between the statutory EIT rate and the Group’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31 is as follows:

 

     2003     2004     2005  

Statutory EIT rate

   33 %   33 %   33 %

Tax differential from statutory rate applicable to subsidiaries in the PRC

   (20 )%   (25 )%   (21 )%

Non-deductible expenses incurred outside the PRC

   3 %   1 %   0 %
                  

Effective EIT rate

   16 %   9 %   12 %
                  

Significant components of deferred tax assets

 

     2004     2005  
     RMB     RMB  

Provisions for customer reward program

   1,264,403     2,265,269  

Provisions for electric coupons

   —       191,364  

Deferred tax liabilities

   (255,000 )   (321,462 )
            

Total deferred tax assets

   1,009,403     2,135,171  
            

We have not recorded any valuation allowances to reduce our deferred tax assets, as we believe that our deferred tax asset amounts are more likely than not to be realized based on our estimate of future taxable income and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.

10. SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES

In March 2000, the Company entered into a Series A Preferred Share Subscription Agreement, whereby the Company authorized and issued 432,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred Shares”) at an issue price of $10.4167 per share. In June 6, 2000, the Company increased the number of Series A Preferred Shares from 432,000 shares to 4,320,000 shares by decreasing the par value from US$0.10 each to US$0.01 each. The authorized and issued Series A Preferred Shares were increased to 4,320,000 shares accordingly.

A holder of Series A Preferred Shares could convert all but not part at any time after issuance date into such number of fully paid and non-assessable ordinary shares at a conversion price of US$1.04167 (each Series A Convertible Preferred Share was convertible into one ordinary share). No beneficial conversion feature charge was recognized for the issuance of Series A Preferred Shares as the estimated fair value of the ordinary shares was less than the conversion price on the date of issuance.

Each Series A Preferred Share was automatically converted into ordinary shares at the then effective conversion price upon the closing of a qualified underwritten public offering of the ordinary shares of the Company. Upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering on December 9, 2003, all of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Shares were converted into ordinary shares.

 

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Table of Contents

11. SERIES B REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES

In November 2000, the Company entered into a Series B Preferred Shares Subscription Agreement, whereby the Company authorized and issued 7,193,464 shares of the Company’s Series B Mandatory Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series B Preferred Shares”) at an issue price of US$1.5667 per share.

Prior to the issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, each Series B Preferred Share were redeemable at the option of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Shares at any time commencing five calendar years after the Series B Preferred Shares issue date, at a redemption price equal to US$3.13334 per share plus all declared but unpaid dividends.

A holder of Series B Preferred Shares could convert all but not part at any time after issuance date into such number of fully paid and non-assessable ordinary shares at an initial conversion price of US$1.04445 (each Series B Convertible Preferred Share was convertible into 1.5 ordinary shares). Upon the issuance of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, holders of Series B Preferred Shares agreed to forfeit its redemption rights for no consideration.

No beneficial conversion feature charge was recognized for the issuance of Series B Preferred Shares as the estimated fair value of the ordinary shares was less than the conversion price on the date of issuance.

Each Series B Preferred Share was automatically converted into ordinary shares at the then effective conversion price upon the closing of a qualified underwritten public offering of the ordinary shares of the Company. Upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering on December 9, 2003, all of the issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Shares were converted into ordinary shares.

12. SERIES C CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES

In September 2003, the Company entered into a Series C Preferred Share Subscription Agreement, whereby the Company authorized and issued 2,180,755 shares of the Company’s Series C Convertible Preferred Shares (“Series C Preferred Shares”) at an issue price of $4.5856 per share.

In September 2003, immediately after the issuance of Series C Preferred Shares, the net proceeds received from investors were fully utilized to repurchase 842,938, 382,482 and 636,891 shares of Company’s ordinary shares, Series A and Series B Preferred Shares at US$4.5282, US$4.5282 and US$6.7924, respectively, on a pro-rata as-converted basis. The repurchase price per share for each class of shares was determined based on the issuance price of Series C Preferred Shares adjusted for the legal and professional fees and conversion features, where applicable.

As the purchase price of the Series A and Series B Preferred Shares were higher than the carrying value on the date of the repurchase, the excess of the purchase price over the carrying value were recognized as deemed dividends to the holders of Preferred Shares upon repurchase. The amount of deemed dividend was RMB11,223,324 and RMB24,112,826 for Series A and Series B Preferred Shares, respectively.

A holder of Series C Preferred Shares could convert all but not part at any time after issuance date into such number of fully paid and non-assessable ordinary shares at a conversion price of US$4.5856 (each Series C Convertible Preferred Share was convertible into one ordinary share).

No beneficial conversion feature charge was recognized for the issuance of Series C Preferred Shares as the estimated fair value of the ordinary shares was less than the conversion price on the date of issuance.

Each Series C Preferred Share was automatically converted into ordinary shares at the then effective conversion price upon the closing of a qualified underwritten public offering of the ordinary shares of the Company. Upon the completion of the Company’s initial public offering on December 9, 2003, all of the issued and outstanding Series C Preferred Shares were converted into ordinary shares.

13. SHARE OPTION PLAN

On April 15, 2000, the Company adopted a share option plan that provides for the issuance of up to 144,000 ordinary shares in effect for a term of 10 years unless terminated earlier by shareholders and Board of Directors (“2000 Option Plan”). Under the 2000 Option Plan, the directors may, at their discretion, grant any employees, officers and directors of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to take up share options to subscribe for shares. These share options are vested over a period of 3 years and can be exercised within 5 years from the date of grant. On June 6, 2000, the Company increased the number of ordinary shares from 2,000,000 shares to 20,000,000 shares by decreasing the par value from US$0.10 each to US$0.01 each. The total number of ordinary shares reserved for the 2000 Option Plan increased from 144,000 to 1,440,000 accordingly. On July 1, 2001, the total number of ordinary shares reserved for the 2000 Option Plan was further increased to 1,728,000 shares. All share options granted under the 2000 Option Plan have an exercise price of US$0.7716. As of December 31, 2005, 53,290 options were outstanding under the 2000 Option Plan.

 

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes the Company’s share option activity under the 2000 Option Plan as of and for the years ended December 31:

 

     2003     2004     2005  

Outstanding at beginning of year

   1,448,720     1,389,880     195,030  

Granted

   113,200     —       —    

Exercised

   (144,000 )   (1,155,972 )   (141,740 )

Forfeited

   (28,040 )   (38,878 )   —    
                  

Outstanding at end of year

   1,389,880     195,030     53,290  
                  

Vested and exercisable at end of year

   1,114,680     66,529     53,290  
                  

On April 15, 2003, the Company adopted a new share option plan that provides for the issuance of up to 1,187,510 ordinary shares (“2003 Option Plan”). Under this share option plan, the directors may, at their discretion, grant any employees, officers and directors of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to take up share options to subscribe for shares. These share options are vested over a period of 3 years and can be exercised within 5 years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2005, 587,694 options were outstanding under the 2003 Option Plan.

The following table summarizes the Company’s share option activity under the 2003 Option Plan as of and for the years ended December 31:

 

     2003     2004     2005  

Outstanding at beginning of year

   —       977,440     933,047  

Granted

   980,640     257,600     —    

Exercised

   —       (234,177 )   (330,829 )

Forfeited

   (3,200 )   (67,816 )   (14,524 )
                  

Outstanding at end of year

   977,440     933,047     587,694  
                  

Vested and exercisable at end of year

   —       90,303     374,831  
                  

On November 5, 2004, the board of directors adopted a 2005 Employee’s Stock Option Plan (“2005 Option Plan”), which will cover the Company’s option issuances during the period from 2005 to 2009. The Company has reserved 3,000,000 ordinary shares for future issuances of options under the 2005 Option Plan. The terms of the 2005 Option Plan are substantially similar to the Company’s 2003 Option Plan. As of December 31, 2005, 1,761,180 options were outstanding under the 2005 Option Plan.

The following table summarizes the Company’s share option activity under the 2005 Option Plan as of and for the year ended 2005:

 

     2005  

Outstanding at beginning of year

   —    

Granted

   1,813,580  

Exercised

   —    

Forfeited

   (52,400 )
      

Outstanding at end of year

   1,761,180  
      

Vested and exercisable at end of year

   324,524  
      

The following is additional information relating to options outstanding as of December 31, 2005:

 

     Outstanding    Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices

   Number of
shares
   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
  

Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual

Life (Years)

  

Number of

shares

   Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
  

Weighted-average
Remaining
Contractual

Life (Years)

$0-$4.99

   362,616    1.9133    2.2133    315,081    1.8836    2.2077

$5.00-$7.49

   90,350    6.5001    2.8333    42,757    6.5821    2.8333

$7.50-$9.99

   21,498    7.6500    2.8750    11,289    7.6500    2.8750

$10.00-$16.99

   166,520    13.3079    3.4781    58,994    13.0598    3.4576

$17.00-$22.99

   1,005,080    19.5998    4.1306    303,488    19.5468    4.1164

$22.99-$26.99

   756,100    26.2250    4.9167    21,036    26.2250    4.9167
                     
   2,402,164          752,645      
                     

In connection with the share options granted, the Company recognized deferred share-based compensation amounted to RMB3,917,947 for 2003 and zero for both 2004 and 2005. Deferred share-based compensation is being amortized over the vesting period of three years. Share-based compensation expense recognized during the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, amounted to RMB1,583,409, RMB1,958,022 and RMB1,776,852, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

14. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The full-time employees of Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information, Ctrip Travel Network and the VIEs, which were established in the PRC, are entitled to staff welfare benefits including medical care, welfare subsidies, unemployment insurance and pension benefits. Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information, Ctrip Travel Network and the VIEs are required to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries in accordance with the relevant PRC regulations and make contributions to the state-sponsored pension and medical plans out of the amounts accrued for medical and pension benefits. The total provision accrued for such employee benefits amounted to RMB4,973,561, RMB11,818,432 and RMB19,204,326 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. The PRC government is responsible for the medical benefits and ultimate pension liability to these employees.

15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the years ended December 31, significant related party transactions are as follows:

 

     2003    2004    2005
     RMB    RMB    RMB

Air-ticketing service fees from Beijing Chenhao (Note a)

   1,358,612    —      —  

Packaged-tour service fees from Shanghai Huacheng (Note a)

   140,000    —      —  

Advertising service fees from Shanghai Ctrip Commerce (Note a)

   678,502    —      —  

Commission income from Home Inns Hong Kong and its affiliates

   622,452    489,432    512,724

Sales and marketing expense to Home Inns Hong Kong and its affiliates

   160,000    —      —  

Rental expense to a related party

   500,000    500,000    550,000

(Note a) Prior to the adoption of FIN 46 in July 2003, Beijing Chenhao, Shanghai Huacheng and Shanghai Ctrip Commerce were considered related parties as these VIEs were owned by directors and senior executives of the Company. Upon the adoption of FIN 46, these VIEs are included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

As of December 31, significant balances with related parties are as follows:

 

     2004    2005
     RMB    RMB

Due from related parties:

     

Due from Home Inns Hong Kong and its affiliates

   59,252    602,043
         

Long-term loans to related parties:

     

— Senior executives

   500,000    —  
         

Due to related parties:

     

Advance from a director for stock option

   2,677,668    1,238,683

Due to other related parties

   701,312    1,090,472
         
   3,378,980    2,329,155
         

The amounts due from and due to related parties as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 primarily resulted from the transactions disclosed above and revenue received and expenses paid on behalf on each other. They are unsecured, interest-free and have no fixed repayment terms.

The long-term loans to related parties as of December 31, 2004 represented loan granted to two senior executives for the purpose of establishing a VIE. However, the VIE was subsequently de-registered and the full amount was subsequently repaid to the Group.

In 2003, a director made payment of RMB4,018,284 to the Company for early exercise of his options issued under the 2003 Option Plan to purchase 230,000 ordinary shares. In connection with the early exercise, the Company has a call option to repurchase the shares that are not yet vested if the employee terminates prior to the option’s vesting at the original exercise price. As the early exercise of the options is not considered a substantial exercise for accounting purposes, the cash paid for the exercise price is recognized as a liability, which is reduced when options are exercised and such ordinary shares are not considered issued.

 

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Table of Contents

16. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS

Components of other payables and accruals as of December 31 are as follows:

 

     2004    2005
     RMB    RMB

Deposits received from suppliers

   1,349,962    3,576,335

Accrued operating expenses

   8,376,133    12,727,320

Accrued for outstanding land use right fees

   —      25,000,000

Deferred revenue

   —      160,000

Others

   1,029,695    1,551,255
         

Total

   10,755,790    43,014,910
         

17. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per ordinary share and diluted earnings per ordinary share have been calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 128 as follows:

 

     2003     2004    2005
     RMB     RMB    RMB

Numerator:

       

Net income

   53,813,515     133,126,290    224,245,824

Accretion for Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares

   (12,365,534 )   —      —  

Dividends to holders of Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Shares for spin-off of joint venture companies

   (2,829,064 )   —      —  

Deemed dividends upon repurchase of Preferred Shares

   (35,336,150 )   —      —  

Amount allocated to participating preference shareholders

   (1,909,600 )   —      —  
               

Numerator for basic earnings per ordinary share and numerator for diluted earnings per ordinary share

   1,373,167     133,126,290    224,245,824
               

Denominator:

       

Denominator for basic earnings per ordinary share

       

- weighted average ordinary shares outstanding

   10,605,957     30,712,466    31,762,419

Dilutive effect of share options

   1,706,250     792,236    678,712
               

Denominator for diluted earnings per ordinary share

   12,312,207     31,504,702    32,441,131
               

Basic earnings per ordinary share

   0.13     4.33    7.06
               

Diluted earnings per ordinary share

   0.11     4.23    6.91
               

In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-06, “Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128” (“EITF No. 03-06”). EITF No. 03-06 provides guidance regarding the computation of earnings per share by companies that have issued securities other than common share that entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company. In addition, EITF No. 03-06 provides guidance on what constitutes a participating security and requires the application of the two-class method in determining earnings per share. EITF No. 03-06 became effective in the quarter ended June 30, 2004. EITF No. 03-06 requires prior period earnings per share amounts to be restated to conform to the consensus to ensure comparability on a period-over-period basis. Accordingly, the Group has applied EITF No. 03-06 to all years presented in the consolidated financial statements and adjusted the earnings per ordinary share as previously stated. Basic earnings per ordinary share and diluted earning per ordinary share reported in the Company 2003 annual report for year 2003 were 0.31 and 0.23 respectively. Earnings per ordinary share for year 2004 and 2005 are in compliance with EITF No. 03-06.

