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, 2012

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

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

Commission file number: 001-34656

 

 

China Lodging Group, Limited

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

CAYMAN ISLANDS

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

No. 2266 Hongqiao Road

Changning District

Shanghai 200336

People’s Republic of China

(86) 21 6195-2011

(Address of principal executive offices)

Min (Jenny) Zhang

Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: +86-21-6076-0606

E-mail: zhangmin@htinns.com

Facsimile: +86-21-6195-9586

No. 2266 Hongqiao Road

Changning District

Shanghai 200336

People’s Republic of China

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

American Depositary Shares, each representing four

ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share

  NASDAQ Global Select Market

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

 

 

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. 244,494,095 Ordinary Shares.

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

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  ¨  No  x

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.  Yes  x  No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes  x  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  ¨                Accelerated Filer  x                Non-accelerated Filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP  x

    

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

by the International Accounting Standards Board  ¨

   Other  ¨

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.  ¨  Item 17   ¨  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  ¨  No  x

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.  Yes  ¨  No  ¨

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

             Page  
CERTAIN CONVENTIONS      1   
PART I      2   
         ITEM 1.   IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS      2   
  ITEM 2.   OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE      2   
  ITEM 3.   KEY INFORMATION      2   
 

3.A. Selected Financial Data

     2   
 

3.B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

     4   
 

3.C. Reason for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

     4   
 

3.D. Risk Factors

     4   
  ITEM 4.   INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY      25   
 

4.A. History and Development of the Company

     25   
 

4.B. Business Overview

     25   
 

4.C. Organizational Structure

     41   
 

4.D. Property, Plants and Equipment

     42   
  ITEM 4A.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS      42   
  ITEM 5.   OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS      42   
 

5.A. Operating Results

     42   
 

5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

     61   
 

5.C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

     64   
 

5.D. Trend Information

     65   
 

5.E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     65   
 

5.F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

     65   
 

5.G. Safe Harbor

     65   
  ITEM 6.   DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES      66   
 

6.A. Directors and Senior Management

     66   
 

6.B. Compensation

     68   
 

6.C. Board Practices

     70   
 

6.D. Employees

     72   
 

6.E. Share Ownership

     72   
  ITEM 7.   MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS      74   
 

7.A. Major Shareholders

     74   
 

7.B. Related Party Transactions

     74   
 

7.C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

     76   
  ITEM 8.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION      76   
 

8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

     76   
 

8.B. Significant Changes

     76   
  ITEM 9.   THE OFFER AND LISTING      77   
 

9.A. Offering and Listing Details

     77   
 

9.B. Plan of Distribution

     77   
 

9.C. Markets

     77   
 

9.D. Selling Shareholders

     77   
 

9.E. Dilution

     77   
 

9.F. Expenses of the Issue

     77   
  ITEM 10.   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION      78   
 

10.A. Share Capital

     78   
 

10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

     78   
 

10.C. Material Contracts

     78   
 

10.D. Exchange Controls

     78   
 

10.E. Taxation

     78   
 

10.F. Dividends and Paying Agents

     83   
 

10.G. Statement by Experts

     83   
 

10.H. Documents on Display

     83   
 

10.I. Subsidiary Information

     83   

 

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         ITEM 11.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK      83   
  ITEM 12.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES      84   
 

12.A. Debt Securities

     84   
 

12.B. Warrants and Rights

     84   
 

12.C. Other Securities

     85   
 

12.D. American Depositary Shares

     85   
PART II      87   
  ITEM 13.   DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES      87   
  ITEM 14.   MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS      87   
  ITEM 15.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES      87   
  ITEM 16A.   AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT      88   
  ITEM 16B.   CODE OF ETHICS      88   
  ITEM 16C.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES      88   
  ITEM 16D.   EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES      88   
  ITEM 16E.   PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS      88   
  ITEM 16F.   CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT      88   
  ITEM 16G.   CORPORATE GOVERNANCE      89   
  ITEM 16H.   MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE      89   
PART III      89   
  ITEM 17.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      89   
  ITEM 18.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS      89   
  ITEM 19.   EXHIBITS      89   

 

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CERTAIN CONVENTIONS

Unless otherwise indicated, all translations from U.S. dollars to RMB in this annual report were made at a rate of US$1.00 to RMB6.2301, the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on December 31, 2012. No representation is made that the RMB amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at any particular rate or at all. On April 19, 2013, the exchange rate was US$1.00 to RMB6.1772. Any discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

Unless otherwise indicated, in this annual report,

 

   

ADRs” are to the American depositary receipts that may evidence our ADSs;

 

   

ADSs” are to our American depositary shares, each representing four ordinary shares;

 

   

China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this annual report, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan;

 

   

Ordinary shares” are to our ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share;

 

   

RMB” and “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China;

 

   

US$” and “U.S. dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States; and

 

   

We,” “us,” “our company,” “our,” and “China Lodging” are to China Lodging Group, Limited, a Cayman Islands company, and its predecessor entities and subsidiaries.

 

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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

3.A. Selected Financial Data

The selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income data and selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included herein, which were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income data and selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that have not been included herein and were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The selected financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included herein. The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009      2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (In thousands, except per share and per ADS data)  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:

                

Net revenues

     764,249        1,260,191         1,738,493         2,249,597         3,224,527         517,572   

Operating costs and expenses(1)

     917,901        1,183,777         1,482,187         2,142,451         3,004,794         482,302   

Income (loss) from operations

     (153,652     76,414         256,306         107,146         219,733         35,270   

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (156,463     69,438         279,056         142,954         233,673         37,507   

Net income (loss)

     (132,583     51,448         221,794         118,138         179,504         28,812   

Less: net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

     3,579        8,903         6,043         3,306         4,617         741   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited

     (136,162     42,545         215,751         114,832         174,887         28,071   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) per share:

                

Basic

     (2.52     0.24         1.05         0.47         0.72         0.12   

Diluted

     (2.52     0.23         0.92         0.47         0.71         0.11   

Net earnings (loss) per ADS(2):

                

Basic

     (10.07     0.95         4.19         1.90         2.88         0.46   

Diluted

     (10.07     0.93         3.68         1.87         2.83         0.45   

Weighted average number of shares used in computation:

                

Basic

     54,071        57,562         198,517         241,928         243,284         243,284   

Diluted

     54,071        183,632         234,481         246,181         246,981         246,981   

 

Note: (1) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009      2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Share-based compensation expenses

           4,815               7,955              13,113              15,483              20,837             3,345   

 

(2) Each ADS represents four ordinary shares.

 

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The following table presents a summary of our consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012  
     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     183,246        270,587        1,060,067        781,601        449,844        72,205   

Restricted cash

     5,597        500        1,275        1,500        1,790        287   

Prepaid rent

     76,146        69,618        152,267        228,087        321,305        51,573   

Property and equipment, net

     957,407        1,028,267        1,422,432        2,095,794        2,951,509        473,750   

Total assets

     1,432,940        1,581,131        3,044,080        3,524,950        4,330,187        695,043   

Accounts payable

     182,803        141,570        283,203        417,605        624,824        100,291   

Long-term debt

     27,500        80,000        —          —          —          —     

Deferred rent – long-term

     138,207        174,775        237,427        329,774        470,438        75,511   

Deferred revenue

     32,149        74,761        117,044        209,846        300,315        48,204   

Total liabilities

     665,378        678,875        918,770        1,269,066         1,839,622         295,280   

Mezzanine equity

     796,803        796,803        —          —          —          —     

Total equity (deficit)

     (29,241     105,453        2,125,310        2,255,884        2,490,565        399,763   

The following table presents a summary of our consolidated statements of cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2008     2009     2010     2011     2012  
     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow Data:

            

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (13,738        296,341           469,126           458,740        715,720        114,879   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (451,589     (256,027     (515,310     (734,577     (1,068,130     (171,447

Net cash provided by financing activities

        482,479        47,063        845,837        13,834        19,895        3,195   

Exchange Rate Information

This annual report contains translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specific rates solely for the convenience of the reader. For all dates and periods through December 31, 2008, conversions of Renminbi into U.S. dollars are based on the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For January 1, 2009 and all later dates and periods, the exchange rate refers to the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. Unless otherwise indicated, conversions of RMB into U.S. dollars in this annual report are based on the exchange rate on December 31, 2012. 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, 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. On April 19, 2013, the daily exchange rate reported by the Federal Reserve Board was RMB6.1772 to US$1.00.

 

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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.

 

      Noon Buying Rate  

Period

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

2008

     6.8225         6.9477         7.2946         6.7800   

2009

     6.8259         6.8307         6.8470         6.8176   

2010

     6.6000         6.7696         6.8330         6.6000   

2011

     6.2939         6.4475         6.6364         6.2939   

2012

     6.2301         6.3088         6.2221         6.3879   

October

     6.2372         6.2627         6.2372         6.2877   

November

     6.2265         6.2338         6.2221         6.2454   

December

     6.2301         6.2333         6.2251         6.2502   

2013

           

January

     6.2186         6.2215         6.2134         6.2303   

February

     6.2213         6.2323         6.2213         6.2438   

March

     6.2108         6.2154         6.2105         6.2246   

April (through April 19, 2013)

     6.1772         6.1927         6.1720         6.2078   

 

(1) Averages for a period are calculated by using the average of the exchange rates at the end of each month during the period. Monthly averages are calculated by using the average of the daily rates during the relevant period.

3.B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

3.C. Reason for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

3.D. Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business

Our operating results are subject to conditions affecting the lodging industry in general.

Our operating results are subject to conditions typically affecting the lodging industry, which include:

 

   

changes and volatility in national, regional and local economic conditions in China;

 

   

competition from other hotels, the attractiveness of our hotels to customers, and our ability to maintain and increase sales to existing customers and attract new customers;

 

   

adverse weather conditions, natural disasters or travelers’ fears of exposure to contagious diseases and social unrest;

 

   

changes in travel patterns or in the desirability of particular locations;

 

   

increases in operating costs and expenses due to inflation and other factors;

 

   

local market conditions such as an oversupply of, or a reduction in demand for, hotel rooms;

 

   

the quality and performance of managers and other employees of our hotels;

 

   

the availability and cost of capital to fund construction and renovation of, and make other investments in, our hotels;

 

   

seasonality of the lodging business and national or regional special events;

 

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the possibility that leased properties may be subject to challenges as to their compliance with the relevant government regulations; and

 

   

maintenance and infringement of our intellectual property.

Changes in any of these conditions could adversely affect our occupancy rates, average daily rates and revenues generated per available room, or RevPAR, or otherwise adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Our business is sensitive to Chinese and global economic conditions. A severe or prolonged downturn in the Chinese or global economy could materially and adversely affect our revenues and results of operations.

Our business and operations are primarily based in China and domestic business and leisure traveler customers account for a significant majority of our revenues. Accordingly, our financial results have been, and we expect will continue to be, affected by developments in the PRC economy and travel industry. As the travel industry is highly sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels, it tends to decline during general economic downturns. In 2008, China was affected by the disruptions to financial markets described below, and, although the Chinese economy began recovering in 2010 and has remained relatively stable since then, it is uncertain whether such recovery will continue. A prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy could erode consumer confidence which could result in changes to consumer spending patterns for travel and lodging-related products and services.

There is a possibility that China’s economic growth rate may materially decline in the near future, which may have adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations. Risk of a material slowdown in China’s economic growth rate is based on several current or emerging factors including: (i) overinvestment by the government and businesses and excessive credit offered by banks; (ii) a rudimentary monetary policy; (iii) excessive privileges to state-owned enterprises at the expense of private enterprises; (iv) the dwindling supply of surplus labor; (v) a decrease in exports due to weaker demand overseas; and (vi) failure to boost domestic consumption.

The global financial markets experienced significant disruptions in 2008 and the United States, Europe and other economies went into recession. The recovery from the lows of 2008 and 2009 was uneven and it is facing new challenges, including the escalation of the European sovereign debt crisis since 2011. It is unclear whether the European sovereign debt crisis will be contained and what effects it may have. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that have been adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including China’s. There have also been concerns over unrest in the Middle East and Africa, which have resulted in higher oil prices and significant market volatility, and over the possibility of a war involving Iran or North Korea. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions.

Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese or global economy may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.

The lodging industry in China is competitive, and if we are unable to compete successfully, our financial condition and results of operations may be harmed.

The lodging industry in China is highly fragmented. As a multi-brand hotel group we believe that we compete primarily based on location, room rates, brand recognition, quality of accommodations, geographic coverage, service quality, range of services, guest amenities and convenience of the central reservation system. We primarily compete with other hotel groups as well as various stand-alone lodging facilities in each of the markets in which we operate. Our HanTing Hotels mainly compete with Home Inns, Jinjiang Inn, 7 Days Inn, various regional hotel groups and stand-alone hotels, and certain international brands such as Super 8. HanTing Hotels also compete with two- and three-star hotels, as they offer rooms with amenities comparable to many of those hotels. Our JI Hotels and Starway Hotels face competition from existing three-star and certain four-star hotels, boutique hotels whose price could be comparable and a few hotel chains such as Vienna Hotels and Holiday Inn Express. Our Hi Inns compete mainly with stand-alone guest houses, low-price hotels and budget hotel chains such as Pod Inns. In addition, our proposed entry into the upscale hotel market through the launch of Joya Hotels may also expose us to more competition. New and existing competitors may offer more competitive rates, greater convenience, services or amenities or superior facilities, which could attract customers away from our hotels and result in a decrease in occupancy and average daily rates for our hotels. Competitors may also outbid us for new leased hotel conversion sites, negotiate better terms for potential manachised or franchised hotels or offer better terms to our existing manachised or franchised hotel owners, thereby slowing our anticipated pace of expansion. Furthermore, our typical guests may change their travel, spending and consumption patterns and choose to stay in other kinds of hotels, especially given the increase in our hotel room rates to keep pace with inflation. Any of these factors may have an adverse effect on our competitive position, results of operations and financial condition.

 

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Our financial and operating performance may be adversely affected by epidemics, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophes.

Our financial and operating performance may be adversely affected by epidemics, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophes, particularly in locations where we operate a large number of hotels.

Our business could be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of swine influenza, avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome or other epidemics. In 2011 and 2013, there were reports on the occurrences of avian influenza in various parts of China, including dozens of confirmed human cases and deaths. Any prolonged recurrence of such contagious disease or other adverse public health developments in China may have a material and adverse effect on our business operations. For example, if any of our employees or customers is suspected of having contracted any contagious disease while he or she has worked or stayed in our hotels, we may under certain circumstances be required to quarantine our employees that are affected and the affected areas of our premises.

Losses caused by epidemics, adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophes, including earthquakes or typhoons, are either uninsurable or too expensive to justify insuring against in China. In the event an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occurs, we could lose all or a portion of the capital we have invested in a hotel, as well as the anticipated future revenues from the hotel. In that event, we might nevertheless remain obligated for any financial commitments related to the hotel.

Similarly, war (including the potential of war), terrorist activity (including threats of terrorist activity), social unrest and heightened travel security measures instituted in response, travel-related accidents, as well as geopolitical uncertainty and international conflict, will affect travel and may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, we may not be adequately prepared in contingency planning or recovery capability in relation to a major incident or crisis, and as a result, our operational continuity may be adversely and materially affected and our reputation may be harmed.

Seasonality of our business and national or regional special events may cause fluctuations in our revenues, cause our ADS price to decline, and adversely affect our profitability

The lodging industry is subject to fluctuations in revenues due to seasonality and national or regional special events. The seasonality of our business may cause fluctuations in our quarterly operating results. Generally, the first quarter, in which both the New Year and Spring Festival holidays fall, accounts for a lower percentage of our annual revenues than other quarters of the year. We typically have a lower RevPAR in the fourth quarter, as compared to the second and third quarters, due to reduced travel activities in the winter. In addition, national or regional special events that attract large numbers of people to travel may also cause fluctuations in our operating results in particular for the hotel locations where those events are held. For example, Expo 2010 Shanghai China, or the Shanghai Expo, drove strong demand and led to increased occupancy rates and average daily rates for our hotels in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010 and contributed to our revenue increase from 2009 to 2010. However, after the Shanghai Expo’s closing on October 31, 2010, the demand for our hotels in Shanghai for the period from November 2010 to February 2011 was lower than the comparable periods of prior years. Therefore, you should not rely on our operating or financial results for prior periods as an indication of our results in any future period. As our revenues may vary from quarter to quarter, our business is difficult to predict and our quarterly results could fall below investor expectations, which could cause our ADS price to decline. Furthermore, the ramp-up process of our new hotels can be delayed during the low season, which may negatively affect our revenues and profitability.

Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and results of operations.

Our operations commenced, through Powerhill Holdings Limited, or Powerhill, with mid-scale limited service hotels and commercial property development and management in 2005, and we began migrating to our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — A. History and Development of the Company.” Accordingly, you should consider our future prospects in light of the risks and challenges encountered by a company with a limited operating history. These risks and challenges include:

 

 

continuing our growth while trying to achieve and maintain our profitability;

 

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preserving and enhancing our competitive position in the lodging industry in China;

 

 

offering innovative products to attract recurring and new customers;

 

 

implementing our strategy and modifying it from time to time to respond effectively to competition and changes in customer preferences and needs;

 

 

increasing awareness of our brands and products and continuing to develop customer loyalty;

 

 

attracting, training, retaining and motivating qualified personnel; and

 

 

renewing leases for our leased hotels on commercially viable terms after the initial lease terms expire.

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

Our new leased hotels typically incur significant pre-opening expenses during their development stages and generate relatively low revenues during their ramp-up stages, which may have a significant negative impact on our financial performance.

The operation of each of our leased hotel goes through three stages: development, ramp-up and mature operations. During the development stage, leased hotels generally incur pre-opening expenses ranging from approximately RMB0.5 to RMB3.0 million per hotel. During the ramp-up stage, when the occupancy rate is relatively low, revenues generated by these hotels may be insufficient to cover their operating costs, which are relatively fixed in nature. As a result, these newly opened leased hotels may not achieve profitability during the ramp-up stage. As we continue to expand our leased hotel portfolio, the significant pre-opening expenses incurred during the development stage and the relatively low revenues during the ramp-up stage of our newly opened leased hotels may have a significant negative impact on our financial performance.

A significant portion of our costs and expenses may remain constant or increase even if our revenues decline, which would adversely affect our net margins and results of operations.

A significant portion of our operating costs, including rent and depreciation and amortization, is fixed. Accordingly, a decrease in revenues could result in a disproportionately higher decrease in our earnings because our operating costs and expenses are unlikely to decrease proportionately. For example, the New Year and Spring Festival holiday periods generally account for a lower portion of our annual revenues than other periods, but our expenses do not vary as significantly with changes in occupancy and revenues as we need to continue to pay rent and salary and to make regular repairs, maintenance and renovations and invest in other capital improvements throughout the year to maintain the attractiveness of our hotels. Our property development and renovation costs may increase as a result of increasing costs of materials. However, we have a limited ability to pass increased costs to customers through room rate increases. Therefore, our costs and expenses may remain constant or increase even if our revenues decline, which would adversely affect our net margins and results of operations.

We may not be able to manage our planned growth, which could adversely affect our operating results.

Our hotel group has been growing rapidly since we began migrating to our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group. In 2007, we launched our economy hotel product, HanTing Express Hotel, which was subsequently rebranded as HanTing Hotel, and our mid-scale limited service hotel product, HanTing Hotel, which was subsequently rebranded first as HanTing Seasons Hotel and then as JI Hotel. In May 2012, we completed the acquisition of a 51% equity interest in Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited, or Starway HK, and we have retained the Starway brand. In August 2012, we announced our plan to launch a new hotel brand for the upscale market, Joya Hotel. Through these organic and acquired growths, we increased the number of our hotels in operation in China from 26 hotels as of January 1, 2007 to 1,035 hotels as of December 31, 2012, and we intend to continue to develop and operate additional hotels in different geographic locations in China. This expansion has placed, and will continue to place, substantial demands on our managerial, operational, technological and other resources. Our planned expansion will also require us to maintain the consistency of our products and the quality of our services to ensure that our business does not suffer as a result of any deviations, whether actual or perceived, in our quality standards. In order to manage and support our growth, we must continue to improve our existing operational, administrative and technological systems and our financial and management controls, and recruit, train and retain qualified hotel management personnel as well as other administrative and sales and marketing personnel, particularly as we expand into new markets. We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively and efficiently manage the growth of our operations, recruit and retain qualified personnel and integrate new hotels into our operations. Any failure to effectively and efficiently manage our expansion may materially and adversely affect our ability to capitalize on new business opportunities, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

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Expansion into new geographic markets and addition of new hotel products for which we have limited operating experience and brand recognition may present operating and marketing challenges that are different from those we currently encounter in our existing markets. Our expansion within existing markets may cannibalize our existing hotels in those markets and, as a result, negatively affect our overall results of operations. Our inability to anticipate the changing demands that expanding operations will impose on our management and information and operational systems, or our failure to quickly adapt our systems and procedures to the new markets, could result in losses of revenues and increases in expenses or otherwise harm our results of operations and financial condition. Expansion through the introduction of new hotel products or brands may also present operating and marketing challenges. There can be no assurance that any new hotel products or brands we introduce will be well received by our customers and become profitable, and if it becomes profitable, it will be done in a timely fashion. If a new product or brand is not well received by our customers, we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses, and our overall financial performance and condition may be adversely affected.

Our multi-brand business strategy exposes us to potential risks and its execution may divert management attention and resources from our established brand, and if any of the new hotel brands is not well received by the market, we may not be able to generate sufficient revenue to offset related costs and expenses, and our overall financial performance and condition may be adversely affected.

We rebranded our HanTing Express Hotel as HanTing Hotel, our HanTing Seasons Hotel as JI Hotel and our HanTing Hi Inn as Hi Inn in 2012. In the same year we also acquired the Starway Hotel brand and announced our plan to launch the Joya Hotel brand in 2013. We are still in the process of developing the Joya Hotel, JI Hotel, Starway Hotel and Hi Inn brands on top of our established brand of HanTing Hotel:

 

 

Joya Hotel is an upscale brand concept targeting customers of high star-rated hotels. We have limited operating experience in developing and operating hotels in the upscale market. The introduction of the Joya Hotel brand exposes us to potential risks, including risks associated with high capital expenditure level and with entering a highly competitive new market.

 

 

JI Hotel is our organically developed mid-scale brand. As of December 31, 2012, we had 32 JI Hotels in operation and an additional 35 JI Hotels under development. We plan to further expand the JI Hotel network through both the lease model and the manachise model. However, we may not be able to successfully identify, secure and develop in a timely fashion additional JI Hotels under the lease model or to successfully compete for franchise agreements for additional JI Hotels. The accelerated development of JI Hotels exposes us to potential risks, including risks associated with high capital expenditures and uncertain financial outcome.

 

 

Before our acquisition, Starway HK operated under the franchise model, without direct management involvement in the franchised hotels. After the acquisition of Starway HK, we introduced the lease and manachise models to the Starway Hotels brand and gradually converted the franchised hotels Starway HK had before our acquisition to manachised or leased hotels where appropriate. We also selectively terminated the franchise arrangements with certain Starway Hotels that did not meet the new Starway brand standards or did not accept certain changes we made to the franchise agreements. We integrated most of Starway Hotels’ support functions into our existing corporate platform and significantly reduced the personnel and other operating costs for Starway HK. The acquisition of Starway HK exposes us to potential risks, including risks associated with unsuccessful transformation of business models and failure in growing the brand network.

 

 

 

Hi Inns target practical and price-conscious travelers. We plan to strengthen the cost control over our Hi Inns to remain competitive in their target market and improve the RevPAR of Hi Inns through increasing occupancy. However, we may not be able to successfully execute our growth strategy and achieve the desired profitability level for Hi Inns.

 

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In addition, we cannot guarantee the size and profitability of the various market segments that each new brand is targeting. The business models of these four new brands are not proven and we cannot guarantee that they can generate return comparable to the established HanTing Hotel brand. The process of developing new brands may divert management attention and resources from our established HanTing Hotel brand. We may not be able to find competent management staff to lead and manage the execution of the multi-brand business strategy. If we are unable to successfully execute our multi-brand strategy to target various market segments, we may be unable to generate revenues from these market segments in the amounts and by the times we anticipate, or at all, and our business, competitive position, financial condition and prospects may be adversely affected.

We may not be able to successfully identify, secure and develop in a timely fashion additional hotel properties under the lease model.

We plan to open more hotels to further grow our business. Under our lease model, we may not be successful in identifying and leasing additional hotel properties at desirable locations and on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we are able to successfully identify and acquire new hotel properties, new hotels may not generate the returns we expect. We may also incur costs in connection with evaluating hotel properties and negotiating with property owners, including properties that we are subsequently unable to lease. In addition, we may not be able to develop additional hotel properties on a timely basis due to construction or regulatory delays. If we fail to successfully identify, secure or develop in a timely fashion additional hotel properties, our ability to execute our growth strategy could be impaired and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to successfully compete for franchise agreements and, as a result, we may not be able to achieve our planned growth.

Our growth strategy includes expanding through manachising and franchising, both through entering into franchise agreements with our franchisees. We believe that our ability to compete for franchise agreements primarily depends on our brand recognition and reputation, the results of our overall operations in general and the success of the hotels that we currently manachise and franchise. Other competitive factors for franchise agreements include marketing support, capacity of the central reservation channel and the ability to operate hotels cost-effectively. The terms of any new franchise agreements that we obtain also depend on the terms that our competitors offer for those agreements. In addition, if the availability of suitable locations for new properties decreases, or governmental planning or other local regulations change, the supply of suitable properties for our manachise and franchise models could be diminished. If the hotels that we manachise or franchise perform less successfully than those of our competitors or if we are unable to offer terms as favorable as those offered by our competitors, we may not be able to compete effectively for new franchise agreements. As a result, we may not be able to achieve our planned growth and our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Future acquisitions or strategic investment may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and harm our results of operations and financial condition.

If we are presented with appropriate opportunities, we may acquire businesses or assets. Future acquisitions would expose us to potential risks, including risks associated with unforeseen or hidden liabilities, risks that acquired hotels will not achieve anticipated performance levels, diversion of management attention and resources from our existing business, difficulty in integrating the acquired businesses with our existing operational infrastructure, and inability to generate sufficient revenues to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions. In addition, following completion of an acquisition, our management and resources may be diverted from their core business activities due to the integration process, which diversion may harm the effective management of our business. Furthermore, it may not be possible to achieve the expected level of benefits after integration and the actual cost of delivering such benefits may exceed the anticipated cost. Any difficulties encountered in the acquisition and integration process may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and harm our results of operations and financial condition. If a strategic investment is unsuccessful, then in addition to the diversion of management attention and resources from our existing business we may lose the value of our investment, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Our legal right to lease certain properties could be challenged by property owners or other third parties or subject to government regulation.

We do not hold any land use rights with respect to the land on which our hotels are located nor do we own any of the hotel properties we operate. Instead, a substantial part of our business model relies on leases with third parties who either own or lease the properties from the ultimate property owners. We also grant franchises to hotel operators who may or may not own their hotel properties. We cannot assure you that the land use rights and other property rights with respect to properties we currently lease, manachise or franchise for our existing hotels will not be challenged. For example, as of December 31, 2012, our lessors failed to provide the property ownership certificates and/or the land use rights certificates for 78 properties that we lease for our hotel operations. While we have performed our due diligence to verify the rights of our lessors to lease such properties, including inspecting documentation issued by competent government authorities evidencing these lessors’ land use rights and other property rights with respect to these properties that these lessors provided us with, we cannot assure you that our rights under those leases will not be challenged by other parties including government authorities.

Under PRC law, all lease agreements are required to be registered with the local housing bureau. While the majority of our standard lease agreements require the lessors to make such registration, some of our leases have not been registered as required, which may expose both our lessors and us to potential monetary fines. Some of our rights under the unregistered leases may also be subordinated to the rights of other interested third parties. In addition, in several instances where our immediate lessors are not the ultimate owners of hotel properties, no consents or permits were obtained from the owners, the primary lease holders or competent government authorities, as applicable, for the subleases of the hotel properties to us, which could potentially invalidate our leases or result in the renegotiation of such leases that leads to terms less favorable to us. Some of the properties we lease from third parties were also subject to mortgages at the time the leases were signed. Where consent to the lease was not obtained from the mortgage holder in such circumstances, the lease may not be binding on the transferee of the property if the mortgage holder forecloses on the mortgage and transfers the property. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the property ownership or leasehold in connection with our manachised and franchised hotels will not be subject to similar third-party challenges.

Any challenge to our legal rights to the properties used for our hotel operations, if successful, could impair the development or operations of our hotels in such properties. We are also subject to the risk of potential disputes with property owners or third parties who otherwise have rights to or interests in our hotel properties. Such disputes, whether resolved in our favor or not, may divert management’s attention, harm our reputation or otherwise disrupt our business.

Any failure to comply with land- and property-related PRC laws and regulations may negatively affect our ability to operate our hotels and we may suffer significant losses as a result.

Our lessors are required to comply with various land- and property-related laws and regulations to enable them to lease effective titles of their properties for our hotel use. For example, properties used for hotel operations and the underlying land should be approved for commercial use purposes by competent government authorities. In addition, before any properties located on state-owned land with allocated or leased land use rights or on land owned by collective organizations may be leased to third parties, lessors should obtain appropriate approvals from the competent government authorities. As of December 31, 2012, the lessors of approximately half of our executed lease agreements subject to this approval requirement did not obtain the required governmental approvals. Such failure may subject the lessors or us to monetary fines or other penalties and may lead to the invalidation or termination of our leases by competent government authorities, and therefore may adversely affect our ability to operate our leased hotels. While many of our lessors have agreed to indemnify us against our losses resulting from their failure to obtain the required approvals, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully enforce such indemnification obligations against our lessors. As a result, we may suffer significant losses resulting from our lessors’ failure to obtain required approvals to the extent that we could not be fully indemnified by our lessors.

 

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Our success could be adversely affected by the performance of our manachised and franchised hotels and defaults or wrongdoings of our franchisees may affect our reputation, which would adversely affect the results of our operations .

Our success could be adversely affected by the performance of our manachised and franchised hotels, over which we have lesser control compared to our leased hotels. As of December 31, 2012, we manachised and franchised approximately 55.1% of our hotels, and we plan to further increase the number of manachised and franchised hotels to increase our national presence in China. Our franchisees for both our manachised and franchised hotels may not be able to develop hotel properties on a timely basis, which could adversely affect our growth strategy and may impact our ability to collect fees from them on a timely basis. Furthermore, given that our franchisees are typically responsible for the costs of developing and operating the hotels, including renovating the hotels to our standards, and all of the operating expenses, the quality of our manachised and franchised hotel operations may be diminished by factors beyond our control and our franchisees may not successfully operate hotels in a manner consistent with our standards and requirements. Our manachised and franchised hotels are also operated under our brand names. If our brands are misused by any of our franchisees, there may be an adverse impact on our business reputation and brand image. In addition, like any operators in service-oriented industries, we are subject to customer complaints and we may face complaints from unsatisfied customers who are unhappy with the standard of service offered by our franchisees. Any complaints, regardless of their nature and validity, may affect our reputation, thereby adversely affecting the results of our operations. We may also have to incur additional costs in placating any customers or salvaging our reputation. If any of our franchisees defaults or commits wrongdoings, there could be situations where the franchisee is not in a position to sufficiently compensate us for losses which we may have suffered as a result of such defaults or wrongdoings. While we ultimately can take action to terminate our franchisees that do not comply with the terms of our franchise agreements or commit wrongdoings, we may not be able to identify problems and make timely responses and, as a result, our image and reputation may suffer, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

If we are unable to access funds to maintain our hotels’ condition and appearance, or if our franchisees fail to make investments necessary to maintain or improve their properties, the attractiveness of our hotels and our reputation could suffer and our hotel occupancy rates may decline.

In order to maintain our hotels’ condition and appearance, ongoing renovations and other leasehold improvements, including periodic replacement of furniture, fixtures and equipment, are required. In particular, we manachise and franchise properties leased or owned by franchisees under the terms of franchise agreements, substantially all of which require our franchisees to comply with standards that are essential to maintaining the relevant product integrity and our reputation. We depend on our franchisees to comply with these requirements by maintaining and improving properties through investments, including investments in furniture, fixtures, amenities and personnel.

Such investments and expenditures require ongoing funding and, to the extent we or our franchisees cannot fund these expenditures from existing cash or cash flow generated from operations, we or our franchisees must borrow or raise capital through financing. We or our franchisees may not be able to access capital and our franchisees may be unwilling to spend available capital when necessary, even if required by the terms of our franchise agreements. If we or our franchisees fail to make investments necessary to maintain or improve the properties, our hotel’s attractiveness and reputation could suffer, we could lose market share to our competitors and our hotel occupancy rates and RevPAR may decline.

We have incurred losses in the past and may incur losses in the future.

We incurred net losses attributable to our company of RMB111.6 million and RMB136.2 million in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Although we had net income attributable to our company of RMB42.5 million, RMB215.8, RMB114.8 million and RMB174.9 million in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively, as we expect our costs to increase as we continue to expand our business and operations, we may incur losses in the future. We cannot assure you that we will achieve or sustain profitability in the future.

Our leases could be terminated early, we may not be able to renew our existing leases on commercially reasonable terms and our rents could increase substantially in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our operations.

The lease agreements between our lessors and us typically provide, among other things, that the leases could be terminated under certain legal or factual conditions. If our leases were terminated early, our operation of such properties may be interrupted or discontinued and we may incur costs in relocating our operations to other locations. Furthermore, we may have to pay losses and damages and incur other liabilities to our customers and other vendors due to our default under our contracts. As a result, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

 

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We plan to retain the operation of our leased hotels upon lease expiration through (i) renewal of existing lease or (ii) execution of a franchise agreement with the lessor. We cannot assure you, however, that we will be able to retain our hotel operation on satisfactory terms, or at all. In particular, we may experience an increase in our rent payments and cost of revenues in connection with renegotiating our leases. If we fail to retain our hotel operation on satisfactory terms upon lease expiration, our costs may increase and our profit generated from the hotel operation may decrease in the future. If we are unable to pass the increased costs on to our customers through room rate increases, our operating margins and earnings could decrease and our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Interruption or failure of our information systems could impair our ability to effectively provide our services, which could damage our reputation.

Our ability to provide consistent and high-quality services and to monitor our operations on a real-time basis throughout our hotel group depends on the continued operation of our information technology systems, including our web property management, central reservation and customer relationship management systems. Certain damage to or failure of our systems could interrupt our inventory management, affect the manner of our services in terms of efficiency, consistency and quality, and reduce our customer satisfaction.

Our technology platform plays a central role in our management of inventory, revenues, loyalty program and franchisees. We also rely on our website, call center and mobile application to facilitate customer reservations. Our systems remain vulnerable to damage or interruption as a result of power loss, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, fires, floods, earthquakes, interruptions in access to our toll-free numbers, hacking or other attempts to harm our systems, and other similar events. Our servers, which are maintained in Shanghai, may also be vulnerable to break-ins, sabotage and vandalism. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our disaster recovery planning does not account for all possible scenarios. Furthermore, our systems and technologies, including our website and database, could contain undetected errors or “bugs” that could adversely affect their performance, or could become outdated and we may not be able to replace or introduce upgraded systems as quickly as our competitors or within budgeted costs for such upgrades. If we experience frequent, prolonged or persistent system failures, our quality of services, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency could be severely harmed, which could also adversely affect our reputation. Steps we take to increase the reliability and redundancy of our systems may be costly, which could reduce our operating margin, and there can be no assurance that whatever increased reliability may be achievable in practice would justify the costs incurred.

Failure to maintain the integrity of internal or customer data could result in harm to our reputation or subject us to costs, liabilities, fines or lawsuits.

Our business involves collecting and retaining large volumes of internal and customer data, including credit card numbers and other personal information as our various information technology systems enter, process, summarize and report such data. We also maintain information about various aspects of our business operations as well as our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information, and the regulations applicable to security and privacy are becoming increasingly important in China. Any theft, loss, fraudulent or unlawful use of customer, employee or company data could harm our reputation or result in remedial and other costs, liabilities, fines or lawsuits.

If the value of our brand or image diminishes, it could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

We offer multiple hotel products that are designed to target distinct segments of customers. Our continued success in maintaining and enhancing our brands and image depends, to a large extent, on our ability to satisfy customer needs by further developing and maintaining our innovative and distinctive products and maintaining consistent quality of services across our hotel group, as well as our ability to respond to competitive pressures. If we are unable to do so, our occupancy rates may decline, which could in turn adversely affect our results of operations. Our business may also be adversely affected if our public image or reputation were to be diminished by the operations of any of our hotels, whether due to unsatisfactory service, accidents or otherwise. If the value of our products or image is diminished or if our products do not continue to be attractive to customers, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Failure to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights could have a negative impact on our brands and adversely affect our business.

The success of our business depends in part upon our continued ability to use our brands, trade names and trademarks to increase brand awareness and to further develop our products. The unauthorized reproduction of our trademarks could diminish the value of our brands and their market acceptance, competitive advantages or goodwill. In addition, we consider our proprietary information systems and operational system to be key components of our competitive advantage and our growth strategy. We have received copyright registration certificates for five of our major proprietary information systems and for our operational system. However, none of our other our proprietary information system has been patented, copyrighted or otherwise registered as our intellectual property.

Monitoring and preventing the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult. The measures we take to protect our brands, trade names, trademarks and other intellectual property rights may not be adequate to prevent their unauthorized use by third parties. Furthermore, the application of laws governing intellectual property rights in China and abroad is evolving and could involve substantial risks to us. In particular, the laws and enforcement procedures in the PRC are uncertain and do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws and enforcement procedures in the United States and other developed countries. If we are unable to adequately protect our brands, trade names, trademarks and other intellectual property rights, we may lose these rights and our business may suffer materially.

We may also be subject to claims for infringement, invalidity, or indemnification relating to third parties’ intellectual property rights. Such claims may be time-consuming and costly to defend, divert management attention and resources, or require us to enter into licensing agreements, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

If we are not able to retain, hire and train qualified managerial and other employees, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

Our managerial and other employees manage our hotels and interact with our customers on a daily basis. They are critical to maintaining the quality and consistency of our services as well as our established brands and reputation. In general, employee turnover, especially those in lower-level positions, is relatively high in the lodging industry. As a result, it is important for us to retain as well as attract qualified managerial and other employees who are experienced in lodging or other consumer-service industries. There is a limited supply of such qualified individuals in some of the cities in China where we have operations and other cities into which we intend to expand. In addition, we need to hire and train qualified managerial and other employees on a timely basis to keep pace with our rapid growth while maintaining consistent quality of services across our hotels in various geographic locations. We must also provide continuous training to our managerial and other employees so that they have up-to-date knowledge of various aspects of our hotel operations and can meet our demand for high-quality services. If we fail to do so, the quality of our services may decrease, which in turn, may have a material and adverse effect on our products and business.

Our current employment practices may be adversely impacted under the labor contract law of the PRC.

China’s labor contract law imposes requirements concerning, among others, the execution of written contracts between employers and employees, the time limits for probationary periods, and the length of fixed-term employment contracts. Due to its limited history and the lack of clear implementation rules, it is uncertain how this labor contract law will impact our current employment practices. We cannot assure you that our employment practices do not, or will not, violate this labor contract law or that we will not be subject to related penalties, fines or legal fees. If we are subject to severe penalties or incur significant legal fees in connection with labor law disputes or investigations, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. In addition, a significant number of our employees are contracted through third-party human resources companies, which are responsible for managing, among others, payrolls, social insurance contributions and local residency permits of these employees. We may not be able to continue this practice under this labor contract law, which would increase our human resources administration expenses. Even if we are allowed to continue this practice, we may be held jointly liable under this labor contract law for any damages to such employees caused by these human resources companies including lost wages, if the human resources company fails to pay such employees their wages and other benefits. If we are subject to large penalties or fees related to the new labor contract law, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

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Failure to retain our management team could harm our business.

We place substantial reliance on the experience and the institutional knowledge of members of our current management team. Mr. Qi Ji, our founder, executive chairman and chief executive officer, and other members of the management team are particularly important to our future success due to their substantial experiences in lodging and other consumer-service industries. Finding suitable replacements for Mr. Qi Ji and other members of our management team could be difficult, and competition for such personnel of similar experience is intense. The loss of the services of one or more members of our management team due to their departures or otherwise could hinder our ability to effectively manage our business and implement our growth strategies.

We are subject to various franchise, hotel industry, construction, hygiene, health and safety and environmental laws and regulations that may subject us to liability.

Our business is subject to various compliance and operational requirements under PRC laws. For example, we are required to obtain the approval from, and file initial and annual reports with, the PRC Ministry of Commerce, or the MOC, to engage in the hotel franchising business. In addition, each of our hotels is required to obtain a special industry license and a fire control approval issued by the local public security bureau, to have hotel operations included in the business scope of its business license, to obtain hygiene permits and environmental impact assessment approvals, and to comply with license requirements and laws and regulations with respect to construction permit, zoning, fire prevention, public area hygiene, food safety, public safety and environmental protection. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Hotel Operation.” If we fail to comply with any applicable construction, hygiene, health and safety, and environmental laws and regulations related to our business, we may be subject to potentially significant monetary damages and fines or the suspension of our operations or development activities. Furthermore, new regulations could also require us to retrofit or modify our hotels or incur other significant expenses. It is also possible that new zoning plans or regulations applicable to a specific location may cause us to relocate our hotel(s) in that location, or require additional approvals and licenses that may not be granted to us promptly or at all, which may adversely affect our operating results. Any failure by us to control the use of, or to adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances in our development activities, or to otherwise operate in compliance with environmental laws could also subject us to potentially significant monetary damages and fines or the suspension of our hotel development activities or hotel operations, which could materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Some of our hotels are not in full compliance with all of the applicable requirements. Such failure to comply with applicable construction permit, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations related to our business and hotel operation may subject us to potentially significant monetary damages and fines or the suspension of operations and development activities of our company or related hotels. We cannot guarantee that we will not be subject to any challenges or other actions with respect to such noncompliance.

Owners of our manachised and franchised hotels are subject to these same permit and safety requirements. Although our franchise agreements require these owners to obtain and maintain all required permits or licenses, we have limited control over these owners. Any failure to obtain and maintain the required permits or licenses by any owner of a manachised or franchised hotel may require us to delay opening of the manachised or franchised hotel or to forgo or terminate our franchise agreement, which could harm our brand, result in lost revenues and subject us to potential indirect liability.

Our limited insurance coverage may expose us to losses, which may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

We carry all mandatory and certain optional commercial insurance, including property, business interruption, money, fidelity guarantee, construction, third-party liability, public liability, product’s liability and employer’s liability insurance for our leased hotel operations. We also require our lessors and franchisees to purchase customary insurance policies. Although we are able to require our franchisees to obtain the requisite insurance coverage through our franchisees management, we cannot guarantee that our lessors will adhere to such requirements. In particular, there are inherent risks of accidents or injuries in hotels. One or more accidents or injuries at any of our hotels could adversely affect our safety reputation among customers and potential customers, decrease our overall occupancy rates and increase our costs by requiring us to take additional measures to make our safety precautions even more visible and effective. In the future, we may be unable to renew our insurance policies or obtain new insurance policies without increases in cost or decreases in coverage levels. We may also encounter disputes with insurance providers regarding payments of claims that we believe are covered under our policies. Furthermore, if we are held liable for amounts and claims exceeding the limits of our insurance coverage or outside the scope of our insurance coverage, our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

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If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.

We are subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, adopted rules requiring every public company to include in its annual report a management report on such company’s internal control over financial reporting containing management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. In addition, an independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of such company’s internal control over financial reporting except where the company is a non-accelerated filer. We currently are an accelerated filer.

Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2012. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.” Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an attestation report as of December 31, 2012. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures—Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.” However, if we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, our management and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting. This could in turn result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and negatively impact the trading price of our ADSs. Furthermore, we have incurred and anticipate that we will continue to incur considerable costs, management time and other resources in an effort to continue to comply with Section 404 and other requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We may not be able to develop hotel properties on a timely or cost-efficient basis, which may adversely affect our growth strategy and business.

We develop all of our leased hotels directly. Our involvement in the development of properties presents a number of risks, including construction delays or cost overruns, which may result in increased project costs or forgone revenue. We may be unable to recover development costs we incur for projects that do not reach completion. Properties that we develop could become less attractive due to market saturation or oversupply, and as a result we may not be able to recover development costs at the expected rate, or at all. Furthermore, we may not have available cash to complete projects that we have commenced, or we may be unable to obtain financing for the development of future properties on favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to successfully manage our hotel development to minimize these risks, our growth strategy and business prospects may be adversely affected.

We, our directors, management and employees may be subject to certain risks related to legal proceedings filed by or against us, and adverse results may harm our business.

We cannot predict with certainty the cost of defense, the cost of prosecution or the ultimate outcome of litigation and other proceedings filed by or against us, our directors, management or employees, including remedies or damage awards, and adverse results in such litigation and other proceedings may harm our business or reputation. Such litigation and other proceedings may include, but are not limited to, actions relating to intellectual property, commercial arrangements, employment, non-competition and labor law, fiduciary duties, personal injury, death, property damage or other harm resulting from acts or omissions by individuals or entities outside of our control, including franchisees and third-party property owners. In the case of intellectual property litigation and proceedings, adverse outcomes could include the cancellation, invalidation or other loss of material intellectual property rights used in our business and injunctions prohibiting our use of business processes or technology that is subject to third-party patents or other third-party intellectual property rights.

We generally are not liable for the willful actions of our franchisees and property owners; however, there is no assurance that we would be insulated from liability in all cases.

 

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We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by members of our HanTing Club.

PRC laws do not prohibit us from collecting and analyzing the personal information of our HanTing Club members and we require our members to provide certain personal information to us when they register their membership. We have taken commercially reasonable measures to keep the personal information safe and have implemented a privacy policy regarding the use of such information. However, we cannot assure you that individuals with access to personal information will abide by our privacy policy or that the personal information will not be appropriated by third parties, such as hackers, which may result in the inappropriate use or release of such information and could lead to potential lawsuits from members of our HanTing Club and liability to us for not protecting their personal information.

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

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

We conduct substantially all of our business operations in China. As the lodging industry is highly sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels, it tends to decline during general economic downturns. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are subject to a significant degree to economic developments in China. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to the amount and degree of government involvement and influence on the level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 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. While some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, they may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in environmental, health, labor or tax regulations that are applicable to us.

As the PRC economy is increasingly intricately linked to the global economy, it is affected in various respects by downturns and recessions of major economies around the world, such as the global financial crisis and sovereign debt crisis in Europe. Stimulus measures designed to help China weather the global financial crisis may contribute to higher inflation, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. For example, certain operating costs and expenses, such as employee compensation and hotel operating expenses, may increase as a result of higher inflation. Measures to control the pace of economic growth 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. The PRC economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. Although the PRC government has implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the PRC government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies.

The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Certain measures adopted by the PRC government, such as changes of the People’s Bank of China’s statutory deposit reserve ratio and lending guideline imposed on commercial banks, may restrict loans to certain industries. These actions, as well as future actions and policies of the PRC government, could materially affect our liquidity and access to capital and our ability to operate our business.

Inflation in China may disrupt our business and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The Chinese economy has experienced rapid expansion together with rising rates of inflation and increasing salary. The salary increase could potentially increase discretionary spending on travel, but general inflation may also erode disposable incomes and consumer spending. Furthermore, certain components of our operating costs, including personnel, food, laundry, consumables and property development and renovation costs, may increase as a result of an increase in the cost of materials and labor resulting from general inflation. However, we cannot guarantee that we can pass increased costs to customers through room rate increases. This could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Uncertainties with respect to the Chinese legal system could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike in common law systems, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. For example, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult than in more developed legal systems to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into. In addition, such uncertainties, including the inability to enforce our contracts, could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and other foreign investors, including you. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources and management attention.

Rapid urbanization and changes in zoning and urban planning in China may cause our leased hotels to be demolished, removed or otherwise affected and our franchise agreements to terminate.

China is undergoing a rapid urbanization process, and zoning requirements and other governmental mandates with respect to urban planning of a particular area may change from time to time. When there is a change in zoning requirements or other governmental mandates with respect to the areas where our hotels are located, the affected hotels may need to be demolished or removed. We have experienced such demolition and relocation in the past and we may encounter additional demolition and relocation cases in the future. For example, in 2012 we were obligated to demolish one leased hotel due to local government zoning requirements and, as a result, wrote off property and equipment of RMB3.0 million. We recorded this write-off as a receivable in other current assets as of December 31, 2012 and recognized no gain or loss in 2012. In addition, as of December 31, 2012, we were notified by local government authorities that we may have to demolish four additional leased hotels due to local zoning requirements. Our franchise agreements typically provide that if the manachised or franchised hotels are demolished, the franchise agreements will terminate. In 2012, we were obligated to demolish one manachised hotel due to local government zoning requirements. We cannot assure you that similar demolitions, termination of franchise agreements or interruptions of our hotel operations due to zoning or other local regulations will not occur in the future. Any such further demolition and relocation could cause us to lose primary locations for our hotels and we may not be able to achieve comparable operation results following the relocations. While we may be reimbursed for such demolition and relocation, we cannot assure you that the reimbursement, as determined by the relevant government authorities, will be sufficient to cover our direct and indirect losses. Accordingly, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders and therefore adversely affect the value of your investment.

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange” for discussions of the principal regulations and rules governing foreign currency exchange in China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in RMB. For most capital account items, approval from appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of bank loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs, which would adversely affect the value of your investment.

 

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Fluctuation in the value of the Renminbi may have a material adverse effect on your investment.

The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar, Euro and other currencies is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange policies.

Our revenues and costs are mostly denominated in the Renminbi, and a significant portion of our financial assets are also denominated in the Renminbi. We rely substantially on dividends paid to us by our operating subsidiaries in China. Any significant depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may have a material adverse effect on our revenues, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs and ordinary shares. If we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or for other business purposes, depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would reduce the U.S. dollar amount available to us. On the other hand, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Foreign Exchange Risk” for discussions of our exposure to foreign currency risks. In summary, fluctuation in the value of the Renminbi in either direction could have a material adverse effect on the value of our company and the value of your investment.

Our failure to obtain the prior approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, for our initial public offering and the listing and trading of our ADSs of the NASDAQ Global Select Market could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our ADSs; recent regulations also establish more complex procedures for acquisitions conducted by foreign investors which could make it more difficult to pursue growth through acquisitions.

In 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the New M&A Rule. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Overseas Listing.” While the application of the New M&A Rule remains unclear, we believe, based on the advice of our PRC counsel, that CSRC approval is not required in the context of our initial public offering because we established our PRC subsidiaries by means of direct investment other than by merger or acquisition of domestic companies, and we started to operate our business in the PRC through foreign invested enterprises before September 8, 2006, the effective date of the New M&A Rule. However, we cannot assure you that the relevant PRC government agency, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel. If the CSRC or other PRC regulatory body subsequently determines that CSRC’s approval was required for our initial public offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs.

Certain recently enacted PRC laws and regulations, such as the New M&A Rule and the Rules of Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the MOC Security Review Rule, which was promulgated by the MOC in August 2011 and became effective on September 1, 2011, also established additional procedures and requirements that could make mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex.

The New M&A Rule requires, among other things, that the MOC be notified prior to any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor acquires control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, issued by the State Council on August 3, 2008, were triggered. The MOC Security Review Rule requires, among other things, that any acquisition by foreign investors of PRC companies engaging in military related or certain other industries that are crucial to national security be subject to security review before consummation of such acquisition.

In the future, we may grow our business in part by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of these regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOC, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

 

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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 subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us.

In October 2005, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Corporate Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 75. SAFE later issued a series of implementation guidance, including the most recent Notice of SAFE on Printing and Distributing the Implementing Rules for the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-raising and Round-trip Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Circular 19, which came into effect on July 1, 2011. Their regulations require PRC residents who use assets or equity interests in their PRC entities as capital contributions to establish offshore companies or inject assets or equity interests in their PRC entities into offshore companies to register with local SAFE branches. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Offshore Financing” for discussions of the registration requirements and the relevant penalties.

We attempt to comply, and attempt to ensure that our shareholders and beneficial owners of our shares who are subject to these rules comply, with the relevant requirements. We cannot provide any assurance that our shareholders and beneficial owners of our shares who are PRC residents have complied or will comply with the requirements imposed by Circular 75 or other related rules either. Any failure by any of our shareholders and beneficial owners of our shares who are PRC domestic residents to comply with relevant requirements under this regulation could subject us to fines or sanctions imposed by the PRC government, including restrictions on our relevant subsidiary’s ability to pay dividends or make distributions to us and our ability to increase our investment in China.

We rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

We are a holding company, and we rely principally on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash requirements, including any debt we may incur. Current PRC regulations permit our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries in China are required to set aside a certain amount of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. As of December 31, 2012, a total of RMB49.6 million was not distributable in the form of dividends to us due to these PRC regulations. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries 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. The inability of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

We may be subject to fines and legal sanctions imposed by SAFE or other Chinese government authorities and our ability to further grant shares or share options to, and to adopt additional share incentive plans for, our directors and employees may be restricted if we or the participants of our share incentive plans fail to comply with PRC regulations relating to employee shares or share options granted by offshore special purpose companies or offshore listed companies to PRC participants.

In February 2012, the SAFE issued the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Individuals Participating in the Stock Incentive Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, or Circular 7, which requires PRC individual participants of stock incentive plans to register with the SAFE and to comply with a series of other requirements. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange.” We are an offshore listed company and as a result we and the participants of our share incentive plans who are PRC citizens or foreigners having lived within the territory of the PRC successively for at least one year, or, collectively, the PRC participants, are subject to Circular 7. While we completed the foreign exchange registration procedures and complied with other requirements according to Circular 7 in June 2012, we cannot provide any assurance that we or the PRC individual participants of our share incentive plans have complied or will comply with the requirements imposed by Circular 7. If we or the PRC participants of our share incentive plans fail to comply with Circular 7, we or the PRC participants of our share incentive plans may be subject to fines or other legal sanctions imposed by SAFE or other PRC government authorities and our ability to further grant shares or share options under our share incentive plans to, and to adopt additional share incentive plans for, our directors and employees may be restricted. Such events could adversely affect our business operations.

 

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It is unclear whether we will be considered as a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT law, and depending on the determination of our PRC “resident enterprise” status, dividends paid to us by our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC withholding tax, we may be subject to 25% PRC income tax on our worldwide income, and holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares may be subject to PRC withholding tax on dividends paid by us and gains realized on their transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares.

In 2007, the PRC National People’s Congress passed the Enterprise Income Tax Law, and the PRC State Council subsequently issued the Implementation Regulations of the Enterprise Income Tax Law. The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its Implementation Regulations, or the EIT Law, provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises.” Currently, there are no detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management body” and it is still unclear if the PRC tax authorities would determine that we should be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise.”

Under the EIT Law, dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in China may be subject to a 10% withholding tax if we are considered a “non-resident enterprise.” If we are treated as a PRC “resident enterprise,” we will be subject to PRC income tax on our worldwide income at the 25% uniform tax rate, which could have an impact on our effective tax rate and an adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, although dividends distributed from our PRC subsidiaries to us could be exempt from the PRC dividend withholding tax, since such income is exempted under the EIT Law to a PRC resident recipient. If we are required under the EIT Law to pay income tax on any dividends we receive from our subsidiaries, our income tax expenses will increase and the amount of dividends, if any, we may pay to our shareholders and ADS holders may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, dividends we pay with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares and the gains realized from the transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares may be considered as income derived from sources within the PRC and be subject to PRC withholding tax. See “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — PRC Taxation.”

We face uncertainty from PRC value-added tax reform, which could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us.

On October 26, 2011 the State Council of China approved a new tax rule to launch the value-added tax reform pilot program in Shanghai on January 1, 2012. On November 16, 2011, the Ministry of Finance of China and the State Administration of Taxation of China jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for the Collection of Value Added-Tax Instead of Business Tax, or Circular 110, and the Circular on the Pilot Program for the Collection of Value Added-Tax Instead of Business Tax in Transportation and Certain Modern Service Sectors in Shanghai, or Circular 111, to provide specific implementation rules for the pilot program, which became effective on January 1, 2012. As part of a tax replacement policy, Circular 110 and Circular 111 allow companies in the traffic and transport sector and certain modern service sectors in Shanghai to switch from being a business tax payer to being a value-added tax payer. Starting from January 1, 2012, a 17% value-added tax rate will apply to the movable property leasing sector, an 11% rate to the traffic and transport sector and a 6% rate to sectors related to research and development, technological services, culture, logistics and consultation. Value-added tax payers can deduct expenses incurred in providing the relevant services from the taxable income. On August 1, 2012, the pilot program started to extend to another eight provinces and cities, including Jiangsu Province. HanTing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., one of our major subsidiaries located in Jiangsu Province, has been subject to this new value-added tax reform pilot program since October 2012. As the new pilot program was just being rolled out as of January 1, 2012 and still is in a trial phase, its impact on our future operation is uncertain.

The audit report included in this annual report was prepared by auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection.

Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our annual reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the United States Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws and professional standards of the United States. Because our auditors are located in the Peoples’ Republic of China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB.

 

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Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditor’s audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections.

The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. As a result, investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.

We may be adversely affected by the outcome of the administrative proceedings brought by the SEC against five accounting firms in China.

Recently, the SEC commenced administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act against the Chinese affiliates of the ‘‘big four’’ accounting firms, including our auditors, and also against BDO China Dahua. The Rule 102(e) proceedings initiated by the SEC relate to these firms’ failure to produce documents, including audit workpapers, to the request of the SEC pursuant to Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the auditors located in the PRC are not in a position lawfully to produce documents directly to the SEC because of restrictions under PRC law and specific directives issued by the CSRC. As the administrative proceedings are ongoing, it is impossible to determine their outcome or the consequences thereof to us. We are not involved in these proceedings and are not subject to any SEC investigations. The issues raised by the proceedings are not specific to our auditors or to us, but affect all audit firms based in China and all China-based businesses with securities listed in the United States. However, if the administrative judge were to find in favor of the SEC under the proceedings and depending upon the remedies sought by the SEC, these audit firms, including our auditors, could be barred from practicing before the SEC and hence unable to continue to be the auditors for China-based companies like ourselves. As a result, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which may result in their inability to meeting the ongoing reporting requirements under U.S. securities laws and ultimately their deregistration and delisting. Moreover, any negative news about the proceedings against these audit firms, including our auditors, may erode investor confidence in China-based, United States listed companies, including us, and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our ADSs and Our Trading Market

The market price for our ADSs has been and may continue to be volatile.

The market price for our ADSs has been volatile and has ranged from a low of US$10.51 to a high of US$17.55 on the NASDAQ Global Select Market in 2012. The market price is subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, including the following:

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;

 

   

changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;

 

   

conditions in the travel and lodging industries;

 

   

changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other lodging companies;

 

   

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

 

   

addition or departure of key personnel;

 

   

fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies;

 

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potential litigation or administrative investigations;

 

   

release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding ADSs or ordinary shares or sales of additional ADSs; and

 

   

general economic or political conditions in China.

In addition, the market prices for companies with operations in China in particular have experienced volatility that might have been unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. The securities of some China-based companies that have listed their securities in the United States have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial declines in the market prices of their securities. The performance of the securities of these China-based companies after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States, which consequently may impact the performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or other matters of other China-based companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards China-based companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have engaged in any inappropriate activities.

The global financial crisis and the ensuing economic recessions in many countries have contributed and may continue to contribute to extreme volatility in the global stock markets, such as the large declines in share prices in the United States, China and other jurisdictions at various times since 2008. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of our ADSs, regardless of our operating performance.

We may need additional capital, and the sale of additional ADSs or other equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders and the incurrence of additional indebtedness could increase our debt service obligations.

We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents, anticipated cash flow from operations and the proceeds from our past capital markets fundraising activities, and from undrawn bank credit facilities available to us 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, strategic acquisitions or other future developments, including expansion through leased hotels and 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 and equity-linked 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.

Future sales or issuances, or perceived future sales or issuances, of substantial amounts of our ordinary shares or ADSs could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.

If our existing shareholders sell, or are perceived as intending to sell, substantial amounts of our ordinary shares or ADSs, including those issued upon the exercise of our outstanding stock options, the market price of our ADSs could fall. Such sales, or perceived potential sales, by our existing shareholders might make it more difficult for us to issue new equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and place we deem appropriate. Shares held by our existing shareholders may be sold in the public market in the future subject to the restrictions contained in Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act and the applicable lock-up agreements. If any existing shareholder or shareholders sell a substantial amount of ordinary shares after the expiration of the lock-up period, the prevailing market price for our ADSs could be adversely affected.

In addition, certain of our shareholders or their transferees and assignees will have the right to cause us to register the sale of their shares under the Securities Act upon the occurrence of certain circumstances. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.

 

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As our founder and co-founders collectively hold a controlling interest in us, they have significant influence over our management and their interests may not be aligned with our interests or the interests of our other shareholders.

As of April 20, 2013, our founder, Mr. Qi Ji, who is also our executive chairman and chief executive officer, and our co-founders, Ms. Tong Tong Zhao and Mr. John Jiong Wu, beneficially own approximately 44.4%, 13.4% and 3.8%, respectively, of our outstanding ordinary shares on an as-converted basis. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders.” The interests of these shareholders may conflict with the interests of our other shareholders. Our founder and co-founders have significant influence over us, including on matters relating to mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of us, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of us or of our assets and might reduce the price of our ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.

ADS holders may not have the same voting rights as the holders of our ordinary shares and may not receive voting materials in time to be able to exercise their right to vote.

Except as described in the deposit agreement, holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise voting rights attaching to the shares evidenced by our ADSs on an individual basis. Holders of our ADSs appoint the depositary or its nominee as their representative to exercise the voting rights attaching to the shares represented by the ADSs. ADS holders may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that they may not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.

ADS holders may not be able to participate in rights offerings and may experience dilution of his, her or its holdings as a result.

We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement for the ADSs, the depositary will not offer those rights to ADS holders unless both the rights and the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or exempt from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. In addition, we may not be able to take advantage of any exemptions from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, holders of our ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in their holdings as a result.

ADS holders may be subject to limitations on transfer of their ADSs.

Our ADSs 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 deem 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.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to, and we will, rely on exemptions from certain NASDAQ corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, including the requirement regarding the implementation of a nominations committee. This may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

The NASDAQ Marketplace Rules in general require listed companies to have, among other things, a nominations committee consisting solely of independent directors. As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to, and we will, follow home country corporate governance practices instead of certain requirements of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, including, among others, the implementation of a nominations committee. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require the implementation of a nominations committee. We currently intend to rely upon the relevant home country exemption in lieu of the nominations committee. As a result, the level of independent oversight over management of our company may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

 

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Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

Our amended and restated articles of association contain provisions limiting the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to enter into change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction.

For example, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares, in the form of ADSs or otherwise. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may decline and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, conduct substantially all of our operations in China and the majority of our officers reside outside the United States.

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and conduct substantially all of our operations in China through our subsidiaries in China. Most of our officers reside outside the United States and some or all 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 outside the Cayman Islands or China, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to effect service of process upon, or to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits. A judgment of a court of another jurisdiction may be reciprocally recognized or enforced if the jurisdiction has a treaty with China or if judgments of the PRC courts have been recognized before in that jurisdiction, subject to the satisfaction of other requirements. However, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments of courts with Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and most other Western countries.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and by the Companies Law (2012 Revision) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against our directors and us, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman 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. 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 of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.

 

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ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

4.A. History and Development of the Company

Powerhill was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the British Virgin Islands in December 2003, and commenced operation with mid-scale limited service hotels and commercial property development and management in 2005. Limited service hotels do not contain restaurants and all amenities are provided by the staff at the front desk or housekeeping. Powerhill conducted its operations through three wholly owned subsidiaries in the PRC, namely Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd., or Shanghai HanTing, HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd., or HanTing Xingkong, and Lishan Property (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., or Suzhou Property. In August 2006, Suzhou Property transferred its equity interests in three leased hotels to Shanghai HanTing in exchange for Shanghai HanTing’s equity interest in Shanghai Shuyu Co., Ltd., which was primarily engaged in the business of sub-leasing and managing real estate properties in technology parks.

China Lodging Group, Limited, or China Lodging, was incorporated in the Cayman Islands in January 2007. In February 2007, Powerhill transferred all of its ownership interests in HanTing Xingkong and Shanghai HanTing to China Lodging in exchange for preferred shares of China Lodging. After such exchange, each of HanTing Xingkong and Shanghai HanTing became a wholly owned subsidiary of China Lodging. In addition, in February 2007, Powerhill and its subsidiary, Suzhou Property, were spun off in the form of a dividend distribution to the shareholders.

In 2007, China Lodging began our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group. In 2007, we first launched our economy hotel product, HanTing Express Hotel, which was subsequently rebranded as HanTing Hotel, targeting knowledge workers and value-conscious travelers. In the same year, we introduced our mid-scale limited service hotel product, HanTing Hotel, which was subsequently rebranded first as HanTing Seasons Hotel and then as JI Hotel. In 2008, we launched our budget hotel product, HanTing Hi Inn, which was subsequently rebranded as Hi Inn. In April 2007, China Lodging acquired Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. from Crystal Water Investment Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Mr. John Jiong Wu, a co-founder of our company. In January 2008, China Lodging incorporated HanTing (Tianjin) Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. in China and in October 2008, established China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited, or China Lodging HK, in Hong Kong, under which HanTing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was subsequently established in China in December 2008.

In March 2010, we completed our initial public offering. We issued and sold 10,350,000 ADSs, representing 41,400,000 of our ordinary shares at a public offering price of US$12.25 per ADS. Our ADSs have been listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market since March 26, 2010. Our ordinary shares are not listed or publicly traded on any trading markets.

In May 2012, we acquired a 51% equity interest in Starway HK, a mid-scale hotel chain and increased our hotel brands to four brands. In August 2012, we announced our plan to launch another hotel brand, Joya Hotel. In November 2012, we changed the Chinese trade name of our Company from “HanTing Hotel Group” to “HuaZhu Hotel Group.”

Our principal executive offices are located at No. 2266 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200336, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 (21) 6195-2011. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. Box 2681, Grand Cayman, KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is CT Corporation System, located at 111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10011.

Investors should contact us for any inquiries through the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices. Our websites are http://www.htinns.com and http://www.huazhu.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this annual report.

4.B. Business Overview

We are a leading and fast-growing multi-brand hotel group in China with leased, manachised and franchised models. Under the lease model, we directly operate hotels typically located on leased properties. Under the manachise model, we manage manachised hotels through the on-site hotel managers we appoint and collect fees from franchisees. Under the franchise model, we provide training, reservation and support services to the franchised hotels and collect fees from franchisees but do not appoint on-site hotel managers. We apply a consistent standard and platform across all of our hotels. As of December 31, 2012, we had 465 leased hotels, 516 manachised hotels and 54 franchised hotels in operation and 80 leased hotels and 330 manachised hotels under development.

 

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As of the date of this annual report, we offer four hotel brands that are designed to target distinct segments of customers:

 

   

JI Hotel, our standardized mid-scale limited service hotel product which targets mature and experienced travelers who seek a quality experience in hotel stays, previously marketed first under the name of HanTing Hotel and then HanTing Seasons Hotel;

 

   

Starway Hotel, our mid-scale limited service hotel product with variety in design and consistency in quality which targets middle class travelers who seek a spacious room, reasonable price and guaranteed quality;

 

   

HanTing Hotel, our economy product which targets knowledge workers and value- and quality-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Express Hotel; and

 

   

Hi Inn, our budget hotel product which targets practical and price-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Hi Inn.

In addition, we plan to launch Joya Hotel, a new hotel brand targeting the upscale market, in the second half of 2013. We currently have one hotel under construction under the Joya brand.

As a result of our customer-oriented approach, we believe that we have developed strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base. In 2012, more than 80% of our room nights were sold to individual and corporate members of HanTing Club, our loyalty program.

Our operations commenced with mid-scale limited service hotels and commercial property development and management in 2005. We began our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. Our total revenues grew from RMB1,838.4 million in 2010 to RMB3,419.3 million in 2012. We had net income attributable to our company of RMB215.8 million, RMB114.8 million and RMB174.9 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We had net cash provided by operating activities of RMB469.1 million, RMB458.7 million and RMB715.7 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

We have received many awards for our business performance, including the “China’s Outstanding Mid-Scale Hotel brand of 2012” award for our JI Hotel from Hotel Modernization magazine in 2012, the “Brand with the Most Space to Grow” award from Shanghai Morning Post in 2012, the “Best Budget Hotel” award from China Tourism Gold List by Traveler magazine in 2011, the “Best Economy Hotel Brand of China” award at the sixth China Hotel Starlight Awards in 2011, the “Most Competitive Franchisor Brand in China in 2011 Award” from the Twelfth China Commercial Real Estate Investment Promotion Conference in 2011, the “Innovative Star Golden Horse Award” from The Founder magazine in 2011, the “Top 10 Corporate Hotel” award from Hotels China magazine in 2010, “Best Business Services” award from Qunar.com in 2010 and “Best Hotel Product Design” award from Air China in 2010.

Our Hotel Network

As of December 31, 2012, we operated 1,035 hotels in China. We have adopted a disciplined return-driven development model aimed at achieving high growth and profitability. Our hotel network covers 171 cities in 31 provinces and municipalities across China. As of December 31, 2012, we had an additional 410 hotels under development.

The following table sets forth a summary of all of our hotels as of December 31, 2012.

 

     Leased Hotels      Manachised
Hotels
     Franchised
Hotels
     Leased Hotels
Under
Development(1)
     Manachised
Hotels Under
Development(1)
 

Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou

     142         150         23         15         79   

 

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     Leased Hotels      Manachised
Hotels
     Franchised
Hotels
     Leased Hotels
Under
Development(1)
     Manachised
Hotels Under
Development(1)
 

Other cities

     323         366         31         65         251   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     465         516         54         80         330   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Include hotels for which we have entered into binding leases or franchise agreements but that have not yet commenced operations.

The following table sets forth the status of our hotels under development as of December 31, 2012.

 

     Pre-conversion
Period(1)
     Conversion
Period(2)
     Total  

Leased hotels

     26         54         80   

Manachised hotels

     92         238         330   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     118         292         410   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes hotels for which we have entered into binding leases or franchise agreements but of which the property has not been delivered by the respective lessors or property owners, as the case may be.
(2) Includes hotels for which we have commenced conversion activities but that have not yet commenced operations.

Leased hotels

As of December 31, 2012, we had 465 leased hotels, accounting for approximately 44.9% of our hotels in operation. We manage and operate each aspect of these hotels and bear all of the accompanying expenses. We are responsible for recruiting, training and supervising the hotel managers and employees, paying for leases and costs associated with construction and renovation of these hotels, and purchasing all supplies and other required equipment.

Our leased hotels are located on leased properties. The terms of our leases typically range from ten to 20 years. We generally enjoy an initial two- to six-month rent-free period. Rent is generally paid on a quarterly or biannual basis and is fixed for the first three to five years of the lease term. We are thereafter typically subject to a 3% to 5% increase every three to five years. Our leases usually allow for extensions by mutual agreement. In addition, our lessors are typically required to notify us in advance if they intend to sell or dispose of their properties, in which case we have a right of first refusal to purchase the properties on equivalent terms and conditions. Four of our leases expired in 2012 and were all renewed prior to their expiration. As of December 31, 2012, three of our leases will expire in 2013. Two of these three leases have been renewed and the other one is subject to negotiation as of April 19, 2013.

The following table sets forth the number of our leases for hotels in operation and under development due to expire in the periods indicated as of December 31, 2012.

 

     Number of
Leases
 

2013

     3   

2014

     4   

2015

     14   

2016

     12   

2017

     22   

2018-2020

     90   

2021-2023

     168   

2024 and onward

     232   
  

 

 

 

Total

     545   
  

 

 

 

 

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Manachised hotels

As of December 31, 2012, we had 516 manachised hotels, accounting for approximately 49.9% of our hotels in operation. The franchisees of our manachised hotels either lease or own their hotel properties and are required to invest in the renovation of their properties according to our product standards. We manage our manachised hotels and impose the same standards on all manachised hotels to ensure product quality and consistency across our hotel network. We appoint and train hotel managers who are responsible for hiring hotel staff and managing daily operation. We also provide our franchisees with services such as central reservation, sales and marketing support, quality assurance inspections and other operational support and information. Our franchisees are responsible for the costs of developing and operating the hotels, including renovating the hotels to our standards, and all of the operating expenses. We believe the manachise model has enabled us to quickly and effectively expand our geographical coverage and market share in a less capital-intensive manner through leveraging the local knowledge and relationships of our franchisees.

We collect fees from the franchisees of our manachised hotels and do not bear any loss or share any profit incurred or realized by our franchisees. They are also responsible for all costs and expenses related to hotel construction and refurbishing. Our franchise and management agreements for our manachised hotels typically run for an initial term of eight years. Our franchisees are generally required to pay us a one-time franchise fee ranging between RMB100,000 and RMB300,000. In general, we charge a monthly franchise fee of approximately 5% of the gross revenues generated by each manachised hotel. We also collect from franchisees a reservation fee on a per-room-night basis for using our central reservation system and a membership registration fee to service customers who join our HanTing Club loyalty program at the manachised hotels. Furthermore, we employ and appoint hotel managers for our manachised hotels and charge the franchisees a monthly fee for services we provide.