 

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Table of Contents

18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Operating lease commitments

The Company has entered into leasing arrangements relating to office premises, equipment and others that are classified as operating leases. Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

 

    

Office

premises

     RMB

2006

   8,685,251

2007

   2,553,315

2008

   426,806

2009

   284,538
    
   11,949,910
    

Rental expense amounted to RMB3,505,259, RMB6,269,028 and RMB9,498,348 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Rental expense is charged to the statements of income when incurred.

Capital commitments

As of December 31, 2005, the Company had outstanding purchase commitments totaling RMB122,343,922, most of which is related to the construction of the aforementioned new information and technology center and purchase of call center equipment.

Guarantee

In connection with our air-ticketing business, the Company on behalf of its VIEs is required by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to provide guarantees for tickets obtained from various airlines. As of December 31, 2005, the amount under these guarantee arrangements was approximately RMB180 million. Based on historical experience and information currently available, we do not believe that it is probable that we will be required to pay any amount under these guarantee arrangements. Therefore, we have not recorded any liability beyond what is required in connection with these guarantee arrangements.

Contingencies

The Company is incorporated in Cayman Islands and is considered as a foreign entity under PRC laws. Due to the restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and internet content provision businesses, the Company conducts these businesses partly through various VIEs. These VIEs hold the licenses and approvals that are essential for the Company’s business operations. In the opinion of the Company’s PRC legal counsel, the current ownership structures and the contractual arrangements with these VIEs and their shareholders as well as the operations of these VIEs are in compliance with all existing PRC laws, rules and regulations. However, there may be changes and other developments in PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that PRC government authorities will not take a view in the future contrary to the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel. If the current ownership structures of the Company and its contractual arrangements with VIEs were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the Company may be required to restructure its ownership structure and operations in China to comply with changing and new Chinese laws and regulations.

19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On March 12, 2006, our wholly-owned subsidiary C-Travel International, Ltd., a Cayman Island company (“C-Travel”), formed a strategic alliance with ezTravel Co., Ltd., a leading online travel service provider in Taiwan that offers both individual and group tours in addition to hotel and airline tickets reservation services (“ezTravel”), by taking a minority interest in ezTravel. The transaction has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both C-Travel and ezTravel. Closing of the transaction is subject to the customary closing conditions. This transaction has not had, and is not expected to have, a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

On March 31, 2006, the Company announced a change in the ratio of its ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS representing two ordinary shares to one ADS representing one ordinary share, effective on April 11, 2006. For Ctrip’s ADS holders, this ratio change had the same effect as a two-for-one ADS split. ADSs and per ADS amount in this annual report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the change in ratio for all periods presented.

 

F-21

Employment and Confidentiality Agreement

Exhibit 4.5

CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

EMPLOYMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT


EMPLOYMENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

This Employment and Confidentiality Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of this 1st December day of 2005 (“Effective Date”) by and between Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”) and Ms. Jie Sun (the “Employee”).

(The Company and the Employee are hereinafter referred to individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.)

WHEREAS, the Company desires to engage the services of Employee and the Employee desires to perform such services upon the terms and conditions set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereafter set forth, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1 APPOINTMENT

 

1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Company agrees to employ Employee and cause its subsidiary Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Limited (“Ctrip Shanghai”) to employ Employee as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and Ctrip Shanghai, and Employee agrees to serve the Company and Ctrip Shanghai in such capacity, and/or in such other capacity as the Company and the Employee may from time to time agree upon, on the terms set out in this Agreement (“Appointment”).

ARTICLE 2 DUTIES

 

2.1 The Employee shall be responsible for financial management of the Company and Ctrip Shanghai in accordance with this Agreement, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (the “Articles of Association”), and the guidelines, policies and procedures of the Company approved from time to time by the Board.

 

2.2 The Employee shall use his best endeavor to perform Employee’s duties hereunder and hereby agrees that Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Board, become an employee of any entity other than the Company and shall not be concerned or interested in any other business directly competitive with that carried on by the Company, provided that nothing in this clause shall preclude the Employee from holding or being otherwise interested in any shares or other securities of any company any part of those share capital is listed or dealt in on any stock exchange or recognized securities market anywhere and the Employee should notifies the Company in writing of his interest in such shares or securities in a timely manner and with such details and particulars as the Company may reasonably require.

 

2


ARTICLE 3 REMUNERATION

 

3.1 In consideration for the services rendered by the Employee to the Company and Ctrip Shanghai hereunder, the Company shall cause Ctrip Shanghai to pay to the Employee a salary (the “Salary”) consisting of (i) a fixed component and (ii) a variable component as indicated in Appendix 1.

 

3.2 Salary shall be deemed to accrue from day to day, with the first monthly installment calculated from the Effective Date and the last monthly installment calculated down to the Expiration Date, or, in the event of early termination, to the date this Agreement is terminated, whichever is earlier.

 

3.3 The Employee shall be solely responsible for all individual income tax and any other tax whatsoever imposed under applicable law of the jurisdiction of the Company and Ctrip Shanghai, or otherwise on the Salary and any other amounts paid to the Employee by the Company for Employee’s employment.

 

3.4 The Company or Ctrip Shanghai shall reimburse travel, hotel and other out-of-pocket expenses properly incurred by the Employee in the course of Employee’s employment.

ARTICLE 4 PAID HOLIDAY AND SICK LEAVE

 

4.1 The Employee shall be paid in full during any period of absence from work due to sickness or injury not exceeding 15 working days in any period of 12 months, and to the production of satisfactory evidence from a qualified medical practitioner in respect of any period of absence in excess of 14 consecutive working days. The Employee’s salary during any period of absence due to sickness or injury shall be inclusive of any sickness allowance or other amount to which he is entitled from the Company.

 

4.2 The Employee shall be entitled to a 5 day vacation days in the first year, and the number of vacation days will increase to 7 days in the second year, 9 days in the third year, 11 days in the fourth year, 13 days in the fifth year and 15 days in the sixth year. Any entitlement to holiday remaining at the end of any contract year may not be carried forward to the next year.

ARTICLE 5 CONFIDENTIALITY

 

5.1 Save insofar as such information is already lawfully in the public domain, the Employee shall keep secret and shall not at any time (whether during the Term or thereafter) use for Employee’s own or any third party’s advantage, or reveal to any person, firm, company or organization and shall use Employee’s best endeavors to prevent the publication or disclosure of all Confidential Information (as defined herein below).

 

5.2 If the Employee breaches this obligation of confidentiality, the Employee shall be liable to the Company for all damages (direct or consequential) incurred as a result of the Employee’s breach.

 

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5.3 The restrictions in this Article 5 shall not apply to any disclosure or use authorized by the Board or required by law or by the intended performance of this Agreement.

 

5.4 Confidential Information”, for the purpose of this Agreement, shall mean information relating to the business, customers, products and affairs of the Company (including without limitation marketing information) deemed confidential by the Company, treated by the Company or which the Employee knows or ought reasonably to have known to be confidential, and trade secrets, including without limitation designs, processes, pricing policies, methods, inventions, technology, technical data, financial information and know-how relating to the business of the Company.

For purposes of Articles 5 and 6 of this Agreement, the Company shall include all subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities of the Company, including without limitation, Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited, Ctrip Shanghai, and Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Limited.

 

5.5 All notes, memoranda, records, drawings, designs, sketches, writing (by whatever medium kept or made) concerning the business of the Company or customers of the Company made or received by the Employee during the course of the Employee’s employment shall be and remain the exclusive property of the Company and shall be handed over by the Employee to the Company upon the request of the Company at any time during the course of Employee’s employment and at the termination of this Agreement or in any event upon Employee’s leaving the service of the Company.

ARTICLE 6 NON-COMPETITION

 

6.l In consideration of the Salary paid to the Employee by the Company, the Employee agrees that during the Term and for a period of two (2) years following the termination or expiration of this Agreement (for whatever reason):

 

  (a) Employee will not approach clients, customers or contacts of the Company or other persons or entities introduced to Employee in Employee’s capacity as a representative of the Company for the purposes of doing business with such persons or entities and will not interfere with the business relationship between the Company and such persons and/or entities;

 

  (b) unless expressly consented to by the Company, Employee will not assume employment with or provide services as a director or otherwise for any competitor of the Company, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, in any business which is in direct or indirect competition with the business of the Company; and

 

  (c) unless expressly consented to by the Company, Employee will not seek directly or indirectly, by the offer of alternative employment or other inducement whatsoever, to solicit the services of any employee of the Company employed as at the date of such termination, or in the year preceding such termination.

 

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6.2 The provisions provided in Article 6.1 shall be separate and severable and enforceable independently of each other and independent of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

6.3 The provisions contained in Article 6.1 are considered reasonable by the Parties but, in the event that any such provisions should be found to be void under relevant PRC laws and regulations but would be valid if some part thereof was deleted or the period or area of application reduced, such provisions shall apply with such modification as may be necessary to make them valid and effective.

ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION

 

7.1 Termination for Convenience. The Company may, terminate the Appointment by giving one month notice in writing to the Employee or the Employee may also terminate the Appointment by giving one month notice in writing to the company.

 

7.2 Termination for Cause.

The employment of the Employee may be terminated by the Company:

 

  (a) If the Employee is guilty of any gross default or gross misconduct in connection with or affecting the business of the Company to which he is required by this Agreement to render services; or

 

  (b) If the Employee is convicted of any arrestable criminal offence.

 

7.3 On termination of this Agreement for whatever reason (and whether in breach of contract or otherwise) the Employee shall deliver forthwith to the Company all books, documents, papers (including copies), materials, credit cards, the company car and car keys (if any) and all other property relating to the business of or belonging to the Company which is in Employee’s possession or under Employee’s power or control.

ARTICLE 8 ASSIGNMENT

 

8.l This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successor of the Company. Any such successor of the Company will be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes. For this purpose, “successor” means any person, firm, corporation or other business entity which at any time, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, directly or indirectly acquires all or substantially all of the assets or business of the Company.

 

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ARTICLE 9 APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

9.1 This validity, interpretation, execution and settlement of any disputes arising from this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of New York, USA.

 

9.2 In the case that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

9.3 For labor disputes arising from the execution of, or in relation to this Agreement, the Parties shall first try to resolve the dispute through friendly consultations. The Parties may also apply for mediation and/or arbitration in accordance with relevant New York laws and regulations.

ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1 The Parties agree that the rights and obligations set forth in Articles 5, 6, 7.3, 9, and 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

10.2 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties and supersedes all other oral and written agreements between the Company and the Employee regarding the subject matter hereof. The Employee acknowledges that Employee has not entered into this Agreement in reliance upon any representation, warranty or undertaking which is not set forth in this Agreement or expressly referred to in it as forming part of the Employee’s contract of employment.

 

10.3 Any notice to be given under this Agreement to the Employee may be served by being handed to Employee personally or by being sent by recorded delivery first class post to Employee at Employee’s usual or last known address; and any notice to be given to the Company may be served by being left at or by being sent by recorded delivery first class post to its registered office. Any notice served by post shall be deemed to have been served on the day (excluding Sundays and statutory holidays) next following the date of posting and in proving such service it shall be sufficient proof that the envelope containing the notice was properly addressed and posted as a prepaid letter by recorded delivery first class post.

 

10.4 If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, thus such provision(s) shall be deemed to be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

 

10.5 The rights and duties of the Employee under this Agreement shall not be subject to alienation, assignment or transfer.

 

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10.6 The headings of the Articles of this Agreement are for the convenience of the Parties hereto and shall not be deemed a substantive part of this Agreement.

 

10.7 No change in, or addition to, the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by both Parties hereto.

 

10.8 This Agreement may be signed in two (2) counterparts and each counterpart shall be deemed to be an original.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF this Agreement has been executed on the date first above written.

 

Ctrip.com International, Ltd.       Employee  
Signature:  

/s/  James Jianzhang Liang

      Signature:  

/s/  Jie Sun

Name:  

James Jianzhang Liang

      Name:  

Jie Sun

 

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Appendix 1

[Omitted]

 

9

Translation of Construction Agreement

Exhibit 4.19

[English translation: for reference only]

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT

Ctrip Network Technology Building

(Groundwork not included)

The Employer: Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd

The Contractor: Shanghai No.1 Construction Co., Ltd

February, 2006


CTRIP NETWORK TECHNOLOGY BUILDING


 

CONTENT

PART I – CONTRACT AGREEMENT

PART II - GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

PART III - PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

PART IV – OTHER RELEVANT CONTRACTS

 

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PART I – CONTRACT AGREEMENT

Considering the principles of equality, voluntariness, fairness honesty and credibility,

In accordance with Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China, Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, other laws and ordinances concerned,

Now therefore THIS CONTRACT witnesses that it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

The Employer: Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd

The Contractor: Shanghai No.1 Construction Co., Ltd

1) GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

 

Name of Project:   Construction of Ctrip Network Technology Building (groundwork not included)
Address of Project:   Cross of Fuquan Road and Jinzhong Road
Items of the Works:   Civil engineering construction (groundwork not included)
Number of the Approval Certificate:
Source of Finance:   Self-funded by the owner

2) SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Works include: construction works (not including groundwork), decoration works, engineering works and affiliated outdoor works, as prescribed in the Invitation to Tender and the Drawings

3) PERIOD FOR COMPLETION

 

Time of Commencement:    15th day of February, 2006
Time for Completion:    21st day of December, 2006
Total calendar days for Construction:    310 days

 

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4) QUALITY STANDARDS

(i) 100% passed the inspection for acceptance upon completion;

(ii) reach the municipal quality standards, and

(iii) be granted the Baiyulan Award.

5) CONTRACT PRICE

The Employer and the Contractor have agreed that the Contract Price for the works shall be RMB One hundred and twelve million, eight hundred and one thousand, one hundred and thirty two Only (yuan) (¥112,801,132.00).

6) DOCUMENTS FORMING THE CONTRACT

Documents forming the Contract include:

(a) The Contract Agreement;

(b) The Letter of Acceptance;

(c) The Tender and the Appendix;

(d) The Particular Conditions of Contract;

(e) The General Conditions of Contract;

(f) The Technical Documents concerning Standards and specifications, etc.;

(g) The Invitation to Tender (including Documents such as the Q & A);

(h) The Drawings;

(i) The Bill of Quantities; and

(j) The Quotation Sheet.

All the written agreements or documents concerning the negotiation and amendment on the Works, agreed by the two parties, are deemed to be an integral part of the Contract.