Franchised hotels

As of December 31, 2012, we had 54 franchised hotels, accounting for approximately 5.2% of our hotels in operation. We collect fees from the franchisees of our franchised hotels and do not bear any loss or share any profit incurred or realized by our franchisees. Services we provide to our franchised hotels generally include training, central reservation, sales and marketing support, quality assurance inspections and other operational support and information. We do not appoint hotel managers for our franchised hotels. As of the date of this annual report, we only use the franchise model for our Starway Hotels.

Our hotel chain has grown rapidly since we began migrating to our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. The following table sets forth the number of hotels we operated as of the dates indicated.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2005      2006      2007      2008      2009      2010      2011      2012  

Leased hotels

     5         24         62         145         173         243         344         465   

Manachised hotels

     —           2         5         22         63         195         295         516   

Franchised hotels

     —           —           —           —           —           —           —           54   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5         26         67         167         236         438         639         1,035   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our Products

We began our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. As of the date of this annual report, we offer four hotel brands that are designed to target distinct segments of customers:

 

   

JI Hotel, our standardized mid-scale limited service hotel product which targets mature and experienced travelers who seek a quality experience in hotel stays, previously marketed first under the name of HanTing Hotel and then HanTing Seasons Hotel;

 

   

Starway Hotel, our mid-scale limited service hotel product with variety in design and consistency in quality which targets middle class travelers who seek a spacious room, reasonable price and guaranteed quality;

 

   

HanTing Hotel, our economy product which targets knowledge workers and value- and quality-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Express Hotel; and

 

   

Hi Inn, our budget hotel product which targets practical and price-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Hi Inn.

 

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In addition, we plan to launch Joya Hotel, a new hotel brand targeting the upscale market, in the second half of 2013. We currently have one hotel under construction under the Joya brand.

We believe that our multi-brand strategy provides us with a competitive advantage by (i) enabling us to open a larger number of hotels in attractive markets, (ii) capturing a greater share of the spending of customers whose lodging needs may change from occasion to occasion or evolve over time, and (iii) providing us a greater benefit of economy of scale through shared platforms.

Joya Hotel

In August 2012, we announced our plan to launch Joya Hotel. We are in the process of fine-tuning product designs, features, and marketing plans for the Joya Hotels and have assigned a dedicated internal team to develop the brand concept and positioning. As of December 31, 2012, we had one Joya Hotel under construction.

JI Hotel

JI Hotel, which was previously marketed first under the name of HanTing Hotel and then HanTing Seasons Hotels, is typically located in city centers or central business districts. Typically priced between RMB250 and RMB500 per room night, these hotels target mature and experienced travelers who seek a quality experience in hotel stays. JI Hotels offer rooms with a quality comparable to three- to four-star hotels, but are priced at competitive rates. In addition, these hotels offer complimentary wireless Internet access throughout the premises, spacious lobbies with laser printers, computers, free drinks, and a cafe serving breakfast and simple meals. As of December 31, 2012, we had 32 JI Hotels in operation and an additional 35 JI Hotels under development.

Starway Hotel

Typically priced between RMB250 and RMB600 per room night, Starway Hotels vary in their designs and target middle class travelers who seek a spacious room, reasonable price and guaranteed quality. Starway Hotels offer rooms with a quality comparable to three- to four-star hotels, but are priced at competitive rates. In addition, these hotels typically offer complimentary Internet access throughout the premises, spacious lobbies and meeting areas with complimentary tea and coffee. As of December 31, 2012, we had 65 Starway Hotels in operation and an additional 23 Starway Hotels under development.

HanTing Hotel

Launched in 2007 and originally marketed under the name of HanTing Express Hotel, HanTing Hotel is our economy hotel product with the value proposition of “Quality, Convenience and Value.” These hotels are typically located in areas close to major business and commercial districts, and are priced between RMB150 and RMB300 per room night. The HanTing Hotel targets knowledge workers and value- and quality-conscious travelers. These hotels have lobbies with complimentary wireless Internet access and laser printers, and a cafe serving breakfast and simple meals. Rooms are equipped with a comfortable mattress, plush buckwheat and cotton pillows, shower facilities, an outlet for free broadband Internet access, a working desk and chair, and universal and uninterruptable power sockets. As of December 31, 2012, we had 898 HanTing Hotels in operation and an additional 331 HanTing Hotels under development.

Hi Inn

Launched in late 2008 and originally marketed under the name of HanTing Hi Inn, Hi Inns are typically priced between RMB100 and RMB200 per room night and target practical and price-conscious travelers, such as new college graduates and backpackers. These hotels offer compact rooms with comfortable beds and shower facilities and complimentary wireless Internet access throughout the premises, and provide an Internet cafe and other facilities for guests to relax and socialize. These hotels provide basic and clean accommodations with consumables being offered at affordable prices from vending machines in the common areas. As of December 31, 2012, we had 40 Hi Inns in operation and an additional 19 Hi Inns under development.

 

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Hotel Development

We prefer to lease the properties of the hotels we operate rather than acquire properties ourselves, as owning properties is typically much more capital intensive. We also use the manachise and franchise models to expand our network in a less capital-intensive manner. We have adopted a systematic process with respect to the planning and execution of new development projects. Our development department analyzes economic data by city, field visit reports and market intelligence information to identify target locations in each city and develop a three-year development plan for new hotels on a regular basis. The plan is subsequently reviewed and approved by our investment committee. Once a property is identified in the targeted location, staff in our development department analyzes the business terms and formulates a proposal for the project. In the case of a lease opportunity, the investment committee evaluates each proposed project based on several factors, including the length of the investment payback period, the rate of return on the investment, the amount of net cash flow projected during the operating period and the impact on our existing hotels in the vicinity. When evaluating potential manachising and franchising opportunities, the investment committee considers the attractiveness of the location as well as additional factors such as quality of the prospective franchisee and product consistency with China Lodging standards. Our investment committee weighs each investment proposal carefully to ensure that we can effectively expand our coverage while concurrently improving our profitability.

The following is a description of our hotel development process.

Leased hotels

We seek properties that are in central or highly accessible locations in economically more developed cities in order to maximize the room rates that we can charge. In addition, we typically seek properties that will accommodate hotels of 80 to 160 rooms.

After identifying a proposed site, we conduct thorough due diligence and typically negotiate leases concurrently with the lessors. All leases and development plans are subject to the final approval of our investment committee. Once a lease agreement has been executed, we then engage independent design firms and construction companies to begin work on leasehold improvement. Our construction management team works closely with these firms on planning and architectural design. Our contracts with construction companies typically contain warranties for quality and requirements for timely completion of construction. Contractors or suppliers are typically required to compensate us in the event of delays or poor work quality. A majority of the construction materials and supplies used in the construction of our new hotels are purchased by us through a centralized procurement system.

Manachised and franchised hotels

We open manachised and franchised hotels to supplement our geographical coverage or to deepen penetration of existing markets. Manachised and franchised hotels provide us valuable operating information in assessing the attractiveness of new markets, and supplement our coverage in areas where the potential franchisees can have access to attractive locations by leveraging their own assets and local network. As is the case with leased hotels, we generally look to establish manachised and franchised hotels near popular commercial and office districts that tend to generate stronger demand for hotel accommodations. Manachised and franchised hotels must also meet certain specified criteria in connection with the infrastructure of the building, such as adequate water, electricity and sewage systems.

We typically source potential franchisees through word-of-mouth referrals, applications submitted via our website and industry conferences. Some of our franchisees operate several of our manachised and franchised hotels. In general, we seek franchisees who share our values and management philosophies.

We typically supervise the franchisees in designing and renovating their properties pursuant to the same standards required for our leased hotels, and provide assistance as required. We also provide technical expertise and require the franchisees to follow a pre-selected list of qualified suppliers. In addition, we appoint or train hotel managers and help train other hotel staff to ensure that high quality and consistent service is provided throughout all our hotels.

 

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Hotel Management

Our management team has accumulated significant experience with respect to the operation of hotels. Building on this experience, our management team has developed a robust operational platform for our nationwide operations, implemented a rigorous budgeting process, and utilized our information systems to monitor our hotel performance. We believe the system is critical in maximizing our revenues and profitability. The following are some of the key components of our hotel management system:

Budgeting. Our budget and analysis team prepares a detailed annual cost and revenue budget for each of our leased hotels, and an annual revenue budget for each of our manachised and franchised hotels. The hotel budget is prepared based on, among other things, the historical operating performance of each hotel, the performance of comparable hotels and local market conditions. We may adjust the budget upon the occurrence of unexpected events that significantly affect a specific hotel’s operating performance. In addition, our compensation scheme for managers in each hotel is directly linked to its performance against the annual budget.

Pricing. Our room rates are determined using a centralized system and are based on the historical operating performance of each of our hotels, including leased and manachised hotels, our competitors’ room rates and local market conditions. We adjust room rates regularly based on seasonality and market demand. We also adjust room rates for certain events, such as the China Import and Export Fair held twice a year in Guangzhou and the World Expo in Shanghai in 2010. We believe our centralized pricing system enhances our ability to adjust room rates in a timely fashion with a goal of optimizing average daily rates and occupancy levels across our network. Room rates for our franchised hotels are determined by the franchisees based on local market condition.

Monitoring. Through the use of our web-based property management system, we are able to monitor each hotel’s occupancy status, average daily rates, RevPAR and other operating data on a real-time basis. Real-time hotel operating information allows us to adjust our sales efforts and other resources to rapidly capitalize on changes in the market and to maximize operating efficiency.

Centralized cash management. Our leased hotels deposit cash into our central account several times a week. We also generally centralize all payments for expenditures. Our manachised and franchised hotels manage their cash separately.

Centralized procurement system. Our centralized procurement system has enabled us to efficiently manage our operating costs, especially with respect to supplies used in large quantities. Given the scale of our hotel network and our centralized procurement system, we have the purchasing power to secure favorable terms from suppliers for all of our hotels.

Quality assurance. We have developed an operating manual to which our staff closely adhere to ensure the consistency and quality of our customer experience. We conduct periodic internal quality checks of our hotels to ensure that our operating policies and procedures are followed. We also engage “mystery guests” from time to time to ensure that we are providing consistent quality services. Furthermore, we actively solicit customer feedbacks by conducting outbound e-mail surveys and monitor customer messages left in hotel guestbooks as well as comments posted on our website and third-party websites.

Training. We view the quality and skill sets of our employees as essential to our business and thus have made employee training one of our top priorities. Our HuaZhu University, previously known as HanTing College, together with our regional management teams, offers structured training programs for our hotel managers, other hotel-based staff and corporate staff. Our hotel managers are required to attend a three-week intensive training program, covering topics such as China Lodging corporate culture, team management, sales and marketing, customer service, hotel operation standards and financial and human resource management. Approximately 80% of our hotel managers have received training completion certificates. Our HuaZhu University also rolled out a new-hire training package in October 2009 to standardize the training for hotel-based staff across our hotel group. In addition, we provide our corporate staff with various training programs, such as managerial skills, office software skills and corporate culture. After our acquisition of a 51% equity interest in Starway HK in May 2012, we extended the coverage of our training programs to all Starway employees. In 2012, our hotel-based staff and corporate staff on average have received approximately 60 and 40 hours of training, respectively.

 

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Hotel Information Platform and Operational Systems

We have successfully developed and implemented an advanced operating platform capable of supporting our nationwide operations. This operating platform enables us to increase the efficiency of our operations and make timely decisions. The following is a description of our key information and management systems.

Web property management system (Web-PMS). Our Web-PMS is a web-based, centralized application that integrates all the critical operational information in our hotel network. This system enables us to manage our room inventory, reservations and pricing for all of our hotels on a real-time basis. The system is designed to enable us to enhance our profitability and compete more effectively by integrating with our central reservation system and customer relationship management system. We believe our Web-PMS enables our management to more effectively assess the performance of our hotels on a timely basis and to efficiently allocate resources and effectively identify specific market and sales targets.

Central reservation system. We have a real-time central reservation system available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our central reservation system allows reservations through multiple channels including our website, call center, third-party travel agents and online reservation partners. The real-time inventory management capability of the system improves the efficiency of reservations, enhances customer satisfaction and maximizes our profitability.

Customer relationship management (CRM) system. Our integrated CRM system maintains information of our HanTing Club members, including reservation and consumption history and pattern, points accumulated and redeemed, and prepayment and balance. By closely tracking and monitoring member information and behavior, we are able to better serve the members of our loyalty program and offer targeted promotions to enhance customer loyalty. The CRM system also allows us to monitor the performance of our corporate client sales representatives.

Internet service system (HTOnline). Our Internet service system HTOnline consists of our website (www.htinns.com), our mobile website (m.htinns.com) and our mobile apps for smart phones running iOS or Android systems. HTOnline provides our HanTing Club members and the general public with convenient, friendly and updated services, including information and search services for China Lodging hotels, including location, amenities and pricing, reservation services, membership registration and management and member community services. Our mobile apps also provide location based services, including search services for nearby China Lodging hotels.

Sales and Marketing

Our marketing strategy is designed to enhance our brand recognition and customer loyalty. Building and differentiating the brand image of each of our hotel products is critical to increasing our brand recognition. We focus on targeting the distinct guest segments that each of our hotel products serves and adopting effective marketing measures based on thorough analysis and application of data and analytics. In 2012, 96% of our room nights were sold through our own sales platforms and the remaining 4% of our room nights through intermediaries.

We use our Web-PMS system to conduct pricing management for all of our hotels except for our franchised hotels. We review our hotel pricing regularly and adjust room rates as needed based on local market conditions and the specific location of each hotel, focusing mainly on three factors: (i) optimum occupancy rate of the hotel and other China Lodging hotels nearby, (ii) seasonal demand for the hotel and (iii) event-driven demand for the hotel.

A key component of our marketing efforts is the HanTing Club, our loyalty program, which covers all of our brands. We believe the HanTing Club loyalty program allow us to build customer loyalty and conduct lower-cost, targeted marketing campaigns. A majority of individual members of the HanTing Club pay to enroll in the program. As of December 31, 2012, our HanTing Club had more than eight million members. In 2012, more than 80% of our room nights were sold to our HanTing Club members. Members of the HanTing Club are provided with discounts on room rates, free breakfasts (for gold and platinum members), more convenient check-out procedures and other benefits. HanTing Club members can also accumulate points through stays in our hotels or by purchasing products and services provided at our hotels. These points can be redeemed for gifts or free nights in our hotels. We also have joint promotional programs with leading financial institutions and airlines to recruit new members of our loyalty program. The HanTing Club includes three levels of membership: basic, gold and platinum. The one-time membership fees we charge for the basic and gold memberships are currently RMB28 (US$4.5) and RMB198 (US$31.8), respectively. Gold memberships can be upgraded to platinum memberships upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The HanTing Club membership card is a smart card that enables elevator and room access, easy check-in and express check-out. This smart card can also be used as pre-paid cards for in-hotel purchases. We expect to rename HanTing Club as HuaZhu Club in 2013.

 

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After our acquisition of a 51% equity interest in Starway HK in May 2012, we terminated Starway Hotels’ loyalty program, the Star Rewards program, and converted all Star Rewards members into HanTing Club members.

We also introduced E-member under our HanTing Club loyalty program in 2010 to enhance our brand awareness and to expand coverage of our customer loyalty scheme. Our E-members can register on our website free of charge and are provided with discounts on room rates for their on-line booking. They can also accumulate points, which can be redeemed for gifts or free nights in our hotels.

Our marketing activities also include Internet advertising, press and sponsored activities held jointly with our corporate partners and advertisements on travel and business magazines.

Competition

The lodging industry in China is highly fragmented. A significant majority of the room supply has come from stand-alone hotels, guest houses and other lodging facilities. In recent years hotel groups emerged and began to consolidate the market by converting standalone hotels into members of their hotel groups. As a multi-brand hotel group we believe that we compete primarily based on location, room rates, brand recognition, quality of accommodations, geographic coverage, service quality, range of services, guest amenities and convenience of the central reservation system. We primarily compete with other hotel groups as well as various stand-alone lodging facilities in each of the markets in which we operate. Our HanTing Hotels mainly compete with Home Inns, Jinjiang Inn, 7 Days Inn, various regional hotel groups and stand-alone hotels, and certain international brands such as Super 8. We also compete with two- and three-star hotels, as we offer rooms with amenities comparable to many of those hotels. Our JI Hotels and Starway Hotels face competition from existing three-star and certain four-star hotels, boutique hotels whose price could be comparable and a few hotel chains such as Vienna Hotels and Holiday Inn Express. Our Hi Inns compete mainly with stand-alone guest houses, low-price hotels and budget hotel chains such as Pod Inns. In addition, our proposed entry into the upscale hotel market through the launch of Joya Hotels may also expose us to more competition.

Intellectual Property

We regard our trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights as critical to our business. We rely on a combination of copyright and trademark law, trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements with our employees, lecturers, business partners and others, to protect our intellectual property rights.

As of December 31, 2012, we have registered 91 trademarks and logos with the China Trademark Office. The trademarks and logos used in our current hotels are under protection of the registered trademarks and logos. An additional 100 trademark applications are under review by the authority. We have also registered one trademark in each of Singapore, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong. We have filed 3 trademark applications both in Korea and Thailand, which are under review by the authority in Korea and Thailand. As of December 31, 2012, we have applied for and received one utility model patent for our bathroom hinged door. We have also received copyright registration certificates for six software programs developed by us as of December 31, 2012. In addition, we have registered 39 national and international top-level domain names, including www.htinns.com, www.hantinghotels.com and www.huazhu.com as of December 31, 2012.

Our intellectual property is subject to risks of theft and other unauthorized use, and our ability to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use is limited. In addition, we may be subject to claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Failure to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights could have a negative impact on our brand and adversely affect our business.”

 

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Insurance

We believe that our hotels are covered by adequate property and liability insurance policies with coverage features and insured limits that we believe are customary for similar companies in China. We also require our franchisees to carry adequate property and liability insurance policies. We carry property insurance that covers the assets that we own at our hotels. Although we require our franchisees to purchase customary insurance policies, we cannot guarantee that they will adhere to such requirements. If we were held liable for amounts and claims exceeding the limits of our insurance coverage or outside the scope of our insurance coverage, our business, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our limited insurance coverage may expose us to losses, which may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Legal and Administrative Proceedings

In the ordinary course of our business, we, our directors, management and employees are subject to periodic legal or administrative proceedings. Although we cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against us, our directors, management and employees, we do not believe that any currently pending legal or administrative proceeding to which we, our directors, management and employees are a party will have a material adverse effect on our business or reputation. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — We, our directors, management and employees may be subject to certain risks related to legal proceedings filed by or against us, and adverse results may harm our business.”

Regulation

The hotel industry in China is subject to a number of laws and regulations, including laws and regulations relating specifically to hotel operation and management and commercial franchising, as well as those relating to environmental and consumer protection. The principal regulation governing foreign ownership of hotel businesses in the PRC is the Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the PRC Ministry of Commerce, or the MOC, which was most recently updated on December 24, 2011. Pursuant to this regulation, there are no restrictions on foreign investment in limited service hotel businesses in China aside from business licenses and other permits that every hotel must obtain. Relative to other industries in China, regulations governing the hotel industry in China are still developing and evolving. As a result, most legislative actions have consisted of general measures such as industry standards, rules or circulars issued by different ministries rather than detailed legislations. This section summarizes the principal PRC regulations currently relevant to our business and operations.

Regulations on Hotel Operation

In November 1987, the Ministry of Public Security issued the Measures for the Control of Security in the Hotel Industry, and in June 2004, the State Council promulgated the Decision of the State Council on Establishing Administrative License for the Administrative Examination and Approval Items Really Necessary To Be Retained. Under these two regulations, anyone who applies to operate a hotel is subject to examination and approval by the local public security authority and must obtain a special industry license. The Measures for the Control of Security in the Hotel Industry impose certain security control obligations on the operators. For example, the hotel must examine the identification card of any guest to whom accommodation is provided and make an accurate registration. The hotel must also report to the local public security authority if it discovers anyone violating the law or behaving suspiciously or an offender wanted by the public security authority. Pursuant to the Measures for the Control of Security in the Hotel Industry, hotels failing to obtain the special industry license may be subject to warnings or fines of up to RMB200. In addition, pursuant to various local regulations, hotels failing to obtain the special industry license may be subject to warnings, orders to suspend or cease continuing business operations, confiscations of illegal gains or fines.

In April 1987, the State Council promulgated the Public Area Hygiene Administration Regulation, according to which, a hotel must obtain a public area hygiene license before opening for business. Pursuant to this regulation, hotels failing to obtain a public area hygiene license may be subject to the following administrative penalties depending on the seriousness of their respective activities: (i) warnings; (ii) fines; or (iii) orders to suspend or cease continuing business operations. In March 2011, the Ministry of Health promulgated the Implementation Rules of the Public Area Hygiene Administration Regulation, according to which, starting from May 1, 2011, hotel operators shall establish hygiene administration system and keep records of hygiene administration. In February 2009, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, enacted the PRC Law on Food Safety, according to which any hotel that provides food must obtain a food service license; any food hygiene license which had been obtained prior to June 1, 2009 will be replaced by the food service license once the food hygiene license expires. To simplify licensing procedures, some cities such as Nanjing, Chengdu and Xi’an have combined the public area hygiene license and the food service license (or formerly food hygiene license) into one unified hygiene license. Pursuant to this law, hotels failing to obtain a food service license (or formerly food hygiene license) may be subject to: (i) confiscation of illegal gains, food illegally produced for sale and tools, facilities and raw materials used for illegal production; or (ii) fines between RMB2,000 and RMB50,000 if the value of food illegally produced is less than RMB10,000 or fines equal to 500% to 1000% of the value of food if such value is equal to or more than RMB10,000.

 

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The Fire Prevention Law, as amended by the SCNPC in October 2008, and the Provisions on Supervision and Inspection on Fire Prevention and Control, promulgated by the Ministry of Public Security and effective as of May 1, 2009, require that public gathering places such as hotels submit a fire prevention design plan to apply for the completion acceptance of fire prevention facilities for their construction projects and to pass a fire prevention safety inspection by the local public security fire department, which is a prerequisite for opening business. Pursuant to these regulations, hotels failing to obtain approval of fire prevention design plans or failing fire prevention safety inspections may be subject to: (i) orders to suspend the construction of projects, use or operation of business; and (ii) fines between RMB30,000 and RMB300,000.

In January 2006, the State Council promulgated the Regulations for Administration of Entertainment Places. The Ministry of Culture issued the Circular on Carrying Out the Regulations for Administration of Entertainment Places in March 2006 and the Administrative Measures for Entertainment Places in February 2013. Under these regulations, hotels that provide entertainment facilities, such as discos or ballrooms, are required to obtain a license for entertainment business operations.

On October 18, 2010, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and Standardization Administration approved and issued Classification and Accreditation for Star-rated Tourist Hotels (GB/T14308-2010), which became effective on January 1, 2011. On November 19, 2010, the National Tourist Administration promulgated the Implementation Measures of Classification and Accreditation for Star-rated Tourist Hotels, which became effective on January 1, 2011. Under these regulations, all hotels with operations of over one year are eligible to apply for a star rating assessment. There are five ratings from one star to five stars for tourist hotels, assessed based on the level of facilities, management standards and quality of service. A star rating, once granted, is valid for three years.

On September 21, 2012, the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Provisional Administrative Measures for Single-purpose Commercial Prepaid Cards, according to which, if an enterprise engaged in retail, accommodation and catering, or residential services issues any single-purpose commercial prepaid card to its customers, it shall undergo a record-filing procedure. For a hotel primarily engaged in the business of accommodation, the aggregate balance of the advance payment under the single-purpose commercial prepaid cards it issued shall not exceed 40% of its income from its primary business in the previous financial year.

Regulations on Leasing

Under the Law on Urban Real Estate Administration promulgated by the SCNPC, which took effect as of January 1995 and was amended in August 2007 and the Administrative Measures for Commodity House Leasing promulgated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Construction, which took effect as of February 1, 2011, when leasing premises, the lessor and lessee are required to enter into a written lease contract, prescribing such provisions as the leasing term, use of the premises, rental and repair liabilities, and other rights and obligations of both parties. Both lessor and lessee are also required to go through registration procedures to record the lease with the real estate administration department. Pursuant to these laws and regulations and various local regulations, if the lessor and lessee fail to go through the registration procedures, both lessor and lessee may be subject to fines, and the leasing interest will be subordinated to an interested third party acting in good faith.

In March 1999, the National People’s Congress, the China legislature, passed the PRC Contract Law, of which Chapter 13 governs lease agreements. According to the PRC Contract Law, subject to consent of the lessor, the lessee may sublease the leased item to a third party. Where the lessee subleases the lease item, the leasing contract between the lessee and the lessor remains valid. The lessor is entitled to terminate the contract if the lessee subleases the lease item without the consent of the lessor.

 

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In March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress passed the PRC Property Law, pursuant to which where a mortgagor leases the mortgaged property before the mortgage contract is concluded, the previously established leasing relation shall not be affected; and where a mortgagor leases the mortgaged property after the creation of the mortgage interest, the leasing interest will be subordinated to the registered mortgage interest.

Regulations on Consumer Protection

In October 1993, the SCNPC promulgated the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Consumers, or the Consumer Protection Law. Under the Consumer Protection Law, a business operator providing a commodity or service to a consumer is subject to a number of requirements, including the following:

 

   

to ensure that commodities and services meet with certain safety requirements;

 

   

to disclose serious defects of a commodity or a service and to adopt preventive measures against damage occurrence;

 

   

to provide consumers with accurate information and to refrain from conducting false advertising;

 

   

not to set unreasonable or unfair terms for consumers or alleviate or release itself from civil liability for harming the legal rights and interests of consumers by means of standard contracts, circulars, announcements, shop notices or other means; and

 

   

not to insult or slander consumers or to search the person of, or articles carried by, a consumer or to infringe upon the personal freedom of a consumer.

Business operators may be subject to civil liabilities for failing to fulfill the obligations discussed above. These liabilities include restoring the consumer’s reputation, eliminating the adverse effects suffered by the consumer, and offering an apology and compensation for any losses incurred. The following penalties may also be imposed upon business operators for the infraction of these obligations: issuance of a warning, confiscation of any illegal income, imposition of a fine, an order to cease business operation, revocation of its business license or imposition of criminal liabilities under circumstances that are specified in laws and statutory regulations.

In December 2003, the Supreme People’s Court in China enacted the Interpretation of Some Issues Concerning the Application of Law for the Trial of Cases on Compensation for Personal Injury, which further increases the liabilities of business operators engaged in the operation of hotels, restaurants, or entertainment facilities and subjects such operators to compensatory liabilities for failing to fulfill their statutory obligations to a reasonable extent or to guarantee the personal safety of others.

Regulations on Environmental Protection

In February 2012, the SCNPC issued the newly amended Law on Promoting Clean Production, which regulates service enterprises such as restaurants, entertainment establishments and hotels and requires them to use technologies and equipment that conserve energy and water, serve other environmental protection purposes, and reduce or stop the use of consumer goods that waste resources or pollute the environment.

According to the Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China promulgated by the SCNPC on December 26, 1989 and October 28, 2002, respectively, the Regulations Governing Environmental Protection in Construction Projects promulgated by the State Council on November 29, 1998, and the Regulations Governing Completion Acceptance of Environmental Protection in Construction Projects promulgated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection on December 27, 2001, hotels shall submit a Report on Environmental Impact Assessment and an Application Letter for Acceptance of Environmental Protection Facilities in Construction Projects to competent environmental protection authorities for approvals before commencing the operation. Pursuant to the Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People’s Republic of China, any hotel failing to obtain the approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment may be ordered to cease construction and apply for the approval within a specified time limit. If the hotel still fails to obtain approval within the specified time limit, it may be subject to fines between RMB50,000 and RMB200,000, and the person directly responsible for the project may be subject to certain administrative penalties. Pursuant to the Regulations Governing Completion Acceptance of Environmental Protection in Construction Projects, any hotel failing to obtain an Acceptance of Environmental Protection Facilities in Construction Projects may be subject to fines and an order to obtain approval within a specified time limit.

 

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Regulations on Commercial Franchising

Franchise operations are subject to the supervision and administration of the MOC, and its regional counterparts. Such activities are currently regulated by the Regulations for Administration of Commercial Franchising, which was promulgated by the State Council on February 6, 2007 and became effective on May 1, 2007. The Regulations for Administration of Commercial Franchising were subsequently supplemented by the Administrative Measures for Archival Filing of Commercial Franchises, which was promulgated by the MOC on April 30, 2007 and became effective on May 1, 2007 and the newly amended Administrative Measures for Information Disclosure of Commercial Franchises, which was promulgated by the MOC on February 23, 2012 and became effective on April 1, 2012.

Under the above applicable regulations, a franchisor must have certain prerequisites including a mature business model, the capability to provide long-term business guidance and training services to franchisees and ownership of at least two self-operated storefronts that have been in operation for at least one year within China. Franchisors engaged in franchising activities without satisfying the above requirements may be subject to penalties such as forfeit of illegal income and imposition of fines between RMB100,000 and RMB500,000 and may be bulletined by the MOC or its local counterparts. Franchise contracts shall include certain required provisions, such as terms, termination rights and payments.

Franchisors are generally required to file franchise contracts with the MOC or its local counterparts. Failure to report franchising activities may result in penalties such as fines up to RMB100,000. Such noncompliance may also be bulletined. In the first quarter of every year, franchisors are required to report to the MOC or its local counterparts any franchise contracts they executed, canceled, renewed or amended in the previous year.

The term of a franchise contract shall be no less than three years unless otherwise agreed by franchisees. The franchisee is entitled to terminate the franchise contract in his sole discretion within a set period of time upon signing of the franchise contract.

Pursuant to the Administrative Measures for Information Disclosure of Commercial Franchises, 30 days prior to the execution of franchise contracts, franchisors are required to provide franchisees with copies of the franchise contracts, as well as written true and accurate basic information on matters including:

 

   

the name, domiciles, legal representative, registered capital, scope of business and basic information relating to its commercial franchising;

 

   

basic information relating to the registered trademark, logo, patent, know-how and business model;

 

   

the type, amount and method of payment of franchise fees (including payment of deposit and the conditions and method of refund of deposit);

 

   

the price and conditions for the franchisor to provide goods, service and equipment to the franchisee;

 

   

the detailed plan, provision and implementation plan of consistent services including operational guidance, technical support and business training provided to the franchisee;

 

   

detailed measures for guiding and supervising the operation of the franchisor;

 

   

investment budget for all franchised hotels of the franchisee;

 

   

the current numbers, territory and operation evaluation of the franchisees within China;

 

   

a summary of accounting statements audited by an accounting firm and a summary of audit reports for the previous two years;

 

   

information on any lawsuit in which the franchisor has been involved in the previous five years;

 

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basic information regarding whether the franchisor and its legal representative have any record of material violation; and

 

   

other information required to be disclosed by the MOC.

In the event of failure to disclose or misrepresentation, the franchisee may terminate the franchise contract and the franchisor may be fined up to RMB100,000. In addition, such noncompliance may be bulletined.

According to the 2008 Handbook of Market Access of Foreign Investment promulgated by the MOC in December 2008, if an existing foreign-invested company wishes to operate a franchise in China, it must apply to its original examination and approval authority to expand its business scope to include “engaging in commercial activities by way of franchise.”

Regulations on Trademarks

Both the PRC Trademark Law adopted by the SCNPC in 1982 and revised in 2001 and the Implementation Regulation of the PRC Trademark Law adopted by the State Council in 2002 give protection to the holders of registered trademarks and trade names. The Trademark Office under the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC, handles trademark registrations and grants a term of ten years to registered trademarks. Trademark license agreements must be filed with the Trademark Office.

Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange

The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations promulgated by the State Council, as amended on August 5, 2008, or the Foreign Exchange Regulations. Under the Foreign Exchange Regulations, the RMB is freely convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China, unless the prior approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made.

On August 29, 2008, the SAFE promulgated the Notice on Perfecting Practices Concerning Foreign Exchange Settlement Regarding the Capital Contribution by Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of foreign currency into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. Circular 142 requires that the registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise settled in RMB converted from foreign currencies may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable governmental authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, the SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises settled in RMB converted from foreign currencies. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without the SAFE’s approval, and may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used. Violations of Circular 142 will result in severe penalties, such as heavy fines.

On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China issued the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control and its Implementation Rules were issued by the SAFE on January 5, 2007, both of which became effective on February 1, 2007. Under these regulations, all foreign exchange matters involved in the employee stock ownership plan, stock option plan and other similar plans, participated by onshore individuals shall be transacted upon approval from the SAFE or its authorized branch. On February 25, 2012, the SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Individuals Participating in the Stock Incentive Plan of An Overseas Listed Company, or Circular 7, to replace the Operating Procedures for Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in the Employee Stock Option Plan or Stock Option Plan of An Overseas Listed Company. Under Circular 7, the board members, supervisors, officers or other employees, including PRC citizens and foreigners having lived within the territory of the PRC successively for at least one year of a PRC entity, who participate in stock incentive plans or equity compensation plans by an overseas publicly listed company, or the PRC participants, are required, through a PRC agent or PRC subsidiaries of such overseas publicly-listed company, to complete certain foreign exchange registration procedures with respect to the plans upon the examination by, and approval of, the SAFE. We and our PRC participants who have been granted stock options are subject to Circular 7. If our PRC participants who hold such options or our PRC subsidiary fail to comply with these regulations, such participants and their PRC employer may be subject to fines and legal sanctions.

 

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Regulations on Share Capital

In October 2005, the SCNPC issued the newly amended Company Law of the People’s Republic of China, which became effective on January 1, 2006. In April 2006, the SAIC, the MOC, the General Administration of Customs and the SAFE jointly issued the Implementation Opinions on Several Issues regarding the Laws Applicable to the Administration of Approval and Registration of Foreign-invested Companies. Pursuant to the above regulations, shareholders of a foreign-invested company are obligated to make full and timely contribution to the registered capital of the foreign-invested company. The shareholders can make their capital contributions in cash or in kind, including in the forms of contributions of intellectual property rights or land use rights that can be valued and is transferable. Contribution to a foreign-invested company’s registered capital in cash must not be less than 30% of the total registered capital of the company. The shareholders may choose to make the contributions either in a lump sum or in installments. If the shareholders choose to make the contributions in installments, the first tranche of the contribution shall be no less than 15% of the total registered capital and shall be paid within three months of the establishment of the company and the remaining contribution shall be paid within two years of the establishment of the company. Shareholders who fail to make contribution in accordance with the schedule may be ordered by the SAIC or its regional counterpart to make contribution or reduce the registered capital within a time limit and be subject to administrative fines. A company which proposes to reduce its registered capital shall prepare a balance sheet and a list of assets. The company shall notify its creditors within 10 days from the date of resolution on reduction of registered capital and publish an announcement on the newspapers within 30 days. The creditors may, within 30 days from receipt of the notice or within 45 days from the announcement date, require the company to settle the debts or provide corresponding guarantee.

As of December 31, 2012, all the registered capital of our operating subsidiaries has been fully paid in cash, except for HuaZhu Hotel Management Co., Limited, whose outstanding registered capital of RMB240.0 million is unpaid and will be due on August 15, 2014 and Hanting Hesheng (Suzhou) Hotel Management Co., Limited, whose outstanding registered capital of RMB40.0 million is unpaid and will be due on June 12, 2014.

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends of foreign-invested enterprises include the Foreign-invested Enterprise Law promulgated by the SCNPC, as amended on October 31, 2000, and the Implementation Rules of the Foreign-invested Enterprise Law issued by the State Council, as amended on April 12, 2001.

Under these laws and regulations, foreign-invested 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, foreign-invested enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds unless these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

Regulations on Offshore Financing

On October 21, 2005, the SAFE issued Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Corporate Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 75, which became effective as of November 1, 2005. Under Circular 75, if PRC residents use assets or equity interests in their PRC entities as capital contributions to establish offshore companies or inject assets or equity interests of their PRC entities into offshore companies to raise capital overseas, they are required to register with local SAFE branches with respect to their overseas investments in offshore companies. PRC residents are also required to file amendments to their registrations if their offshore companies experience material events involving capital variation, such as changes in share capital, share transfers, mergers and acquisitions, spin-off transactions, long-term equity or debt investments or uses of assets in China to guarantee offshore obligations.

Moreover, Circular 75 applies retroactively. As a result, PRC residents who have established or acquired control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in the PRC in the past were required to complete the relevant registration procedures with the local SAFE branch by March 31, 2006. Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Circular 75 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the increase of its registered capital, the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entity, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations. PRC residents who control our company are required to register periodically with the SAFE in connection with their investments in us.

 

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The SAFE issued a series of guidelines to its local branches with respect to the operational process for SAFE registration, including the Notice of SAFE on Printing and Distributing the Implementing Rules for the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-raising and Round-trip Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Circular 19, which came into effect as of July 1, 2011. The guidelines standardized more specific and stringent supervision on the registration required by Circular 75. For example, the guidelines impose obligations on onshore subsidiaries of an offshore entity to make true and accurate statements to the local SAFE authorities in case any shareholder or beneficial owner of the offshore entity is a PRC citizen or resident. Untrue statements by the onshore subsidiaries will lead to potential liability for the subsidiaries, and in some instances, for their legal representatives and other individuals.

Regulations on Merger and Acquisition and Overseas Listing

On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, namely the MOC, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the SAIC, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, and the SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the New M&A Rule, which became effective on September 8, 2006. This New M&A Rule, as amended on June 22, 2009, purports, among other things, to require offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by SPVs seeking the CSRC approval of their overseas listings.

While the application of this new regulation remains unclear, we believe, based on the advice of our PRC counsel, that CSRC approval is not required in the context of our initial public offering because we established our PRC subsidiaries by means of direct investment other than by merger or acquisition of domestic companies, and we started to operate our business in the PRC through foreign invested enterprises before September 8, 2006, the effective date of the New M&A Rule. However, we cannot assure you that the relevant PRC government agency, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel. If the CSRC or other PRC regulatory body subsequently determines that CSRC’s approval was required for our initial public offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs.

The New M&A Rule also established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that the MOC be notified in advance of any change of control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise.

Regulation on Security Review

In August 2011, the MOC promulgated the Rules of Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the MOC Security Review Rule, which came into effect on September 1, 2011, to implement the Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Establishing the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors promulgated on February 3, 2011. Under these regulations, a security review is required for foreign investors’ mergers and acquisitions having “national defense and security” implications and mergers and acquisitions by which foreign investors may acquire “de facto control” of domestic enterprises having “national security” implications. In addition, when deciding whether a specific merger or acquisition of a domestic enterprise by foreign investors is subject to a security review, the MOC will look into the substance and actual impact of the transaction. The MOC Security Review Rule further prohibits foreign investors from bypassing the security review requirement by structuring transactions through proxies, trusts, indirect investments, leases, loans, control through contractual arrangements or offshore transactions.

 

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Regulations on Labor Contracts

The labor contract law that became effective on January 1, 2008, as amended on December 28, 2012, seeks to clarify the responsibilities of both employers and employees and codifies certain basic rights and protections of employees. Among others, the labor contract law provides that after completing two fixed-term employment contracts, an employee that desires to continue working for an employer is entitled to require a non-fixed-term employment contract. In addition, employees who have been employed for more than 10 years by the same employer are entitled to require a non-fixed-term contract. The labor contract law also requires that hiring employees through human resources outsourcing firms or labor agencies be limited to temporary, auxiliary or substitute positions. Furthermore, an employer may be held jointly liable for any damages to its employees caused by its human resources outsourcing firm or labor agency if it hired such employees through these entities.

As the interpretation and implementation of the labor contract law is still evolving, we cannot assure you that our employment practice will at all times be deemed in compliance with the new regulations. If we are subject to severe penalties or incur significant liabilities in connection with labor disputes or investigations, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our current employment practices may be adversely impacted under the labor contract law of the PRC.”

Regulation on Information Protection on Networks

On December 28, 2012, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress issued Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Strengthening Information Protection on Networks, pursuant to which network service providers and other enterprises and institutions shall, when gathering and using electronic personal information of citizens in business activities, publish their collection and use rules and adhere to the principles of legality, rationality and necessarily, explicitly state the purposes, manners and scopes of collecting and using information, and obtain the consent of those from whom information is collected, and shall not collect and use information in violation of laws and regulations and the agreement between both sides; and the network service providers and other enterprises and institutions and their personnel must strictly keep such information confidential and may not divulge, alter, damage, sell, or illegally provide others with such information.

4.C. Organizational Structure

The following diagram illustrates our corporate and ownership structure, the place of formation and the ownership interests of our subsidiaries as of April 19, 2013.

 

LOGO

 

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The following table sets forth summary information for our subsidiaries as of April 19, 2013.

 

Major Subsidiaries

   Percentage of
Ownership
   

Date of or
Incorporation/Acquisition

  

Place of Incorporation

China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited

     100   October 22, 2008    Hong Kong

China Lodging Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd.

     100   April 14, 2010    Singapore

Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

     100   November 17, 2004    PRC

HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

     100   March 3, 2006    PRC

HanTing (Tianjin) Investment Consulting Co., Ltd.

     100   January 16, 2008    PRC

Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

     100   April 12, 2007    PRC

HanTing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

     100   December 3, 2008    PRC

HanTing (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.

     100   December 14, 2010    PRC

Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited

     51   May 1, 2012    Hong Kong

Starway Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

     51   May 1, 2012    PRC

HuaZhu Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

     100   August 16, 2012    PRC

4.D. Property, Plants and Equipment

Our headquarters are located in Shanghai, China and occupy 6,074 square meters of office space. As of December 31, 2012, we leased 465 out of our 1,035 hotel facilities with an aggregate size of approximately 2.1 million square meters, including approximately 43,000 square meters subleased to third parties. For detailed information about the locations of our hotels, see “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Our Hotel Network.”

 

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

5.A. Operating Results

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors” or in other parts of this annual report on Form 20-F.

Overview

We are a leading and fast-growing multi-brand hotel group in China with leased, manachised and franchised models. Under the lease model, we directly operate hotels typically located on leased properties. Under the manachise model, we manage manachised hotels through the on-site hotel managers we appoint and collect fees from franchisees. Under the franchise model, we provide training, reservation and support services to the franchised hotels and collect fees from franchisees but do not appoint on-site hotel managers. We apply a consistent standard and platform across all of our hotels. As of December 31, 2012, we had 465 leased, 516 manachised and 54 franchised hotels in operation and 80 leased hotels and 330 manachised hotels under development.

 

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As of the date of this annual report, we offer four hotel brands that are designed to target distinct segments of customers:

 

   

JI Hotel, our standardized mid-scale limited service hotel product which targets mature and experienced travelers who seek a quality experience in hotel stays, previously marketed first under the name of HanTing Hotel and then HanTing Seasons Hotel;

 

   

Starway Hotel, our mid-scale limited service hotel product with variety in design and consistency in quality which targets middle class travelers who seek a spacious room, reasonable price and guaranteed quality;

 

   

HanTing Hotel, our economy product which targets knowledge workers and value- and quality-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Express Hotel; and

 

   

Hi Inn, our budget hotel product which targets practical and price-conscious travelers, originally marketed under the name of HanTing Hi Inn.

In addition, we plan to launch Joya Hotel, a new hotel brand targeting the upscale market, in the second half of 2013. We currently have one hotel under construction under the Joya brand.

As a result of our customer-oriented approach, we have developed strong brand recognition and a loyal customer base. In 2012, more than 80% of our room nights were sold to members of HanTing Club, our loyalty program.

Our operations commenced with mid-scale limited service hotels and commercial property development and management in 2005. We began our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. Our total revenues grew from RMB1,838.4 million in 2010 to RMB3,419.3 million in 2012. We had net income attributable to our company of RMB215.8 million, RMB114.8 million and RMB174.9 in 2010, 2011, and 2012 respectively. We had net cash provided by operating activities of RMB469.1 million, RMB458.7 million and RMB715.7 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Specific factors affecting our results of operations

While our business is affected by factors relating to general economic conditions and the lodging industry in China (see “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our operating results are subject to conditions affecting the lodging industry in general.”), we believe that our results of operations are also affected by company-specific factors, including, among others:

 

   

The total number of hotels and hotel rooms in our hotel network. Our revenues largely depend on the size of our hotel network. Furthermore, we believe the expanded geographic coverage of our hotel network will enhance our brand recognition. Whether we can successfully increase the number of hotels and hotel rooms in our hotel group is largely affected by our ability to effectively identify and lease, manachise or franchise additional hotel properties at desirable locations on commercially favorable terms and the availability of funding to make necessary capital investments to open these new hotels.

 

   

The fixed-cost nature of our business. A significant portion of our operating costs and expenses, including rent and depreciation and amortization, is relatively fixed. As a result, an increase in our revenues achieved through higher RevPAR generally will result in higher profitability. Vice versa, a decrease in our revenues could result in a disproportionately larger decrease in our earnings because our operating costs and expenses are unlikely to decrease proportionately.

 

   

The number of new leased hotels under development. Generally, the operation of each leased hotel goes through three stages: development, ramp-up and mature operations. During the development stage, leased hotels generally incur pre-opening expenses ranging from approximately RMB0.5 to RMB3.0 million per hotel and no revenue. During periods when a large number of new leased hotels are under development, the pre-opening expenses incurred may have a significant negative impact on our financial performance.

 

   

The mix of mature leased hotels, new leased hotels ,manachised hotels and franchised hotels. When a new hotel starts operation and goes through the ramp-up stage, the occupancy rate is relatively low and the room rate may be subject to discount. Revenues generated by these hotels are lower than those generated by mature hotels and may be insufficient to cover their operating costs, which are relatively fixed in nature and are similar to those of mature hotels. The lower profitability during the ramp-up stage for leased hotels may have a significant negative impact on our financial performance. The length of ramp-up stage may be affected by factors such as hotel size, seasonality and location. On average, it takes our hotels approximately six months to ramp up. We define mature leased hotels as those that have been in operation for more than six months. Our mature leased hotels have been and will continue to be the main contributor to our revenues and profit.

 

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Under the manachise and franchise models, we generate revenues from fees we charge to each manachised and franchised hotel while the franchisee bears substantially all the capital expenditures, pre-opening and operational expenses. The hotel operating costs relating to manachised hotels are mainly costs for hotel managers as we hire and send them to manachised hotels.

Key Performance Indicators

We utilize a set of non-financial and financial key performance indicators which our senior management reviews frequently. The review of these indicators facilitates timely evaluation of the performance of our business and effective communication of results and key decisions, allowing our business to react promptly to changing customer demands and market conditions.

Non-financial Key Performance Indicators

Our non-financial key performance indicators consist of (i) change in the total number of hotels and hotel rooms in our hotel group, (ii) RevPAR, especially RevPAR achieved by our leased hotels and (iii) same-hotel RevPAR change.

Change in the total number of hotels and hotel rooms. We track the change in the total number of hotels and hotel rooms in operation to monitor our business expansion. Our total hotels in operation increased from 438 in 2010 to 1,035 in 2012 and our total hotel room-nights available for sale increased from 13.7 million in 2010 to 33.2 million in 2012. The following table sets forth various measures of changes in the total number of hotels and hotel rooms as of and for the dates and periods indicated.

 

     As of December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Total hotels in operation

     438         639         1,035   

Leased hotels

     243         344         465   

Manachised hotels

     195         295         516   

Franchised hotels

     —           —           54   

Total hotel rooms in operation

     50,438         71,621         113,650   

Leased hotels

     29,888         40,514         54,694   

Manachised hotels

     20,550         31,107         53,381   

Franchised hotels

     —           —           5,575   

Total hotel room-nights available for sale

     13,705,403         21,536,418         33,204,656   

Leased hotels

     8,552,222         12,282,183         16,704,181   

Manachised hotels

     5,153,181         9,254,235         14,655,177   

Franchised hotels

     —           —           1,845,298   

Number of cities

     65         100         171   

 

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RevPAR. RevPAR is a commonly used operating measure in the lodging industry and is defined as the product of average occupancy rates and average daily rates achieved. Occupancy rates of our hotels mainly depend on the locations of our hotels, product and service offering, the effectiveness of our sales and brand promotion efforts, our ability to effectively manage hotel reservations, the performance of managerial and other employees of our hotels, as well as our ability to respond to competitive pressure. From year to year, occupancy of our portfolio may fluctuate as a result of change in the mix of mature and ramp-up hotels, as well as special event such as the Shanghai Expo in 2010. We set the room rates of our hotels primarily based on the location of a hotel, room rates charged by our competitors within the same locality, and our relative brand and product strength in the city or city cluster. From year to year, average daily rate of our portfolio may change due to our yield management practice, city mix change and special events such as Shanghai Expo in 2010. The following table sets forth our RevPAR, average daily room rate and occupancy rate for our leased and manachised hotels for the periods indicated. We do not track the RevPAR, average daily room rate or occupancy rate for our franchised hotels.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

RevPAR (in RMB)

        

Leased hotels

     189         167         173   

Manachised hotels

     172         163         163   

Total hotels in operation

     183         165         168   

Average daily room rate (in RMB)

        

Leased hotels

     200         185         184   

Manachised hotels

     192         174         172   

Total hotels in operation

     197         180         178   

Occupancy rate (as a percentage)

        

Leased hotels

     94         90         94   

Manachised hotels

     90         93         95   

Total hotels in operation

     93         92         94   

Weight of hotel room-nights available for sale contributed by leased hotels less than 6 months (%)

     7         18         13   

RevPAR may change from period to period due to (i) the change in the mix of our hotels in the ramp-up and mature phases, (ii) the change in the mix of our hotels in different cities and locations, (iii) the change in the mix of our hotels of different brands, and (iv) the change in same-hotel RevPAR. The leased hotel RevPAR in 2012 is higher than that in 2011, mainly due to the increase in the proportion of mature hotels among our leased hotels. The leased hotels in the ramp-up stage accounted for 13% of room nights available for sale from the leased hotels portfolio in 2012, compared with 18% in 2011.

The leased hotel RevPAR in 2011 is lower than that in 2010, mainly as a result of the absence of the one-time benefit from Shanghai Expo and a higher percentage of room nights contributed by the ramp-up hotels.

The seasonality of our business may cause fluctuations in our quarterly RevPAR. We typically have the lowest RevPAR in the first quarter due to reduced travel activities in the winter and during the Spring Festival holidays, and the highest RevPAR in the third quarter due to increased travel during the summer. National and regional special events that attract large numbers of people to travel may also cause fluctuations in our RevPAR. The Shanghai Expo drove strong demand and led to increased occupancy rates and average daily rates for our hotels in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010 and contributed to our RevPAR increase from 2009 to 2010. However, after the Shanghai Expo’s closing on October 31, 2010, the demand for our hotels in Shanghai for the period from November 2010 to February 2011 was lower than the comparable periods of prior years and therefore led to a decrease in our RevPAR for these periods. Please see “– Results of Operations – Expo Impact.”

 

     For the Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2011
     June 30,
2011
     September 30,
2011
     December 31,
2011
     March 31,
2012
     June 30,
2012
     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2012
 
     (in RMB thousands)  

RevPAR (in RMB):

                       

Leased hotels

     144         172         178         170         158         181         183         167   

Manachised hotels

     142         168         175         164         153         171         173         157   

Total leased and manachised hotels in operation

     143         170         177         167         156         176         178         162   

 

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Same-hotel RevPAR change. Our overall RevPAR trend does not reflect the trend of a stable and mature portfolio, because it may fluctuate when city mix and mix of mature and ramp-up hotels change. We track same-hotel year-over-year RevPAR change for hotels in operation for at least 18 months to monitor RevPAR trend for our mature hotels on a comparable basis. The following table sets forth our same-hotel RevPAR for hotels in operation for at least 18 months for the periods indicated.

 

     For the Three Months Ended  
     March 31,
2011
    June 30,
2011
    September 30,
2011
    December 31,
2011
     March 31,
2012
     June 30,
2012
     September 30,
2012
     December 31,
2012
 

Number of hotels in operation for at least 18 months

     216        236        280        325         362         428         464         508   

RevPAR (RMB)

     161        191        193        184         172         195         195         179   

Same-hotel RevPAR change (%)

     (2     (5     (10     5         10         7         5         2   

Financial Key Performance Indicators

Our financial key performance indicators consist of (i) revenues, (ii) operating costs and expenses, (iii) EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA from operating hotels, (iv) hotel income and (v) net cash provided by operating activities.

Revenues. We primarily derive our revenues from operations of our leased hotels and franchise and service fees from our manachised and franchised hotels. Our revenues are subject to a business tax of 5% and other related taxes. The following table sets forth the revenues generated by our leased and manachised and franchised hotels, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      %      (RMB)      %      (RMB)      (US$)      %  
     (In thousands except percentages)  

Revenues:

                    

Leased hotels

     1,707,771         92.9         2,172,934         91.1         3,069,431         492,678         89.8   

Manachised and franchised hotels

     130,579         7.1         212,644         8.9         349,847         56,154         10.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,838,350         100.0         2,385,578         100.0         3,419,278         548,832         100.0   

Less: Business tax and related taxes

     99,857         5.4         135,981         5.7         194,751         31,260         5.7   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     1,738,493         94.6         2,249,597         94.3         3,224,527         517,572         94.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

   

Leased Hotels. In 2010, we generated revenues of RMB1,707.8 million from our leased hotels, which accounted for 92.9% of our total revenues for the year. In 2011, we generated revenues of RMB2,172.9 million from our leased hotels, which accounted for 91.1% of our total revenues for the year. In 2012, we generated revenues of RMB3,069.4 million from our leased hotels, which accounted for 89.8% of our total revenues for the year. We expect that revenues from our leased hotels will continue to constitute a substantial majority of our total revenues in the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2012, we had 80 leased hotels under development.

For our leased hotels, we lease properties from real estate owners or lessors and we are responsible for hotel development and customization to conform to our standards, as well as for repairs and maintenance and operating costs and expenses of properties over the term of the lease. We are also responsible for all aspects of hotel operations and management, including hiring, training and supervising the hotel managers and employees required to operate our hotels and purchasing supplies. Our typical lease term ranges from ten to 20 years. We typically enjoy an initial two- to six-month rent-free period. We generally pay fixed rent on a quarterly or biannual basis for the first three to five years of the lease term, after which we are generally subject to a 3% to 5% increase every three to five years.

Our revenues generated from leased hotels are significantly affected by the following two operating measures:

 

   

The total number of room nights available from the leased hotels in our hotel group. The future growth of revenues generated from our leased hotels will depend significantly upon our ability to expand our hotel group into new locations in China and maintain and further increase our RevPAR at existing hotels. As of December 31, 2012, we had entered into binding contracts with lessors of 80 properties for our leased hotels, which are currently under development.

 

   

RevPAR achieved by our leased hotels, which represents the product of average daily rates and occupancy rates. To understand factors impacting our RevPAR, please see “– Non-financial Key Performance Indicators – RevPAR.”

 

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Manachised and Franchised Hotels. In 2010, we generated revenues of RMB130.6 million from our manachised hotels, which accounted for 7.1% of our total revenues for the year. In 2011, we generated revenues of RMB212.6 million from our manachised hotels, which accounted for 8.9% of our total revenues for the year. In 2012, we generated revenues of RMB349.8 million from our manachised and franchised hotels, which accounted for 10.2% of our total revenues for the year, among which the revenues we generated from our franchised hotels were insignificant. We expect that revenues from our manachised hotels will increase in the foreseeable future as we add more manachised hotels in our hotel group. We also expect the number of our manachised hotels as a percentage of the total number of hotels in our network to increase. As of December 31, 2012, we had 330 manachised hotels and nil franchised hotel under development.

 

   

Manachised Hotels. Our franchisees either lease or own their hotel properties and also invest in the renovation of their properties according to our product standards. Our franchisees are typically responsible for the costs of developing and operating the hotels, including renovating the hotels according to our standards, and all of the operating expenses. We directly manage our manachised hotels and impose the same standards for all manachised hotels to ensure product quality and consistency across our hotel network. Management services we provide to our franchisees for our manachised hotels generally include hiring, appointing and training hotel managers, managing reservations, providing sales and marketing support, conducting quality assurance inspections and providing other operational support and information. We believe our manachise model has enabled us to quickly and effectively expand our geographical coverage and market share in a less capital-intensive manner through leveraging the local knowledge and relationships of our franchisees.

We collect fees from our franchisees and do not bear the loss, if any, incurred by our franchisees. They are also responsible for all costs and expenses related to hotel construction and refurbishing. Our franchise and management agreements for manachised hotels typically run for an initial term of eight years. Our franchisees are generally required to pay us a one-time franchise fee ranging between RMB100,000 and RMB300,000. In general, we charge a monthly franchise fee of approximately 5% of the total revenues generated by each manachised hotel. We also collect from franchisees a reservation fee on a per-room-night basis for using our central reservation system and a membership registration fee to service customers who join our HanTing Club loyalty program at the manachised hotels. Furthermore, we employ and appoint hotel managers for the manachised hotels and charge the franchisees a monthly fee for the service.

 

   

Franchised Hotels. We inherited the franchise agreements with our franchised hotels as a result of our acquisition of a 51% equity interest in Starway HK. Under these franchise agreements, we provide our franchisees with training, central reservation, sales and marketing support, quality assurance inspections and other operational support and information services. We do not appoint hotel managers for our franchised hotels. We collect fees from the franchisees of our franchised hotels and do not bear any loss or share any profit incurred or realized by our franchisees. As of the date of this annual report, we only use the franchise model for our Starway Hotels.

 

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Operating Costs and Expenses. Our operating costs and expenses consist of costs for hotel operation, selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and pre-opening expenses. The following table sets forth the components of our operating costs and expenses, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      %      (RMB)      %      (RMB)      (US$)      %  
     (In thousands except percentages)  

Net revenues

     1,738,493         100.0         2,249,597         100.0         3,224,527         517,572         100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses

                    

Hotel operating costs:

                    

Rents

     476,100         27.4         655,247         29.1         916,357         147,085         28.4   

Utilities

     108,208         6.2         150,865         6.7         215,768         34,633         6.7   

Personnel costs

     210,906         12.1         329,078         14.6         505,773         81,182         15.7   

Depreciation and amortization

     163,125         9.4         227,938         10.1         337,162         54,118         10.5   

Consumables, food and beverage

     145,317         8.4         228,244         10.2         333,245         53,490         10.3   

Others

     76,546         4.4         111,965         5.0         145,597         23,370         4.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total hotel operating costs

     1,180,202         67.9         1,703,337         75.7         2,453,902         393,878         76.1   

Selling and marketing expenses

     70,786         4.1         94,754         4.2         102,814         16,503         3.2   

General and administrative expenses

     119,989         6.9         160,062         7.1         217,388         34,893         6.7   

Pre-opening expenses

     111,210         6.4         184,298         8.2         230,690         37,028         7.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     1,482,187         85.3         2,142,451         95.2         3,004,794         482,302         93.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

   

Hotel operating costs. Our hotel operating costs consist primarily of costs and expenses directly attributable to the operation of our leased and manachised hotels. Leased hotel operating costs primarily include rental payments and utility costs for hotel properties, compensation and benefits for our hotel-based employees, costs of hotel room consumable products and depreciation and amortization of leasehold improvements. Manachised hotel operating costs primarily include compensation and benefits for manachised hotel managers and other limited number of employees directly hired by us, which are recouped by us in the form of monthly service fees. We anticipate that our hotel operating costs will increase as we continue to open new hotels. Our hotel operating costs as a percentage of our total revenue may change from period to period mainly driven by three factors, namely, (i) the hotel operating costs as a percentage of revenues for our mature leased hotels, (ii) the level of maturity for our leased hotel portfolio and (iii) the weight of manachised and franchised hotels in our revenue mix.

 

   

Selling and marketing expenses. Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of commissions to travel intermediaries, expenses for marketing programs and materials, bank fees for processing bank card payments, and compensation and benefits for our sales and marketing personnel, including personnel at our centralized reservation center. We expect that our selling and marketing expenses will increase as our sales increase and as we further expand into new geographic locations and promote our brands.

 

   

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and benefits for our corporate and regional office employees and other employees who are not sales and marketing or hotel-based employees, travel and communication expenses of our general and administrative staff, costs of third-party professional services, and office expenses for corporate and regional office. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase in the near term as we hire additional personnel and incur additional costs in connection with the expansion of our business and with being a public company, including costs of enhancing our internal controls.

 

   

Pre-opening expenses. Our pre-opening expenses consist primarily of rents, personnel cost, and other miscellaneous expenses incurred prior to the opening of a new leased hotel.

 

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Our pre-opening expenses are largely determined by the number of pre-opening hotels in the pipeline and the rental fees incurred during the development stage. Landlords typically offer a two- to six-month rent-free period at the beginning of the lease. Nevertheless, rental is booked during this period on a straight-line basis. Therefore, a portion of pre-opening expenses is non-cash rental expenses. The following table sets forth the components of our pre-opening expenses for the periods indicated.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Rents

     88,177         153,229         191,538         30,744   

Personnel cost

     5,214         13,273         15,488         2,486   

Others

     17,819         17,796         23,664         3,798   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total pre-opening expenses

     111,210         184,298         230,690         37,028   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our hotel operating costs, selling and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses include share-based compensation expenses. The following table sets forth the allocation of our share-based compensation expenses, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of total share-based compensation expenses, among the cost and expense items set forth below.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      %      (RMB)      %      (RMB)      (US$)      %  
     (In thousands except percentages)  

Hotel operating costs

     1,555         11.9         2,115         13.7         2,592         416         12.4   

Selling and marketing expenses

     778         5.9         783         5.0         1,031         166         5.0   

General and administrative expenses

     10,780         82.2         12,585         81.3         17,214         2,763         82.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total share-based compensation expenses

     13,113         100.0         15,483         100.0         20,837         3,345         100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

We adopted our 2007 Global Share Plan and 2008 Global Share Plan in February and June 2007, respectively, expanded the 2008 Global Share Plan in October 2008, adopted the 2009 Share Incentive Plan in September 2009, and expanded the 2009 Share Incentive Plan in October 2009 and August 2010. We have granted options to purchase 11,909,540, 1,948,370, 6,305,975, 767,595, 972,768 and 2,838,795 of our ordinary shares in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We granted 628,061 and 2,554,405 shares of restricted stock in 2011 and 2012, respectively. We recognized share-based compensation as compensation expenses in the statement of comprehensive income based on the fair value of equity awards on the date of the grant, with the compensation expenses recognized over the period in which the recipient is required to provide service to us in exchange for the equity award. Share-based compensation expenses have been categorized as hotel operating costs, general and administrative expenses, or selling and marketing expenses, depending on the job functions of the grantees.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels. We use earnings before interest expense, tax expense (benefit) and depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to assess our results of operations before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes. Given the significant investments that we have made in leasehold improvements, depreciation and amortization expense comprises a significant portion of our cost structure. We believe that EBITDA is widely used by other companies in the lodging industry and may be used by investors as a measure of our financial performance. We also use Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels, another non-GAAP measure, which is defined as EBITDA before pre-opening expenses and share-based compensation expenses, to assess operating results of the hotels in operation. We believe that the exclusion of pre-opening expenses, a portion of which is non-cash rental expenses and share-based compensation expenses helps facilitate period-on-period comparison of our results of operations as the number of hotels in the development stage may vary significantly from year to year and provides a proxy for the cash generation capability of the hotels in operation at their current level of maturity.

 

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The following tables present certain unaudited financial data and selected operating data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Non-GAAP Financial Data

           

EBITDA(1)

     447,234         377,387         577,453         92,688   

Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels(1)

     571,557         577,168         828,980         133,061   

 

(1) We believe that EBITDA is a useful financial metric to assess our operating and financial performance before the impact of investing and financing transactions and income taxes. Given the significant investments that we have made in leasehold improvements, depreciation and amortization expense comprises a significant portion of our cost structure. In addition, we believe that EBITDA is widely used by other companies in the lodging industry and may be used by investors as a measure of our financial performance. We believe that EBITDA will provide investors with a useful tool for comparability between periods because it eliminates depreciation and amortization expense attributable to capital expenditures. We also use Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels, which is defined as EBITDA before pre-opening expenses and share-based compensation expenses, to assess operating results of the hotels in operation. We believe that the exclusion of pre-opening expenses, a portion of which is non-cash rental expenses, share-based compensation expenses helps facilitate year-on-year comparison of our results of operations as the number of hotels in the development stage may vary significantly from year to year and provides a proxy for the cash generation capability of the hotels in operation at their current level of maturity. Therefore, we believe Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels more closely reflects the performance capability of hotels currently in operation. Our calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels does not deduct interest income, which was RMB15.9 million, RMB18.1 million and RMB14.6 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, or foreign exchange gain, which was RMB7.0 million and RMB16.0 million in 2010 and 2011, respectively, or foreign exchange loss which was RMB2.0 million 2012. The presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels should not be construed as an indication that our future results will be unaffected by other charges and gains we consider to be outside the ordinary course of our business.

The use of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels has certain limitations. Depreciation and amortization expense for various long-term assets, income tax and interest expense have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of EBITDA. Pre-opening expenses have been and will be incurred and are not reflected in the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels. Each of these items should also be considered in the overall evaluation of our results. Additionally, EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels does not consider capital expenditures and other investing activities and should not be considered as a measure of our liquidity. We compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of our depreciation and amortization, interest expense, income tax expense, pre-opening expenses, capital expenditures and other relevant items both in our reconciliations to the U.S. GAAP financial measures and in our consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance.

The terms EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels are not defined under U.S. GAAP, and neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels is a measure of net income, operating income, operating performance or liquidity presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. When assessing our operating and financial performance, you should not consider this data in isolation or as a substitute for our net income, operating income or any other operating performance measure that is calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, our EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels may not be comparable to EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels or similarly titled measures utilized by other companies since such other companies may not calculate EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels in the same manner as we do.

 

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A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels to net income, which is the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, is provided below:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (in thousands)  

Net income attributable to our company

     215,751         114,832         174,887         28,071   

Interest expense

     2,682         882         822         132   

Tax expense

     57,262         24,816         54,169         8,695   

Depreciation and amortization

     171,539         236,857         347,575         55,790   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)

     447,234         377,387         577,453         92,688   

Pre-opening expenses

     111,210         184,298         230,690         37,028   

Share-based compensation expenses

     13,113         15,483         20,837         3,345   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels (Non-GAAP)

     571,557         577,168         828,980         133,061   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Hotel Income. Hotel income is the difference between net revenues and hotel operating costs. Hotel income was RMB770.6 million for 2012, compared with RMB546.3 million for 2011. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to higher Hotel Income generated from the expanded network of manachised hotels and mature leased hotels.

We track Hotel Income as a percentage of net revenue separately for our mature and ramp-up leased hotels, as well as for manachised and franchised hotels. For leased hotels in operation for at least six months, our hotel income was RMB577.0 million during 2012, or 22% of net revenues derived from those hotels. Leased hotels in operation for less than six months derived a hotel loss of RMB72.2 million, or 28% of net revenues derived from those hotels in 2012. For manachised and franchised hotels, the hotel income was RMB265.7 million, or 81% of net revenue derived from those hotels in 2012.

Net cash provided by operating activities. Our net cash provided by operating activities is primarily attributable to our net income, add-backs from share-based compensation expenses, depreciation and amortization and deferred rent and changes in deferred revenue and prepaid rent. We use net cash provided by operating activities to assess the cash generation capability and return profile of our business. Compared with EBITDA, net cash provided by operating activities neutralizes the impact of straight-line based rental accounting and timing difference in certain areas of revenue recognition when assessing the return profile and profitability of our business. We had net cash provided by operating activities of RMB469.1 million, RMB458.7 million and RMB715.7 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to increases in depreciation and amortization and deferred rent as we expanded our hotel network. We expect that our net cash provided by operating activities will continue to increase as we further expand our hotel network.

Taxation

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current law of the Cayman Islands, we are not subject to income or capital gains tax. In addition, dividend payments we make are not subject to withholding tax in the Cayman Islands.

China Lodging HK and Starway HK are subject to a profit tax at the rate of 16.5% on assessable profit determined under relevant Hong Kong tax regulations. To date, neither China Lodging HK nor Starway HK has been required to pay profit tax as it had no assessable profit.

China Lodging Singapore is subject to Singapore corporate income tax at a rate of 17% in 2012. No Singapore profit tax has been provided as we have not had assessable profit that was earned in or derived from Singapore during the years presented.

Prior to January 1, 2008, our PRC operating entities were governed by the Income Tax Law of the PRC for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign Enterprises and the Provisional Regulations of the PRC on Enterprises Income Tax, or the old EIT Laws. Pursuant to the old EIT Laws, PRC enterprises were generally subject to the enterprise income tax at a statutory rate of 33% (30% state income tax plus 3% local income tax). On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress passed the Enterprise Income Tax Law, and on December 6, 2007, the PRC State Council issued the Implementation Regulations of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008. The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its Implementation Regulations, or the EIT Law, applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises.

 

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The EIT Law imposes a withholding tax of 10% on dividends distributed by a PRC foreign-invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside of China, if such immediate holding company is considered a “non-resident enterprise” without any establishment or place within China or if the received dividends have no connection with the establishment or place of such immediate holding company within China, unless such immediate holding company’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, are subject to a 5% withholding tax rate. The Cayman Islands, where we are incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. Thus, dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in China may be subject to the 10% withholding tax if we are considered a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — It is unclear whether we will be considered as a PRC ‘resident enterprise’ under the EIT Law, and depending on the determination of our PRC ‘resident enterprise’ status, dividends paid to us by our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC withholding tax, we may be subject to 25% PRC income tax on our worldwide income, and holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares may be subject to PRC withholding tax on dividends paid by us and gains realized on their transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares.”

Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities and the disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each fiscal period and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each fiscal period. We continue to evaluate these judgments and estimates based on our own historical experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, our expectations regarding the future based on available information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.

The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting application of those policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions are factors that should be considered when reviewing our financial statements. We believe the following accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Our revenues from leased hotels are derived from operations of leased hotels, including the rental of rooms, food and beverage sales and souvenir sales. Revenues are recognized when rooms are occupied and food and beverages and souvenirs are sold.

Our revenues from manachised and franchised hotels are derived from franchise agreements where the franchisees are required to pay (i) an initial one-time franchise fee and (ii) an ongoing franchise fee, the major part of which is charged at 2.0% to 5.0% of the revenues of the manachised and franchised hotels. Aside from the revenue-based fee, we also charge a central reservation system usage fee and a monthly system maintenance and support fee which are recognized when services are provided. The one-time franchise fee, which is non-refundable, is recognized when the manachised and franchised hotel opens for business, and we have fulfilled all our commitments and obligations, including assistance to the franchisees in property design, leasehold improvement construction project management, systems installation, personnel recruiting and training. Ongoing franchise fees are recognized when the underlying service revenues are recognized by the franchisees’ operations. The system maintenance, support fee and central reservation system usage fee is recognized when services are provided.

We account for hotel manager fees related to the hotels under the manachise program as revenues. Pursuant to the franchise agreements under the manachise program, we charge the franchisees fixed hotel manager fees to cover the manachised hotel managers’ salaries, social welfare benefits and certain other out-of-pocket expenses that we incur on behalf of the manachised hotels. The hotel manager fee is recognized as revenue monthly. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the hotel manager fees that were recognized as revenue were RMB30.1 million, RMB43.0 million and RMB72.1 million, respectively.

 

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Revenues derived from selling membership cards at leased, manachised and franchised hotels are earned on a straight-line basis over the estimated membership life which is estimated to be approximately two to five years dependent upon membership level. Membership life is estimated at the time the membership card is sold based on management’s industry experience and data accumulated by our company, including usage frequency and actual attrition. These estimates are updated regularly to reflect actual membership retention.

Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate the carrying value of our long-lived assets for impairment by comparing the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the assets to the net book value of the assets if certain trigger events occur, such as receiving government zoning notification. Inherent in reviewing the carrying amounts of the long-lived assets is the use of various estimates. First, our management must determine the usage of the asset. Impairment of an asset is more likely to be recognized where and to the extent our management decides that such asset may be disposed of or sold. Assets must be tested at the lowest level, generally the individual hotel, for which identifiable cash flows exist. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows are less than the net book value of the assets, the excess of the net book value over the estimated fair value is charged to current earnings. Fair value is based upon discounted cash flows of the assets at a rate deemed reasonable for the type of asset and prevailing market conditions, appraisals and, if appropriate, current estimated net sales proceeds from pending offers. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature, subjective and actual results may differ materially from our estimates. If our ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met, we may have to record additional impairment charges in future accounting periods. Our estimates of cash flow are based on the current regulatory, social and economic climates where we conduct our operations as well as recent operating information and budgets for our business. These estimates could be negatively impacted by changes in laws and regulations, economic downturns, or other events affecting various forms of travel and access to our hotels.

Goodwill Impairment

Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that these assets might be impaired. If we determine that the carrying value of our goodwill has been impaired, the carrying value will be written down.

We adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and other (Topic350), since 2012, which gives us an option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is “more likely than not” that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, goodwill is then tested following a two-step process. The first step compares the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we would perform the second step in our assessment process and record an impairment loss to earnings to the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds its implied fair value. We estimate the fair value of each reporting unit through internal analysis and external valuations, which utilize income and market valuation approaches through the application of capitalized earnings and discounted cash flow. These valuation techniques are based on a number of estimates and assumptions, including the projected future operating results of the reporting unit, appropriate discount rates and long-term growth rates. The significant assumptions regarding our future operating performance are revenue growth rates, discount rates and terminal values. If any of these assumptions changes, the estimated fair value of our reporting unit will change, which could affect the amount of goodwill impairment charges, if any.

We acquired Starway HK in May 2012 and the fair value of the Starway reporting unit approximated its carrying value because of the short period since its acquisition. The fair values of two additional reporting units were 9% and 12% in excess of their carrying values, respectively. However, the goodwill associated with these two reporting units is not material. The fair values of all the other reporting units were substantially in excess of their respective carrying values.