 

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7) In this Agreement, words and expressions shall have the same meaning as are respectively assigned to them in the General Conditions (Part II of the Contract) hereinafter referred to.

8) The Contractor shall carry out and complete the Construction in accordance with the Contract, and be responsible for the repairing work within the guaranteed period of time.

9) The Employer shall pay to the Contractor the Contract Price and other sums payable at the times and in the manner prescribed by the Contract.

10) VALIDITY OF THE CONTRACT

 

Date of Making the Contract:

   13th day of February, 2006

Place of Making the Contract:

  

City of Shanghai, P.R.C

The two Parties agreed that: the Contract shall enter into effect at the time when the Contractor submits qualified Performance Security prescribed, in the Particular Conditions of the Contract.

 

The Employer: (Stamp)

  

The Contractor: (Stamp)

Address:

  

Address:

Legal representative: (Signature)

  

Legal representative: (Signature)

Legal agent: (Signature)

  

Legal agent: (Signature)

Tel:

  

Tel:

Fax:

  

Fax:

Bank with the account:

  

Bank with the account:

Account number:

  

Account number:

Zip:

  

Zip:

 

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PART II - GENERAL CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

SECTION 1 - DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

1. DEFINITIONS

In the contract (as hereinafter defined) the following words and expressions shall have the meaning hereby assigned to them, excepted as otherwise the particular conditions require:

1.1 GENERAL CONDITIONS:

The provisions, as the general principles applied to the execution of the construction works, which are stipulated in the contract in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

1.2 PARTICULAR CONDITIONS:

The provisions agreed by the Employer and the Contractor after negotiations by taking into account the real circumstances of the performance of the construction works in accordance with the laws and regulations; they are the embodiment, supplement and amendment of the General Conditions.

1.3 EMPLOYER:

The person named as such in this contract which has full legal capacity of the assignment of the works and paying for the construction price, and the lawful successor which has obtained the capacity of such person.

1.4 ENGINEER:

The person appointed by the Employer to act as the Engineer for the purpose of the work who is deemed to be the representative of the Employer, or the General Supervisory Engineer sent by the Superintendence Office which is appointed by the Employer. The power of the Engineer shall be specified in the Particular Conditions.

1.5 CONTRACTOR:

The person named as such in this contract accepted by the Employer which is fully qualified for the purpose of the construction works, and the lawful successor which has obtained the capacity of such person.

 

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1.6 CONTRACTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE:

The person named by the Contractor in the Particular Conditions who acts on behalf of the Contractor for the purpose of the care of the management of the construction works and the performance of the contract.

1.7 DESIGNER:

The person appointed by the Employer in the contract for the purpose of the design of the whole of the works or any part thereof which has the legal qualification for construction works’ designation in accordance with the relevant applicable regulations.

1.8 SUPERINTENDENCE OFFICE:

The person named as such in the contract which is entitled to be responsible for the supervision and inspection of the execution of the works and has the legal qualification of the construction works’ superintendence of the relevant works.

1.9 WORKS:

The works within the scope of services as specified in the Contract.

1.10 CONTRACT PRICE:

The sum stated in the contract as payable to the Contractor for the execution and completion of the works and the remedying of any defects therein during the guaranteed period.

1.11 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CONTRACT PRICE:

It means the increased Contract Price based on the Contract Price calculation methods with the Employer’s approval, when there is a situation during the performance of the Contract that deserves the increase in the Contract Price.

1.12 COST:

All expenditures, not included in the Contract Price, incurred or to be incurred by the Employer or Contractor.

1.13 RETENTION MONEY:

The accumulated retention moneys which retained by the Employer for the purpose of the remedying of the defects and calculated by applying the Percentage of Retention stated in the contract.

 

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1.14 TAKING-OVER CERTIFICATE:

A certificate issued in respect of the works when the whole of the works have been substantially completed and have satisfactorily passed any Tests on Completion prescribed by the Contract.

1.15 DEFECTS PERIOD:

The period guaranteed by the Contractor for the remedy of the defects in the works or a section as stated in the contract which calculated from the date on which the works or section is completed.

1.16 PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE:

The certificate issued by the Employer to the Contractor after the expiry dates of the Defects Period or as soon thereafter as the Contractor has completed and tested all the works, including remedying any defects.

1.17 GUARANTEED PERIOD OF REPARATION:

A period guaranteed by the Contractor for the purpose of the preparation and remedy of the defects as soon after the completion of the whole of works or section. The period shall be calculated from the date stated in Taking-Over Certificate to the expiry date of the defects remedy.

1.18 PERIOD FOR COMPLETION:

The accumulated calendar days (including the statutory holiday) for completing the execution of the Works as stated in the Contract, calculated from the Commencement Date.

1.19 COMMENCEMENT DATE:

The specific date or comparative date upon which the Contractor shall commence the Works as specified in the Contract by the Employer and the Contractor.

1.20 TIME FOR COMPLETION:

The specific date or comparative date for completing the Construction contracted by the Contractor as specified in the Contract by the Employer and the Contractor.

1.21 DRAWINGS:

All drawings, calculations, any additions and modifications of a like nature provided by the Employer to the Contractor under the contract and all drawings, calculations, samples, patterns, models, operation and maintenance manuals and other technical information of the Works submitted by the Contractor to the Employer and approved by the Employer.

 

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1.22 SITE:

The places provided by the Employer where the works are to be executed and any other places as may be specifically designated in the Drawings by the Employer as forming part of the site.

1.23 WRITING:

Any hand-written, type-written, or printed communication including agreement, telex, email and facsimile transmission which could be the corporal form of the context of the Contract.

1.24 DEFAULT LIABILITY:

The liability that a party, which fails to perform the Contract or whose performance does not comply with the stipulations in the Contract, shall have.

1.25 CLAIM:

The party shall be entitled to any extension of the Time for Completion and/or any additional payment for the loss for default of the Contract he has suffered during the execution of the Works which is not substantially attribute to him.

1.26 FORCE MAJEURE:

An exceptional event or circumstance which is beyond a party’s control or which could not be foreseen or which, having arisen, such party could not reasonably have avoided or overcome.

1.27 HOUR / DAY:

When a time period is prescribed in hours, calculation of the period shall begin since the incident come into effect (off-day not excluded). When a time period is prescribed in days, months and years, the day on which the period begins shall not be counted as within the period; calculation shall begin on the next day.

If the last day of a time period falls on a off-day or an official holiday, the day after the holiday shall be taken as the last day (except for the Date for Completion). The last day shall end at 24:00 hours.

 

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2. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND PRIORITY OF DOCUMENTS

2.1 The documents forming the contract are to be taken as mutually explanatory of one another. Except as otherwise stated in Particular Conditions, the priority of the documents shall be in accordance with the following sequence:

(a) The Contract Agreement;

(b) The Letter of Acceptance;

(c) The Tender and Appendix;

(d) The Particular Conditions;

(e) The General Conditions;

(f) The Standards, Specifications and relevant Technical Documents, etc.;

(g) The Drawings;

(h) The Bill of Quantities; and

(i) The Quotation Sheet.

All the written agreements or documents concerning the negotiation and amendment on the Works, agreed by the two parties, are deemed to be an integral part of the Contract.

2.2 If an ambiguity or discrepancy is found in the documents, the dispute shall be disposed by the two parties under the negotiation or the Engineer could be requested for issuing the necessary clarification or instructions. If the issue could not be settled by negotiation or the explanation of the Engineer could not be accepted unanimously by both parties, then it shall be settled under Article 38 of General Conditions.

3. LAW, SPECIFICATION AND LANGUAGE

3.1 LANGUAGE

Chinese is the ruling language of any part of the Contract. If there are versions of any part of the Contract which are written in more than one language as stipulated in Particular Conditions, the version in Chinese stated in the Contract shall prevail.

3.2 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

The Contract shall be governed by the laws and regulations of China. The applicable law, regulations and ordinances requested for expressly incorporated in the Contract shall be specified in the Particular Conditions.

 

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3.3 SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS

The national standards and specifications for the purpose of the Works shall be stated in the Particular Conditions. If there are no national standards and specifications, then the industrial standards shall be applied and stated in the Particular Conditions. The standards and specifications stipulated by the local authority of the place where the Works carry out shall be applied unless there are no above said standards exit. The employer shall provide the Contractor with the standards and specifications in two originals on the date in accordance with the Particular Conditions. Both two parties shall comply with the standards and specifications as if they are compulsively applied. If there is no relevant specifications in China shall comply with for the Works, the Employer shall be response for the provision of the Standards for the execution of the Works on the date stated in the Particular Conditions. The Contractor shall prepare for the Methods of Construction and carry out the execution until the Methods approved by the Employer in accordance with the Contract. If the foreign specifications are required by the Employer for the execution, the Employer shall be response for providing the version of the documents in Chinese to the Contractor.

4. DRAWINGS

4.1 The Employer shall supply to the Contractor all the Drawings and Specification with the copies previously stipulated in the Contract on the specified date. The Contractor shall make at his own cost any further copies required by him. The Contractor shall not disclose all confidential and other such information by the request of the Employer in accordance with the Contract. The Employer shall be responsible for the relevant payment to the Contractor for aforesaid matter during such period guaranteed by the Contractor.

4.2 Drawings, Specification and other documents provided by the Employer shall not, without the consent of the Employer, be used or communicated to a third party by the Contractor. Upon issue of the Defects Liability Certificate, the Contractor shall return to the Employer all Drawings, Specification and other documents provided under the Contract unless the copy of the documents shall be kept in the archives by the Contractor.

4.3 One copy of the Drawings, provided to supplied by the Contractor as aforesaid, shall be kept by the Contractor on the Site and the same shall at all reasonable times by available for inspection and use by the Engineer and by any other person authorized by the Engineer.

SECTION 2 - GENERAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER AND THE CONTRACTOR

5. ENGINEER

5.1 The so-called “Engineer” in the Contract refers to the representative appointed and sent by the Employer to the Site for the purposes of the Contract, whose name, duties and scope of authority are to be specified by the Employer in the Particular Conditions.

 

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CTRIP NETWORK TECHNOLOGY BUILDING


 

5.2 In case the superintendence system is to be applied, the Employer shall notify the Contractor in writing of the name of the entrusted superintendent office, scope of the superintendence, and authorities of the supervisor.

5.3 “Engineer” in the Contract also refers to the General Superintendent Engineer appointed by the superintendent office, whose name, duties and scope of authority are to be provided by the Employer and the Contractor in the Particular Conditions, while his/her authorities shall be distinguished from the representative sent by the Employer to the Site for the purposes of the Contract. In case of any ambiguity or discrepancy is found in their authorities, the Employer shall make a clarification and inform the Contractor in written forms.

5.4 During the performance of the Contract, the Superintendent Engineer shall, within the terms of the Contract, exercise his discretion impartially with regard to the circumstances, which may affect the rights and obligations of the Employer or the Contractor. The dispute shall be resolved under Article 38 of the General Conditions, if either party disagrees with the Superintendent Engineer.

5.5 Except as expressly stated in the Contract or agreed by the Employer, the Superintendent Engineer shall have no authority to relieve the Contractor of any of his liability or obligations under the Contract.

5.6 In case of no superintendence, “Engineer” in the Contract only refers to the representative appointed and sent by the Employer to the Site for the purposes of the Contract, whose scope of authority is to be specified by the Employer in the Particular Conditions.

6. ENGINEER’S DELEGATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

6.1 The Engineer may delegate to the Engineer’s Representative any of the duties and authorities vested in the Engineer and he may at any time revoke such delegation when consider it necessary. Any such delegation or revocation shall not take effect, until approved by the Employer, and not less than 7 days notice in writing has been delivered to the Contractor. The notices for the delegation or revocation above constitute appendix of the Contract.

 

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Any communication given by the Engineer’s Representative to the Contractor in accordance with such delegation shall have the same effect as though it had been given by the Engineer. If the Contractor questions any communication of the Engineer’s Representative, he may refer the matter to the Engineer who shall confirm, reverse or vary the contents of such communication.

Except for the Engineer and his Representative, any other person appointed by the Employer shall have no such authority as to issue any instructions to the Contractor.

6.2 Instructions and notices given by the Engineer shall be in writing, signed by the Engineer, and then delivered to the Contractor’s Representative. Instructions and notices shall take effect at the time the Contractor’s Representative signs his name and date of receipt upon the return receipt. When consider it necessary, the Engineer may give instructions orally. The Contractor shall comply with such instruction, provided that confirmation in writing of such oral instruction is given by the Engineer within 48 hours after the request of the Contractor for confirmation. In case of no such confirmation, the Contractor shall, within 7 days since the oral instruction was given, confirm in writing to the Engineer. The oral instruction shall be deemed to be confirmed, if there is no answer from the Engineer within 48 hours.

When consider the instruction given by the Engineer not reasonable, the Contractor shall, within 7 days since receiving the instruction, report in writing to the Engineer asking for amendment. The Engineer shall, within 24 hours since receiving the report, decide whether to revise or to carry on the instruction, and notify the Contractor in writing. In case of emergency, the Contractor shall comply with the instruction, if it requires prompt performance, even if the Contractor disagrees with it, while the Engineer has decided to carry on the instruction. If, by reason of wrong instructions, the Employer shall be responsible for any such damage to the Contractor and the additional costs, which shall be added to the Contract price. Accordingly, the Contractor shall be entitled an extension of time.

The provisions of this Sub-clause shall equally apply to instructions and notices given by the Engineer’s Representative.

6.3 The Engineer shall issue the instructions and approvals to the Contractor timely, perform other obligations as specified in the Contract. In the event of any delay caused by the Engineer for not fulfilling his obligations as specified in the Contract, the Employer shall be responsible for the damage to the Contractor and the added Contract price due to the delay. The Contractor shall be entitled an extension of time accordingly.

 

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6.4 The Employer shall, at least 7 days in advance, notify the Contractor in writing of the replacement of the Engineer. The successor shall have the same duties and authorities as stipulated in the Contract for his predecessor.

7. THE CONTRACTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE

7.1 Name and duties of the Contractor’s Representative are to be specified in the Particular Conditions.

7.2 Notices given by the Contractor shall be in writing, signed by the Contractor’s Representative, and then delivered to the Engineer. Notices shall take effect at the time the Engineer signs his name and date of receipt upon the return receipt.

7.3 The Contractor’s Representative shall, with regards to the construction programme approved by the Employer and as instructed by the Engineer, take responsibility for the execution of the Works. In the event of emergency and out of connection with the Engineer, emergency measures shall be taken by the Contractor’s Representative for the purpose of safety of the persons, the Works and the property. Reports shall then be submitted to the Engineer within 48 hours since the action was taken. If the Employer or a third party is liable for the emergency, the Employer shall be responsible for the additional Contract price incurred. Accordingly, the Contractor shall be entitled an extension of time. If the Contractor is liable for the emergency, the Contractor shall bear the costs incurred, and shall not be entitled an extension of time.

7.4 In need of the replacing the Contractor’s Representative, the Contractor shall, at least 7 days in advance, notify the Employer in writing and get approval from the Employer. The successor shall then have the same duties and authorities as stipulated in the Contract for his predecessor.

7.5 The Employer may negotiate with the Contractor and recommend for replacement of the incompetent Contractor’s Representatives.

 

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8. SCOPE OF THE EMPLOYER’S WORK

8.1 The Employer shall complete the Works as follows in accordance with the Particular Conditions on the specified date:

(a) The Employer shall take responsibility for Land Acquisition, Old Building Demolition and Compensation and Site Formation for the purpose of the assurance of the adequacy and feasibility of the execution of works on the Site. The Employer shall remain responsible for the fulfillment of any obligation which remains unperformed at the time thereafter when the execution has carried out;

(b) The Employer shall be responsible for transferring the supply lines for electricity, water and telecommunication services to the designated location on the Site for the purpose of work;

(c) The Employer shall be responsible for building any main road on the Site in accordance with the Particular Conditions and the access routes to the Site communicate with the public road;

(d) The Employer shall be responsible for correctness of the information about the lines underneath the Site and the geological conditions on the Site provided by the Employer in accordance with the Contract;

(e) The Employer shall be responsible for the applications for the permits, licenses or approvals required for the execution of the Works (Construction Permits, Temporary Sites, Cutting off of Water and Power, Interruption of the Traffic and Blasting Operations etc.);

(f) The Employer shall notify the Contractor in writing for the information about the original standard points and co-ordinate data and carry out the relevant Tests on the Site;

(g) The Employer shall notify the Contractor and the designer of the Works for the review of the Drawings in accordance with the Contract;

(h) The Employer shall at his own cost coordinate with other parties for maintenance and protection of the lines underneath the Site, the adjacent buildings and constructions (including cultural relics), ancient trees and precious trees;

(i) Other obligations of the Employer under the Contract shall be specified in the Particular Conditions.

8.2 The Employer may delegate any part of the aforesaid works under Sub-Clause 8.1 to the Contractor in accordance with the Particular Conditions, and the expenses shall be borne by the Employer.

 

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8.3 In the event of the Employer’s failure of all the obligations under Sub-Clause 8.1, which results in the delay in execution of the Works or losses to the Contractor, the Employer shall compensate the Contractor for the relevant losses, and the time for construction for the Works shall be extended accordingly.

9. SCOPE OF THE CONTRACTOR’S WORK

9.1 The Contractor shall, with due care and diligence, execute and complete the Works as follows on the date in accordance with the Particular Conditions of the Contract:

(a) When the Contract expressly provides that the whole of the Works or any part thereof shall be designed by the Contractor with the authorization of the Employer, he shall submit such drawings, specifications, calculations and other information of the Works as shall be necessary to satisfy the purpose of the Works which strictly comply with the authority of the Contractor. The Contractor shall be entitled to the payment for the costs of designation by the Employer;

(b) The Contractor shall, within the time stated in the Contract, submit to the Engineer for his consent a Programme in such form of annually, quarterly and monthly, and the corresponding statistic reports;

(c) The Contractor shall be responsible for the provision and maintenance of the fencing, daytime lighting on the Site, and provide guarding and watching of the works for the purpose of the Works;

(d) The Contractor shall be responsible for the provision and maintenance of all necessary accommodation facilities to the Employer’s personnel as the details of number and requirements has been previously stipulated in the Particular Conditions, and shall fairly be entitled to the payment of such costs by the Employer;

(e) The Contractor shall be responsible for the applications for the necessary permits as compulsive compliance with the regulations applicable in the fields such as communication on the Site, construction noise and other ordinances in connection with environment protection and safety, and notify the Employer accordingly in writing. The Contractor shall be entitled to the payment of such costs by the Employer unless the charges attributable to the Contractor;

 

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(f) The Contractor shall take full responsibility for the care of the Works that have been completed pursuant to the terms of the Contract until the date of issue of the Taking-over Certificate for the Works or the Section thereof. If any loss or damage happens to the Works, or any part thereof during the period for which the Contractor is responsible for the care thereof, the Contractor shall, at his own costs, rectify such loss or damage. The amount of such costs, which shall be added to the Contract Price, for the purpose of the care of the Works and the part or Section thereof shall be specified in the Particular Conditions;

(g) The Contractor shall take full responsibility for the protection of the adjacent buildings and structures of geological or archaeological interests to the Site and the lines underneath the Site in accordance with the Particular Conditions;

(h) During the execution of the Works the Contractor shall keep the site in compliance with the environment and hygiene regulations. Upon the issue of the Taking-over Certificate the Contractor shall clear the Site with satisfaction to the provisions in the Particular Conditions. The Contractor shall be responsible for the charges due to his default of such obligation;

(i) Other obligations of the Contractor which specified in the Particular Conditions.

9.2 In the event of the default of any obligation of the Contractor under the Contract, the Employer shall be fairly entitled to the payment of the costs which he suffered during the execution of the Works.

Section 3- Arrangement for Works and Time for Completion

10. PROGRAMME

10.1 The Contractor shall, on the date which stated in the Particular Conditions, submit to the Engineer the Arrangements for Works and the Programme for the execution of the Works for his approval. The Engineer shall respond reasonably with approval or comments within a time specified in the Particular Conditions. In the event of no approval or comments of the Engineer in writing gives to the Contractor within such a time specified in the Particular Conditions, it shall be deemed to indicate the Engineer’s approval.

10.2 In case any part of the Works or any unit thereof shall be completed in stages, the Programme for the same shall be prepared by the Contractor by taking account of the date and timing for the provision of the Drawings and the relevant documents by the Employer. The details of the Programme shall be specified in particular conditions.

 

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10.3 The Contractor shall execute the Works in strict accordance with the Programme submitted for the Engineer’s approval. The Engineer is entitled to check and review the progress from time to time as required. If at any time it should appear to the Engineer that the actual progress of the Works does not conform to the Programme to which approval has been given by under Sub-Clause 10.1, the Contractor shall propose, at the request of the Engineer, remedial measures, which shall be implemented with the Engineering’s approval. If the aforesaid issue is attributable to the Contractor, he shall not be entitled to the payment for the Adjustments for Contract Price.

11. COMMENCEMENT AND DELAY OF COMMENCEMENT

11.1 The Contractor shall commence the Works within the time stated in the Contract with due expedition and without delay. The Contractor shall give the Engineer not less than 7 days’ notice in writing for delay of Works before the commencement date specified in the Contract. Within 48 hours after receiving the notice, the engineer shall respond with approval or disapproval in writing. It shall be deemed to indicate the Engineer’s consent as if there is no approval accordingly provides by the Engineer in writing within 48 hours after receiving the written notice, and the Contractor shall be entitled to an extension of the Time for Completion of such Works. The Contractor shall proceed with the execution in strict accordance with the Programme subject to his obligations under the contract unless the notice of Delay is given to the Engineer for approval duly within the time specified in the Contract and the consent of the Engineer has been issued accordingly.

11.2 If the Delay of the commencement shall be attributable to the Employer, the Engineer shall notify the Contractor accordingly in writing and make the determination for an extension of the time for commencement to which the Contractor is entitled under the Contract. The employer shall bear all costs and charges due to the Delay of commencement.

 

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12. SUSPENSION OF WORKS

The Engineer may at any time of necessary instruct the Contractor in writing to suspend progress of the Works or any part thereof. Within 48 hours after giving the notice to the Contractor, the Engineer shall provide the Contractor the revised instruction in writing for the execution of the Works. The Contractor shall, on the instruction of the Engineer, suspend the progress of the Works or any part thereof for such time and in such manner as the Engineer may consider necessary and shall, during the suspension, properly protect and secure the Works or such part thereof so far as is necessary. The Contractor may give notice to the Engineer requiring a permission for resuming the Works or any part thereof after the comments of the Engineer has been adopted to the execution of the Works. The Engineer shall respond accordingly with approval or disapproval within 48 hours after receiving such notice. .If, within the said time, such permission is not granted or no further comments is provided by the Engineer, the Contractor may determine to resume the execution of the Works. If the suspension is attributable to the Employer, the amount of such costs during the suspension, which shall be added to the Contract Price, shall be entitled to the Contractor and an extension of the Time for Completion shall also be entitled to the Contractor. In case the aforesaid suspension is due to the default of the Contractor, he shall proceed the Works in accordance with the Contract and shall bear all the costs in connection with the Suspension and the extension of the Time for Completion of the Works shall not apply.

13. DELAYS

13.1 The contractor shall be entitled to an extension of the time for completion if the completion is or will be delayed in the event of the occurrence of any of following matters:

(a) The failure of the Employer to provide the Drawings and the essential conditions to the satisfaction of the commencement of the Works;

(b) The Contractor does not receive the advance payment and the interim payment in accordance with Contract;

(c) The Suspension or the disturbance of the execution of work shall be attributable to the Employer’s engineer and the Employer’s other contractors on the Site;

(d) The interruption of the Works shall be attributable to the Engineer in the event of his failure to provide the instructions and permissions as necessary for the Works in accordance with the contract;

(e) Variation of the Designation of the Works or any part thereof and increasing amount of the quantities of any item of work stated in the contract;

 

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(f) Any suspension of the provision of power, water and gas on the site exceeds 8 hours in a week;

(g) Force majeure;

(h) Other matters prescribed in Particular Conditions or approved by the Engineer.

13.2 The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer the report in writing for delay of completion within 14 days after the occurrence of the matters stated in Sub-Clause 13.1. The Engineer shall approve the report within 14 days of receipt of the report. Where the Engineer fails to approve or revise the request within that period of time, the Engineer shall be deemed as having agreed to the delay.

13.3 The Contractor shall be entitled to an extension of Completion for Works in the event of the failure of the Engineer to provide the approval or revised instructions within 14 days after the receipt thereof.

14. COMPLETION OF WORKS

14.1 The whole of Works shall be completed by the Contractor by the Time for Completion stated in the Contract or an extension of Time for Completion approved by the Engineer.

14.2 In the event of the failure to complete the Works by the Time for Completion stated in the Contract or an extension of Time for Completion approved by the Engineer, the Contractor shall be liable for the default or breach of the Contract when the delay could be attributable to him.

14.3 In the event that the Employer needs the Works to be completed in advance of the Programme, the parties shall negotiate and execute an agreement for the Completion in advance, constituting an integral part of the Contract. Such an agreement shall include the methods to be adopted by the Contractor for the quality and safety assurance for the Works, the conditions provided by the Employer for the completion in advance, the Adjustments for Contract Price necessary for the completion in advance, and so forth.

 

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SECTION 4 - QUALITY ASSURANCE AND INSPECTION

15. QUALITY OF THE WORKS

15.1 The Works shall meet the quality standards provided in the Contract. In determining the quality standards, the national or industrial quality testing and determination standards shall be the basis. Where the quality of the Works fails to meet the agreed standards, the Contractor shall be liable for his default or breach of the Contract.

15.2 In the event of any dispute arising from the quality of the Works between the two parties, the Tests on the quality of the Works shall be carried out by an independent inspector delegated by the two parties through the negotiation. The costs and the losses so incurred shall be borne by the party which is liable. In case both parties were liable, the costs and losses shall be apportioned between them according to their liabilities.

16. INSPECT AND REMEDY

16.1 The Contractor shall execute the work in strictly accordance with contract and the Instructions provided by the Engineer. The Engineer shall at all reasonable times have access to the site and to all workshops or plant to carry out the inspection. The contractor shall afford every facility for and every assistant in obtaining the right of engineer.

16.2 If the quality of the Works fails to comply with requirements of the Works’ quality stated in the Contract, the Engineer shall have the authority to issue instructions for removal and re-execution of the Works until the quality shall be to the satisfaction to the Engineer. The costs of such thing shall be borne by the Contractor and an extension of the Time for Completion shall not be entitled.

16.3 In the event of the inspection carried out by the Engineer shall be an interference of the Works, the amount of such costs, which shall be added to the Contract Price, shall be due the Contractor and an extension of the Time for Completion shall also be entitled to the Contractor.

16.4 The Employer shall be responsible for the amount of costs which shall be added to the Contract Price due to the Engineer’s default of the instructions or any other reason not due to the Contractor’s liability.

 

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17. CONCEALED PROJECT AND MID COURSE INSPECTION

17.1 Projects, when ready to be concealed, or Parts subject to Mid Course Inspection as provided in the Particular Conditions, shall be inspected by the Contractor himself, with a notice in writing to the Engineer not less than 48 hours before the inspection. The notice shall specify the content of tests, location and date of tests. The contractor shall prepare the tests readings. In the event of the acceptance of the readings by the Engineer, the Contractor shall resume the work at his determination. Unless the concealed project fails to the inspection The Contractor shall, during the time period required by the Engineer, remedy the defects and carry out inspections again.

17.2 In case the Engineer is not able to attend the inspection on time, a notice in writing for suspension of the inspection shall be given to the Contractor not less than 24 hours before the test, time for suspension shall not be more than 48 hours. the Contractor may carry out the inspection by himself, in case of no attendance by and no request for suspension of the inspection from the Engineer. Such records shall be recognized by the Engineer then.

17.3 If the engineer does not sign on the readings within 24 hours after carrying out the tests, the test readings shall be accepted as accurate. The contractor shall resume the work.

18. RE - INSPECTION

The Engineer may require for re-inspection of the concealed works, whether or not the works has been inspected and accepted. The Contractor shall make boreholes or to carry out exploratory excavation, and reinstate and make good such parts after the inspection. If the works pass the inspection, the Employer shall be responsible for the losses to the Contractor and shall bear the additional Contract Price incurred, and extension of time shall be entitled accordingly. In case the concealed works does not meet the requirements, all costs shall be borne by the Contractor and no extension of time shall be entitled.

19. RUNNING TEST

19.1 Scope of the Test shall cover all the installations contracted by the Contractor, if the two Parties consider it necessary to take running test.