 

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Customer Loyalty Program

HanTing Club is our customer loyalty program. Our members can earn points based on spending at our leased, manachised and franchised hotels and participating in certain marketing programs. Points can be redeemed for room night awards and gifts within two years after the points are earned. Management determines the fair value of the future redemption obligation based on certain formulas which project the future point redemption behavior based on historical experience, including an estimate of points that will never be redeemed, and an estimate of the points that will eventually be redeemed as well as the cost to be incurred in conjunction with the point redemption. The actual expenditure may differ from the estimated liability recorded. Prior to February 28, 2009, we recorded estimated liabilities for all points earned by our customers as we did not have sufficient historical information to determine point forfeitures or breakage. Based on our accumulated knowledge on reward points redemption and expiration, we began to apply historical redemption rates in estimating the costs of points earned from March 1, 2009 onwards.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes has been determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, we recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is required to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the need to establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets is assessed periodically based on a more-likely-than-not realization threshold. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of current and cumulative losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, our experience with operating loss in the China’s limited service hotel industry, tax planning strategy implemented and other tax planning alternatives. Prior to 2009, we had significant operating losses attributable to rapid expansion and related pre-opening costs incurred. As of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, we had deferred tax assets generated from net loss carryforward after valuation allowance of RMB14.1 million, RMB37.8 million and RMB35.3 million, respectively. We expect many of our hotels that were put in operation since 2010 will become mature and generate sufficient taxable profit to utilize the substantial portion of the net loss carryforward. If our operating results are less than currently projected and there is no objectively verifiable evidence to support the realization of our deferred tax asset, additional valuation allowance may be required to further reduce our deferred tax asset. The reduction of the deferred tax asset could increase our income tax expenses and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and tangible net worth in the period in which the allowance is recorded.

The provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Our tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. For interim financial reporting, we estimate the annual tax rate based on projected taxable income for the full year and record a quarterly income tax provision in accordance with the anticipated annual rate. As the year progresses, we refine the estimates of the year’s taxable income as new information becomes available, including year-to-date financial results. This continual estimation process often results in a change to our expected effective tax rate for the year. When this occurs, we adjust the income tax provision during the quarter in which the change in estimate occurs so that the year-to-date provision reflects the expected annual tax rate. Significant judgment is required in determining our effective tax rate and in evaluating its tax positions.

We recognize a tax benefit associated with an uncertain tax position when, in our judgment, it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination by a taxing authority. For a tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we initially and subsequently measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that we judge to have a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority. Our liability associated with unrecognized tax benefits is adjusted periodically due to changing circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law developments and new or emerging legislation. Such adjustments are recognized entirely in the period in which they are identified. Our effective tax rate includes the net impact of changes in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and subsequent adjustments as considered appropriate by management. We classify interest and penalties recognized on the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense.

 

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Share-Based Compensation

The costs of share based payments are recognized in our consolidated financial statements based on their grant-date fair value over the vesting. We determine fair value of our share options as of the grant date using binomial option pricing model and the fair value of our nonvested restricted stocks as of the grant date based on the fair market value of the underlying ordinary shares. Under the binomial option pricing model, we make a number of assumptions regarding fair value including the expected price multiple at which employee are likely to exercise stock options, the expected volatility of our future ordinary share price, the risk free interest rate and the expected dividend yield. In July 2012, we granted (i) nonvested restricted stocks with market condition, the fair value of which was determined using a Monte Carlo simulation, and (ii) options and nonvested restricted stocks with performance conditions. Determining the value of our share-based compensation expense in future periods also requires the input of subjective assumptions around estimated forfeitures of the underlying shares and likely future performance. We estimate our forfeitures based on past employee retention rates, our expectations of future retention rates, and we will prospectively revise our forfeiture rates based on actual history. We estimate our future performance based on our historical results. Our compensation charges may change based on changes to our assumptions.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of net revenues for the periods indicated. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report.

We have grown rapidly since we began our current business of operating and managing a multi-brand hotel group in 2007. Our limited operating history makes it difficult to predict our future operating results. We believe that the year-to-year comparison of operating results should not be relied upon as being indicative of future performance.

 

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     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     RMB      %      RMB      %      (RMB)     (US$)     %  
     (In thousands except percentages)  

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income Data:

                  

Revenues:

                  

Leased hotels

     1,707,771         98.2         2,172,934         96.6         3,069,431        492,678        95.2   

Manachised and franchised hotels

     130,579         7.5         212,644         9.4         349,847        56,154        10.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,838,350         105.7         2,385,578         106.0         3,419,278        548,832        106.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less: Business tax and related taxes

     99,857         5.7         135,981         6.0         194,751        31,260        6.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net revenues

     1,738,493         100.0         2,249,597         100.0         3,224,527        517,572        100.0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses(1):

                  

Hotel operating costs

     1,180,202         67.9         1,703,337         75.7         2,453,902        393,878        76.1   

Selling and marketing expenses

     70,786         4.1         94,754         4.2         102,814        16,503        3.2   

General and administrative expenses

     119,989         6.9         160,062         7.1         217,388        34,893        6.7   

Pre-opening expenses

     111,210         6.4         184,298         8.2         230,690        37,028        7.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     1,482,187         85.3         2,142,451         95.2         3,004,794        482,302        93.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     256,306         14.7         107,146         4.8         219,733        35,270        6.8   

Interest income

     15,945         1.0         18,111         0.8         14,554        2,336        0.5   

Interest expenses

     2,682         0.2         882         0.0         822        132        0.1   

Other income

     2,564         0.2         2,649         0.1         2,208        354        0.1   

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

     6,923         0.4         15,930         0.7         (2,000     (321     (0.1
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     279,056         16.1         142,954         6.4         233,673        37,507        7.2   

Tax expense

     57,262         3.3         24,816         1.1         54,169        8,695        1.6   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     221,794         12.8         118,138         5.3         179,504        28,812        5.6   

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     6,043         0.4         3,306         0.2         4,617        741        0.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited

     215,751         12.4         114,832         5.1         174,887        28,071        5.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Note: (1) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  
     (RMB)      (RMB)      (RMB)      (US$)  
     (In thousands)  

Share-based compensation expenses

     13,113         15,483         20,837         3,345   

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011

Revenues. Our net revenues increased by 43.3% from RMB2,249.6 million in 2011 to RMB3,224.5 million in 2012.

 

   

Leased hotels. Revenues from our leased hotels increased by 41.3% from RMB2,172.9 million in 2011 to RMB3,069.4 million in 2012. This increase was primarily due to our continued expansion of leased hotels from 344 hotels and 40,514 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2011 to 465 hotels and 54,694 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2012. RevPAR for our leased hotels increased from RMB167 in 2011 to RMB173 in 2012 primarily due to the increase in the proportion of mature hotels among our leased hotels.

 

   

Manachised and franchised hotels. Revenues from our manachised and franchised hotels increased by 64.5% from RMB212.6 million in 2011 to RMB349.8 million in 2012. This increase was primarily due to our continued expansion of manachised hotels from 295 hotels and 31,107 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2011 to 516 hotels and 53,381 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2012. RevPAR for our manachised hotels remained stable as the effect of a decrease in the average daily rate of our manachised hotels from RMB174 in 2011 to RMB172 in 2012 was offset by an increase of the occupancy rate of our manachised hotels from 93% in 2011 to 95% in 2012. The decrease in the average daily rate resulted primarily from (i) a higher percentage of our new manachised hotels being in the ramp-up stage in 2012 and (ii) a shift in the mix of hotels toward smaller cities where our average daily rates are lower.

 

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Operating Costs and Expenses. Our total operating costs and expenses increased by 40.3% from RMB2,142.5 million in 2011 to RMB3,004.8 million in 2012.

 

   

Hotel operating costs. Our hotel operating costs increased by 44.1% from RMB1,703.3 million in 2011 to RMB2,453.9 million in 2012. This increase was primarily due to our expansion of leased hotels from 344 hotels as of December 31, 2011 to 465 hotels as of December 31, 2012. The increase in personnel costs, part of hotel operating costs, was also attributable to our expansion of manachised hotels from 295 hotels as of December 31, 2011 to 516 hotels as of December 31, 2012. Our hotel operating costs as a percentage of net revenues increased from 75.7% in 2011 to 76.1% in 2012, primarily due to the increase in the cost of renovation, labor, food and supplies resulting from general inflation.

 

   

Selling and marketing expenses. Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 8.5% from RMB94.8 million in 2011 to RMB102.8 million in 2012. The increase was slower than the increase in revenue resulting from our business expansion. Our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 4.2% in 2011 to 3.2% in 2012, mainly due to the benefit from economies of scale and our cost-saving efforts.

 

   

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased from RMB160.1 million in 2011 to RMB217.4 million in 2012, primarily as a result of our business expansion. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 7.1% in 2011 to 6.7% in 2012, primarily due to the benefit from economies of scale.

 

   

Pre-opening expenses. Our pre-opening expenses increased from RMB184.3 million in 2011 to RMB230.7 million in 2012, primarily due to our acceleration of leased hotel openings from 101 in 2011 to 121 in 2012, in particular the increase in leased JI Hotel openings from two in 2011 to eight in 2012. Our mid-scale hotel product, JI Hotel, has higher pre-opening expense per hotel than our economy hotel product, HanTing Hotel, due to higher rent for the underlying property and larger room count. The growth in JI Hotel openings and the strong JI Hotel pipeline also contributed to the increase of pre-opening expenses in 2012. Our pre-opening expenses as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 8.2% in 2011 to 7.2% in 2012 primarily due to expanded revenue base.

Income from Operations. As a result of the foregoing, we had income from operations of RMB219.7 million in 2012 compared to income from operations of RMB107.1 million in 2011.

Interest Income (Expense), Net. Our net interest income was RMB13.8 million in 2012. Our interest income was RMB14.6 million in 2012, and our interest expense was RMB0.8 million. Our net interest income was RMB17.2 million in 2011. Our interest income was RMB18.1 million in 2011, and our interest expense was RMB0.9 million. The decrease in interest income from 2011 to 2012 was primarily due to the decrease in the average balance of our cash and cash equivalents.

Other income. Our other income was RMB2.6 million and RMB2.2 million in 2011 and 2012, respectively, primarily attributable to reimbursement from the depositary of our ADSs for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the deposit agreement.

 

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Foreign Exchange Loss or Gain. We had foreign exchange loss of RMB2.0 million in 2012 compared to foreign exchange gain of RMB15.9 in 2011. Our foreign exchange loss in 2012 was primarily attributable to the depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar in the first half of 2012. Our foreign exchange gain in 2011 was primarily attributable to the appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar.

Tax Expense. Our tax expenses increased from RMB24.8 million in 2011 to RMB54.2 million in 2012, primarily due to the increase in our income before income taxes from RMB143.0 million in 2011 to RMB233.7 million in 2012 and the increase in our effective tax rate. Our effective tax rate increased from 17.4% in 2011 to 23.2% in 2012, primarily because the benefit of the tax holiday that we enjoyed accounted for a smaller percentage of the increased taxable income.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest represents joint venture partners’ share of our net income based on their equity interest in the leased hotels owned by the joint ventures. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest increased from RMB3.3 million in 2011 to RMB4.6 million in 2012, primarily due to the increase in the net income of our majority-owned joint venture in 2012.

Net Income Attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited. As a result of the foregoing, we had net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited of RMB174.9 million in 2012 compared to net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited of RMB114.8 million in 2011.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels. EBITDA (non-GAAP) was RMB577.5 million in 2012, compared with EBITDA of RMB377.4 million in 2011. Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels (non-GAAP) increased from RMB577.2 million in 2011 to RMB829.0 million in 2012. This change was primarily due to the growth of our manachised hotels and mature leased hotels.

Year Ended December 31, 2011 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2010

Revenues. Our net revenues increased by 29.4% from RMB1,738.5 million in 2010 to RMB2,249.6 million in 2011.

 

   

Leased hotels. Revenues from our leased hotels increased by 27.2% from RMB1,707.8 million in 2010 to RMB2,172.9 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to our continued expansion of leased hotels from 243 hotels and 29,888 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2010 to 344 hotels and 40,514 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2011, partially offset by a decrease in RevPAR. RevPAR for our leased hotels decreased from RMB189 in 2010 to RMB167 in 2011 primarily due to (i) the loss of the favorable impact of the Shanghai Expo held in 2010 (see “–Expo Impact”) and (ii) a higher percentage of our new leased hotels being in the ramp-up stage in 2011. The leased hotels in the ramp-up stage accounted for 18% of room nights available for sale from the leased hotels portfolio in 2011, compared with 7% in 2010.

 

   

Manachised hotels. Revenues from our manachised hotels increased by 62.8% from RMB130.6 million in 2010 to RMB212.6 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to our continued expansion of manachised hotels from 195 hotels and 20,550 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2010 to 295 hotels and 31,107 hotel rooms as of December 31, 2011, partially offset by a decrease in RevPAR. RevPAR for our manachised hotels decreased from RMB172 in 2010 to RMB163 in 2011 driven by a decrease in the average daily rate of our manachised hotels from RMB192 in 2010 to RMB174 in 2011 and partially offset by an increase of the occupancy rate of our manachised hotels from 90% in 2010 to 93% in 2011. The decrease in the average daily rate resulted primarily from (i) the loss of the favorable impact of the Shanghai Expo held in 2010, (ii) a higher percentage of our new manachised hotels being in the ramp-up stage in 2011 and (iii) a shift in the mix of hotels toward smaller cities where our average daily rates are lower.

Operating Costs and Expenses. Our total operating costs and expenses increased by 44.5% from RMB1,482.2 million in 2010 to RMB2,142.5 million in 2011.

 

   

Hotel operating costs. Our hotel operating costs increased by 44.3% from RMB1,180.2 million in 2010 to RMB1,703.3 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to our expansion of leased hotels from 243 hotels as of December 31, 2010 to 344 hotels as of December 31, 2011. Our hotel operating costs as a percentage of net revenues increased from 67.9% in 2010 to 75.7% in 2011, primarily due to a decrease in our RevPAR primarily as a result of a decrease in the average daily rate of our hotels from 197 in 2010 to 180 in 2011.

 

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Selling and marketing expenses. Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 33.9% from RMB70.8 million in 2010 to RMB94.8 million in 2011. The increase was in line with our expansion of business and increase of revenue as a result. Our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased from 4.1% in 2010 to 4.2% in 2011.

 

   

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased from RMB120.0 million in 2010 to RMB160.1 million in 2011, primarily as a result of our business expansion. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased from 6.9% in 2010 to 7.1% in 2011, primarily due to a revenue base favorably impacted by the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

 

   

Pre-opening expenses. Our pre-opening expenses increased from RMB111.2 million in 2010 to RMB184.3 million in 2011, primarily due to our accelerated expansion of leased hotels. We opened 101 leased hotels in 2011, compared with 70 in 2010, and we had 93 leased hotels under development as of December 31, 2011, compared to 69 as of December 31, 2010. In addition, the extension of the conversion period of new hotels as a result of prolonged new hotel license approval process also led to increased pre-opening expenses in 2011. Our pre-opening expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased from 6.4% in 2010 to 8.2% in 2011.

Income from Operations. As a result of the foregoing, we had income from operations of RMB107.1 million in 2011 compared to income from operations of RMB256.3 million in 2010.

Interest Income (Expense), Net. Our net interest income was RMB17.2 million in 2011. Our interest income was RMB18.1 million in 2011, and our interest expense was RMB0.9 million. Our net interest income was RMB13.2 million in 2010. Our interest income was RMB15.9 million in 2010, and our interest expense was RMB4.1 million, RMB1.4 million of which was capitalized in connection with leasehold improvements. The increase in interest income from 2010 to 2011 was primarily due to higher interest earned as a result of our effective treasury management. The decrease in interest expense from 2010 to 2011 was primary due to our reduced borrowing.

Other income. Our other income remained unchanged in 2011 from 2010 at RMB2.6 million, and was primarily attributable to reimbursements received from the depositary of our ADSs for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the deposit agreement.

Foreign Exchange Gain. We had foreign exchange gain of RMB15.9 million in 2011 compared to foreign exchange gain of RMB6.9 in 2010. Our foreign exchange gain in 2011 was primarily attributable to the appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar.

Tax Expense. Our tax expenses decreased from RMB57.3 million in 2010 to RMB24.8 million in 2011, primarily due to a decrease in our income before income taxes from RMB279.1 million in 2010 to RMB143.0 million in 2011. Our effective tax rate decreased from 20.5% in 2010 to 17.4% in 2011, primarily due to the tax holiday that we enjoyed effective from 2011, partially offset by the change in valuation allowance resulting from certain new hotels in the ramp-up stage.

Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest represents joint venture partners’ share of our net income based on their equity interest in the leased hotels owned by the joint ventures. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest decreased from RMB6.0 million in 2010 to RMB3.3 million in 2011, primarily due to our acquisition of certain noncontrolling interests in our majority-owned joint ventures in 2010.

Net Income Attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited. As a result of the foregoing, we had net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited of RMB114.8 million in 2011 compared to net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited of RMB215.8 million incurred in 2010.

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels. EBITDA (non-GAAP) was RMB377.4 million in 2011, compared with EBITDA of RMB447.2 million in 2010. This change was primarily due to the loss of the favorable impact of the Shanghai Expo held in 2010, a higher percentage of leased hotels in the ramp-up stage and higher pre-opening expenses in 2011. Adjusted EBITDA from Operating Hotels (non-GAAP) increased from RMB571.6 million in 2010 to RMB577.2 million in 2011.

 

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Expo Impact

Expo 2010 Shanghai China, or the Shanghai Expo, which was held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010, had a favorable impact on our results of operations in 2010. As of December 31, 2010, we had 85 hotels in operation in Shanghai, which constituted 19.4% of our hotels in operation. By analyzing our internal operating metrics under normal business circumstances and comparing to the performance of our non-Shanghai hotels, our management estimated that the favorable impact from the Shanghai Expo contributed 6.4% to our net revenues of RMB1,738.5 million in 2010. Excluding the impact from the Shanghai Expo, we estimate that our RevPAR would have improved by 4.0% from 163 in 2009 to 2010 for our overall portfolio and by 7.0% on a like-for-like basis. Excluding impact from the Shanghai Expo, from 2009 to 2010, we estimate that our net revenue would have increased by 29.2% from RMB1,260.2 million in 2009, our net income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited would have increased by 227.2% from RMB42.5 million in 2009, our EBITDA would have increased by 59.4% from RMB214.9 million in 2009, and our EBITDA from operating hotels would have increased by 79.5% from RMB252.7 million in 2009.

Financial information with regard to the favorable impact from the Shanghai Expo has been generated internally and has not been subjected to the same review and scrutiny, including internal auditing procedures and audit by independent auditors, to which we subject our annual consolidated financial statements, and may vary materially from the audited consolidated financial information for the same period. Any evaluation of this financial information should also take into account our published audited consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements. In addition, this financial information is not necessarily indicative of our results for any future period.

Outstanding Indebtedness

In September 2008, we entered into a three-year credit facility with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China under which we can borrow up to RMB172.0 million during the term of the facility. As of December 31, 2009, we had fully drawn down the facility and repaid RMB35.0 million. In February 2010, we repaid the remaining RMB137.0 million. The weighted average interest rates were 5.72% and 5.4% for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Certain commercial properties owned by Lishan Property (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., an entity controlled by Mr. Qi Ji, our founder, executive chairman and chief executive officer, are pledged to secure such credit facility. This credit facility expired in September 2011.

In January 2010, we entered into a credit facility with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China under which we can borrow up to RMB150.0 million by September 2011. Principal payments are due on each anniversary date with the amount payable being dependent upon amounts previously borrowed against the facility. As of December, 31, 2010, we had drawn down the credit facility of RMB70.0 million and repaid RMB70.0 million and had available credit facility of RMB80.0 million for future borrowing. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings drawn under such credit was 4.86% for the year ended December 31, 2010. We did not draw down this credit facility during the year ended December 31, 2011. This credit facility is not collateralized. This credit facility expired in September 2011.

In March 2012, we entered into a credit facility with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China under which we can draw down up to RMB500.0 million, subject to adjustment, by May 21, 2015 with the final tranche of repayment due in March 2017. The interest rate for each draw down is established on the draw-down date and is adjusted annually, based on the loan interest rate stipulated by the People’s bank of China for the corresponding period. In 2012, RMB100.0 million of this credit facility expired. As of December 31, 2012, we had drawn down this credit facility of RMB1.0 million and repaid RMB1.0 million and had available credit facility of 399.0 million for future borrowing. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings drawn under such credit was 6.9% for the year ended December 31, 2012.

In September 2012, we entered into a three-year revolving credit facility with China Merchants Bank under which we can borrow up to RMB300.0 million by October 9, 2015. We did not draw down this credit facility during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

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In December 2012, we entered into a thirty-month credit facility with Luso International Banking Ltd. under which we can borrow up to US$10.0 million by April 5, 2013. The interest rate for each draw-down is established on the draw-down date and is based on the 12-Month London Interbank Offered Rate on the draw-down date plus a margin of 2.7%. Each draw-down will be guaranteed by a letter of guarantee or a stand-by letter of credit. During the year ended December 31, 2012, we did not draw down this credit facility.

5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of liquidity have been our sale of preferred shares, ordinary shares and convertible notes through private placements, our initial public offering, borrowings from PRC commercial banks and cash generated from operating activities. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and liquid investments which have maturities of three months or less when acquired and are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use. As of December 31, 2012, we had entered into binding contracts with lessors of 80 properties for our leased hotels under development. As of December 31, 2012, we expected to incur approximately RMB1,227.7 million of capital expenditures in connection with certain recently completed leasehold improvements and to fund the leasehold improvements of these 80 leased hotels. We intend to fund this planned expansion with our operating cash flow, our cash balance and our credit facilities.

We have been able to meet our working capital needs, and we believe that we will be able to meet our working capital needs in the foreseeable future with our operating cash flow, existing cash balance and our credit facilities.

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

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012  
     (RMB)     (RMB)     (RMB)     (US$)  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by operating activities

     469,126        458,740        715,720        114,879   

Net cash used in investing activities

     (515,310     (734,577     (1,068,130     (171,447

Net cash provided by financing activities

     845,837        13,834        19,895        3,195   

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (10,173     (16,463     758        122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     789,480        (278,466     (331,757     (53,251

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

     270,587        1,060,067        781,601        125,456   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

     1,060,067        781,601        449,844        72,205   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Activities

In 2010, 2011 and 2012, we financed our operating activities primarily through cash generated from operations. We currently anticipate that we will be able to meet our needs to fund operations in the next twelve months with operating cash flow.

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to RMB715.7 million in 2012, primarily attributable to (i) our net income of RMB179.5 million in 2012, (ii) an add-back of RMB347.6 million in depreciation and amortization in 2012, (iii) an add-back of RMB143.9 million in deferred rent because rental accrued on a straight-line basis exceeded rental paid out of our contractual liabilities, (iv) an increase of RMB90.5 million in deferred revenue primarily attributable to one-time membership fees in connection with our HanTing Club loyalty program as well as advances received from customers and franchisees, and (v) an increase of RMB93.2 million in prepaid rent, which partially offset factors (i) to (iv).

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to RMB458.7 million in 2011, primarily attributable to (i) our net income of RMB118.1 million in 2011, (ii) an add-back of RMB236.9 million in depreciation and amortization in 2011, (iii) an add-back of RMB92.9 million in deferred rent because rental accrued on a straight-line basis exceeded rental paid out of our contractual liabilities (iv) an increase of RMB92.8 million in deferred revenue primarily attributable to one-time membership fees in connection with our HanTing Club loyalty program as well as advances received from customers and franchisees, (v) an increase of RMB75.8 million in prepaid rent, which partially offset factors (i) to (iv) and (vi) an increase of RMB35.7 million in deferred taxes, which partially offset factors (i) to (iv).

 

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Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to RMB469.1 million in 2010, primarily attributable to (i) our net income of RMB221.8 million in 2010, (ii) an add-back of RMB171.5 million in depreciation and amortization in 2010, (iii) an add-back of RMB70.8 million in deferred rent because rental accrued on a straight-line basis exceeded rental paid out of our contractual liability, (iv) an increase of RMB42.3 million in deferred revenue primarily attributable to one-time membership fees in connection with our HanTing Club loyalty program as well as advances received from customers, and (v) an increase of RMB82.6 million in prepaid rent, which partially offset factors (i) to (iv).

Net cash provided by operating activities increased from RMB458.7 million in 2011 to RMB715.7 million in 2012, primarily due to (i) an increase in the add back of our depreciation and amortization from RMB236.9 million in 2011 to RMB347.6 million in 2012, (ii) an increase in our net income from RMB118.1 million in 2011 to RMB179.5 million in 2012 and (iii) an increase in deferred rent from RMB92.9 million in 2011 to RMB143.9 million in 2012.

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased from RMB469.1 million in 2010 to RMB458.7 million in 2011, primarily due to (i) a decrease in our net income from RMB221.8 million in 2010 to RMB118.1 million in 2011 and (ii) the change from deferred tax expenses of RMB9.2 million in 2010 to deferred tax benefit of RMB35.7 million in 2011, partially offset by (i) an increase in the add back of our depreciation and amortization from RMB171.5 million in 2010 to RMB236.9 million in 2011 and (ii) an increase in the change of deferred revenue from RMB42.3 million in 2010 to RMB92.8 million in 2011.

Investing Activities

Our cash used in investing activities is primarily related to our leasehold improvements, purchase of equipment and fixtures used in leased hotels and our investment in Starway HK and UBOX International Holdings Co Limited, or UBOX. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, we experienced net cash outflows from investing activities.

Net cash used in investing activities increased from RMB734.6 million in 2011 to RMB1,068.1 million in 2012, primarily due to (i) an increase in our purchases of property and equipment from RMB768.8 million in 2011 to RMB998.1 million in 2012 and (ii) a decrease in our proceeds from sales of short-term investments from RMB130.0 million in 2011 to nil in 2012. The increase in our purchases of property and equipment was primarily due to (i) our accelerated expansion of our leased hotel network, and (ii) an increase in the number of our leased JI Hotels opened and under development which have a higher per room renovation cost compared with our flagship HanTing Hotel.

Net cash used in investing activities increased from RMB515.3 million in 2010 to RMB734.6 million in 2011, primarily due to (i) an increase in our purchases of property and equipment from RMB397.3 million in 2010 to RMB768.8 million in 2011 as a result of our accelerated expansion of our leased hotel network and (ii) an increase in our acquisitions, net of cash received from RMB9.7 million in 2010 to RMB57.8 million in 2011, partially offset by a decrease in our purchase of short-term investments from RMB430.0 million in 2010 to RMB30.0 million in 2011.

Financing Activities

Our major financing activities since 2010 consist of loans with PRC commercial banks and our initial public offering in 2010.

Net cash provided by financing activities increased from RMB13.8 million in 2011 to RMB19.9 million in 2012. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2012 primarily consisted of (i) proceeds of RMB18.5 million from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of options, (ii) excess tax benefit from share-based compensation in the amount of RMB4.3 million and (iii) funds advanced from noncontrolling shareholders in the amount of RMB3.0 million, partially offset by the dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holders in the amount of RMB3.5 million and the repayment of funds advanced from noncontrolling shareholders in the amount of RMB2.7 million.

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased from RMB845.8 million in 2010 to RMB13.8 million in 2011. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2011 primarily consisted of (i) excess tax benefit from share-based compensation in the amount of RMB8.3 million, (ii) proceeds of RMB7.3 million from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of options and (iii) funds advanced from noncontrolling shareholders in the amount of RMB3.5 million, partially offset by the dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holders in the amount of RMB3.2 million and the repayment of funds advanced from noncontrolling shareholders in the amount of RMB2.6 million.

 

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Restrictions on Cash Transfers to Us

We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries in China. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to finance any debt we may incur depends upon dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries. If our subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, our subsidiaries in the PRC must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires an annual appropriation of 10% of after-tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end); the other fund appropriations are at the subsidiaries’ discretion. These reserve funds can only be used for the specific purposes of enterprise expansion, staff bonus and welfare, and are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, due to restrictions on the distribution of share capital from our PRC subsidiaries, the share capital of our PRC subsidiaries is considered restricted. As a result of the PRC laws and regulations, as of December 31, 2012, approximately RMB2,094.2 million was not available for distribution to us by our PRC subsidiaries in the form of dividends, loans, or advances.

Furthermore, under regulations of the SAFE, the Renminbi is not convertible into foreign currencies for capital account items, such as loans, repatriation of investments and investments outside of China, unless the prior approval of the SAFE is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made.

The EIT Law provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises.” Currently, there are no detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management body.” See “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — PRC Taxation.”

The EIT Law imposes a withholding tax of 10% on dividends distributed by a foreign-invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside of China, if such immediate holding company is considered a “non-resident enterprise” without any establishment or place within China or if the received dividends have no connection with the establishment or place of such immediate holding company within China, unless such immediate holding company’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, are subject to a 5% withholding tax rate. The Cayman Islands, where we are incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. Thus, dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in China may be subject to the 10% withholding tax if we are considered a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law.

The EIT Law provides that PRC “resident enterprises” are generally subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on their worldwide income. Therefore, if we are treated as a PRC “resident enterprise,” we will be subject to PRC income tax on our worldwide income at the 25% uniform tax rate, which could have an impact on our effective tax rate and an adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, although dividends distributed from our PRC subsidiaries to us would be exempt from the PRC dividend withholding tax, since such income is exempted under the EIT Law to a PRC resident recipient.

We do not expect any of such restrictions or taxes to have a material impact on our ability to meet our cash obligations.

Capital Expenditures

Our capital expenditures were incurred primarily in connection with leasehold improvements, investments in furniture, fixtures and equipment and technology, information and operational software. Our capital expenditures totaled RMB568.6 million, RMB919.5 million and RMB1,200.0 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Our capital expenditures in 2012 consist of an increase in the amount of RMB1,197.7 million in property and equipment and an increase in the amount of RMB2.3 million in software. The increase in property and equipment included primarily our capital expenditures associated with new hotels opened in 2012 and hotels still under development by the end of 2012, as well as capital expenditure associated with the renovation of our hotels in operation. We will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the expected growth of our operations and expect our cash balance, cash generated from our operating activities and credit facilities will meet our capital expenditure needs in the foreseeable future.

 

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5.C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

Hotel Information Platform and Operational Systems

We have successfully developed and implemented an advanced operating platform capable of supporting our nationwide operations. This operating platform enables us to increase the efficiency of our operations and make timely decisions. The following is a description of our key information and management systems.

Web property management system (Web-PMS). Our Web-PMS is a web-based, centralized application that integrates all the critical operational information in our hotel network. This system enables us to manage our room inventory, reservations and pricing for all of our hotels on a real-time basis. The system is designed to enable us to enhance our profitability and compete more effectively by integrating with our central reservation system and customer relationship management system. We believe our Web-PMS enables our management to more effectively assess the performance of our hotels on a timely basis and to efficiently allocate resources and effectively identify specific market and sales targets.

Central reservation system. We have a real-time central reservation system available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our central reservation system allows reservations through multiple channels including our website, call center, third-party travel agents and online reservation partners. The real-time inventory management capability of the system improves the efficiency of reservations, enhances customer satisfaction and maximizes our profitability.

Customer relationship management (CRM) system. Our integrated CRM system maintains information of our HanTing Club members, including reservation and consumption history and pattern, points accumulated and redeemed, and prepayment and balance. By closely tracking and monitoring member information and behavior, we are able to better serve the members of our loyalty program and offer targeted promotions to enhance customer loyalty. The CRM system also allows us to monitor the performance of our corporate client sales representatives.

Internet service system (HTOnline). Our Internet service system HTOnline consists of our website (www.htinns.com), our mobile website (m.htinns.com) and our mobile apps for smart phones running iOS or Android systems. HTOnline provides our HanTing Club members and the general public with convenient, friendly and updated services, including information and search services for China Lodging hotels, including location, amenities and pricing, reservation services, membership registration and management and member community services. Our mobile apps also provide location based services, including search services for nearby China Lodging hotels.

Intellectual Property

We regard our trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights as critical to our business. We rely on a combination of copyright and trademark law, trade secret protection and confidentiality agreements with our employees, lecturers, business partners and others, to protect our intellectual property rights.

As of December 31, 2012, we have registered 91 trademarks and logos with the China Trademark Office. The trademarks and logos used in our current hotels are under protection of the registered trademarks and logos. An additional 100 trademark applications are under review by the authority. We have also registered one trademark in each of Singapore, Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong. We have filed 3 trademark applications both in Korea and Thailand, which are under review by the authority in Korea and Thailand. As of December 31, 2012, we have applied for and received one utility model patent for our bathroom hinged door. We have also received copyright registration certificates for six software programs developed by us as of December 31, 2012. In addition, we have registered 39 national and international top-level domain names, including www.htinns.com, www.hantinghotels.com and www.huazhu.com as of December 31, 2012.

 

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Our intellectual property is subject to risks of theft and other unauthorized use, and our ability to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use is limited. In addition, we may be subject to claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Failure to protect our trademarks and other intellectual property rights could have a negative impact on our brand and adversely affect our business.”

5.D. Trend Information

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events since January 1, 2012 that are reasonably likely to have a material 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.

5.E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Other than operating lease and purchase obligations set forth in the table under “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations,” we have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholder’s equity, or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us.

5.F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2012:

 

     Payment Due in the year ending December 31,      Payment Due
Thereafter
 
     Total      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017     
     (In RMB millions)  

Operating Lease Obligations

     15,317         1,199         1,322         1,359         1,344         1,322         8,771   

Purchase Obligations

     82         82         —           —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     15,399         1,281         1,322         1,359         1,344         1,322         8,771   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our operating lease obligations related to our obligations under lease agreements with lessors of our leased hotels. Our purchase obligations primarily consisted of contractual commitments in connection with leasehold improvements and installation of equipment for our leased hotels.

5.G. Safe Harbor

This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our anticipated growth strategies, including developing new hotels at desirable locations in a timely and cost-effective manner and launching a new hotel brand;

 

   

our future business development, results of operations and financial condition;

 

   

expected changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items;

 

   

our ability to attract customers and leverage our brand; and

 

   

trends and competition in the lodging industry.

 

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In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “future,” “is/are likely to,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this annual report. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance.

The forward-looking statements made in this annual report relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this annual report. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

6.A. Directors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report. The business address of all of our directors and executive officers is No. 2266 Hongqiao Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200336, People’s Republic of China.

 

Directors and Executive Officers    Age      Position/Title

Qi Ji

     46       Founder, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer

Tuo (Matthew) Zhang

     47       Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors

John Jiong Wu

     45       Co-founder, Independent Director

Tong Tong Zhao

     46       Co-founder, Independent Director

Min Fan

     47       Director

Yan Huang

     45       Independent Director

Joseph Chow

     51       Independent Director

Min (Jenny) Zhang

     39       Chief Financial Officer

Yunhang Xie

     44       Chief Operating Officer

Qi Ji is our founder and has also served as the executive chairman of our board since February 2007. He also served as our chief executive officer from 2007 to August 2009 and returned to this role in January 2012. Mr. Ji has served on the board as a director for UBOX since June 2012. He co-founded Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc., or Home Inns, and served as its chief executive officer from January 2001 to January 2005. He also co-founded Ctrip.com International, Ltd., or Ctrip, one of the largest online travel services providers in China, in 1999, acted as its chief executive officer and president until December 2001, and currently serves on Ctrip’s board as an independent director. Prior to founding Ctrip, Mr. Ji was 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. Mr. Ji received both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Tuo (Matthew) Zhang has served as the vice chairman of our board since January 2012. From August 2009 to December 2011, he served as our chief executive officer. From October 2007 through July 2009, he was our chief operating officer. He has more than 17 years of working experience with multinational companies in senior management capacities and has accumulated extensive knowledge in chain management and multi-location management. Prior to joining us in 2007, he served as the co-founder and the General Manager of Shanghai IJIAS Technology Co., Ltd., an e-commerce company specializing in home improvement products, from 2005 to 2007. He served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Zhejiang Kasen Industrial Co., Limited, an upholstery manufacturer, from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Zhang also served as the Vice President of OBI Management Systems (China) Co., Ltd. and the General Manager of OBI Asia Trade and Lux International (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a German-based retail chain of home improvement materials with a national retail network in China, from 2002 to 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Zhang worked at Haworth, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc. and Xerox Corporation. Mr. Zhang received his Bachelor’s degree in Management Administration from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

 

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John Jiong Wu, a co-founder of our company, has served as our director since January 2007. He is the founder and Managing Partner of F&H Fund Management Pte. Ltd. He served as the Venture Partner of Northern Light Venture Capital from 2008 to 2010 and was an angel investor and the Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Group from 2000 to 2007. Prior to joining Alibaba Group, he worked as an engineer or manager in several companies in the Silicon Valley, including Oracle and Yahoo! Inc. Mr. Wu received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree from the University of Michigan.