 

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19.2 Where the installation is ready for stand – alone, run trial without plugs in, the Contractor shall arrange for the trail, with a notice (detailed scope, time and place of the trail) in writing to the Engineer not less than 48 hours before the test. Record of the test shall be made by the Contractor. The Employer shall, at the request of the Contractor, provide facilities for the trail. The Engineer shall sign on the record when the test is passed.

19.3 In case the Engineer is not able to attend the test on time, a notice in writing for suspension of the test shall be given to the Contractor not less than 24 hours before the test, time for suspension shall not be more than 48 hours. The Engineer shall recognize records of the test, for no presence on the test and no request for suspension of the test.

19.4 Where the installations are ready for linkage run trial without plugs in, the trial shall be arranged by the Employer, with a notice (details scope, time and place of the trail, and requirements for the Contractor) in writing to the Contractor not less than 48 hours before the test. Record of the test shall be signed by the two Parties when the test is passed.

19.5 LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES

(a) In case the test is not passed due to the reason of the designing, the Employer shall ask for re-designing by the Designer. The Contractor shall then be responsible for re-installation according to the revised designing. All costs for re-design, dismantle and re-installation shall be borne by the Employer. The Contract Price shall be added accordingly. Extension of time for completion shall also be entitled.

(b) In case the test is not passed due to the reason of the equipment, the party who purchased the equipment shall be responsible for the repair or purchase a new one. The Contractor shall then be responsible for dismantle and re-installation of the equipment. All costs for the repair, re-purchase, dismantle and re-installation shall be borne by the Contractor, if the equipment was purchased by him, and extension of the Works shall not be entitled. If the equipment was purchased by the Employer, the Employer shall be responsible for the foregoing Adjustments for Contract Price, and extension of time shall be entitled.

(c) In case the test is not passed due to the reason of the execution by the Contractor, the Contractor shall make re-installation and re-trial, and bear the costs incurred. No extension of time shall be entitled.

(d) Costs for the tests shall be borne by the Employer, if not included in the Contract Price, or unless otherwise provided in the Particular Conditions.

 

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(e) In case the Engineer does not sign on the record when the test has been passed, the record shall be deemed recognized by the Engineer 24 hours after the end of the test. The Contractor may continue with the Works or formalities for completion.

19.6 The comprehensive running trial shall be arranged by the Employer after the Inspection and Acceptance of the Construction. In case the Employer ask for comprehensive running trial before Inspection and Acceptance of the Works, it shall be agreed by the Contractor and supplementary agreement shall be made.

SECTION 5 - SAFETY

20. SAFETY AND INSPECTION

20.1 The contractor shall comply with all applicable safety regulations and offer any necessary assistant for the safety inspection required by any duly constituted authority.

20.2 The contractor shall take care for the safety of all persons entitled to be on the site and be responsible for maintaining safety and protection against accidents. The employer shall be liable for the charges of the accidents if the contractor execute the work under his instructions.

21. SAFETY PROTECTION

21.1 The Contractor shall notify the Engineer for the safety protection for the approval when the execution of the Works on or near the power facilities, electricity lines, pipe line underneath and the sealed workshop etc. The Employer shall be responsible for the costs after reasonably determining by the Engineer.

21.2 During the execution of blasting or working in the poison environment or radiator, the Contractor shall give the not less than 14 days notice in writing to the Engineer for safety protection at the costs of the Employer.

 

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22. DISPOSE OF THE ACCIDENT

The Contractor shall send, to the engineer and the supervision authority, details of any accident as soon as practicable after its occurrence. The Contractor shall notify the Engineer and the official supervision institute to comply with the procedures stated in the Contract and deal with the accident in strict accordance with the official instructions. The party, as attributable to the accident, shall be responsible for the costs and the charges of such accident.

SECTION 6 - CONTRACT PRICE AND PAYMENT

23. CONTRACT PRICE AND ADJUSTMENT

23.1 The Contract Price for a project using bidding process shall be agreed or determined in the Contract by the Employer and Contractor in accordance with the price stated in the Letter of Acceptance. The Contract Price for a project not using bidding process shall be agreed in the Contract by the Employer and Contractor based on the construction budget report.

23.2 Either of the Parties shall not have the authority to adjust the Contract Price by themselves unless it is unanimously agreed by the two parties in advance. The methods adopted for calculation of the Contract Price may in the forms of fixing the total price of the whole of the Works, fixing the unit price of each Section or any reasonable method agreed by the two parties.

(a) By fixing the price of the whole of the work means that, the two parties agree on the method of the calculation of the scope of risk and the charges due to the risk covered by the Contract Price stated in the Particular Conditions; for anything within the agreed scope of risk, the Contract Price shall not be adjusted; for adjustments on the Contract Price for an incident outside the scope of risk, the calculation method shall be agreed in the Particular Conditions.

(b) By fixing the price of each section means that, except as otherwise stated in the Particular Conditions, the price of each section shall not increase or decrease unless the measured quantity of the section is changed by more than 10% from the quantity of the section in the bill of quantities and this change in quantity multiplied by such specified rate for this section exceeds 0.01% of the Contract Price.

 

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23.3 Except as otherwise stated in the Particular Conditions, the Contract Price can be adjusted if the costs were changed due to the following factors:

(a) The Contract Price is affected by material changes in the laws, regulations or relevant state policies;

(b) The Time for the Completion of the Works exceeds 12 months;

(c) Any other factors agreed by the parties.

The factors that would allow adjustments on the Contract Price and the methods for the adjustments shall be determined by both two parties in the Contract.

24. ADVANCE PAYMENTS

The total amount of advance payment, the number and the timing of installments (if more than one) shall be specified in the particular conditions. The Contractor shall give a notice in writing within 7 days to the Employer for the payment when he does not receive the payment on the date in accordance with contract. If the payment is still not made to the Contractor accordingly within the reasonable time after sending the notice, the Contractor shall have the authority to determine the suspension of the execution of work on the 8th day since the notice was given to the employer. During the period of suspension, the Contractor shall be entitled to receive financing charges on the amount unpaid. The period shall be deemed to commence on the date for payment specified in contract. These financing charges shall be calculated at the annual loan rate of the central bank.

25. MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION

25.1 The Contractor shall submit to the engineer a report of the part of work which has been completed on the date stated in particular conditions. The Engineer shall measure the quantity of any said part of works within 14 days after receiving the report and the not less 24 hours notice shall be given to the contractor before carrying out the measurement. The Contractor shall promptly either attend or send other qualified representative to assist the engineer in making the measurement and supply any particulars requested by the engineer. In case the contractor fails to attend or send representative, the measurement made by the engineer shall be accepted as accurate.

 

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25.2 The measurement carried out by the Engineer shall not be accepted if the engineer does not give the notice to the contractor on the aforesaid date. In case that the Engineer does not make the measurement within 14 days as soon as applicable after receiving the report, the quantity stated in the report shall be accepted as accurate on the 15th day since the submission.

25.3 The quantity of the Works which is not calculated in accordance with the scope of the drawings or due to the Contractor’s default, then it shall not be accepted as accurate.

26. PAYMENT OF THE COST (PROGRESS PAYMENTS)

26.1 The Employer shall make payment of the cost (progress payments) to the Contractor within 14 days after the acceptance of the measurement of the quantity. The Employer shall be entitled of deduction of the advance payment with regards to payment of the cost (progress payments).

26.2 The increased amount of the cost, which shall be added to the Contract Price under Article 23 and Article 31, shall be paid along with payment of the cost (progress payments).

26.3 Retention money, deducted from the payment of the cost (progress payments), shall be kept as provided in Particular Conditions.

26.4 The Contractor may send a notice for payment to the Employer, if costs are not paid duly. The Employer may ask for extension of payment in the event of his incapacity of the Payments. Agreement for such extension shall be negotiated and made by the two parties. Time for extension of the Payments shall be specified. Financing charges shall be calculated at the annual loan rate on the amount unpaid on the 15th day since the measurement of the quantity is verified.

26.5 The Employer shall be liable for default of the Contract, if payments of the cost (progress payments) are not paid as provided in the Contract. In case of no further agreement on extension of payments, and as a result the execution cannot carry on, the Contract may suspend the execution of the Works.

 

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SECTION 7 - SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

27. EMPLOYER’S SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENTS

27.1 The Employer shall be responsible for preparation of the manifest, in which types, models, quantity, unit price, grand, the date and designated location of delivery of the equipments and materials are provided.

27.2 The Employer shall supply the materials and equipments listed in the manifest, and provide the quantity certificates. Notice of delivery of materials and equipments shall be given to the Contractor in writing within 24 hours prior to the arrival. The two Parties shall promptly inspect and review the equipments and materials.

27.3 After the inspection, the materials and equipments shall come under care, custody and control of the Contractor. The Employer shall pay to the Contractor accordingly. The Contractor shall be liable for any shortage and damage of the goods during the period.

27.4 The Employer shall be responsible for his default or breach of the Contract, when the aforesaid equipments and materials are not the same as listed in the manifest. The liability of the Employer shall be determined by taking account of the following issues stated in the Particular Conditions:

(a) The Employer shall be liable for the difference of the prices if the equipments and materials not comply with the unit price in the manifest;

(b) The Contractor shall have the authority to reject any such materials and equipments and require the Employer to remove and replace, if types, models, grand not comply with the specifications in the manifest;

(c) The Employer shall be responsible for the costs of the replacement of the materials by the Contractor which fails to comply with the models or standards stated in the manifest;

(d) The Employer shall be responsible for delivery of the materials and equipments to the designated location stated in the manifest;

(e) The Employer shall be responsible for the sufficiency of the materials and equipments in the event of deficiency. The Employer shall also take the responsibility to remove the superfluous from the Site in accordance with the manifest.

 

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(f) The Employer shall be responsible for the costs and the charges of the care of the materials and equipments provided by him if the delivery of the same is in advance, and the extension of the Time for Completion shall be entitled to the Contractor in the event of the delay of the provision and the costs of the same shall be added to the Contract Price.

27.5 The Contractor shall at his own cost and be responsible for tests or inspection of the equipments and materials provided by the Employer prior to the use. Materials and equipments shall not be used for the Works unless pass the aforesaid tests and inspection.

27.6 The settlement of the materials and equipments of the Employer shall be specified in the Particular Conditions.

28. MATERIALS AND PLANT OF THE CONTRACTOR

28.1 In respect of any Contractor’s materials which the Contractor has purchased and imported for the purpose for the Works, the Contractor shall provide the qualified certificate of the materials and be responsible for the quantity of the same. The Contractor shall notify the Engineer for inspection within 24 hours prior to the receipt of such materials.

28.2 The Contractor shall be responsible for the replacement of the materials when it fails to conform with the specification stated in the Contract. The materials shall be removed from the Site at the cost of the Contractor, and the extension of the Time for Completion will not be entitled to the Contractor.

28.3 The Contractor shall at his own cost be responsible for Tests on the equipments and materials provided by the Contractor prior to the use of the same for the execution of the Works. The materials and equipments shall not be used for the Works unless it passes the aforesaid Tests.

28.4 The Engineer shall have the authority to require the Contractor to remedy the defects, remove the materials or replace the same when the disqualified materials found to use for the Works. The Contractor shall be responsible for the costs which shall be added to the Contract Price, and the extension of the Time for Completion shall not be entitled either.

28.5 The substitutes of the materials of the Contractor can be properly used for the Works unless the approval of the Engineer is granted. The amount of the costs, which shall be added to the Contract Price, shall be negotiated by the two parties and specified in the form of written agreement so far.

 

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28.6 The Employer shall not have the authority to employ a nominated supplier for the materials of the Contractor thereof.

SECTION 8 - VARIATION

29. Alteration of the Design

29.1 During the execution of the Works, the Employer shall give a not less than 14 days notice to the Contractor before any alteration of the design of the Works has been determined by the Employer which in his opinion is necessary for the purpose of the Works. In case of the variation refers to a higher standard than the original designation or is beyond the permitted scope for Construction, the Employer shall make applications to the Planning Authority and other authorities review the alteration for approval. The original Designer shall be responsible for providing the revised Drawings and related descriptions accordingly. The Contractor shall then, in accordance with the notice of such alteration and relevant requirements given by the Engineer, make the following alterations:

(a) changes the levels, lines, positions, and dimensions of any part of the Works;

(b) increase or decrease the quantity if any work included in the Contract;

(c) change any specified sequence or timing of construction of any part of the Works;

(d) execute additional work or any kind necessary for the Completion of the Works.

The Employer shall be responsible for the adjustment for the changes in Cost and the losses which the Contractor suffered due to the variation, and an extension of the Time for Completion of the Works shall be entitled to the Contractor.

29.2 The Contractor shall not make any such variation without an instruction of the Engineer. The Contractor shall be liable for the additional costs attributable to such default or breach of the Contract and the direct damages to the Employer, and he shall proceed the Works in accordance with the Contract.

29.3 During the execution, the suggestions of the Contractor, as concerning the variation and amendment of the Drawings, the arrangement and replacement of the materials, shall be reasonably accepted until the issue of the approval of the Engineer. The costs of such variation which shall be added to the Contract Price and the reasonable profit shall be negotiated by the two parties respectively.

 

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30. OTHER VARIATIONS

The two parties shall negotiate in the event of the variation or adjustments required by the Employer in the Quality of the Works or any other characteristic changes in the Works.

31. VALUATION OF VARIATION

31.1 The Contractor shall, within 28 days after the variation is approved, submit report on the adjustment of the costs for the Works. The Contract Price shall not be changed unless such adjustment has been approved by the Engineer. Otherwise stipulated in Sub-Clause 23.2 and Sub-Clause 23.3 of the General Conditions, the Contract Price shall be adjusted by the following methods:

(a) The rates and the prices in the Contract shall be used as the basis for valuation so far as may be reasonable; or

(b) The similar rates and prices in the Contract shall be used as the basis for valuation in the event of the lack of the corresponding rates contained in the Contract; or

(c) Provided that of the nature of the amount of any varied work relative to the nature or amount of the whole of the Works or any part thereof, is such that, in the opinion of Engineer, the rate or price contained in the Contract rendered inappropriate or inapplicable, then a suitable rate or price shall be agreed upon between the Contractor and the Engineer after the due consultation by the Engineer with the Employer and the Contractor.

31.2 The variation shall not be deemed to be the variation affected the adjustments of the Contract Price without the aforesaid report sent pursuant to Sub-Clause 31.1.

31.3 If the Engineer does not reasonably respond with the approval within 28 days from the date receiving the aforesaid report sent by the Contractor, it shall be deemed to indicate the approval of the Engineer.

31.4 In event of the disagreement of the variation by the Contractor, the Adjustment of the Price shall be settled under Article 38.

31.5 The amount of the increased price, which shall be added to the Contract Price, which has been approved by the Engineer shall be paid to the Contractor for such varied works.

31.6 The Contractor shall not be entitled to the amount of the costs of the varied works if the variation is due to his default or breach of the Contract.

 

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SECTION 9 - TAKING-OVER AND FINAL STATEMENT

32. TAKING-OVER

32.1 When the whole of the Works have been substantially completed, the Contractor shall be responsible for the provision of the full sets of documents for Completion and the reports of the Tests on Completion with the prescribed copies in the Contract on the specified date under the obligation of the contract.

32.2 The Employer shall be responsible for carrying out the Tests on Completion within 28 days after receiving the aforesaid report for Completion sent by the Contractor. The Engineer shall, within 14 days after the Tests on Completion, either issue to the Contractor a Taking-over Certificate stating the date on which the Works were substantially completed in accordance with the Contract, or give instructions in writing to the Contractor specifying the comments for remedy any defects so notified.

32.3 If the Employer does not either carry out the Tests on Completion within 28 days after receiving the aforesaid report for Completion sent by the Contractor, or respond with the comments within 14 days after the completion of the Tests, the report of the Completion of the Works is deemed to be validated in the Contract.

32.4 The Engineer shall issue to the Contractor a taking-over certificate stating the date on which the Works were substantially completed in accordance with the Contract. In the event of the variation or remedy requested by the Employer, the date on which the Contractor has notified the Employer for the Tests after defects remedy is deemed to be the actual date of the Completion of the Works.

32.5 The Employer shall be responsible for the care of the Works since the 29th days in the event of the failure of the Employer to carry out the Tests under Sub-Clause 32.2.

32.6 The procedures for Taking-over of the Works completed in advance of the Contract shall be pursuant to the Sub-Clause 32.1, 32.2 , 32.3 and 32.4.

32.7 Under the special condition, the Employer shall require for taking-over the part of the Works or any Section thereof even if such section or part does not conform to the specifications stated in the Contract. The separate agreement shall be negotiated by the two parties in order to clarify the responsibility of the two parties and the method adopted for payments.

32.8 The Employer could not use the Works unless the Works have been substantially completed and passed the Tests on Completion. The Employer shall be responsible for any losses due to his default or breach of the Contract.

33. FINAL STATEMENT

33.1 The Final Statement and other statements shall be submitted by the Contractor to the Employer within 28 days after report for inspection and acceptance upon completion has been approved by the Employer. The statements shall be adjusted in accordance with the Contract Price specified in the Contract and the Particular Conditions.

 

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33.2 The Employer shall verify the statements with approval or comments to the Contractor within 28 days after receipt of the statements. The Employer shall notify the bank for the due payment to the Contractor. The Contractor shall deliver the Works to the Employer within 14 days after receipt of the payment.

33.3 The Contractor shall be entitled payment of 50% of the retention money, as confirmed by the Engineer, and letter of guarantee may be used for the rest of the retention money.

33.4 The Employer shall be responsible for default of the Contract if the Final Statement is not paid within 28 days after the approval. The interests shall be calculated on the next day at the annual loan rates of the central bank on the amount which is unpaid.

33.5 In the event of the occurrence of the issue under Sub-Clause 33.4, the Contractor may send the letter to the Employer for the purpose of warning of such unpaid amount. The Contractor shall have the authority to discounted sale of the Works or apply for the auction of the Works at the Court if the Final Statement is not paid within 56 days after its approval. The Contractor shall be compensated in priority through the amount of the auction of the Works under the Court or of discounted sale.

33.6 If the Contractor fails to submit to the Employer the statements within 28 days after the approval of the same, it may be an interference of the Taking-over of the Works or may affect the payment for the Final Statement in accordance with the Contract. Under the circumstance, the Contractor shall be responsible for the care of the Works unless he delivers the works to the Employer at his request.

33.7 In case of and dispute arising from the Final Statement, Clause 38 of the General Conditions shall be borrowed for its settlement.

34. DEFECTS LIABILITY

34.1 The period of the Defects Liability for the whole of the Works or any part thereof shall be 1 year calculated from the date of substantial completion of the Works. If any defect, shrinkage or other fault in the Works, appears at any time prior to the end of the defects liability period, the Employer may instruct the Contractor to execute all such work of amendment, reconstruction, and remedy defects and other fault.

34.2 The Contractor shall at his own costs be responsible for repairing or remedy the defects referred to the default of the Contractor in the Works’ design, the execution of the Works or materials of Contractor or any other his default or breach of the Contract.

 

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34.3 If the Contractor fails to remedy the aforesaid defects under Sub-Clause 34.2 within a reasonable time, the Employer shall have the authority to remedy the defects by himself or delegate the same to a third party. The Contractor shall be responsible for the costs in connection with such works.

34.4 On the expiration of the Defects Liability period, the performance certificate shall be issue in respect of the Works and the balance of the retention money shall be repaid to the Contractor within 14 days since the expiry date.

35. GUARANTEED PERIOD FOR REPAIRING

The agreement of the guaranteed period of repairing shall be negotiated and sign by the two parties before the taking-over of the Works comply with the applicable laws and regulations. During such period, the Contractor shall be responsible for the repairing works of the Works even if it has been delivered to the Employer.

SECTION 10 - DEFAULT, CLAIM AND DISPUTES

 

36. DEFAULT

36.1 DEFAULT OF EMPLOYER:

(a) Fails to pay to the Contractor the amount of the advance payment due under Article 24;

(b) Fails to pay to the Contractor the amount due under Article 26.5;

(c) Fails to pay to the Contractor the amount due under Article 33.3;

(d) Any other conditions specified in the Contract.

In event of the occurrence of the issues under Sub-Clause 36.1, the Employer shall be responsible for breach of the Contract and pay to the Contractor for his loss suffered due to his default, and the extension of the Time for the Completion of Works shall be granted to the Contractor. The method adopted for the calculation and the exact payment for default shall be agreed in the Particular Conditions by the parties.

 

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36.2 DEFAULT OF CONTRACTOR:

(a) Fails to comply with the obligation under Sub-Clause 14.2 to complete the Works on the date for Completion specified in the Contract or on the date of the extension of the Time of Completion of the Works approved by the Engineer;

(b) Fails to comply with the obligation under Sub-Clause 15.1;

(c) Any other conditions specified in the Contract.

In event of the occurrence of the issues under Sub-Clause 36.2, the Contractor shall be responsible for breach of the Contract and pay to the Employer for his loss suffered due to the Contractor’s default. The method adopted for the calculation and the exact payment for default shall be agreed in the Particular Conditions by the parties.

36.3 The party who is deemed to be responsible for the breach of the Contract shall resume the performance of the obligation under the Contract in accordance with the instructions from the other party is not attributable.

37. CLAIM

37.1 During the performance of the Contract, the party shall be entitled to the payment from the other party against any loss he suffered and/or an extension of the Time of Completion of the Works, if the actual loss is not due to his own fault but attributable to the other party.

37.2 The Contractor shall proceed the claim for his loss in the form of writing pursuant to the procedures specified as follows:

(a) The Contractor shall give notice of his intention to the Engineer within 28 days after the event giving rise to the claim has first arisen.

(b) The Contractor shall send the contemporary report for the claim to the Engineer within 28 days after giving the notice.

(c) The Engineer shall respond within 28 days after receiving the report or the Contractor shall send to the Engineer the further evidence or the grounds upon which the claim is based as the Engineer may reasonably required.

(d) If the Engineer fails to provide the respond or the further instruction to the Contractor within 28 days after receiving the report of claim, the claim shall be considered to be verified by contemporary records.

 

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(e) If the event seems to be last for a period of time, the Contractor shall give the notice of intention in stages and shall provide the final report of claim to the Engineer within 28 days from the date of the termination of the claim.

37.3 The Employer shall be entitled to the payment of the losses he suffered due to the default of the Contractor pursuant to the time under Sub-Clause 37.2.

38. DISPUTES

38.1 If any dispute of any kind whatsoever arises between the Employer and the Contractor in connection with the Contract or the execution of the Works, the dispute shall settled through consultation or through conciliation by a third party. If it is fails to be settled in amicable, the dispute may be settled through arbitration by an arbitration agency of China specified in the Particular Conditions or any other method the two party would prefer to.

38.2 The two parties shall, in every case, continue to proceed with the Works with all due diligence and be responsible for the care of the completed Works unless the following events happen:

(a) Unilateral breach has made it impossible to perform under the Contract, the parties agree to stop the works.

(b) Suspension required by the Conciliation and approved by both two parties.

(c) Suspension required by the Arbitration Agency.

(d) Suspension required by the Court.

SECTION 11 – MISCELLANEOUS

39. SUB-CONTRACTING

39.1 The Contractor shall not subcontract the whole of the Works unless otherwise stated in the Particular Conditions. The Contractor shall sign the agreement of Sub-Contract with the Sub-Contractor in strict with the Particular Conditions.

 

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39.2 The Contractor shall not subcontract the whole of the Works or any part thereof to the third party under the name of Subcontracting.

39.3 Any Subcontract shall not relieve the Contractor from any liability or obligation under the Contract. Throughout the execution, the Contractor shall provide all necessary superintendence to plan, arrange, direct, inspect and test the Works. The Contractor shall be responsible for the acts or defaults of any Subcontractor, his agents or employees, as if they were the acts or defaults of the Contractor.

39.4 The Contractor shall pay direct to the Subcontractor with an amount payable to him in accordance with the agreement of Subcontract. The Employer shall not pay direct to the Subcontractor without the consent of the Contractor.

40. FORCE MAJEURE

40.1 Force Majeure may include, but is not limited to, exceptional events or circumstance of the kind such as war, riot, fall of aircraft, or other emergency incidents such as explosion, fire, and public hygiene, which are not by reason of the Employer or the Contractor, and natural catastrophes such as earthquake, hurricane, typhoon, flood, storm or volcanic activity as specified in the Particular Conditions.

40.2 In the event of the occurrence of Force Majeure, the Contractor shall notify the Engineer accordingly of such event and shall do his efforts to reduce the damage brought to the Works due to Force Majeure. The Employer shall take reasonable steps to assist the Contractor to do so. The Contractor shall suspend the execution at the request of the Engineer. At the end of the Force Majeure, the Contractor shall notify the Engineer of the actual losses during the period and the amount of the costs for reconstruction or reparation of the Works. If the Force Majeure continues, the Contractor shall give the notice aforesaid to the Engineer in every 7 days on the event of Force Majeure. Within 28 days after the Force Majeure, the Contractor also shall submit to the Engineer the final report for the charges may incur for the reconstruction or reparation of the Works.

40.3 Costs and delay to the Works by reason of Force Majeure shall be borne by the two parties by the following methods:

(a) Damage to the Works, the materials and plant on the Site and any injury or deaths which may occur to the person of the third party shall be borne by the Employer;

 

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(b) The Contractor and the Employer shall be responsible for the deaths or injury occurs to the personnel of their own respectively;

(c) The Contractor shall be responsible for the damage to the Contractor’s Equipments on the Site and the loss due to Suspension of the Works;

(d) The Employer shall be responsible for the expenditures on the management and guards of the Works during the period of suspension;

(e) The Employer shall be responsible for the charges in connection with the repairing and reconstruction of the Works;

(f) Extension of time for completion of the Works shall be entitled to the Contractor.

40.4 If Force Majeure happens on the date after the delayed performance by one party, the party shall be relived form any liability under the Contract.

41. INSURANCE

41.1 Before the Commencement of the Works, the Employer, as the insuring party, shall at his own costs insure against each party’s liability for any loss, damage, death or bodily injury which may occurs to any physical property or to any person of the Contractor or of any third party.

41.2 The Employer shall be responsible for the insurance of the materials and Plant brought onto the Site for the Works.

41.3 The Contractor may, as authorized and on behalf of the Employer, make the insurance at the expense of the Employer.

41.4 The Contractor shall, at his expense, make accident injury insurance for workers taking hazardous operation, and shall make insurance for his Plant used in the construction and for the lives and property of the servants.

41.5 In the event of insurance accident, the Employer and the Contractor shall take all necessary measures to prevent any possible or further losses.

41.6 Specifics for the insurances coverage and liabilities are to be specified by the Employer and the Contractor in the Particular Conditions.

 

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42. PERFORMANCE SECURITY/GUARANTEE

42.1 For the safe of fully performance of the Contract, each Party shall provide the other Party with the following security document:

(a) The Employer shall provide the Contractor with the certificate justifying its ability to pay, or any other security provided by a third party who possesses the equal ability to pay.

(b) The Contractor shall provide the Employer with the certificate justifying its ability for indemnity, or any other security provided by a third party who possesses the equal ability for indemnity.

42.2 Where claims made by one Party against the other for breach of the Contract are unenforceable, wholly or partly, the right holder may, under the performance security, seek indemnity from the third Party.

42.3 Other than stipulated by the Employer and the Contractor in the Particular Conditions, the Warrantor and Warrantee shall make an additional contract of guarantee, stipulating the scope, forms and liability of the security. The security contract shall constitute Appendix to the Contract.

43. PATENTED TECHNOLOGY AND PARTICULAR TECHNIQUES

43.1 The Contractor shall go through and at cost the formalities for application, test or exploitation of the patented technology or particular techniques, if they are needed for the execution. Such exploitations shall be subject to prior approval of the Engineer.

43.2 The party shall be liable for infringement of such patent rights without permission of the right holders.

44. CULTURAL RELICS AND OBSTACLES UNDERNEATH

44.1 The Contractor shall, when cultural relics such as ancient tombs and relics of the ancient architecture, fossils, or other articles with archaeological or geological values are discovered during execution of the Works, take good care of the scene, with a notice in writing within 4 hours to the Engineer. The Engineer shall, within 24 hours after receipt of the notice in writing, report to the local administrative authority for cultural relics, and take proper measures for the protection of the scene. The Employer shall bear such costs and the extension of the Works.

 

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The party concerned shall be liable for the consequences for concealment of the discovery.

44.2 The Contractor shall, when meets obstacles underneath the Site, notify the Engineer with a notice in writing within 8 hours to the Engineer, along with proposal for the disposal. The Engineer shall, within 24 hours after receipt of such proposals, make ratification or amendment to that. The Employer shall bear such costs and the extension of the Works.

When the obstacles underneath are found to be owned by someone, the Contractor shall make proper arrangement with the help of relevant authority.