Tong Tong Zhao, a co-founder of our company, has served as our director since February 2007. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of China Education & Technology Group Limited. She was the General Manager of Shanghai Asia-Tang Health Technology Development Co., Ltd. from 2004 to 2006, the General Manager of Shanghai Hong Ying Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. from 1999 to 2001, and the Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Xie Cheng Science and Technology Co., Ltd. from 1997 to 1998. Ms. Zhao received her Master of Science degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from McGill University.

Min Fan has served as our director since March 2010. He is one of the co-founders of Ctrip and has served as the vice chairman of its board of directors since March 2013, as a member of its board of director since October 2006 and as its president since February 2009. Previously, Mr. Fan served as Ctrip’s chief executive officer from January 2006 to February 2013, as its chief operating officer from November 2004 to January 2006 and as its 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. In addition to his positions at Ctrip, Mr. Fan currently serves on the boards and compensation committees of PerfectEnergy International, Ltd., ChinaEdu Corporation and 99 Joyu Tourism Operating Group. Mr. Fan received 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.

Yan Huang has served as our independent director since June 2007. He has been a General Partner of CDH Ventures since 2006 and was an Associated Director of Intel Capital from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Huang received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Zhejiang University.

Joseph Chow has served as our independent director since August 2010. He has over 19 years of experience in corporate finance, financial advisory and management and has held senior executive and managerial positions in various public and private companies. Mr. Chow is currently a managing director of Moelis and Company and was previously a managing director at Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLP from 2008 to 2009. Prior to that, he served as an independent financial consultant from 2006 to 2008, as chief financial officer of Harbor Networks Limited from 2005 to 2006, and as chief financial officer of China Netcom (Holdings) Company Limited from 2001 to 2004. Prior to that, Mr. Chow served as the director of strategic planning of Bombardier Capital, Inc., as vice president of international operations of Citigroup and as the corporate auditor of GE Capital. Mr. Chow currently sits on the board as a director for Synutra International, Inc., a company listed on NASDAQ, and an independent non-executive director for Kasen International Holdings Limited and for Intime Department Store (Group) Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Mr. Chow obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Nanjing Institute of International Relations and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Min (Jenny) Zhang has served as our chief financial officer since March 2008 and the Executive Vice President of Finance from September 2007. Prior to joining us, she served as the Finance Director of Eli Lilly (Asia) Inc., Thailand Branch and the Chief Financial Officer of ASIMCO Casting (Beijing) Company, Ltd. She also worked previously with McKinsey & Company, Inc. as a consultant. Ms. Zhang has served on the board as a director for Synutra International, Inc. since February 2011. She obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School and received both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of International Business and Economics.

 

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Yunhang Xie has served as our chief operating office since April 2012. He has more than 16 years of working experience in the IT industry. Prior to joining us, Mr. Xie held several leadership roles in Digital China Networks Co., Ltd. or DCN, a leading network equipment and solutions provider, since 2000. He acted as the General Manager of DCN from 2005 to 2012, formulating corporate development strategy and managing day-to-day operations. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Xie served as Deputy General Manager at the network division of Lenovo Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd. Mr. Xie received a Master of Business Administration degree from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, and a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Employment Agreements

We have entered into an employment agreement with each of our named executive officers. Each of our named executive officers is employed for a specified time period, which will be automatically extended unless either we or the named executive officer gives prior notice to terminate such employment. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts, including but not limited to the conviction of a criminal offence and negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment. A named executive officer may terminate his or her employment at any time with a one-month prior written notice.

Each named executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence, and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment, any of our confidential information or trade secrets or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. In addition, each named executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition restrictions. Specifically, each named executive officer has agreed not to, during his or her employment with us and for a period of two years following his or her termination with our company, be engaged as employee or in another capacity to participant directly or indirectly in any business that is in competition with ours. Each named executive officer also agrees to comply with all material applicable laws and regulations related to his or her responsibilities at our company as well as all material written corporate and business policies and procedures of our company.

6.B. Compensation

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, the aggregate cash compensation and benefits that we paid to our directors and executive officers were approximately RMB6.7 million. No pension, retirement or similar benefits have been set aside or accrued for our executive officers or directors. We have no service contracts with any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of employment.

Share Incentive Plans

In February 2007, our board of directors and our shareholders adopted our 2007 Global Share Plan to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentives to selected employees, directors, and consultants and to promote the success of our business. Our 2007 Global Share Plan was subsequently amended in December 2007. Ten million ordinary shares may be issued under our amended and restated 2007 Global Share Plan, or the Amended and Restated 2007 Plan.

In June 2007, our board of directors and our shareholders adopted our 2008 Global Share Plan with the same purpose as our 2007 Global Share Plan. Our 2008 Global Share Plan was subsequently amended in October 2008. Seven million ordinary shares may be issued under our amended and restated 2008 Global Share Plan, or the Amended and Restated 2008 Plan.

In September 2009, our board of directors and our shareholders adopted our 2009 Share Incentive Plan with purposes similar to our 2007 Global Share Plan and 2008 Global Share Plan. Our 2009 Share Incentive Plan was subsequently amended in October 2009 and August 2010. Fifteen million ordinary shares may be issued under our amended 2009 Share Incentive Plan, or the Amended 2009 Plan.

Plan Administration. The compensation committee appointed by our board administers all of our share incentive plans. Mr. Qi Ji has been delegated the authority to grant, in his sole discretion, option and restricted stock to be issued under our share incentive plans to any of our employees and consultants except for our directors and executive officers. The aggregate number of shares covered by any single grant he makes shall not exceed 500,000 ordinary shares.

 

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Types of Awards. The following briefly describes the principal features of the various awards that may be granted under our Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans.

 

   

Options. Each option agreement must specify the exercise price. The exercise price of an option must not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying shares on the option grant date, and a higher percentage may be required. The term of an option granted under the Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans must not exceed ten years from the date the option is granted, and a shorter term may be required.

 

   

Share Purchase Rights. A share purchase right is a right to purchase restricted stock. Each share purchase right under the Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans must be evidenced by a restricted stock purchase agreement between the purchaser and us. The purchase price will be determined by the administrator. The share purchase rights will automatically expire if not exercised by the purchaser within 30 days after the grant date.

The following briefly describes the principal features of the various awards that may be granted under our Amended 2009 Plan:

 

   

Options. The purchase price per share under an option will be determined by a committee appointed by our board and set forth in the award agreement. The term of an option granted under the Amended 2009 Plan must not exceed ten years from the grant date, and a shorter term may be required.

 

   

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. An award of restricted stock is a grant of our ordinary shares subject to restrictions the committee appointed by our board may impose. A restricted stock unit is a contractual right that is denominated in our ordinary shares, each of which represents a right to receive the value of a share or a specified percentage of such value upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended 2009 Plan and the applicable award agreement.

 

   

Other Stock-based Awards. The committee is authorized to grant other stock-based awards that are denominated or payable in or otherwise related to our ordinary shares such as stock appreciation rights and rights to dividends and dividend equivalents. Terms and conditions of such awards will be determined by the committee appointed by our board. Unless the awards are granted in substitution for outstanding awards previously granted by an entity that we acquired or combined, the value of the consideration for the ordinary shares to be purchased upon the exercise of such awards shall not be less than the fair market value of the underlying ordinary shares on the grant date.

Vesting Schedule. As of the date of this annual report, we have entered into option agreements and restricted stock award agreements respectively under our Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans and our Amended 2009 Plan. Pursuant to our typical option agreement, 50% of the options granted shall vest on the second anniversary of the vesting commencement date specified in the corresponding option agreement, and 1/48 of the options shall vest each month thereafter over the next two years on the first day of each month, subject to the optionee’s continuing to provide services to us. Pursuant to each restricted stock award agreement, 50% of the restricted stock granted shall vest on the second anniversary of the vesting commencement date specified in the corresponding restricted stock award agreement, and 1/8 of the restricted stock shall vest each six-month period thereafter over the next two years on the last day of each six-month period, subject to the grantee’s continuing to provide services to us.

Termination of the Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans and the Amended 2009 Plan. Our Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans and our Amended 2009 Plan will terminate in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Our board of directors may amend, suspend, or terminate our Amended and Restated 2007 and 2008 Plans and our Amended 2009 Plan at any time. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of these plans shall materially and adversely impair the rights of any participant with respect to an outstanding award, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the participant and the administrator.

 

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The following tables summarize options and restricted stocks that we have granted to our directors and executive officers and to other individuals as a group under our share incentive plans.

 

Name

   Ordinary Shares
Underlying Options
Awarded(1)
    Exercise Price
(US$/Share)
    

Date of Grant

  

Date of Expiration

Qi Ji

     400,000        1.53       October 1, 2009    October 1, 2019
     755,676 (2)      2.76       July 17, 2012    July 17, 2018

Tong Tong Zhao

     100,000        1.53       October 1, 2009    October 1, 2019

John Jiong Wu

     100,000        1.53       October 1, 2009    October 1, 2019

Yan Huang

              1.53       October 1, 2009    October 1, 2019

Joseph Chow

              3.71       July 20, 2010    July 20, 2020

Tuo (Matthew) Zhang

              1.40/       July 1, 2007/    July 1, 2017/
       1.53/       August 3, 2009/    August 3, 2019/
       1.53       November 20, 2009    November 20, 2019

Min (Jenny) Zhang

              1.40/       October 1, 2007/    October 1, 2017/
       1.53       November 20, 2009    November 20, 2019
       2.76       July 17, 2012    July 17, 2018

Yunhang Xie

              2.76       July 17, 2012    July 17, 2018

Other individuals as a group

     13,431,747        0.50-4.75      

February 4, 2007 –

January 20, 2012

  

February 4, 2017 –

July 20, 2020

 

Name

   Ordinary Shares Underlying
Restricted Stocks Awarded
   

Date of Grant

Qi Ji

     200,000      August 6, 2011
     649,009 (2)    July 17, 2012

Min (Jenny) Zhang

            July 17, 2012

Yunhang Xie

            July 17, 2012

Other individuals as a group

     1,370,812      February 7, 2011 – September 10, 2012

 

* Upon exercise of all options granted, would beneficially own less than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
(1) Includes options to purchase an aggregate of 3,356,875 ordinary shares that have been exercised by certain officers and options to purchase an aggregate of 7,827,806 ordinary shares that have been exercised by certain employees.
(2) The number of ordinary shares underlying options and restricted stocks awarded will vary depending upon whether certain performance conditions and market conditions are satisfied.

6.C. Board Practices

General

Our board of directors currently consists of seven directors. Under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which came into effect upon our initial public offering, our board of directors shall consist of at least two directors. Our directors shall be elected by the holders of ordinary shares. There is no shareholding requirement for qualification to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Our board of directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the company or of any third party.

We believe that each of Ms. Tong Tong Zhao, Mr. John Jiong Wu, Mr. Joseph Chow and Mr. Yan Huang are an “independent director” as that term is used in NASDAQ corporate governance rules.

Duties of Directors

Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a 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.

 

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Terms of Directors and Executive Officers

Each of our directors holds office until a successor has been duly elected and qualified. All of our executive officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors.

Board Committees

We have established two committees under the board of directors — the audit committee and the compensation committee. We have adopted a charter for each of the board committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below. We currently do not plan to establish a nominations committee. As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to follow home country corporate governance practices under Rule 5615(a)(3) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. This home country practice of ours differs from Rule 5605(e) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules regarding implementation of a nominations committee, because there are no specific requirements under Cayman Islands law on the establishment of a nominations committee.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee consists of three directors, namely Mr. John Jiong Wu, Mr. Joseph Chow and Mr. Yan Huang. All of these three directors satisfy the “independence” requirements of the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC regulations. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Mr. Joseph Chow is qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of the SEC regulations. The audit committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

   

selecting the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors;

 

   

setting clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors;

 

   

reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;

 

   

reviewing and approving all proposed related-party transactions;

 

   

discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors;

 

   

discussing with management and the independent auditors major issues regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentations;

 

   

reviewing reports prepared by management or the independent auditors relating to significant financial reporting issues and judgments;

 

   

reviewing with management and the independent auditors related-party transactions and off-balance sheet transactions and structures;

 

   

reviewing with management and the independent auditors the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives and actions;

 

   

reviewing policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

 

   

reviewing our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

timely reviewing reports from the independent auditors regarding all critical accounting policies and practices to be used by our company, all alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management and all other material written communications between the independent auditors and management;

 

   

establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received from our employees regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;

 

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annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter;

 

   

such other matters that are specifically delegated to our audit committee by our board of directors from time to time; and

 

   

meeting separately, periodically, with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditors.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee consists of Mr. John Jiong Wu, Mr. Joseph Chow and Mr. Yan Huang. All of these three directors satisfy the “independence” requirements of NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and the SEC regulations. Our compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure of our directors and executive officers, including all forms of compensation to be provided to our directors and executive officers. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

   

reviewing and approving the compensation for our senior executives;

 

   

reviewing and evaluating our executive compensation and benefits policies generally;

 

   

reporting to our board of directors periodically;

 

   

evaluating its own performance and reporting to our board of directors on such evaluation;

 

   

periodically reviewing and assessing the adequacy of the compensation committee charter and recommending any proposed changes to our board of directors; and

 

   

such other matters that are specifically delegated to the compensation committee by our board of directors from time to time.

6.D. Employees

We had7,801, 10,694 and 12,833 employees as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, 5,592 of our 12,833 employees were contracted through third-party human resources companies. We recruit and directly train and manage all of our employees. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes. Our employees have not entered into any collective bargaining agreements.

6.E. Share Ownership

The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our ordinary shares, as of April 20, 2013 by:

 

   

each of our directors and executive officers; and

 

   

each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our ordinary shares.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to the ordinary shares. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by them.

 

                                                 
     Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned(1)  
     Number     %  

Directors and Executive Officers:

    

Qi Ji

     113,072,750 (2)      44.4   

Tong Tong Zhao

     34,220,852 (3)      13.4   

John Jiong Wu

     9,724,933        3.8   

Min Fan

     22,049,446 (4)      8.7   

Yan Huang

                  

 

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     Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned(1)  
     Number     %  

Joseph Chow

                  

Tuo (Matthew) Zhang

                  

Min (Jenny) Zhang

                  

Yunhang Xie

                  

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group

     150,523,209 (5)      59.1   

Principal Shareholders:

    

Winner Crown Holdings Limited

     79,207,849 (6)      31.1   

East Leader International Limited

     34,129,252 (7)      13.4   

Ctrip.com International, Ltd.

     22,049,446 (8)      8.7   

 

* Less than 1%.
(1) The number of ordinary shares outstanding in calculating the percentages for each listed person or group includes the ordinary shares underlying options held by such person or group exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2013. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person or group is based on (i) 247,757,897 ordinary shares outstanding as of April 20, 2013, including 3,048,662 shares of restricted stock and (ii) the ordinary shares underlying share options exercisable by such person within 60 days after April 20, 2013.
(2) Includes (i) 77,607,849 ordinary shares and 400,000 ADRs representing 1,600,000 ordinary shares held by Winner Crown Holdings Limited, or Winner Crown, a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Sherman Holdings Limited, a Bahamas company, which is in turn wholly owned by Credit Suisse Trust Limited, or CS Trustee. CS Trustee acts as trustee of the Ji Family Trust, of which Mr. Qi Ji and his family members are the beneficiaries, (ii) 366,640 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Mr. Qi Ji that are exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2013, (iii) 200,000 shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Ji, (iv) 649,009 shares of restricted stock held by Mr. Ji, subject to adjustment, (v)15,000,000 ordinary shares held by East Leader International Limited, or East Leader, a British Virgin Islands company, over which Mr. Ji has voting power pursuant to a power of attorney dated February 25, 2010, and (vi) 4,000,000 Restricted ADSs representing 16,000,000 ordinary shares, 342,313 ADSs representing 1,369,252 ordinary shares and 280,000 ordinary shares held by East Leader, over which Mr. Ji has voting power pursuant to a power of attorney dated February 5, 2013. East Leader is wholly owned by Perfect Will Holdings Limited, or Perfect Will, a British Virgin Islands company, which is in turn wholly owned by Asia Square Holdings Ltd., or Asia Square, as nominee for Sarasin Trust Company (Singapore) Limited, or Sarasin Trust. Sarasin Trust acts as trustee of the Tanya Trust, of which Ms. Tong Tong Zhao and her family members are the beneficiaries.
(3) Includes (i) 91,600 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options held by Ms. Tong Tong Zhao that are exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2013, and (ii) 16,760,000 ordinary shares, 4,000,000 Restricted ADSs representing 16,000,000 ordinary shares and 342,313 ADSs representing 1,369,252 ordinary shares held by East Leader, a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Perfect Will, a British Virgin Islands company, which is in turn wholly owned by Asia Square, as nominee for Sarasin Trust. Sarasin Trust acts as trustee of the Tanya Trust, of which Ms. Tong Tong Zhao and her family members are the beneficiaries. Ms. Zhao is the sole director of East Leader.
(4) Includes (i) 7,202,482 ordinary shares that Ctrip purchased from us, (ii) an aggregate of 11,646,964 of our ordinary shares that Ctrip purchased from the Chengwei Funds, CDH Courtyard Limited, the IDG Funds, the Northern Light Funds and Pinpoint Capital 2006 A Limited, and (iii) 800,000 ADSs representing 3,200,000 ordinary shares that Ctrip subscribed in our initial public offering. By virtue of being the vice chairman of the board of directors and president of Ctrip, Mr. Fan may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 22,049,446 ordinary shares. Mr. Fan disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares beneficially owned by Ctrip except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein. Mr. Fan’s business address is 99 Fu Quan Road, Shanghai 200335, People’s Republic of China.
(5) Includes ordinary shares and ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of all of the options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 20, 2013 held by all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
(6) Winner Crown is a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Sherman Holdings Limited, a Bahamas company, which is in turn wholly owned by Credit Suisse Trust Limited, or CS Trustee. CS Trustee acts as trustee of the Ji Family Trust, of which Mr. Qi Ji, our founder and executive chairman, and his family members, are the beneficiaries. Mr. Ji is the sole director of Winner Crown. The address of Winner Crown is Akara Bldg., 24 De Castro Street, Wickhams Cay I, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

 

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(7) East Leader is a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Perfect Will Holdings Limited, a British Virgin Islands company, which is in turn wholly owned by Bank Sarasin Nominees (CI) Limited, as nominee for Sarasin Trust Company Guernsey Limited, or Sarasin Trust. Sarasin Trust acts as trustee of the Tanya Trust, of which Ms. Tong Tong Zhao and her family members, are the beneficiaries. Ms. Zhao is the sole director of East Leader. The address of East Leader is P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
(8) Includes (i) 7,202,482 ordinary shares that Ctrip purchased from us, (ii) an aggregate of 11,646,964 of our ordinary shares that Ctrip purchased from the Chengwei Funds, CDH Courtyard Limited, the IDG Funds, the Northern Light Funds and Pinpoint Capital 2006 A Limited, and (iii) 800,000 ADSs representing 3,200,000 ordinary shares that Ctrip subscribed in our initial public offering. Ctrip is a Cayman Islands company and its address is 99 Fu Quan Road, Shanghai 200335, People’s Republic of China.

As of April 20, 2013, we had 247,757,897 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. To our knowledge, we had only two record shareholders in the United States, including Citibank, N.A., which is the depositary of our ADS program and held approximately 40.2% of our total outstanding ordinary shares under our ADS program and the depositary of our restricted ADS program and held approximately 6.5% of our total outstanding ordinary shares under our restricted ADS program. The number of beneficial owners of our ADSs in the United States is likely to be much larger than the number of record holders of our ordinary shares in the United States.

None of our existing shareholders has different voting rights from other shareholders since the closing of our initial public offering. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.

 

ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

7.A. Major Shareholders

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

7.B. Related Party Transactions

Transactions with Suzhou Property

We conduct transactions in the ordinary course of our business with Lishan Property (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., or Suzhou Property, a subsidiary of Powerhill, which was owned by Mr. Qi Ji and Ms. Tong Tong Zhao until January 2010 and was wholly owned by Mr. Qi Ji from January 2010 to August 2011.

Prior to Powerhill’s transfer in February 2007 of all of its ownership interests in HanTing Xingkong and Shanghai HanTing to us in exchange for our preferred shares, Powerhill conducted its operations through three wholly owned subsidiaries in the PRC, namely HanTing Xingkong, Shanghai HanTing and Suzhou Property. After such exchange, each of HanTing Xingkong and Shanghai HanTing became our wholly owned subsidiary while Suzhou Property remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Powerhill. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — A. History and Development of the Company.”

We entered into lease agreements with Suzhou Property to lease three hotel buildings owned by Suzhou Property. We paid rents under these leases in amounts similar to what an unrelated third party would pay for such leases. In 2009 and 2010, the aggregate amount we paid for rent to Suzhou Property was RMB3.6 million and RMB3.6 million, respectively.

In August 2011, Mr. Qi Ji sold all the equity interests in Powerhill to certain third parties. As a result, Suzhou Property ceased to be a related party for us. The aggregate amount we paid for rent to Suzhou Property was RMB2.3 million for the eight-month period ended August 31, 2011.

Certain commercial buildings of Suzhou Property were pledged as collateral to secure our credit facility with a maximum amount of RMB172.0 million with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in 2008 and 2009.

 

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Transactions with Ctrip

We conduct transactions in the ordinary course of our business with Ctrip.com International, Ltd., or Ctrip, an entity in which Mr. Qi Ji, our founder, is a co-founder, shareholder and independent director. Ctrip rendered reservation services to us to facilitate our customers in making reservations at our hotels from Ctrip’s hotel booking system. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the aggregate commission fees of our leased hotels paid to Ctrip.com for its reservation services amounted to RMB9.5 million, RMB8.0 million and RMB10.9 million, respectively.

In a private placement before our initial public offering in 2010, Ctrip purchased 7,202,482 ordinary shares from us and an aggregate of 11,646,964 of our ordinary shares from the Chengwei Funds, CDH Courtyard Limited, the IDG Funds, the Northern Light Funds and Pinpoint Capital 2006 A Limited at a price equal to the initial public offering price per share. The investments by Ctrip were made pursuant to transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. In connection with these transactions, Ctrip was granted registration rights substantially similar to those granted to certain holders of our registrable securities under our amended and restated shareholders agreement. In addition, we have granted Ctrip the right to nominate one person to serve on our board as long as Ctrip and its affiliates continuously maintain (i) at least 5% of our total outstanding ordinary shares in the three years following the closing of our initial public offering and (ii) at least 8% of our total outstanding ordinary shares thereafter. In addition, Ctrip subscribed a total of 800,000 ADSs in our initial public offering at the initial public offering price. The ADSs issued and sold to Ctrip are on the same terms as the other ADSs being offered in our initial public offering. Ctrip and one of our competitors, Home Inns, share two directors between their boards.

On April 15, 2012, we entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 51% equity interest of Starway HK from C-Travel International Limited, or C-Travel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ctrip. The base acquisition price was RMB17.3 million in cash, which was funded with cash on hand. In addition, we obtained under the definition agreement the right to purchase the remaining 49% equity interest in Starway HK held by C-Travel for RMB16.5 million by May 1, 2013. The acquisition of the 51% equity interest in Starway HK became effective in May 2012. We will retain the Starway brand and we plan to continue to open new hotels under the Starway brand in the foreseeable future. We introduced the lease and manachise models to the Starway brand and gradually converted the franchised hotels Starway HK had before our acquisition to manachised or leased hotels where appropriate. We also terminated certain franchise agreements in cases where the franchised hotels could not meet the new Starway brand standards or the franchisees did not accept certain changes we made to the franchise agreement after the acquisition. We integrated most of Starway Hotels’ support functions into our existing corporate platform and significantly reduced the personnel and other operating costs for Starway HK.

Investment in UBOX

One of our directors, Mr. John Jiong Wu, owns and controls Whistling Kite Limited. In April, 2012, one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, China Lodging HK, together with Whistling Kite Limited, entered into a definitive agreement with UBOX and certain other parties, to subscribe for preferred shares of UBOX. Pursuant to this definition agreement, China Lodging HK invested US$4.4 million in return for an approximately 4.3% equity interest in UBOX in June 2012. Mr. Qi Ji, our founder, executive chairman and chief executive officer, has served as a member of the board of directors of UBOX since June 2012. In December 2012, we purchased a convertible promissory note in the amount of US$1.3 million from UBOX. UBOX engages mainly in the vending machine business. With over 10,000 vending machines in operation across 32 cities in China as of December 31, 2012, UBOX is one of the largest vending machine operators in China. We believe UBOX’s operations have potential synergies with our operations.

Employment Agreements

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Employment Agreements” for a description of the employment agreements we have entered into with our senior executive officers.

Share Incentives

See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers — Share Incentive Plans” for a description of share options we have granted to our directors, officers and other individuals as a group.

 

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7.C. Interests of Experts and Counsel

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

8.A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

8.A.1. See “Item 18. Financial Statements” for our audited consolidated financial statements.

8.A.2. See “Item 18. Financial Statements” for our audited consolidated financial statements, which cover the last three financial years.

8.A.3. See page F-2 for the report of our independent registered public accounting firm.

8.A.4. Not applicable.

8.A.5. Not applicable.

8.A.6. Not applicable.

8.A.7. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Legal and Administrative Proceedings.”

8.A.8. Dividend Policy

We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. We had never declared or paid dividends prior to December 31, 2012 and we do not have any plan to declare or pay any dividends in the near future.

Our board of directors has complete discretion in deciding whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.

If we pay any dividends, our ADS holders will be entitled to such dividends to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.

We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries in China. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to finance any debt we may incur depends upon dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries. If our subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, our subsidiaries in the PRC must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires an annual appropriation of 10% of after-tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end); the other fund appropriations are at the subsidiaries’ discretion. These reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes of enterprise expansion, staff bonus and welfare, and are not distributable as cash dividends.

8.B. Significant Changes

Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.

 

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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

9.A. Offering and Listing Details

Our ADSs have been listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “HTHT” since March 26, 2010. The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low market prices on the NASDAQ Global Select Market for our ADSs.

 

     High      Low  

2010 (from March 26)

   US$  27.50       US$  13.49   

First quarter (from March 26)

     15.50         13.49   

Second quarter

     18.58         13.81   

Third quarter

     25.95         14.26   

Fourth quarter

     27.50         19.18   

2011

     24.47         12.00   

First quarter

     24.47         15.90   

Second quarter

     22.50         16.01   

Third quarter

     18.95         12.50   

Fourth quarter

     16.94         12.00   

2012

     17.55         10.51   

First quarter

     15.97         11.55   

Second quarter

     13.47         10.73   

Third quarter

     16.91         10.51   

Fourth quarter

     17.55         13.90   

October

     17.55         15.82   

November

     17.47         13.90   

December

     17.10         14.53   

2013

     

First quarter

     19.93         15.36   

January

     19.48         15.61   

February

     19.93         17.36   

March

     19.59         15.36   

April (through April 19, 2013)

     16.60         14.97   

9.B. Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

9.C. Markets

The principal trading market for our shares is the NASDAQ Global Select Market, on which our shares are traded in the form of ADSs.

9.D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

9.E. Dilution

Not applicable.

9.F. Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

10.A. Share Capital

Not applicable.

10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

We incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contained in our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-165247) originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010, as amended. Our shareholders adopted our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association by a special resolution on March 12, 2010 and further amended our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association by a special resolution on November 21, 2012.

10.C. Material Contracts

We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in Item 4, “Information on the Company” and in Item 7, “Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions” or elsewhere in this annual report.

10.D. Exchange Controls

See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange.”

10.E. Taxation

The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, People’s Republic of China 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 annual 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

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, brought to, or produced before a court 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.

PRC Taxation

PRC taxation on us

On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress, the Chinese legislature, passed the Enterprise Income Tax Law, and on December 6, 2007, the PRC State Council issued the Implementation Regulations of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008. The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its Implementation Regulations, or the EIT Law, applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises. There is a transition period for enterprises, whether foreign-invested or domestic, which currently receive preferential tax treatments granted by relevant tax authorities. Enterprises that are subject to an enterprise income tax rate lower than 25% may continue to enjoy the lower rate and gradually transfer to the new tax rate within five years after the effective date of the EIT Law. Enterprises that are currently entitled to exemptions or reductions from the standard income tax rate for a fixed term may continue to enjoy such treatment until the fixed term expires. Preferential tax treatments will continue to be granted to industries and projects that are strongly supported and encouraged by the state, and enterprises classified as “high and new technology enterprises strongly supported by the state” are entitled to a 15% enterprise income tax rate.

 

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The EIT Law provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises.” The “de facto management body” is defined as the organizational body that effectively exercises overall management and control over production and business operations, personnel, finance and accounting, and properties of the enterprise. Currently, there are no detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management body.” The State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or Circular 82, on April 22, 2009. Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise is located in China, which include: (a) the location where senior management members responsible for an enterprise’s daily operations discharge their duties; (b) the location where financial and human resource decisions are made or approved by organizations or persons; (c) the location where the major assets and corporate documents are kept; and (d) the location where more than half (inclusive) of all directors with voting rights or senior management have their habitual residence. In addition, the SAT issued the Administrative Measures on Income Taxes of Chinese-controlled Offshore Incorporated Resident Enterprises (Trial Implementation), or Tax Trial Measures, on July 27, 2011, effective September 1, 2011, providing more guidance on the implementation of Circular 82. The Tax Trial Measures clarify matters including resident status determination, post-determination administration and competent tax authorities. Both Circular 82 and the Tax Trial Measures apply only to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups and not applicable to our case. But the determining criteria set forth in Circular 82 and the Tax Trial Measures may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups or by PRC or foreign individuals. As such, it is still unclear if the PRC tax authorities would determine that, notwithstanding our status as the Cayman Islands holding company of our operating business in China, we should be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise.”

The EIT Law imposes a withholding tax of 10% on dividends distributed by a foreign-invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside of China, if such immediate holding company is considered a “non-resident enterprise” without any establishment or place within China or if the received dividends have no connection with the establishment or place of such immediate holding company within China, unless such immediate holding company’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, are subject to a 5% withholding tax rate if the holding companies are the beneficial owners of the dividends. The Cayman Islands, where we are incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. Thus, dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in China may be subject to the 10% withholding tax if we are considered a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law.

The EIT Law provides that PRC “resident enterprises” are generally subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on their worldwide income. Therefore, if we are treated as a PRC “resident enterprise,” we will be subject to PRC income tax on our worldwide income at the 25% uniform tax rate, which could have an impact on our effective tax rate and an adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, although dividends distributed from our PRC subsidiaries to us would be exempt from the PRC dividend withholding tax, since such income is exempted under the EIT Law to a PRC resident recipient. However, if we are required under the EIT Law to pay income tax on any dividends we receive from our subsidiaries, our income tax expenses will increase and the amount of dividends, if any, we may pay to our shareholders and ADS holders may be materially and adversely affected.

PRC taxation of our overseas shareholders

Under the EIT Law, PRC withholding tax at the rate of 10% is applicable to dividends payable to investors that are “non-resident enterprises,” which do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC, or which have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends have their sources within the PRC. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares by such investors is also subject to 10% PRC withholding tax if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. Therefore, if we are considered a PRC “resident enterprise,” dividends we pay to non-resident enterprise investors with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares and the gains realized from the transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares may be considered as income derived from sources within the PRC and be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10% or lower subject to the provisions of any applicable bilateral tax treaty. The double taxation treaty between the PRC and the United States, or the Treaty, does not reduce the 10% tax rate.

 

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Moreover, non-resident individual investors are required to pay PRC individual income tax on dividends payable to the investors or any capital gains realized from the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares if such gains are deemed income derived from sources within the PRC. Under the PRC Individual Income Tax Law, or IITL, non-resident individual refers to an individual who has no domicile in China and does not stay in the territory of China or who has no domicile in China and has stayed in the territory of China for less than one year. Pursuant to the IITL and its implementation rules, for purposes of the PRC capital gains tax, the taxable income will be the balance of the total income realized from the transfer of the ADSs or ordinary shares minus all the costs and expenses that are permitted under PRC tax laws to be deducted from the income. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC “resident enterprise” and dividends we pay with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares and the gains realized from the transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares are considered income derived from sources within the PRC by relevant competent PRC tax authorities, such dividends and gains earned by non-resident individuals may also be subject to PRC withholding tax.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders described below of owning and disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular person’s decision to own such ordinary shares or ADSs. This discussion applies only to a U.S. Holder that holds ordinary shares or ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. In addition, it does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of the U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential application of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), known as the Medicare contribution tax and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:

 

   

certain financial institutions;

 

   

dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting;

 

   

persons holding ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a straddle, wash sale, conversion transaction or integrated transaction or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the ordinary shares or ADSs;

 

   

persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

tax-exempt entities, including “individual retirement accounts” or “Roth IRAs”;

 

   

persons that own or are deemed to own ten percent or more of our voting stock;

 

   

persons who acquired our ordinary shares or ADSs pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; or

 

   

persons holding shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States.

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes owns ordinary shares or ADSs, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships owning ordinary shares or ADSs and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the ordinary shares or ADSs.

This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. It is also based in part on representations by the depositary and assumes that each obligation under the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

 

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A “U.S. Holder” is a holder who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares or ADSs and is:

 

   

a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or

 

   

an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

In general, a U.S. Holder who owns ADSs will be treated as the owner of the underlying shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized if a U.S. Holder exchanges ADSs for the underlying shares represented by those ADSs.

The U.S. Treasury has expressed concern that parties to whom American depositary shares are released before shares are delivered to the depositary, also referred to as pre-release, or intermediaries in the chain of ownership between holders and the issuer of the security underlying the American depositary shares, may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by holders of American depositary shares. These actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the favorable tax rates, described below, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate holders and thus may affect the availability of these rates to such holders.

U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of owning and disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs in their particular circumstances.

This discussion assumes that we are not, and will not become, a passive foreign investment company, as described below.

Taxation of Distributions

Distributions paid on ordinary shares or ADSs, other than certain pro rata distributions of ordinary shares, will be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, it is expected that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. Subject to applicable limitations and the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be taxable at rates applicable to long-term capital gain. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the availability of these favorable rates on dividends. The amount of the dividend will be treated as foreign-source dividend income to U.S. Holders and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Subject to applicable limitations, some of which may vary depending upon a U.S. Holder’s circumstances, and subject to the discussion above regarding concerns expressed by the U.S. Treasury, PRC income taxes withheld from dividends on ordinary shares or ADSs at a rate not exceeding the rate applicable under the Treaty will be creditable against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. PRC taxes withheld in excess of the rate applicable under the Treaty will not be eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex, and U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the creditability of foreign taxes in their particular circumstances. Dividends will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income on the date of the U.S. Holder’s, or in the case of ADSs, the depositary’s, receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend income paid in RMB will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt.

Sale or Other Disposition of Ordinary Shares or ADSs

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss realized on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares or ADSs will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held the ordinary shares or ADSs for more than one year. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the ordinary shares or ADSs disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

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As described in “Taxation — PRC Taxation — PRC taxation on us,” if we were deemed to be a tax resident enterprise under PRC tax law, gains from dispositions of our ordinary shares or ADSs may be subject to PRC withholding tax. In that case, a U.S. Holder’s amount realized would include the gross amount of the proceeds of the sale or disposition before deduction of the PRC tax. Although any such gain of a U.S. Holder would generally be characterized as U.S.-source income, a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may be entitled to elect to treat the gain as foreign-source income for foreign tax credit purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding their eligibility for benefits under the Treaty and the creditability of any PRC tax on dispositions in their particular circumstances.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

We do not believe we were a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our 2012 taxable year. However, because PFIC status depends on the composition of a company’s income and assets and the market value of its assets from time to time, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for any taxable year. In general, a non-U.S. corporation will be considered a PFIC for any taxable year in which (i) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation that directly or indirectly owns at least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and received directly its proportionate share of the income of the other corporation. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties and capital gains.

If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held ordinary shares or ADSs, gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of the ordinary shares or ADSs would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares or ADSs. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the amount allocated to that taxable year. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its ordinary shares or ADSs exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the ordinary shares or ADSs received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, that distribution would be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain, described immediately above.

Alternatively, if we were a PFIC, a U.S. Holder could, if certain conditions are met, make a mark-to-market election that would result in tax treatment different from the general tax treatment for PFICs described above. If a U.S. Holder were to make such an election, the holder generally would recognize as ordinary income any excess of the fair market value of the ADSs at the end of each taxable year over its adjusted tax basis, and would recognize an ordinary loss in respect of any excess of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election). If we were a PFIC, it is unclear whether our ordinary shares would be treated as “marketable stock” eligible for the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes the election, the holder’s tax basis in the ADSs will be adjusted to reflect these income or loss amounts. Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC would be treated as ordinary income and any loss would be treated as an ordinary loss (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election).

A timely election to treat us as a qualified electing fund under Section 1295 of the Code would also result in alternative treatment from the general treatment for PFICs described above (which alternative treatment could, in certain circumstances, mitigate the adverse tax consequences of holding shares in a PFIC). U.S. Holders should be aware, however, that we do not intend to satisfy record-keeping and other requirements that would permit U.S. Holders to make qualified electing fund elections if we were a PFIC.