45. DISSOLUTION OF THE CONTRACT

45.1 The Contract may be dissolved after consultation and agreement between the two parties.

45.2 In case of circumstances under Clause 26.5 in the General Conditions, if the execution has been stopped for more than 56 days, and progress payments are not duly paid, the Contractor shall be entitled to terminate the Contract.

45.3 In case of circumstances under Clause 39.2 in the General Conditions, where the Contractor assigns the whole of its contracted construction project to a third party or breaks up the whole construction project into several parts and assigns them separately to third parties in the name of subcontracting, the Employer shall be entitled to terminate the Contract.

45.4 The Employer and the Contractor may terminate the Contract under any of the following circumstances:

(a) The Contract cannot be performed due to reason of Force Majeure;

(b) The Contract cannot be performed due to default of one party (including stop or pause of the Construction by the reason of the Contractor).

 

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45.5 In case of termination of the Contract under Clause 45.2, 45.3 and 45.3, notice shall be given by the party to the other in writing, with inform not less than 7 days before giving the notice. The Contract shall be dissolved when the notice reach the other party. Any dispute on the dissolution of the Contract shall be resolved under Clause 38 in the General Conditions.

45.6 When the Contract is dissolved, the Contractor shall make arrangements for the protection and transfer of the completed Works and the materials and equipments purchased before, and remove its own equipments and withdraw from the Site as required by the Employer. The Employer shall provide necessary facilities for the withdraw, pay for the costs and the completed works as provided in the Contract. Materials and equipments already ordered shall be dealt with by the ordering party by means of rejection or dissolution of the ordering contracts. Any cost incurred and payments for not rejected goods shall be borne by the Employer. The Contractor shall be responsible for the losses due to late ejection of the ordered goods. Furthermore, the party with fault shall be responsible for the losses to the other party due to dissolution of the Contract.

45.7 Effects of the Clauses concerning final statements and clearance shall not be affected by reason of dissolution of the Contract.

46. ENTRY INTO EFFECT AND TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT

46.1 The Contract shall enter into effect as provided by the two parties in the Contract.

46.2 When the whole obligations have been performed by the two Parties, the Contract shall be terminated with the performance certificate issued by the Employer to the Contractor.

46.3 The two Parties shall, under principles of honest and integrity, comply with obligations such as notice, assistance and confidentiality, even if the Contract has been terminated.

47. COPIES OF THE CONTRACT

47.1 The Contract is made in two (2) originals, which are equally authentic, and kept by the Employer and the Contractor separately.

47.2 Amount of the copies of the Contract shall be decided by the two parties in the Particular Conditions.

 

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48. SUPPLEMENTARY CLAUSES

The two Parties may, in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations, after consideration of the practice, upon agreement after consultation, specify, supplement or revise articles in the General Conditions, and then make provisions in the Particular Conditions.

 

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PART III - PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT

SECTION 1 – DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

1. DEFINITIONS

1.3 The Employer: Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd

1.7 The Designer: Shanghai Electronics Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd

1.19 Commencement Date: as specified in the order of the Construction Unit for operation

1.20 Time for Completion: as provided in the Period for Completion of the Construction

2. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS AND PRIORITY OF DOCUMENTS

(a) The Contract Agreement;

(b) The Letter of Acceptance;

(c) The Particular Conditions;

(d) The Tender and Appendix;

(e) The General Conditions;

(f) The Standards, Specifications and relevant Technical Documents, etc.;

(g) The Invitation for Tender;

(h) The Drawings;

(i) The Bill of Quantities; and

(j) The Quotation Sheet.

All the written agreements or documents concerning the negotiation and amendment on the Works, agreed by the two parties, are deemed to be an integral part of the Contract. The latest signed documents shall have priority over the former ones.

3. LAW, SPECIFICATION AND LANGUAGE

3.1 CHINESE IS THE RULING LANGUAGE FOR DRAFT, INTERPRETATION OR DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT.

3.2 APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Laws and administrative regulations need to be expressly stated: Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China, Ordinance Governing the Quality of the Construction Works, Ordinance Governing the Safety of the Construction Works, relevant construction regulations and decrees enacted by Municipal Authority of Shanghai, other laws and administrative regulations concerned.

 

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3.3 APPLICABLE SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS

(a) Technical standards and specifications for the Construction shall comply with the descriptions in the Drawings provided by the designing office. Procedures and specifications for construction, stipulated by the state, ministry, or local authority, if specified in the above description, shall also be applied.

(b) Standards and specifications for the Construction shall comply with the existing ones in the city of Shanghai. Otherwise shall comply with the national standards.

 

(c) In case of discrepancy of the standards, the highest one shall be applied.

4. DRAWINGS

4.1 DATE AND COPIES FOR THE EMPLOYER TO SUPPLY THE DRAWINGS TO THE CONTRACTOR:

Eight copies of drawings for the Construction, one copy of drawings for the completed Construction, one copy of electronic drawings. The Contractor shall give to the Employer four copies of drawings of the completed Construction and one copy in electronic version.

In case the Contractor need more copies of the Drawings, the Employer shall print the Drawings for the Contractor and at cost of the Contractor.

The Contractor shall take responsibility for the confidentiality of the Drawings.

SECTION 2 - GENERAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER AND THE CONTRACTOR

5. ENGINEER

5.1 ENGINEER DESIGNATED BY THE EMPLOYER:

 

            Name: Ji Shouzhong                                         

   Title: Project Manager

Duties: to exercise the rights and obligations of the Employer, pursuant to the Contract. All items subject to the Employer’s approval shall not take effect without the Engineer’s signature and seals. For items exceeding twenty thousand yuan (¥20,000.00), the documents shall also be affixed with the company seal of the Employer.

 

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5.3 Engineer appointed by the Superintendence Office

 

            Name: Guo Liqun                                             

   Title: General Superintendence Engineer

Duties: as provided in the Superintendence Contract, to supervise and co-ordinate, matters such as quality, programme, safety and execution in good manners during the whole process of the execution; to take superintendence responsibilities.

Duties subject to the Employer’s approval: order for suspension of the execution shall require the Employer’s approval. Site visas and application for progress payments shall first be checked by the Superintendence Engineer, then submitted for the Employer’s approval.

7. CONTRACTOR’S REPRESENTATIVE

 

            Name: Shen Fugen                                         

   Title: Project Manager

Duties: to exercise the rights and obligations as prescribed in the Contract as representative of the Contractor. To take responsibility for all the general contract matters in respect of technology, management, safety and programme, etc.

8. SCOPE OF THE EMPLOYER’S WORK

8.1 THE EMPLOYER SHALL COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING WORKS AS SPECIFIED AND ON THE SPECIFIC DATES:

(a) Make the Site ready for the execution: not less than 7 days before operation

(b) Supply of power, water and telecommunication services on the Site for the purpose of work: supply of temporary water and power be transferred by the Site before operation. Counters supplied by the Contractor himself. Water and electricity costs be deducted monthly from the progress payments. Telecommunications be ready before operation, the costs borne by the Contractor

(c) Access routes to the Site communicate with the public road: not less than 7 days before operation

(d) Supply of the information about the geological conditions of the Site and lines underneath the Site: not less than 7 days before operation

 

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(e) License for execution of the Works: before operation

(f) Supply of information about the original standard points and co-ordinate data, with the prospecting party concerned: before operation. The Contractor shall be showed positions of the ground pegs and shall take care of them

(g) Meeting for review of the Drawings and the designing: before operation

(h) Co-ordination with other parties for maintenance and protection of the lines underneath the Site, the adjacent buildings and architectures (including cultural relics), ancient trees and precious trees: before operation and during the period of execution

(i) Other obligations of the Employer under the Contract: none

9. SCOPE OF THE CONTRACTOR’S WORK

9.1 The Contractor shall complete the following works as specified and on the specific dates:

(b) Drawings for the execution of the Construction: before operation

(c) Submission of Programme, reports and sheets: Submission of Programme within 7 days after receipt of the drawings and other technical documents; Submission of Bill of Quantities (on works finished by 25th of that month) and schedule for the next month by 28th of each month; submission of arrangements for the execution of the Works to the Employer within 14 days after turn over of the drawings and other technical documents.

 

(d) Safe guarding of the Site and lighting for the execution works:

Full - time safetyman and guard at the gate shall be provided by the Contractor in accordance with relevant regulations of the City; feasible regulations made for safety and security; materials and equipments for the Works shall be in good order until delivery of the Works; all such expenditures shall be at the Contractor’s cost.

The Contractor shall be responsible for the security of the Site. Irrelevant persons shall not be permitted into the Site of the Works.

Full - time safetyman shall be provided by the Contractor for the execution of the Works. Using of fire shall be permitted. Approved by relevant authorities, be equipped with some firefighting equipments, with a copy to the Superintendence Office for record.

 

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Rules made for the safety of power. Power equipments for the Works shall be in good order and anti - creepage devices shall be provided.

(e) Accommodations, offices and other facilities for the Contractor: the Employer shall provide the Contractor adequate accommodations and offices (including office for the Superintendence officer), which are suitable for field management. The costs are concluded in the Contract Price.

(f) Formalities concerning the communication, environment protection and construction noise on the Site: the Contractor shall go through the formalities concerning the communication, environment protection and construction noise on the Site. The Employer shall not be responsible for any claim, litigation, damage to loss, and other expenditure arising from these issues. In case of the above formalities are not gone through, the Contractor shall take the responsibilities and be responsible for all the economic losses.

(g) Protection measures for the completed Works: The Contractor shall take care of the completed Works until it is taken over to the Employer, and the amount of such costs has been added to the Contract Price. The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage occurred during the period of protection. Repairing work or rectification to the Works shall be at the Contractor’s cost. Cost for repair of the damage, if by reason of the Employer’s prior use, shall be borne by the Employer himself.

(h) Protection of the lines underneath the Site, the adjacent buildings and architectures (including cultural relics), ancient trees and precious trees: the Contractor shall be responsible for any damage to such underneath lines and buildings and architectures due to the reason of execution. The Employer may circulate a notice or the Contractor may be fined in different circumstances.

(i) Sanitation and hygiene requirements: the Contractor shall, during the period of execution, comply strictly with provisions of Measures for Supervision on the Safety of Construction Works in Shanghai (Decree No.31 of the Shanghai Municipal Administration), Standards for Safety Inspection of Construction Works JGJ59-99, Temporary Regulations on Administration of Mannered Construction in Shanghai enacted by the Shanghai Municipal Administration, so that make sure of the quality, safety and good manner of the Construction. In case of any fine or suspension of the Works due to ill management on the above issues, the construction companies shall bear the costs and the Employer shall be entitled the right to suspend progress payments.

 

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(j) Clearance and delivery: all the debris and waste shall be cleared, removed or disposed at the burden of the Contractor, including all the fees paid to the local authority. The Contractor shall remove all the equipments, trash, containers, and materials left, and leave the Project clean and in good order, since the Construction has been completed, before the Project is transferred.

The Contractor shall, upon order of the Employer, withdraw from the Site after completion of the Works.

The Contractor shall supply the Employer elevator machines free of charge, and shall make sure Plant supplied by the Employer be discharged and positioned.

SECTION 3 - ARRANGEMENT FOR WORKS AND TIME FOR COMPLETION

10. PROGRAMME

10.1 The Contractor shall, within 7 days after receipt of the Drawings, or at the request of the Employer, submit a table for the programme. The Contractor shall also, within 14 days after receipt of the Drawings and all the other technical documents, provide in writing Arrangements (plan) for the execution of the Works.

The Engineer shall, within 7 days after receipt of the above documents, verify or issue an amendment opinion. In case of no verification and no amendment opinion in writing, the documents shall be deemed approved by the Engineer.

The Contractor shall, under inspection and supervision of the Engineer, make the Works executed in accordance with the approved arrangements and programme. If at any time it should appear to the Employer that the actual progress of the Works does not conform to the programme to which consent has been given by the Engineer, the Contractor shall produce, at the request of the Engineer, a revised programme showing the modifications to such programme necessary to ensure completion of the works within the Time for Completion.

 

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13. DELAY

13.1 As agreed by the two Parties, the Construction shall be delayed in the following circumstances:

(a) In case of circumstance under Sub – clause 13.1 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) of the General Conditions, confirmed by the Engineer and approved by the Employer, an extension of time may be entitled;

(b) Execution of the Works cannot be carried on, because the Project is stopped or suspended due to the state policy.

SECTION 4 – QUALITY AND INSPECTION FOR ACCEPTANCE

15. QUALITY OF THE PROJECT: as required by the Employer, there shall be not any quality problems upon the first inspection, which means 100% passed the inspection for acceptance upon completion; reach the municipal quality standards, and be granted the Baiyulan Award. In case it is not realized, the Contractor shall be fined the sum as prescribed in the Tender.

17. CONCEALED PROJECT AND MID COURSE INSPECTION

17.1 Parts for Mid Course Inspection, as provided by the two Parties: pursuant to relevant regulations stipulated by Quality and Supervision Authority of Shanghai.

SECTION 5 – SAFETY

The Contractor shall, as required in the Tender Offer and pledged in the Tender Document, make the Site Civilized Site and Model Site of the Shanghai City. Otherwise, the Contractor shall be fined twenty thousand yuan (¥20,000.00).

SECTION 6 – CONTRACT PRICE AND PAYMENT

23. CONTRACT PRICE AND ADJUSTMENT

23.2 A lump price for construction provided in the Manifest of Measured Items; estimated quantities of the parts and section works, which shall be stated in the Bill of Quantities; a lump sum for the Consolidated Unit Price (including items such as labor, materials, time for completion, quality, safety, test, salary, price difference in the market, management fees (including stipulated fees), profit, tax, fees for entry and exit of the Plant, interim usage of water and electricity, insurance, necessary overtime pay, vibration of interest rate and exchange rate, royalty, package for air transportation, storage in the native or abroad, transportation, down time costs due to late delivery of materials and Plant, etc.). Rate for the Consolidated Unit Price is fixed, and shall not be subject to any adjustment or variation, except as otherwise provided in the Contract.

 

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23.3 Contract Price may be adjusted in the following circumstances:

(a) Sub – clause 23.3 (a), (b), (c) of the General Conditions are not applicable;

(b) Increased or decreased quantity of the Works approved by the Engineer;

(c) Variation of design or negotiation of the Works approved by the Engineer.

24. ADVANCE PAYMENT

Time, sum or percentages (of the total Contract Price) of the Advance Payment paid by the Employer to the Contractor:

Time and percentages for reduction of the Advance Payment:

24.1 PAYMENT OF THE ADVANCE PAYMENT

The Employer shall, within 14 days after submission of qualified Performance Security by the Contractor, pay to the Contractor sum of the Advance Payment, which shall be equal to 10% of the total Contract Price as provided in the Tender Document.