In addition, if we were a PFIC, the favorable rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply. Furthermore, if we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held ordinary shares or ADSs, such U.S. Holder may be required to file a report containing such information as the U.S. Treasury may require. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding whether we are or were a PFIC and the potential application of the PFIC rules.

 

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Dividend payments with respect to ADSs or ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale or exchange of ADSs or ordinary shares may be subject to information reporting to the Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding at a current rate of 28%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally must provide such certification on Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing the appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information.

10.F. Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.

10.G. Statement by Experts

Not applicable.

10.H. Documents on Display

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 four 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 public reference facilities maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website 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.

We will furnish Citibank, N.A., the depositary of our ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.

10.I. Subsidiary Information

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest rates for our outstanding debt and the interest income generated by excess cash invested in liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. As of December 31, 2012, we have no outstanding loans. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk.

 

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We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. However, our future interest income may be lower than expected due to changes in market interest rates.

Foreign Exchange Risk

Substantially all of our revenues and most of our expenses are denominated in RMB. Our exposure to foreign exchange risk primarily relates to cash and cash equivalent denominated in U.S. dollars as a result of our past issuances of preferred shares through a private placement and proceeds from our initial public offering. We do not believe that we currently have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and have not hedged exposures denominated in foreign currencies or any other derivative financial instruments. Although in general, our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while the ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.

The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s 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 RMB to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy caused the Renminbi to appreciate by more than 20% against the U.S. dollar between July 2005 and July 2008. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the PRC government has allowed the Renminbi to appreciate slowly against the U.S. dollar again. 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. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future. To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we received from our initial public offering into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB denominated cash amounts into U.S. dollars amounts for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. By way of example, assuming we had converted a U.S. dollar denominated cash balance of US$1.0 million as of December 31, 2012 into Renminbi at the exchange rate of US$1.00 for RMB6.2301, such cash balance would have been approximately RMB6.23 million. Assuming a further 1.0% appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar, such cash balance would have decreased to RMB6.17 million as of December 31, 2012. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk.

Inflation

Since our inception, inflation in China has not materially impacted our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, consumer price index in China increased by 3.3% , 5.4% and 2.6% in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we may be affected if China experiences higher rates of inflation in the future.

 

ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

12.A. Debt Securities

Not applicable.

12.B. Warrants and Rights

Not applicable.

 

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12.C. Other Securities

Not applicable.

12.D. American Depositary Shares

Fees and Charges Our ADS holders May Have to Pay

An ADS holder will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary, Citibank, N.A.:

 

Service

 

Fees

•       Issuance of ADSs

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued

•       Cancellation of ADSs

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS canceled

•       Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•       Distribution of ADSs pursuant to stock dividends, free stock distributions or exercise of rights

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•       Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held

•       Depositary Services

 

Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the Depositary (U.S. 2¢ per ADS for the year of 2012)

An ADS holder will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:

 

   

Fees for the transfer and registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of ordinary shares).

 

   

Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars.

 

   

Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities.

 

   

Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities (i.e., when ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit).

 

   

Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit.

Depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary banks by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary banks and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary banks for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary banks to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.

The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., stock dividend, rights), the depositary banks charge the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary banks send invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)), the depositary banks generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.

 

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In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.

The fees and charges an ADS holder may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. An ADS holder will receive prior notice of such changes.

Fees and Other Payments Made by the Depositary to Us

The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the deposit agreement, by making available a portion of the depositary fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we have received a total of RMB1.1 million (US$0.2 million) from the depositary as reimbursement for our expenses incurred in connection with investor relationship programs related to the ADS program.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

None of these events occurred in any of the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

 

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

There have been no material modifications to the rights of securities holders or the use of proceeds.

 

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures within the meaning of Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on such evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for our company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (a) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of a company’s assets, (b) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that a company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of a company’s management and directors and (c) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of a company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to consolidated financial statement preparation and presentation and may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.

As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules as promulgated by the SEC, our management assessed the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 using criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2012.

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 has been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP was formerly known as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. At the direction of the PRC government in accordance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. has been restructured as a new partnership and changed its name to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, which for all purposes succeeded and assumed all of the obligations and rights of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. with effect from January 1, 2013. The attestation report issued by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP can be found on page F-3 of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no significant changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting during 2012.

 

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Joseph Chow is an audit committee financial expert, as that term is defined in Item 16A(b) of Form 20-F, and is independent for the purposes of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, or the NASDAQ Rules, and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

Our board of directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics on January 27, 2010 that applies to our directors, officers, employees and agents, including certain provisions that specifically apply to our executive officers 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 registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-165247) originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010, as amended. Our code of business conduct and ethics is publicly available on our website at http://ir.htinns.com/.

 

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, or Deloitte, our independent registered public accounting firm, began serving as our auditor in August 2009.

Our audit committee is responsible for the oversight of Deloitte’s work. The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by Deloitte, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services, other than those for de minimis services which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.

We paid the following fees for professional services to Deloitte for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011      2012  
     US$      US$  

Audit Fees(1)

     720         840   

Audit-Related Fees

     —           —     

Tax Fees

     —           —     

All Other Fees

     —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     720         840   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note: (1) Audit Fees. This category includes the aggregate fees billed for the professional services rendered by our principal auditors for assurance and related services. Our 2011 and 2012 audit fees mainly include the audit of our annual financial statements, the services provided in connection with our compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

 

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

Not applicable.

 

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

None.

 

ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The NASDAQ Rules provide that foreign private issuers may follow home country practice in lieu of the corporate governance requirements of the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, subject to certain exceptions and requirements and except to the extent that such exemptions would be contrary to U.S. federal securities laws and regulations. The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those followed by U.S. companies under the NASDAQ Rules are summarized as follows:

 

   

We follow home country practice that permits our independent directors not to hold regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present in lieu of complying with Rule 5605(b)(2).

 

   

We follow home country practice that permits our board of directors not to implement a nominations committee, in lieu of complying with Rule 5605(e) of the NASDAQ Rules that requires the implementation of a nominations committee.

Other than the above, we have followed and intend to continue to follow the applicable corporate governance standards under the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.

In accordance with Rule 5250(d)(1) under NASDAQ Marketplace Rules, we will post this annual report on Form 20-F on our company website at http://ir.htinns.com. In addition, we will provide hard copies of our annual report free of charge to shareholders and ADS holders upon request.

 

ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

PART III

 

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

 

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our consolidated financial statements are included at the end of this annual report.

 

ITEM 19. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

    1.1

   Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 3.2 from the Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2010.)

    1.2*

   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant, adopted by the shareholders of the Registrant on November 21, 2012.

    2.1

   Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.3).

    2.2

   Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

    2.3

   Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the Depositary and all Holders and Beneficial Owners of the American Depositary Shares issued thereunder. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.3 from the Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2010.)

 

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Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

    4.1

   Amended and Restated 2007 Global Share Plan, amended and restated as of December 12, 2007. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

    4.2

   Amended and Restated 2008 Global Share Plan, amended and restated as of October 31, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

    4.3

   Amended and Restated 2009 Share Incentive Plan, amended and restated as of October 1, 2009. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

    4.4

   Amendment to the Amended and Restated 2009 Share Incentive Plan, amended as of August 26, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 from our report on Form 6-K (file no. 333-34656) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 2010.)

    4.5

   Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s Directors. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

    4.6

   English translation of the Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Executive Officers of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 from our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-34656) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2012.)

    4.7

   English translation of the Fixed Assets Loan Contract between the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd., dated March 2, 2012. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 from our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-34656) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12, 2012.)

    4.8*

   English translation of the Facility Agreement between China Merchants Bank and HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd., dated September 25, 2012.

    4.9

   Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and Ctrip.com International, Ltd., dated March 12, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 from the Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2010.)

    4.10

   Investor and Registration Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Ctrip.com International, Ltd., dated March 12, 2010. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 from the Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2010.)

    4.11*

   Share Purchase Agreement by and between China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited and C-Travel International Limited, dated April 15, 2012.

    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 Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-165247) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2010.)

  12.1*

   Certification of Qi Ji, Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  12.2*

   Certification of Min (Jenny) Zhang, Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

  13.1**

   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

90


Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

  

Description of Document

  15.1*

   Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

101.INS***

   XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH***

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL***

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF***

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB***

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE***

   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

* Filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
** Furnished with this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
*** XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED
By:  

/s/ Qi Ji

  Name:   Qi Ji
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 23, 2013

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED

DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 AND 2012

 

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012

     F-4   

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December  31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

     F-5   

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

     F-6   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

     F-7   

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-9   

Financial Statement Schedule I — Financial Information for Parent Company

     F-32   

Financial Statement Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

     F-36   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of China Lodging Group, Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012 and the related financial statement schedules. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits 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. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of China Lodging Group, Limited and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

Our audits also comprehended the translation of Renminbi amounts into United States dollar amounts and, in our opinion, such translation has been made in conformity with the basis stated in Note 2. Such United States dollar amounts are presented solely for the convenience of readers in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 23, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP

Shanghai, China

April 23, 2013

 

F-2


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of China Lodging Group, Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2012 based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Group’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 of the Group and our report dated April 23, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedules and included an explanatory paragraph regarding the translation of Renmimbi amounts into United States dollar amounts for the convenience of readers in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP

Shanghai, China

April 23, 2013

 

F-3


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Renminbi in thousands, except share and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     As of December 31,  
   2011     2012     2012  
               US$
(Note 2)
 

ASSETS

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     781,601        449,844        72,205   

Restricted cash

     1,500        1,790        287   

Short-term investments

     —          8,074        1,296   

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of RMB1,445 and RMB2,683 in 2011 and 2012, respectively

     37,416        50,633        8,127   

Prepaid rent

     228,087        321,305        51,573   

Inventories

     31,232        37,971        6,095   

Other current assets

     53,862        83,058        13,332   

Deferred tax assets

     40,119        44,231        7,099   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,173,817        996,906        160,014   

Property and equipment, net

     2,095,794        2,951,509        473,750   

Intangible assets, net

     69,779        100,980        16,208   

Long-term investment

            28,129        4,515   

Goodwill

     42,536        64,180        10,302   

Other assets

     102,056        133,536        21,434   

Deferred tax assets

     40,968        54,947        8,820   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     3,524,950        4,330,187        695,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

     417,605        624,824        100,291   

Amounts due to related parties

     1,030        801        129   

Salary and welfare payable

     80,266        117,980        18,937   

Deferred revenue

     138,148        200,515        32,185   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     142,146        187,380        30,076   

Income tax payable

     14,148        23,142        3,715   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     793,343        1,154,642        185,333   

Deferred rent

     329,774        470,438        75,511   

Deferred revenue

     71,698        99,800        16,019   

Other long-term liabilities

     61,574        92,407        14,832   

Deferred tax liabilities

     12,677        22,335        3,585   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,269,066        1,839,622        295,280   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)

      

Equity:

      

Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value per share; 8,000,000,000 shares authorized; 242,604,223 and 244,494,095 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively)

     179        180        29   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,199,954        2,243,403        360,091   

Retained earnings

     85,127        260,014        41,735   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (39,166     (38,408     (6,165
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total China Lodging Group, Limited shareholders’ equity

     2,246,094        2,465,189        395,690   

Noncontrolling interest

     9,790        25,376        4,073   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     2,255,884        2,490,565        399,763   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

     3,524,950        4,330,187        695,043   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

F-4


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2010     2011     2012     2012  
                    

US$

(Note 2)

 

Revenues:

        

Leased hotels

     1,707,771        2,172,934        3,069,431        492,678   

Manachised and franchised hotels

     130,579        212,644        349,847        56,154   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     1,838,350        2,385,578        3,419,278        548,832   

Less: Business tax and related taxes

     99,857        135,981        194,751        31,260   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net revenues

     1,738,493        2,249,597        3,224,527        517,572   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

        

Hotel operating costs

     1,180,202        1,703,337        2,453,902        393,878   

Selling and marketing expenses

     70,786        94,754        102,814        16,503   

General and administrative expenses

     119,989        160,062        217,388        34,893   

Pre-opening expenses

     111,210        184,298        230,690        37,028   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     1,482,187        2,142,451        3,004,794        482,302   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     256,306        107,146        219,733        35,270   

Interest income

     15,945        18,111        14,554        2,336   

Interest expense

     2,682        882        822        132   

Other income

     2,564        2,649        2,208        354   

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

     6,923        15,930        (2,000     (321
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     279,056        142,954        233,673        37,507   

Tax expense

     57,262        24,816        54,169        8,695   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

     221,794        118,138        179,504        28,812   

Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

     6,043        3,306        4,617        741   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

     215,751        114,832        174,887        28,071   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings per share:

        

Basic

     1.05        0.47        0.72        0.12   

Diluted

     0.92        0.47        0.71        0.11   

Weighted average number of shares used in computation:

        

Basic

     198,517,280        241,928,286        243,284,332        243,284,332   

Diluted

     234,480,894        246,181,202        246,981,001        246,981,001   

Other comprehensive income

        

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of nil for 2010, 2011 and 2012

     (10,173     (16,463     758        122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     211,621        101,675        180,262        28,934   

Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     6,043        3,306        4,617        741   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to China Lodging Group, Limited

     205,578        98,369        175,645        28,193   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

F-5


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

    Ordinary Shares     Series A
Preferred Shares
    Additional
Paid-in
Capital
    Retained
earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
loss
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total
Equity
 
    Share     Amount     Share     Amount            

Balance at January 1, 2010

    60,948,013        47        44,000,000        34        351,994        (245,456     (12,530     11,364        105,453   

Issuance of ordinary shares to Ctrip.com

    7,202,482        5        —          —          150,567        —          —          —          150,572   

Issuance of ordinary shares upon initial public offering

    41,400,000        28        —          —          804,820        —          —          —          804,848   

Conversion of Series A convertible preferred shares to ordinary shares upon completion of initial public offering

    44,000,000        34        (44,000,000     (34     —          —          —          —          —     

Conversion of Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares into ordinary shares upon completion of initial public offering

    78,058,919        57        —          —          796,746        —          —          —          796,803   

Issuance of warrants

    —          —          —          —          942        —          —          —          942   

Acquisitions of noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          (10,588     —          —          (6,511     (17,099

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of warrants

    1,700,000        1        —          —          17,872        —          —          —          17,873   

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option

    7,842,341        6        —          —          42,336        —          —          —          42,342   

Share-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          13,113        —          —          —          13,113   

Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          10        10   

Sales of partial ownership interest in one subsidiary

    —          —          —          —          562        —          —          568        1,130   

Net income

    —          —          —          —          —          215,751        —          6,043        221,794   

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (2,298     (2,298

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (10,173     —          (10,173
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

    241,151,755        178        —          —          2,168,364        (29,705     (22,703     9,176        2,125,310   

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option

    1,452,468        1        —          —          7,783        —          —          —          7,784   

Share-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          15,483        —          —          —          15,483   

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          8,324        —          —          —          8,324   

Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          459        459   

Net income

    —          —          —          —          —          114,832        —          3,306        118,138   

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (3,151     (3,151

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    —          —          —          —          —          —          (16,463     —          (16,463
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

    242,604,223        179        —          —          2,199,954        85,127        (39,166     9,790        2,255,884   

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option

    1,889,872        1        —          —          18,310        —          —          —          18,311   

Share-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          20,837        —          —          —          20,837   

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          4,302        —          —          —          4,302   

Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          240        240   

Acquisitions with noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          14,215        14,215   

Net income

    —          —          —          —          —          174,887        —          4,617        179,504   

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest

    —          —          —          —          —          —          —          (3,486     (3,486

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    —          —          —          —          —          —          758        —          758   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

    244,494,095        180        —          —          2,243,403        260,014        (38,408     25,376        2,490,565   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2010     2011     2012     2012  
                    

US$

(Note 2)

 

Operating activities:

        

Net income

     221,794        118,138        179,504        28,812   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Share-based compensation

     13,113        15,483        20,837        3,345   

Depreciation and amortization

     171,539        236,857        347,575        55,790   

Deferred taxes

     9,228        (35,714     (18,226     (2,925

Bad debt expenses

     103        667        1,238        199   

Deferred rent

     70,761        92,927        143,858        23,092   

Impairment loss

     —          710        5,349        859   

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

     —          (8,324     (4,302     (691

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions:

        

Accounts receivable

     (6,481     (16,401     (12,336     (1,980

Prepaid rent

     (82,649     (75,820     (93,218     (14,963

Inventories

     (9,407     (12,792     (6,714     (1,078

Amount due from related parties

     1,365        3,267        —          —     

Other current assets

     (13,404     (15,684     (29,404     (4,720

Other assets

     (17,841     (22,102     (31,482     (5,053

Accounts payable

     3,478        3,435        3,390        544   

Amount due to related parties

     (72     175        (229     (37

Salary and welfare payables

     28,042        22,628        36,809        5,906   

Deferred revenue

     42,283        92,803        90,468        14,521   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     16,290        34,246        36,076        5,791   

Income tax payable

     11,252        7,350        13,296        2,134   

Other long-term liabilities

     9,732        16,891        33,231        5,333   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     469,126        458,740        715,720        114,879   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment

     (397,252     (768,756     (998,050     (160,198

Purchases of intangibles

     (7,630     (14,674     (3,532     (567

Amount received as a result of government zoning

     —          6,900        —          —     

Acquisitions, net of cash received

     (9,653     (57,822     (30,055     (4,824

Purchase of long-term investment

     —          —          (28,129     (4,515

Purchase of short-term investments

     (430,000     (30,000     (8,074     (1,296

Sales of short-term investments

     330,000        130,000        —          —     

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

     (775     (225     (290     (47
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (515,310     (734,577     (1,068,130     (171,447
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
     Year Ended December 31,  
   2010     2011     2012     2012  
                    

US$

(Note 2)

 

Financing activities:

        

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares

     959,104        —          —          —     

Ordinary share issuance costs, net of existing shareholder reimbursements

     3,929        —          —          —     

Net proceeds from exercise of warrants

     17,873        —          —          —     

Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option

     41,125        7,285        18,520        2,973   

Proceeds from long-term debt

     70,000        —          1,000        161   

Repayment of long-term debt

     (207,000     —          (1,000     (161

Funds advanced from noncontrolling interest holders

     2,778        3,485        3,000        482   

Repayment of funds advanced from noncontrolling interest holders

     (23,715     (2,568     (2,681     (430

Acquisitions of noncontrolling interest

     (17,099     —          —          —     

Proceeds from sales of partial ownership interest in one subsidiary

     1,130        —          —          —     

Contribution from noncontrolling interest holders

     10        459        240        39   

Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest holders

     (2,298     (3,151     (3,486     (560

Excess tax benefit from share-based compensation

     —          8,324        4,302        691   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     845,837        13,834        19,895        3,195   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (10,173     (16,463     758        122   

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     789,480        (278,466     (331,757     (53,251

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

     270,587        1,060,067        781,601        125,456   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

     1,060,067        781,601        449,844        72,205   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Interest paid

     4,075        882        859        138   

Income taxes paid

     36,782        53,180        69,980        11,232   

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

        

Purchases of property and equipment included in payable

     269,815        395,681        590,873        94,842   

Consideration payable for business acquisition

     54,047        16,625        10,506        1,686   

Purchase of intangible assets included in payables

     12,278        11,455        10,584        1,699   

Payment of ordinary share issuance costs through utilization of prepayment and amount included in payables

     7,614        —          —          —     

Reimbursement of government zoning included in receivables

     4,400        —          3,042        488   

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of options from subscription deposit

     1,217        —          —          —     

Issuance warrant for acquisition of noncontrolling interest

     7,067        —          —          —     

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option included in receivable

     —          499        290        47   

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

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

1. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

China Lodging Group, Limited (the “Company”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands under the laws of the Cayman Islands on January 4, 2007. The principal business activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) are to develop leased, manachised and franchised hotels under the “Joya Hotel”, “JI Hotel” , “Starway Hotel” , “HanTing Hotel” and “Hi Inn” brands in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). As of December 31, 2012, the Group does not own any hotel properties.

Leased hotels

The Group leases hotel properties from property owners and is responsible for all aspects of hotel operations and management, including hiring, training and supervising the managers and employees required to operate the hotels. In addition, the Group is responsible for hotel development and customization to conform to the standards of the Group brands at the beginning of the lease, as well as repairs and maintenance, operating expenses and management of properties over the term of the lease.

Under the lease arrangements, the Group typically receives rental holidays of two to six months and pays rent on a quarterly or biannual basis. Rent is typically subject to the fixed escalations of three to five percent every three to five years. The Group recognizes rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Group had 344 and 465 leased hotels in operation, respectively.

Manachised and franchised hotels

Typically the Group enters into certain franchise and management arrangements with franchisees for which the Group is responsible for providing branding, quality assurance, training, reservation, hiring and appointing of the hotel general manager and various other support services relating to the hotel renovation and operation. Those hotels are classified as manachised hotels. Under typical franchise and management agreements, the franchisee is required to pay an initial franchise fee and ongoing franchise and management service fees, the majority of which are equal to a certain percentage of the revenues of the hotel. The franchisee is responsible for the costs of hotel development, renovation and the costs of its operations. The term of the franchise and management agreements are typically eight years and are renewable upon mutual agreement between the Group and the franchisee. The Group also has a small number of franchised hotels in which cases the Group does not provide a hotel general manager. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Group had 295 and 516 manachised hotels in operation and nil and 54 franchised hotels in operation, respectively.

2. SUMMARY OF PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of presentation

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

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

The Group evaluates the need to consolidate certain variable interest entities in which equity investors 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.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

The Group is deemed as the primary beneficiary of and consolidates variable interest entities when the Group has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic success of the entities and effectively assumes the obligation to absorb losses and has the rights to receive benefits that are potentially significant to the entities.

The Group evaluates its business activities and arrangements with the entities that operate the manachised and franchised hotels to identify potential variable interest entities. Generally, these entities qualify for the business scope exception, therefore consolidation is not appropriate under the variable interest entity consolidation guidance.

Use of estimates

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, disclosure of contingent assets, long lived assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Group bases its estimates on historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements include the useful lives and impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, impairment of goodwill, share-based compensation and costs related to its customer loyalty program.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and demand deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use, and which have original maturities of three months or less when purchased.

Restricted cash

Restricted cash represents bank demand deposits collateralized for certain newly established subsidiaries pending capital verification procedure of relevant PRC government authority and deposits used as security against borrowings. The capital verification approval process typically takes between three to six months.

Short-term investments

Short-term investments represent held-to-maturity securities and are measured at amortized cost in the consolidated balance sheets. The Group classifies investments with maturities of more than three months and less than 12 months as short-term investments.

Accounts receivable, net of allowance

Trade receivables mainly consist of franchise fee receivables, amounts due from corporate customers, travel agents, hotel guests and credit card receivables, which are recognized and carried at the original invoice amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based on the age of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers.

Inventories

Inventories mainly consist of small appliances, bedding and daily consumables. Small appliances and bedding are stated at cost, less accumulated amortization, and are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally one year, from the time they are put into use. Daily consumables are expensed when used.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment, net are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The renovations , betterments and interest cost incurred during construction are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment is provided using the straight line method over their expected useful lives. The expected useful lives are as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements

   Shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful lives

Buildings

   40 years

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

   3-5 years

Motor vehicles

   5 years

Construction in progress represents leasehold improvements under construction or being installed and is stated at cost. Cost comprises original cost of property and equipment, installation, construction and other direct costs. Construction in progress is transferred to leasehold improvements and depreciation commences when the asset is ready for its intended use.

Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Gain or loss on disposal of property and equipment, if any, is recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the underlying asset.

Intangible assets, net and unfavorable lease

Intangible assets consist primarily of brand name, non-compete agreement, franchise agreements and favorable leases acquired in business combinations and purchased software. Intangible assets acquired through business combinations are recognized as assets separate from goodwill if they satisfy either the “contractual-legal” or “separability” criterion. Intangible assets, including brand name, non-compete agreement, franchise agreements and favorable lease agreements acquired from business combination are recognized and measured at fair value upon acquisition. Non-compete agreement, franchise agreements and favorable lease agreements are amortized over the expected useful life, remaining franchise contract terms and remaining operating lease term. Unfavorable lease agreements from business combination transactions are recognized as other long-term liabilities and are amortized over the remaining operating lease term. Purchased software is stated at cost less accumulated amortization.

Brand name is considered to have an indefinite life. The Group evaluates the brand name each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. Impairment is tested annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. The Group measures the impairment by comparing the fair value of brand name with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of brand name exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss shall be recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The Group measured the fair value of the brand name under the relief-from-royalty method. Management performs its annual brand name impairment test on November 30.

Long-term investment

The Group accounts for the investment in an investee of which the Group owns less than 20% of the voting securities and does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the entity as cost method investment. The Group’s cost-method investment is carried at historical cost in its consolidated financial statements and measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when there are events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect. An impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income equal to the excess of the investment’s cost over its fair value when the impairment is deemed other-than-temporary.

As of December 31, 2012, the Group’s investment in UBOX, a privately-held company, of RMB28,129 was accounted for using the cost method. No event had occurred that indicated that an other than temporary impairment existed and therefore the Group did not record any impairment charges for this cost-method investment during 2012.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the identifiable assets less liabilities acquired.

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. The Group adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and other (Topic350), since 2012, which gives the Group an option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is “more likely than not” that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, goodwill is then tested following a two-step process. The first step compares the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. This allocation process is only performed for purposes of evaluating goodwill impairment and does not result in an entry to adjust the value of any assets or liabilities. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. Management performs its annual goodwill impairment test on November 30.

The Group recognized goodwill impairment of nil, RMB 710 and nil for years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The Group evaluates its long-lived assets and finite lived intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group measures impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets. There was no impairment charge recognized during the years ended December 31, 2010 or 2011.

The Group performed a recoverability test of its long-lived assets associated with certain hotels due to the continue underperformance relative to the projected operating results, of which the carrying amount of the property and equipment exceed the future undiscounted net cash flows, and recognized an impairment loss of RMB 5,349 during the year ended December 31, 2012.

Fair value of the property and equipment was determined by the Group based on the income approach using the discounted cash flow associated with the underlying assets, which incorporated certain assumptions including projected hotels’ revenue, growth rates and projected operating costs based on current economic condition, expectation of management and projected trends of current operating results.

Accruals for customer loyalty program

The Group invites its customers to participate in a customer loyalty program. The membership has an unlimited life. Members enjoy favorable treatment such as more convenient check-out procedures and late check-out, discounts on room rates and accumulate membership points for their paid stays, which can be redeemed for room night awards and other gifts within two years after the points are earned. The estimated incremental costs to provide room night awards and other gifts are accrued and recorded as accruals for customer loyalty program as members accumulate points and are recognized as cost and expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income. As members redeem awards or their entitlements expire, the provision is reduced correspondingly. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the accruals for estimated liabilities under the customer loyalty program amounted to RMB7,629 and RMB 12,963, respectively.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue generally consists of non-refundable advances received from customers for rental of rooms, cash received for membership fees and initial franchise fees received prior to the Group fulfilling its commitments to the franchisee.

Revenue recognition

Revenue from leased hotels is derived from hotel operations, mainly including the rental of rooms, food and beverage sales and souvenir sales from leased hotels. Revenue is recognized when rooms are occupied and food and beverages and souvenirs are sold.

Revenues from manachised and franchised hotels are derived from franchise agreements where the franchisees are primarily required to pay (i) an initial one-time franchise fee, and (ii) continuing franchise fees, which mainly consist of (a) on-going management and service fees mainly based on a certain percentage of the room revenues of the franchised hotels, and (b) system maintenance, support fees and central reservation system usage fee. The one-time franchise fee is recognized when the manachised and franchised hotel opens for business, the fee becomes non-refundable, and the Group has fulfilled all its commitments and obligations, including the assistance to the franchisees in property design, leasehold improvement construction project management, systems installation and personnel recruiting and training. The ongoing management and service fees are recognized when the underlying service revenue is recognized by the franchisees’ operations. The system maintenance, support fee and central reservation system usage fee is recognized when services are provided.

In addition, the Group accounts for hotel manager fees related to the manachised hotels under the franchise program as revenues. Pursuant to the franchise agreements, the Group charges the franchisees fixed hotel manager fees to cover the manachised hotel managers’ payroll, social welfare benefits and certain other out-of-pocket expenses that the Group incurs on behalf of the manachised hotels. The hotel manager fee is recognized as revenue monthly. During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the hotel manager fees that were recognized as revenue were RMB30,097, RMB43,021 and RMB72,061, respectively.

Membership fees from the Group’s customer loyalty program are earned and recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected membership duration of the different membership levels. Such duration is estimated based on the Group’s and management’s experience and is adjusted on a periodic basis to reflect changes in membership retention. Effective October 1, 2010, the Group prospectively revised the estimated membership duration from three to five years to two to five years to more closely reflect the expected membership retention. The effect of this change in accounting estimate was immaterial for the year ended December 31, 2010. Revenues recognized from the customer loyalty program were RMB22,633, RMB35,623 and RMB51,132 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Business tax and related taxes

The Group is subject to business tax, education surtax and urban maintenance and construction tax, on the services provided in the PRC. Such taxes are primarily levied based on revenue at applicable rates and are recorded as a reduction of revenues.

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Advertising and promotional expenses

Advertising related expenses, including promotion expenses and production costs of marketing materials, are charged to the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as incurred, and amounted to RMB18,217, RMB28,445 and RMB 30,053 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Government grants

Unrestricted government subsidies from local governmental agencies allowing the Group full discretion to utilize the funds were RMB4,034, RMB7,491 and RMB 6,723 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, which were recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Leases

A lease of which substantially all the benefits and risks incidental to ownership remain with lessor is classified as an operating lease. All leases of the Group are currently classified as operating leases. When a lease contains rent holidays or requires fixed escalations of the minimum lease payments, the Group records the total rental expense on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and the difference between the straight-line rental expense and cash payment under the lease is recorded as deferred rent. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, deferred rent of RMB8,690 and RMB11,882 were recorded as other current liabilities and RMB329,774 and RMB 470,438 were recorded as long-term liabilities, respectively.

Capitalization of interest

Interest cost incurred on funds used to construct leasehold improvements during the active construction period is capitalized. The interest capitalized is determined by applying the borrowing interest rate to the average amount of accumulated capital expenditures for the assets under construction during the period. The interest expense incurred for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was RMB4,074, RMB882 and RMB859, of which RMB1,392, nil and RMB 37 was capitalized as additions to assets under construction, respectively.

Income taxes

Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the relevant statutory tax laws and regulations.

Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Net operating losses are carried forward and credited by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of the Group, it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on the characteristics of the underlying assets and liabilities, or the expected timing of their use when they do not relate to a specific asset or liability.

Foreign currency translation

The reporting currency of the Group is the Renminbi (“RMB”). The functional currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“US dollar”). Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the US dollar are translated into US dollar at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in currencies other than the US dollar during the year are converted into the US dollar at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing on the day transactions occurred. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the statements of comprehensive income. Assets and liabilities are translated into RMB at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are reported as cumulative translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component of other comprehensive loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

The financial records of the Group’s subsidiaries are maintained in local currencies, RMB, which is the functional currency.

Comprehensive income

Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity except for those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners and is comprised of net income and foreign-currency translation adjustments. The consolidated financial statements have been adjusted for the retrospective application of the authoritative guidance regarding presentation of comprehensive income, which was adopted by the Group on January 1, 2012.

Concentration of credit risk

Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investment and accounts receivable.

All of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash are held with financial institutions that Group management believes to be high credit quality. In addition, the Group’s investment policy limits its exposure to concentrations of credit risk and the Group’s short-term investment consists of corporate debt security with high credit quality. The Group conducts credit evaluations on its group and agency customers and generally does not require collateral or other security from such customers. The Group periodically evaluates the creditworthiness of the existing customers in determining an allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based upon the age of the receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers.

Fair value

The Group defines fair value as the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability.

The established fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value include:

Level 1 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

Level 3 applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The estimated fair value of the Group’s financial instruments, including cash, restricted cash, short-term investments, receivables, payables and accruals, approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

The following table presents the Group’s assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2012:

 

Description

   Year Ended
December 31,
2012
     Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using         
      Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
     Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
     Total loss  

Property and equipment

     4,991         —           —           4,991         5,349   

As a result of reduced expectations of future cash flows from certain leased hotels, the Group determined that the hotels property and equipment with a carrying amount of RMB10,340 was not fully recoverable and consequently recorded an impairment charge of RMB5,349 for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Fair value of the property and equipment was determined by the Group based on the income approach using the discounted cash flow associated with the underlying assets, which incorporated certain assumptions including projected hotels’ revenue, growth rates and projected operating costs based on current economic condition, expectation of management and projected trends of current operating results. As a result, the Group has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its long-lived assets held and used are unobservable inputs that fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The revenue growth rate and the discount rate were the significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement, which are 4% and 15%, respectively.

Warrants

The Group records warrants convertible into mezzanine equity securities and ordinary shares as liabilities and adjusts the carrying amount of such liabilities to fair value at each reporting date.

Share-based compensation

The Group recognizes share-based compensation in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income based on the fair value of equity awards on the date of the grant, with compensation expense recognized over the period in which the grantee is required to provide service to the Group in exchange for the equity award. The share-based compensation expenses have been categorized as either hotel operating costs, general and administrative expenses or selling and marketing expenses, depending on the job functions of the grantees. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Group recognized share-based compensation expense of RMB13,113, RMB15,483 and RMB20,837, respectively, which was classified as follows:

 

     At December 31,  
   2010      2011      2012  

Hotel operating costs

     1,555         2,115         2,592   

Selling and marketing expenses

     778         783         1,031   

General and administrative expenses

     10,780         12,585         17,214   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     13,113         15,483         20,837   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were exercised or converted into ordinary shares and is calculated using the treasury stock method for stock options and nonvested restricted stocks.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Prior to the Group’s initial public offering (“IPO”) in March 2010, the Group determined that its Series A convertible preferred shares and Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares were participating securities as each participated in the undistributed earnings on the same basis as the ordinary shares. Accordingly, the Group used the two-class method of computing earnings per share. Under this method, net income applicable to holders of ordinary shares was allocated on a pro-rata basis to the ordinary and preferred shares to the extent that each class could share in income for the period. Losses were not allocated to the participating securities. Diluted earnings per share was computed using the more dilutive of the two-class method or the if-converted method. The preferred shares were converted into ordinary shares upon the completion of the Group’s IPO. The two-class method of computing earnings per share ceased to apply on the conversion date.

Segment reporting

The Group operates and manages its business as a single segment. The Group primarily generates its revenues from customers in the PRC. Accordingly, no geographical segments are presented. Substantially all of the Group’s long-lived assets are located in the PRC.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

On July 27, 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, which amends the guidance in ASC 350-30 on testing indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment. Under ASU 2012-02, an entity testing an indefinite-lived intangible asset for impairment has the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. Although ASU 2012-02 revises the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider in interim periods, it does not revise the requirements to test indefinite-lived intangible assets (1) annually for impairment and (2) between annual tests if there is a change in events or circumstances. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed. The Group will be required to adopt ASU 2012-02 as of January 1, 2013 and does not expect any significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

On January 31, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-01, which clarifies the offsetting disclosure requirements in ASU 2011-11. Under ASU 2013-01, the disclosure requirements would apply to derivative instruments accounted for in accordance with ASC 815, including bifurcated embedded derivatives. ASU 2013-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2013, and interim periods within those years. Retrospective application is required for all comparative periods presented. The Group will be required to adopt ASU 2013-01 as of January 1, 2013 and does not expect any significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

On February 5, 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, which requires entities to disclose the following additional information about items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI): (1) Changes in AOCI balances by component (e.g., unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale securities or foreign-currency items). Both before-tax and net-of-tax presentations of the information are acceptable as long as an entity presents the income tax benefit or expense attributed to each component of OCI and reclassification adjustments in either the financial statements or the notes to the financial statements. (2)Significant items reclassified out of AOCI by component either on the face of the income statement or as a separate footnote to the financial statements. The ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012 and should be applied prospectively. The Group will be required to adopt ASU 2013-02 as of January 1, 2013 and does not expect any significant impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Translation into United States Dollars

The financial statements of the Group are stated in RMB. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB 6.2301, on December 31, 2012, as set forth in H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The translation is not intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into United States dollars at that rate on December 31, 2012, or at any other rate.

3. ACQUISITIONS

(i) During the year ended December 31, 2012, to enrich the Group’s brand and accelerate the Group’s expansion in the mid-scale market, the Group acquired 51% equity interest of Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited (“Starway”), a franchised hotel chain from C-Travel International Limited (“C-Travel”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ctrip.com International, Ltd. for total cash consideration of RMB17,292. C-Travel granted the Group a purchase right to acquire the remaining 49% equity interest of Starway at an amount in US$ equal to RMB16,460 within one year. The right may be exercised by the Group in its sole discretion. The business acquisition was accounted for under purchase accounting.