24.2 TIME AND PERCENTAGES FOR REDUCTION OF THE ADVANCE PAYMENT

Deducted from the first month when Progress Payments are paid, until the fourth month when sum of the Advance Payment is totally deducted.

25. MEASUREMENT OF QUANTITIES

25.1 Time for the Contractor to submit report of completed quantities: not later than 28th of each month.

25.4 The Contractor shall provide all the detailed information upon requests from the Engineer and the Superintendence.

 

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26. PAYMENTS OF THE WORKS (PROGRESS PAYMENTS)

Times and methods for the Payments of the Works (Progress Payments):

26.1 CALCULATION OF PROGRESS PAYMENTS

Payments (including Advance Payment) for 70% of the completed quantities of physical works finished by 25th of each month, of which the quality have been examined by the Superintendence Engineer. The Contractor shall, by 28th of each month, apply to the Engineer and the Employer for monthly Progress Payments, accompanied with evidences for such payments (e.g. pictures of the progressed works and Bill of Quantities). The application shall be verified by the Employer within 10 working days, if approved and signed by the Superintendence Office. The progress payment shall then be paid within 20 working days after the Employer’s verification.

Accumulated payments up to 80% of the Cost of the Works, within 20 working days after the Project has been completed, accepted and recorded.

Accumulated payments up to 95% of the approved Cost of the Works, within 20 working days after the Final Statement has been verified.

The rest 5% of the Cost of the Works shall be kept as guarantee for the repairing work. 3% of the Price of the Works shall be paid within 20 working days one year after expiry of the Guaranteed Time of Period. The rest sum shall be paid within 20 working days two year after expiry of the Period. (The last one hundred thousand yuan (¥10,000.00) shall be kept as deposit, and be paid within 20 working days until expiry of the Guaranteed Period for the waterproof roof).

“Cost of the Works” under this Clause means price for the works completed by the Contractor, after deduction of the price in respect of the subcontractors designated by the Employer and the materials and Plant supplied by the Employer.

“Progress Payments” refers to the works completed by the Contractor, after deduction of the price in respect of the subcontractors designated by the Employer and the materials and Plant supplied by the Employer.

Costs of electricity and water incurred from the execution of the Construction shall be considered in the unit price for section works by the Contractor when tendering.

 

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26.6 PAYMENTS FOR COSTS OF MEASURED ITEMS AND OTHER ITEMS

(a) All the costs specified in the two item manifests shall, according to their natures, be divided into two parts by the Employer:

(1) costs incurred for the operation, which shall be fully paid when the work is completed;

(2) costs related to period of the Project, which shall be paid equally every month, in accordance with the period of the Project.

SECTION 7 – SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND PLANT

27. EMPLOYER’S SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND PLANT

27.1 The Contractor shall, not less than 2 months, notify the Employer of times for the materials and Plant to be brought to the Site. The Contractor shall, according to the manifest provided by the Employer, make a list specifying types, descriptions, models, quantities, grade of the materials and Plant supplied, and supplying times and places.

27.3 The Contractor shall, at his cost, be responsible for the discharge, custody and installation of the materials and Plant after they are brought onto the Site.

27.4 (6) There shall be no charge for custody of the materials and Plant, which are delivered earlier than the prescribed time. Where the Works is delayed due to late delivery of such materials and Plant, the Contractor shall, approved by the Employer, be entitled extension of time accordingly.

27.6 Sums of the materials and Plant shall be paid by the Employer to the suppliers directly.

28. CONTRACTOR’S PURCHASE OF MATERIALS AND PLANT

28.1 Provisions on the Contractor’s purchase of materials and Plant: the Contractor shall be responsible for the purchase, check and acceptance, transportation and custody of all the materials and Plant (not including those provided by the Employer) needed for the execution of the Works. The Contractor shall also make sure these materials and Plant meet requirement of the design and the technical standards.

 

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The Employer shall make qualification examinations of the suppliers for the important materials and Plant. The Contractor shall, prior to the purchase, provide the superintendence authority with information about the suppliers (such as quality statement, permission, and licenses) for the purpose of review. The materials and Plant, if purchased without the approval of the Employer, shall not be permitted to bring onto the Site. The Contractor shall be responsible for the losses incurred, and not be entitled extension of time.

28.5 Alternative materials shall not be used, unless approved by the designer and the Engineer. Any such expenditure incurred shall be borne by the Contractor.

28.6 The Employer shall not designate suppliers of the materials and Plant, which are considered to be purchased by the Contractor

28.7 Materials or Plant shall be examined by the Contractor at places, as required by the Employer, where materials or Plant are being manufactured, fabricated or prepared for the Works, or the Site, or any other place as specified in the Contract.

28.8 Materials or goods, if not for the use of the Construction, shall not be brought onto the Site. Once brought onto the Site, they shall not be transferred to other places. Materials or goods brought onto the Site or adjacence for the use of the Construction shall not be transferred away, except for admitted by the Employer in writing.

SECTION 8 – VARIATIONS

29. VARIATION OF THE DESIGNING

The Contractor shall, within 14 days after the variations, deliver a detailed statement concerning any addition or deduction of the costs due to variations of design or variations of the Owner. It shall be determined in the Final Statement pursuant to the methods for adjustment of the Contract Price. In case of no such statement delivered promptly, and no written explanation for that timely, the Contractor shall then be deemed to have abandoned the right to claim.

Rates for the newly-added items by reason of varied work, if there are same or similar items contained in the Tender Document, shall be fixed after those rates. If no such same or similar items, the fixed items 2000 shall then be rendered. Rate for workforce and the consolidated rate are to be fixed by the methods provided in the Tender Document.

 

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SECTION 9 – INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE ON COMPLETION, AND FINAL STATEMENT

32. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE UPON COMPLETION

32.1 Inspection and Acceptance upon Completion shall be organized by the Employer and approved by the local Quality Supervision Department. Provisions on submission of the Drawings on Completion: within 30 days after the Inspection and Acceptance of the Works by the Employer, four copies (with special stamps for Drawings on Completion), one electronic copy of the Drawings on Completion and all the documents concerning variations shall be submitted by the Contractor.

33. FINAL STATEMENT

33.2 The Contractor shall, within 28 days after the inspection and acceptance of the Works, submit the Employer the Final Statement and all the data. The Employer shall finish the auditing work within 3 months after receipt of the Final Statement (note: time for disputes upon the auditing work shall not be included). The Contractor shall, at request of the Employer, transfer the building to the Employer within 14 days after the inspection for acceptance is passed and the Final Statement work is finished.

34. DEFECTS LIABILITY PERIOD

34.1 During the Defects Liability Period, the Contractor shall, within 24 hours after receipt of the repairing notice, rectify the defected works at his cost. Otherwise, the Employer may hire other companies or workers to do so. Where the repairing work is by reason of the Contractor, the expenditures incurred shall be deducted from the Retention Money by the Employer. The Contractor shall be responsible for the rest amount in case the Retention Money is not adequate enough.

35. GUARANTEED QUALITY

35.1 As provided by competent regulations, the Employer and the Contractor shall make a guarantee contract (see Appendix to the Contract) concerning repairing work of the Construction. The guaranteed period shall be from the date of taking-over of the Works.

 

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SECTION 10 – DEFAULT, CLAIMS AND DISPUTES

36. DEFAULT

36.1 LIABILITIES FOR DEFAULTS OF THE EMPLOYER ARE AS FOLLOWING:

Liability for a default under Clause 24 in the General Conditions: extension of time

Liability for a default under Clause 26.5 in the General Conditions: responsible for the economic losses of the Contractor.

Liability for a default under Clause 33.4 in the General Conditions: the Employer shall pay to the Contractor penalties equal to two percents (2%) of the due contract amount for every 30-days delay.

Other liabilities of the Employer for breach of the Contract as provided.

36.2 LIABILITIES FOR DEFAULTS OF THE CONTRACTOR ARE AS FOLLOWING:

Liability for a default under Clause 14.2 in the General Conditions: penalties equal to 0.02% of the Contract Price for every one-day delay, which is caused by the Contractor.

Liability for a default under Clause 15.1 in the General Conditions: penalties equal to two and half percent (2.5%) of the Contract Price, for not 100% passed the inspection for acceptance upon completion; twenty five yuan (¥25) - penalty for each square meter of the Works, for not reach the municipal quality standards; and fifteen yuan (¥15) - penalty for each square meter of the Works, for not be granted the Baiyulan Award.

Other liabilities of the Contractor for breach of the Contract as provided:

(a) ten thousand yuan (¥10,000.00) fine each time, deducting from the Contract Price, for reasons of needs of the Construction not meet due to replacement of management staff and short of equipments.

(b) twenty thousand yuan (¥20,000.00) fine each time, deducting from the Contract Price, for reasons of no sufficient management on subcontract and the equipment.

 

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(c) fifty thousand yuan (¥50,000.00) fine, deducting from the Contract Price, for reasons of no timely improvement on the quality and safety matters. Except for the continuous improvement, the Contractor shall also be responsible for any such damages incurred.

(d) twenty thousand yuan (¥20,000.00) fine, deducting from the Contract Price, if any part or any item of the Works (including subcontracted Works) not passing the inspection for acceptance upon completion at the first time. The sum shall be doubled if not 100% passed the inspection for the second time. The rest may be deduced by analogy.

(e) twenty thousand yuan (¥20,000.00) fine each time, deducting from the Contract Price, for any default of the procedural requirement, which are deemed to be parts of the Contract. For example, procurement of the materials, examination before entering the Site, safety management and feedback report to the superintendence notice.

38. DISPUTES

Dispute arising from performance of the Contract may be settled through consultation (between the two Parties) or mediation (by a third party). If the consultation or mediation fails, a lawsuit shall, as agreed by the Parties, be brought under the jurisdiction of the People’s Court of the place where the Project locates.

SECTION 11 - MISCELLANEOUS

39. SUBCONTRACT

39.4 The Employer shall be entitled to pay to the nominated Subcontractor directly for the subcontracted Works, provided that it is in due process and approved by the Contractor. Where the Contractor is opposed to such payment, sufficient reason must be provided in written forms.

40. FORCE MAJEURE

40.1 Force majeure provided as the two Parties means: consequences caused by the war, riot, falling of aircraft, or any explosion, fire and act of God cannot be foreseen and avoided.

 

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41. INSURANCE

41.1 Insurances which shall be made by the Contractor (including but are not limited to): The Contractor shall, at his expense, make accident injury insurance for workers taking hazardous operation, and shall make insurance for his Plant used in the construction and for the lives and property of the servants. Other insurances required by the competent authority, at the Contractor’s charge. Construction All Risks, when entrusted by the Employer. The Owner shall pay for the Construction All Risks as provided by the law, decree or regulations, otherwise the Employer and the Contractor shall share the costs in halves.

42. PERFORMANCE SECURITY/GUARANTEE

42.1 The Contractor shall, within 14 days after the Contract is made, provide to, and approved by the Employer one Performance Security issued by a bank at municipal level or higher level, which is also registered and operated in P.R.C. The insured value shall be 10% of the Contract Price. The Security shall be valid after its issue and shall expire 28 days after the completion and take-over of the Project. Any expenditure incurred for obtaining the Performance Security shall be deemed to have been included in the Contract Price.

47. COPIES OF THE CONTRACT

47.1 Original Contract as agreed: two (2) copies, one (1) copy for each party.

47.2 Copies of the Contract as agreed: eight (8) copies, four (4) copies for each party.

PART IV – OTHER RELEVANT CONTRACTS

ANNEX I – Agreement on Integrity and Incorruptness

ANNEX II – Agreement on Safety Engineering and Construction

ANNEX III – Agreement on the Liabilities for Execution in Good Manners

ANNEX IV – Agreement on the Liabilities for Security and Fireproofing

ANNEX V – Letter of Guaranty for Quality of the Construction

[The above annexes are intentionally omitted in this exhibit filed with the annual report on Form 20-F.]

 

57

Subsidiaries of the Registrant

EXHIBIT 8.1

SUBSIDIARIES OF CTRIP.COM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries:

Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong company

Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a PRC company

Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a PRC company

Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a PRC company

C-Travel International Limited, a Cayman Islands company

Consolidated Variable Interest Entities:

Beijing Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Beijing Chenhao Xinye Air-Ticketing Service Co., Ltd.)

Shanghai Ctrip Commerce Co., Ltd.

Guangzhou Ctrip Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Guangzhou Guangcheng Commercial Service Co., Ltd.)

Shanghai Huacheng Southwest Travel Agency Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Ctrip Charming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. (formerly Shanghai Cuiming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd)

Shenzhen Shencheng Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd.

Section 302 CEO Certification

EXHIBIT 12.1

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Min Fan, Chief Executive Officer of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”), certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of the Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: June 26, 2006
By:  

/s/ Min Fan

Name:   Min Fan
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Section 302 CFO Certification

EXHIBIT 12.2

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Jane Jie Sun, Chief Financial Officer of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”), certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of the Company;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and we have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(c) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: June 26, 2006
By:  

/s/ Jane Jie Sun

Name:   Jane Jie Sun
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Section 906 CEO Certification

EXHIBIT 13.1

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Min Fan, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: June 26, 2006
By:  

/s/ Min Fan

Name:   Min Fan
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Section 906 CFO Certification

EXHIBIT 13.2

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Annual Report of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jane Jie Sun, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: June 26, 2006
By:  

/s/ Jane Jie Sun

Name:   Jane Jie Sun
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Consent of Maples and Calder

EXHIBIT 15.1

[Letterhead of Maples and Calder]

Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

3F, Building 63-64

No. 421 Hong Cao Road

Shanghai 200233, People’s Republic of China

26 June, 2006

Dear Sirs,

Re: Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (the “Company”)

We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Taxation” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the month of June 2006.

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ Maples and Calder

Maples and Calder
Consent of Commerce & Finance Law Office

EXHIBIT 15.2

[Letterhead of Commerce & Finance Law Offices]

June 26, 2006

Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

3F, Building 63-64

No. 421 Hong Cao Road

Shanghai 200233, People’s Republic of China

Dear Sirs,

We consent to the reference to our firm under the headings “Risk Factors,” “PRC Government Regulations” and “Related Party Transactions” in Ctrip.com International, Ltd.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the month of June 2006.

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ Commerce & Finance Law Offices

Commerce & Finance Law Offices