The following is a summary of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

 

     2012    

Amortization period

Current assets

     954     

Intangible assets

     299     

Property and equipment

     667      5-10 years

Brand name

     28,600      indefinite

Non-compete agreement

     400      10 years

Franchise agreements

     7,700      remaining contract terms

Goodwill

     21,491     

Current liabilities

     (19,430  

Deferred tax liabilities

     (9,174  

Noncontrolling interest

     (14,215  
  

 

 

   

Total

     17,292     
  

 

 

   

Brand name represents the registered trademark of Starway which is well recognized brand in mid-scale hotel market in PRC. The useful life of brand name is indefinite. The Group measured the fair value of the brand name under the relief-from-royalty method.

Goodwill was recognized as a result of expected synergies from combining operations of the Group and Starway and other intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition. Goodwill is not amortized and is not deductible for tax purpose.

(ii) During the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Group acquired nine, four and one individual hotels in the form of leased hotel for total cash consideration of RMB63,733, RMB20,400 and RMB7,000, respectively. The business acquisitions were accounted for under purchase accounting.

 

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CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

The following is a summary of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

 

     2010     2011     2012    

Amortization period

Current assets

     33        2,199        127     

Intangible assets

     —          63        —       

Property and equipment

     25,550        10,980        4,668      5-10 years

Favorable lease

     20,800        5,847        2,470      remaining lease terms

Deferred tax assets

     229        —          —       

Franchise agreements

     600        900        200      remaining contracts terms

Goodwill

     22,921        1,873        153     

Unfavorable lease

     (1,600     —          —        remaining lease terms

Deferred tax liabilities

     (4,800     (1,462     (618  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

     63,733        20,400        7,000     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

(iii) In 2010, the Group acquired noncontrolling interests in four existing subsidiaries. The aggregate consideration for these acquisitions was comprised of the following:

 

     2010  

Cash consideration

     17,099   

Fair value of warrants

     7,068   
  

 

 

 

Total consideration

     24,167   
  

 

 

 

The warrants provide the holder with the ability to purchase 1,500,000 ordinary shares of the Group at an exercise price of US$1.54 per share. The fair value of the warrants was determined by the Group using generally accepted valuation methodologies, including the discounted cash flow approach which incorporates certain assumptions including the financial results, growth trends, terminal value and discount rate of the Group, to derive the total equity value of the Group.

The acquisitions of the noncontrolling interests were accounted for as equity transactions. The difference between the purchase consideration and the related carrying value of the noncontrolling interests of RMB17,655 were recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital during the year ended December 31, 2010.

4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment, net consist of the following:

 

     As of December 31,  
   2011     2012  

Cost:

    

Buildings

     11,860        11,860   

Leasehold improvements

     2,213,221        3,220,481   

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

     348,713        479,808   

Motor vehicles

     828        833   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     2,574,622        3,712,982   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

     (663,002     (1,013,694
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,911,620        2,699,288   

Construction in progress

     184,174        252,221   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

     2,095,794        2,951,509   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense was RMB167,490, RMB229,742 and RMB 337,511 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

In 2010, the Group demolished one leased hotel due to local government zoning requirements. As a result, the Group wrote off property and equipment of RMB3,994 associated with this hotel and recognized a gain of RMB406, which is net of reimbursements receivable of RMB4,400, which have been included as a component of other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2010 and received in 2011.

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

In 2011, the Group demolished one leased hotel due to local government zoning requirements. As a result, the Group wrote off property and equipment of RMB2,411 associated with this hotel and recognized a gain of RMB89, which is net of RMB2,500 cash received.

In 2012, the Group demolished one leased hotel due to local government zoning requirements. As a result, the Group wrote off property and equipment of RMB3,042 associated with this hotel, which has been recorded as receivable in other current assets as of December 31, 2012. No gain or loss was recognized.

As of December 31, 2012, the Group has been formally notified by local government authorities that four additional leased hotels of the Group will likely be demolished due to local government zoning requirements. The aggregate carrying amount of property and equipment at the hotels was RMB14,844 as of December 31, 2012. None of the hotels have recorded intangible assets or goodwill. The Group has not recognized any impairment as expected cash flows from the hotels’ operations prior to demolition and expected amounts to be received as a result of the demolition will likely exceed the carrying value of such assets. The Group estimated amounts to be received based on the relevant PRC laws and regulations, terms of the lease agreements, and the prevailing market practice.

5. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET AND UNFAVORABLE LEASE

Intangible assets, net consist of the following:

 

     As of December 31,  
   2011     2012  

Brand name

     —          28,600   

Franchise agreements

     —          7,900   

Non-compete agreement

     —          400   

Favorable lease agreements

     67,156        69,626   

Purchased software

     18,158        20,490   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     85,314        127,016   

Less: Accumulated amortization

     (15,535     (26,036
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     69,779        100,980   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unfavorable lease

 

     As of December 31,  
     2011     2012  

Unfavorable lease agreements

     3,924        3,924   

Less: Accumulated amortization

     (1,532     (1,969
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Unfavorable lease agreements, net

     2,392        1,955   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The values of favorable lease agreements were determined based on the estimated present value of the amount the Group has avoided paying as a result of entering into the lease agreements. Unfavorable lease agreements were determined based on the estimated present value of the acquired lease that exceeded market prices and are recognized as other long-term liabilities. The value of favorable and unfavorable lease agreements is amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining lease term.

Amortization expense of intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 amounted to RMB3,754, RMB6,652 and RMB 10,501, respectively.

The annual estimated amortization expense for the above intangible assets and unfavorable lease for the following years is as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Amortization for
Intangible Assets
     Amortization for
Unfavorable Lease
    Net
Amortization
 

2013

     8,632         (337     8,295   

2014

     8,185         (297     7,888   

2015

     8,117         (289     7,828   

2016

     7,825         (209     7,616   

2017

     7,501         (130     7,371   

Thereafter

     32,120         (693     31,427   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 
     72,380         (1,955     70,425   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

6. GOODWILL

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 were as follows:

 

     Gross
Amount
     Accumulated
Impairment Loss
    Net
Amount
 

Balance at January 1, 2010

     19,550         (1,098     18,452   

Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions

     22,921         —          22,921   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

     42,471         (1,098     41,373   

Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions

     1,873         —          1,873   

Impairment losses recognized

     —           (710     (710
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     44,344         (1,808     42,536   

Increase in goodwill related to acquisitions

     21,644         —          21,644   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

     65,988         (1,808     64,180   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

7. DEBT

In March 2012, the Group entered into a five-year bank credit facility under which the Group can borrow up to RMB 500,000 by May 21, 2015, which is subject to bank’s reevaluation from time to time. The credit facility has a specified expiration schedule for draw-down. The interest rate for each draw-down is established on the draw-down date and is adjusted annually, based on the loan interest rate stipulated by the People’s Bank of China for the corresponding period. As of December, 31, 2012, the Group had drawn down the credit facility of RMB 1,000, repaid RMB 1,000, and RMB100,000 of the credit facility has expired. As of December 31, 2012, credit facility of RMB399,000 was available for future borrowing, which will expire on May 21, 2015. The weighted average interest rate for borrowings drawn under such credit facility was 6.9% for the year ended December 31, 2012. The credit facility is restricted to certain hotels’ renovation and the credit facility was not collateralized.

In September 2012, the Group entered into a three-year revolving bank credit facility under which the Group can draw down up to RMB300,000 by October 9, 2015. As of December 31, 2012, the Group has not drawn down anything under this facility. The interest rate for this credit facility will be determined on the drawn down date and the credit facility was not collateralized.

In December 2012, the Group entered into a thirty-month bank credit facility under which the Group can draw down up to US$10,000 by April 5, 2013. The interest rate for each draw down is based on the twelve-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“Libor”) on draw-down date plus 2.7%. Each draw down will be guaranteed by letter of guarantee or stand-by letter of credit. As of December 31, 2012, the Group has not drawn down anything under this credit facility.

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

8. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

     As of December 31,  
   2011      2012  

Payable for business acquisitions

     13,573         7,623   

Business taxes and other subcharge payables

     28,449         41,178   

Accrual for customer loyalty program

     7,629         12,963   

Payable to noncontrolling interest holders

     11,433         11,751   

Other payables

     13,249         16,589   

Accrued rental

     26,544         35,989   

Accrued utilities

     19,224         28,332   

Other accrued expenses

     22,045         32,955   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     142,146         187,380   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

From time to time, the Group receives cash funding advanced from noncontrolling interest holders for joint venture hotels. Such advances are non-interest bearing and are payable within one year.

9. PREFERRED SHARES, WARRANT I and WARRANT II

In February 2007, the Company issued 44,000,000 Series A convertible preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, at issuance price of US$0.50 per share.

On June 20, 2007, the Company issued 35,873,535 Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares, par value US$0.0001, of which 32,144,009 shares were issued for cash proceeds of RMB312,338 (US$41,000) and 3,729,526 shares were issued upon the conversion of convertible notes and accrued interest of RMB30,472 (US$4,000) and RMB331 (US$43), respectively. Total cash proceeds of RMB310,383 (US$40,743) were net of issuance costs of RMB1,955 (US$257).

In conjunction with the Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares, the Group granted Warrant I and Warrant II to purchase 13,066,670 and 3,136,001 Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares at a per share purchase price RMB10.44 (US$1.53) and RMB8.70 (US$1.28), respectively. The total fair value of Warrant I and Warrant II was RMB15,544.

In 2007 and June 2008, the Company issued 16,052,046 Series B convertible redeemable shares upon exercise of 8,212,044 Warrants I, 3,136,001 Warrant II and 4,704,001 Warrant III, which were granted in conjunction with a promissory note issued in 2007, for total consideration of RMB160,596 (US$22,569). On June 20, 2008, 4,854,626 Warrant I expired unexercised. There was no warrant outstanding then.

In 2008, the Company issued 11,760,002, 11,760,002 and 1,306,667 Series B Shares for RMB10.44 (US$1.53) per share for total proceeds of RMB129,323 (US$18,000), RMB127,588 (US$18,000) and RMB13,894 (US$2,000), respectively, to existing ordinary and Series A shareholders.

In 2008, the Company exchanged 1,306,667 Series B Shares for a RMB13,894 (US$2,000) related party payable due to Powerhill Holdings Limited (“Powerhill”, a BVI company wholly-owned by Qi Ji and Tongtong Zhao), previously advanced to the Group for working capital purposes. No compensation expense was recorded given the effective purchase price of the Series B Shares exceeded the fair value of the Series B Shares on the exchange date.

Upon the completion of the Group’s IPO in March 2010, Series A convertible preferred shares and Series B convertible redeemable preferred shares were converted into ordinary shares on a one-to-one basis.

The key terms of Series A Shares and Series B Shares (collectively the “Preferred Shares”) were as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

Dividends

The holders of the Preferred Shares were entitled to participate in dividends paid to holders of ordinary shares on an as-converted basis.

Voting Rights

Each ordinary share was entitled to two votes per share. A Series A Share was entitled to one one-half of the number of ordinary shares into which it was convertible (one vote per ordinary share). Each Series B Share was entitled to vote on an as-if converted basis (two votes per ordinary share).

Conversion

The Preferred Shares were convertible into ordinary shares at 1:1 ratio initially, at the option of the holder at any time. The Preferred Shares were also automatically convertible upon the consummation of IPO or obtaining the necessary written consent from the holders of Preferred Shares. An IPO referred to a firm commitment, underwritten IPO by the Company of its ordinary shares with (i) a market capitalization equal to no less than US$495,000 immediately prior to the IPO, and (ii) total offering proceeds to the Company, before deduction of selling expenses, of not less than US$50,000.

The conversion prices of the Preferred Shares were subject to anti-dilution adjustments and in the event the Company issued ordinary shares at a price per share lower than the applicable conversion price in effect immediately prior to such issuance. No adjustments to the conversion prices occurred.

The Company determined that there was no BCF attributable to the Preferred Shares as the effective conversion price of the Preferred Shares was greater than the fair value of the ordinary shares on the respective commitment dates.

Redemption

The Series A Shares were not redeemable.

The Series B Shares were redeemable at a price equal to the subscription price plus all declared but unpaid dividends at the election of the holders of a majority of such shares on or after May 1, 2012.

Liquidation Preferences

The holders of Preferred Shares had preference over holders of ordinary shares with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding up or deemed liquidation of the Company. A deemed liquidation event included a change in control and the sale, transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Group. The holders of Preferred Shares were entitled to receive an amount equal to the subscription price, plus declared but unpaid dividends. Series B Shares must receive their liquidation payment prior to any such payments being made on the Series A Shares.

Investor Put Option

The holders of Series B Shares had the right before the date of a Qualified IPO to require Qi Ji, founder and CEO of the Group, to purchase all or any portion of the Series B Shares at a per share price equal to 105% of the subscription price, upon the occurrence of certain triggering events.

10. HOTEL OPERATING COSTS

Hotel operating costs include all direct costs incurred in the operation of the leased hotels, manachised and franchised hotels and consist of the following:

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Rent

     476,100         655,247         916,357   

Utilities

     108,208         150,865         215,768   

Personnel cost

     210,906         329,078         505,773   

Depreciation and amortization

     163,125         227,938         337,162   

Consumable, food and beverage

     145,317         228,244         333,245   

Others

     76,546         111,965         145,597   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     1,180,202         1,703,337         2,453,902   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

11. PRE-OPENING EXPENSES

The Group expenses all costs incurred in connection with start-up activities, including pre-operating costs associated with new hotel facilities and costs incurred with the formation of the subsidiaries, such as organization costs. Pre-opening expenses primarily include rental expenses and employee costs incurred during the hotel pre-opening period.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Rents

     88,177         153,229         191,538   

Personnel cost

     5,214         13,273         15,488   

Others

     17,819         17,796         23,664   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     111,210         184,298         230,690   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

12. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

In February 2007, the Group adopted the 2007 Global Share Plan which allows the Group to offer incentive awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants or advisors (the “Participants”). Under the 2007 Global Share Plan, the Group may issue incentive awards to the Participants to purchase not more than 10,000,000 ordinary shares. In June 2007, the Group adopted the 2008 Global Share Plan which allows the Group to offer incentive awards to Participants. Under the 2008 Global Share Plan, the Group may issue incentive awards to purchase up to 3,000,000 ordinary shares. In October 2008, the Group increased the maximum number of incentive awards available under the 2008 Global Share Plan to 7,000,000. In September 2009, the Group adopted 2009 Share Incentive Plan which allows the Group to offer incentive awards to Participants. Under the 2009 Share Incentive Plan, the Group may issue incentive awards to purchase up to 3,000,000 ordinary shares. In July 2010, the Group increased the maximum number of incentive awards available under 2009 Share Incentive Plan to 15,000,000. The 2007 and 2008 Global Share Plans and 2009 Share Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Incentive Award Plans”) contain the same terms and conditions. All incentive awards granted under the Incentive Award Plans have a maximum life of ten years and vest 50% on the second anniversary of the stated vesting commencement date with the remaining 50% vesting ratably over the following two years. As of December 31, 2012, the Group had granted 24,743,043 options and 3,182,466 nonvested restricted stocks.

Share options

In July 2012, the Group granted 1,475,366 option to executive officers that will vest 50% on the second anniversary of the stated vesting commencement date with the remaining 50% vesting ratably over the following two years and will become exercisable if the Group satisfies certain performance conditions for the three-year period ending December 31, 2014. The number of underlying shares that may become exercisable will range from 0% to 200% depending upon whether the performance conditions are achieved and, if achieved, to what level. The Group recognizes compensation expenses for the awards with performance conditions based upon the Group’s judgment of likely future performance and may be adjusted in future periods depending on actual performance.

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value for options granted during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 was RMB12.99 (US$1.96), RMB14.37 (US$2.23) and RMB8.52 (US$1.35), respectively, computed using the binomial option pricing model. The binomial model requires the input of subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility and the expected price multiple at which employees are likely to exercise stock options. The Group uses historical data to estimate forfeiture rate. Expected volatilities are based on the average volatility of the Group and comparable companies. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.

The fair value of stock options was estimated using the following significant assumptions:

 

    

2010

  

2011

  

2012

Suboptimal exercise factor

   2.5 to 4.24    3.83 to 8.93    7.45 to 7.66

Risk-free interest rate

   3.58 to 4.50%    1.88 to 2.66%    0.81 to 1.19%

Volatility

   45.36 to 51.42%    50.61 to 50.69%    51.35 to 51.89%

Dividend yield

        

Life of option

   10 years    6 years    6 years

The following table summarized the Group’s share option activity under the option plans:

 

     Number of
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
     Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
           US$      Years      US$’000  

Share options outstanding at January 1, 2012

     9,773,842        1.84         

Granted

     2,838,795        2.80         

Forfeited

     (917,940     3.55         

Exercised

     (1,889,872     1.53         
  

 

 

         

Share options outstanding at December 31, 2012

     9,804,825        2.02         5.95         22,042   
  

 

 

         

Share options vested or expected to vest at December 31, 2012

     9,302,216        2.00         5.92         21,057   
  

 

 

         

Share options exercisable at December 31, 2012

     5,676,003        1.59         6.03         15,144   
  

 

 

         

As of December 31, 2012, there was RMB31,401 in total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.76 years.

During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, 7,842,341, 1,452,468 and 1,889,872 options were exercised having an aggregate intrinsic value of RMB11,271, RMB37,700 and RMB 32,562, respectively.

Nonvested restricted stock

The fair value of nonvested restricted stock with service conditions or performance conditions is based on the fair market value of the underlying ordinary shares on the date of grant.

In July 2012, the Group granted 1,059,977 nonvested restricted stocks to executive officers which will become exercisable if the Group satisfies certain performance conditions for the three-year period ending December 31, 2014, and 213,209 nonvested restricted stocks to executive officers which will become exercisable if the Group satisfies certain market condition for the three-year period ending December 31, 2014. These awards vest 50% on the second anniversary of the stated vesting commencement date with the remaining 50% vesting ratably over the following two years. The number of underlying shares that may become exercisable will range from 0% to 200% depending upon whether the performance conditions and market condition are achieved and, if achieved, to what level. The Group recognizes compensation expense for the awards with performance conditions based upon the Group’s judgment of likely future performance and may be adjusted in future periods depending on actual performance. The Group estimated the grant date fair value of the awards with market conditions using a Monte Carlo simulation. Compensation expenses for the awards with market conditions are recognized during the requisite service period, even if the market condition is never satisfied. The significant assumptions of the Monte Carlo simulation are the following:

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     2012  

Expected dividends

     —     

Risk-free interest rate

     0.29

Expected volatility

     48.41

The following table summarized the Group’s nonvested restricted stock activity in 2012.

 

     Number of
restricted
stocks
    Weighted average
grant date
fair value
 
           US$  

Nonvested restricted stocks outstanding at January 1, 2012

     571,825        4.17   

Granted

     2,554,405        2.92   

Forfeited

     (92,188     4.07   
  

 

 

   

Nonvested restricted stocks outstanding at December 31, 2012

     3,034,042        3.12   
  

 

 

   

As of December 31, 2012, there was RMB45,160 in unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested restricted stocks, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.31 years.

The total fair value of nonvested restricted stocks vested in 2012 was nil.

13. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years indicated:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2010      2011      2012  

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders — basic

     207,814         114,832         174,887   

Amounts allocated to preferred shares for participating rights to dividends

     7,937         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders — diluted

     215,751         114,832         174,887   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — basic

     198,517,280         241,928,286         243,284,332   

Incremental weighted-average ordinary shares from assumed exercise of share options and nonvested restricted stocks using the treasury stock method

     6,201,302         4,252,916         3,696,669   

Preferred shares

     29,762,312         —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding — diluted

     234,480,894         246,181,202         246,981,001   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic earnings per share

     1.05         0.47         0.72   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share

     0.92         0.47         0.71   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Group had securities which could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future, but which were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as their effects would have been anti-dilutive. Such outstanding securities consist of the following:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
   2010      2011      2012  

Outstanding employee options and nonvested restricted stocks

     —           1,486,533         797,981   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

14. INCOME TAXES

Cayman Islands

Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on income or capital gain.

Hong Kong

China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited and Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited are subject to Hong Kong profit tax at a rate of 16.5% in 2010, 2011 and 2012. No Hong Kong profit tax has been provided as the Group has not had assessable profit that was earned in or derived from Hong Kong during the years presented.

Singapore

China Lodging Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. is subject to Singapore corporate income tax at a rate of 17% in 2010, 2011 and 2012. No Singapore profit tax has been provided as the Group has not had assessable profit that was earned in or derived from Singapore during the years presented.

PRC

Under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT Law”), which was effective from January 1, 2008, domestically-owned enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises are subject to a uniform tax rate of 25%.

Hanting Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, as a recognized software development entity located at Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou of PRC, is entitled to a two-year exemption and three-year 50% reduction starting from the first profit making year after absorbing all prior years’ tax losses. Hanting Suzhou has entered into the first tax profitable year for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Tax expense (benefit) is comprised of the following:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2010      2011     2012  

Current Tax

     48,034         60,530        72,395   

Deferred Tax

     9,228         (35,714     (18,226
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

     57,262         24,816        54,169   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-27


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

A reconciliation between the effective income tax rate and the PRC statutory income tax rate is as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012  

PRC statutory tax rate

     25     25     25

Tax effect of other expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profit

     —          3     3

Effect of different tax rate of group entities operating in other jurisdictions

     (2 )%      (3 )%      1

Effect of change in valuation allowance

     (1 )%      9     6

Effect of tax holiday

     —          (17 )%      (12 )% 

Other

     (1 )%      —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effective tax rate

     21     17     23
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The aggregate amount and per share effect of the tax holidays are as follows:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Aggregate amount

     —           24,156         28,139   

Per share effect — basic

     —           0.10         0.12   

Per share effect — diluted

     —           0.10         0.11   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The principal components of the Group’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 are as follows:

 

     As of December 31,  
   2011     2012  

Deferred tax assets:

    

Net loss carryforward

     59,340        71,564   

Pre-opening expenses

     768        1,405   

Deferred revenue

     25,997        37,688   

Deferred rent

     4,025        4,200   

Unfavorable lease

     685        2,704   

Bad debt provision

     361        796   

Accrual for customer loyalty program

     1,907        3,241   

Accrued payroll

     2,092        3,248   

Share-based compensation

     7,464        10,422   

Others

     —          193   

Valuation allowance

     (21,552     (36,283
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     81,087        99,178   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

    

Favorable lease

     10,526        18,670   

Capitalized interest

     2,151        1,836   

Others

     —          1,829   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

     12,677        22,335   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets are analyzed as:

    

Current

     40,119        44,231   

Non-Current

     40,968        54,947   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     81,087        99,178   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities are analyzed as:

    

Current

     —          —     

Non-current

     12,677        22,335   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     12,677        22,335   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-28


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, valuation allowance of RMB17,350 and RMB18,792 was provided, respectively, and RMB4,045 and RMB5,658 was reversed due to utilization of the deferred tax assets, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2012, an additional valuation allowance of RMB1,597 was provided due to the acquisition of Starway. The Group considers positive and negative evidence to determine whether some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carryforward periods, the Group’s experience with tax attributes expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets based on a more likely than not threshold. The Group’s ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carryforward periods provided for in the tax law.

As of December 31, 2012, the Group had tax loss carryforwards of RMB286,256 which will expire between 2013 and 2017 if not used.

The Group determines whether or not a tax position is “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained upon audit based solely on the technical merits of the position. At December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Group had recorded uncertain tax benefits of approximately RMB799, RMB1,494 and RMB4,148 associated with the interests on intercompany loans, respectively. No interest or penalty expense was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Group does not anticipate any significant changes to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months.

The following table is a roll-forward of the unrecognized tax benefits:

 

     As of December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Balance at January 1

     —           799         1,494   

Addition for tax positions

     799         695         2,654   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 31

     799         1,494         4,148   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In accordance with the EIT Law, dividends, which arise from profits of foreign invested enterprises (“FIEs”) earned after January 1, 2008, are subject to a 10% withholding income tax. A lower withholding tax rate may be applied if there is a favorable tax treaty between mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. For example, holding companies in Hong Kong that are also tax residents in Hong Kong are eligible for a 5% withholding tax on dividends under the Tax Memorandum between China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region if the holding company is the beneficial owner of the dividends. Under applicable accounting principles, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting basis over tax basis in a domestic subsidiary. The Group intends to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings of the Group’s PRC subsidiaries, therefore, no provision for PRC dividend withholding tax was provided.

According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of income taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer. The statute of limitations will be extended to five years under special circumstances, which are not clearly defined, but an underpayment of income tax liability exceeding RMB100 is specifically listed as a special circumstance. In the case of a transfer pricing related adjustment, the statute of limitations is ten years. There is no statute of limitations in the case of tax evasion. The Group’s PRC subsidiaries are therefore subject to examination by the PRC tax authorities from 2008 through 2012 on non-transfer pricing matters, and from the inception of the Group through 2012 on transfer pricing matters.

 

F-29


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

15. MAINLAND CHINA CONTRIBUTION PLAN

Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government-mandated defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. PRC labor regulations require the Group to accrue for these benefits based on a certain percentage of the employees’ salaries. The total contribution for such employee benefits were RMB29,611, RMB57,295 and RMB 93,178 for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The Group has no ongoing obligation to its employees subsequent to its contributions to the PRC plan.

16. RESTRICTED NET ASSETS

Pursuant to laws applicable to entities incorporated in the PRC, the subsidiaries of the Group in the PRC must make appropriations from after-tax profit to non-distributable reserve funds. These reserve funds include one or more of the following: (i) a general reserve, (ii) an enterprise expansion fund and (iii) a staff bonus and welfare fund. Subject to certain cumulative limits, the general reserve fund requires annual appropriation of 10% of after tax profit (as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the PRC at each year-end) until the accumulative amount of such reserve fund reaches 50% of their registered capital; the other fund appropriations are at the subsidiaries’ discretion. These reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes of offsetting future losses, enterprise expansion and staff bonus and welfare and are not distributable as cash dividends and amounted to RMB11,186, RMB26,915 and RMB 49,626 as of December 31 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In addition, due to restrictions on the distribution of share capital from the Company’s PRC subsidiaries, the PRC subsidiaries share capital of RMB2,044,579 at December 31, 2012 is considered restricted. As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, as of December 31, 2012, approximately RMB 2,094,205 is not available for distribution to the Company by its PRC subsidiaries in the form of dividends, loans or advances.

17. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES

Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party in making financial and operational decisions. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or common significant influence. Related parties may be individuals or corporate entities.

The following entities are considered to be related parties to the Group because they are affiliates of the Group under the common control of the Group’s major shareholder. The related parties only act as service providers and lessors to the Group and there is no other relationship wherein the Group has the ability to exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of these parties. The Group is not obligated to provide any type of financial support to these related parties.

 

Related Party

  

Nature of the Party

  

Relationship with the Group

Lishan Property (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Suzhou Property”)

   Commercial leasing business    Controlled by Qi Ji

Ctrip.com International, Ltd. (“Ctrip.com”)

   Online travel services provider    Qi Ji is a director

UBOX International Holdings Co Limited (“UBOX”)

   Merchandize trader    Qi Ji is a director

In August 2011, Mr. Qi Ji sold all the ownership interests in Powerhill to third parties and since then Powerhill and its wholly owned subsidiary Suzhou Property has been no longer related party to the Group.

(a) Related party balances

Amounts due to related parties were comprised of commissions payable to Ctrip for reservation services. The amounts due to related parties were interest free and payable upon demand.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     At December 31,  
     2011      2012  

Ctrip.com

     1,030         801   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

(b) Related party transactions

During the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, related party transactions consisted of the following:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010      2011      2012  

Rental expense — Suzhou Property

     3,640         2,275         —     

Commission expenses — Ctrip.com

     9,458         7,962         10,945   

In March 2010, the Group issued 7,202,482 ordinary shares at the price equal to the IPO price per ordinary share for the total proceeds of RMB150,572 (US$22,058) to Ctrip.com.

In May 2012, the Group acquired a 51% equity interest of Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited from C-Travel International Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ctrip. The acquisition price was RMB17,292 in cash.

In December 2012, the Group purchased convertible promissory note of RMB8,074 (US$1,284) from UBOX.

18. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

(a) Operating lease commitments

The Group has entered into lease agreements for certain hotels which it operates. Such leases are classified as operating leases.

Future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating lease agreements at December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

Year ending December 31,  

2013

     1,198,873   

2014

     1,321,992   

2015

     1,358,828   

2016

     1,343,874   

2017

     1,322,337   

Thereafter

     8,771,557   
  

 

 

 

Total

     15,317,461   
  

 

 

 

(b) Purchase Commitments

As of December 31, 2012, the Group’s commitments related to leasehold improvements and installation of equipment for hotel operations was RMB81,686, which is expected to be incurred within one year.

(c) Contingencies

The Group is subject to periodic legal or administrative proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. The Group does not believe that any currently pending legal or administrative proceeding to which the Group is a party will have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT COMPANY

BALANCE SHEETS

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     As of December 31,  
     2011     2012     2012  
                 US$
(Note 2)
 

Assets

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

     45,069        22,953        3,684   

Other current assets

     1,014        3,374        542   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     46,083        26,327        4,226   

Other assets

     628        471        76   

Investment in subsidiaries

     2,204,258        2,442,597        392,064   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

     2,250,969        2,469,395        396,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and equity

      

Current liabilities:

      

Deferred revenue

     1,500        1,496        240   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

            840        136   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     1,500        2,336        376   

Deferred revenue

     3,375        1,870        300   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     4,875        4,206        676   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity:

      

Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value per share; 8,000,000,000 shares authorized; 242,604,223 and 244,494,095 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively)

     179        180        29   

Additional paid-in capital

     2,199,954        2,243,403        360,091   

Retained earnings

     85,127        260,014        41,735   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (39,166     (38,408     (6,165
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total equity

     2,246,094        2,465,189        395,690   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

     2,250,969        2,469,395        396,366   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-32


Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT COMPANY

 

STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012     2012  
                       US$
(Note 2)
 

Operating costs and expenses:

        

Selling and marketing expenses

     157        157        157        25   

General and administrative expenses

     13,485        16,447        24,902        3,996   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

     13,642        16,604        25,059        4,021   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (13,642     (16,604     (25,059     (4,021

Interest income

     813        452        131        21   

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

     (547     1,086        (141     (24

Other income

     3,028        2,649        2,208        354   

Income in investment in subsidiaries

     226,099        127,249        197,748        31,741   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income attributable to ordinary share holders

     215,751        114,832        174,887        28,071   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

        

Foreign currency translation adjustments

     (10,173     (16,463     758        122   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     205,578        98,369        175,645        28,193   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-33


Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT COMPANY

 

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Renminbi in thousands, except share data and per share data, unless otherwise stated)

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2010     2011     2012     2012  
                       US$
(Note 2)
 

Operating activities:

        

Net income

     215,751        114,832        174,887        28,071   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:

        

Share-based compensation

     13,113        15,483        20,837        3,345   

Income in investment in subsidiaries

     (226,099     (127,249     (197,748     (31,741

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

        

Deferred revenue

     6,700        (1,825     (1,508     (242

Other current assets

     (18,581     12,269        (2,412     (388

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     15        (818     840        135   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (9,101     12,692        (5,104     (820
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

        

Collection from amount due from subsidiaries

     13,654        —          —          —     

Investment in subsidiaries

     (979,345     —          (35,227     (5,654
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (965,691     —          (35,227     (5,654
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

        

Proceeds from issuance ordinary shares

     959,104        —          —          —     

Ordinary share issuance costs, net of existing shareholder reimbursements

     3,930        —          —          —     

Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option

     41,125        7,285        18,520        2,973   

Net proceeds from exercise of warrants

     17,873        —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     1,022,032        7,285        18,520        2,973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (16,189     (14,806     (305     (49

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     31,051        5,171        (22,116     (3,550

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

     8,847        39,898        45,069        7,234   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

     39,898        45,069        22,953        3,684   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:

        

Payment of ordinary share issuance costs through utilization of prepayment and amount included in payables

     7,614        —          —          —     

Issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of options from subscription deposit

     1,217        —          —          —     

Issuance warrant for acquisition of noncontrolling interest

     7,067        —          —          —     

Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares upon exercise of option included in receivable

     —          499        290        47   

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

 

F-34


Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR PARENT COMPANY

 

Note to Schedule I

Schedule I has been provided pursuant to the requirements of Rule 12-04(a) and 5-04-(c) of Regulation S-X, which require condensed financial information as to the financial position, change in financial position and results of operations of a parent company as of the same dates and for the same periods for which audited consolidated financial statements have been presented when the restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.

The condensed financial information has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the accompanying consolidated financial statements except that the equity method has been used to account for investments in its subsidiaries.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

ADDITION INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE II

CHINA LODGING GROUP, LIMITED

This financial information has been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

 

     Balance at
Beginning
of Year
     Charge to
Costs and
Expenses
     Addition
due to
acquisition
     Charge
Taken
Against
Allowance
    Write off     Balance at
end of
Year
 
   (Renminbi in thousands)  

Allowance for doubtful accounts of accounts receivables and other receivables:

               

December 31, 2010

     2,175         103         —           —          —          2,278   

December 31, 2011

     2,278         667         —           —          —          2,945   

December 31, 2012

     2,945         1,238         —           —          (1,000     3,183   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

               

December 31, 2010

     11,862         3,856         —           (7,471     —          8,247   

December 31, 2011

     8,247         17,350         —           (4,045     —          21,552   

December 31, 2012

     21,552         18,792         1,597         (5,658     —          36,283   

******

 

F-36

EX-1.2

Exhibit 1.2

Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Association

of China Lodging Group, Limited1

By adding the following Section 86(1B) immediately after the existing Section 86(1A):

“86(1B)     (i) For so long as Winner Crown Holdings Limited (“Winner Crown”), together with its affiliates as defined in Rule 405 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, continues to hold at least 25% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares:

 

  (a) Winner Crown shall have the right to appoint two (2) Directors to the Board (each a “Winner Crown Director” and, collectively, the “Winner Crown Directors”);

 

  (b) The Winner Crown Directors may only be removed or replaced by Winner Crown; and

 

  (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person nominated by Winner Crown to serve as the Winner Crown Director must be accepted by a majority of the Board, in their reasonable discretion, before such nomination becomes effective.

 (ii) Any amendment or revocation of this Article 86(1B) shall require the prior written consent of Winner Crown as long as Winner Crown has the right to appoint any Winner Crown Director according to this Article 86(1B).”

 

1  A copy of the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of China Lodging Group, Limited was filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1/A (File No. 333-165247), filed with the SEC on March 12, 2010. It is available in the SEC’s EDGAR database at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html.
EX-4.8

Exhibit 4.8

2012 Version-2

China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Branch

Credit Agreement

(Applicable to shared credit)


Credit Agreement

(Applicable to shared credit)

No.:                            

1. Party A (credit grantor): refer to Article 15 of this contract

2. Party B (individual name or collective name of the credit applicant): refer to Article 15 of this contract

Upon Party B’s application, Party A agrees to provide credit line to Party B for the use by Party B. In accordance with the provisions of related laws, Party A and Party B hereby sign this agreement upon agreement on the following articles through full consultation.

Article 1 Credit line

Refer to Article 16 of this contract.

Article 2 Credit period

Refer to Article 17 of this contract.

Article 3 Use of the credit line

3.1 Type and scope of line

Refer to Article 18 of this contract.

3.2 Within the credit period, Party B can cyclically use the revolving credit line, whereas the one-off credit line cannot be used cyclically. To use the credit line, Party B shall make applications by installment, with the review and approval of Party A accordingly. The two parties may separately sign specific transaction contracts (due bill included), agreement, or the application for related transactions submitted to Party A by Party B and approved by Party A, in order to specify the amount, time limit, specific purpose of the credit and other credit each time.

Under domestic factoring without recourse, the “Notice of Transfer of the creditor’s Right to Accounts Receivable” issued by Party A shall be claimed by Party B in ways as accepted by Party A, then it is regarded that the two parties have concluded a “specific transaction contract”.

3.3 The specific time of using each installment of loan or of other credits within the credit line shall be determined by Party B’s business needs and Party A’s business management regulations, and the expiration date of each specific transaction may be later than the expiration date of the credit period.

Article 4 Interest and expenses

The interest of the loans and funds within the line of credit, and expenses charged for corresponding transaction shall be determined in accordance with the terms of specific contracts.

Article 5 Warranty clause

Refer to Article 19 of this contract.

5.3 Under this agreement, the credit applicant of Party B shall be the guarantor of joint and several liabilities for all the debts owed to Party A by the credit-sharing applicants of Party B, who shall issue a letter of commitment and an irrevocable letter of guarantee to Party A.


Article 6 Rights and obligations of Party B

6.1 Party B is entitled to the following rights:

6.1.1 Party B has the right to request Party A to provide loans or other credits within the credit line in accordance with the terms and conditions of this agreement;

6.1.2 Party B has the right to use the credit line as agreed in this agreement;

6.1.3 Party B has the right to request Party A to keep confidential the information of production, operation, property and accounts provided by Party B, unless stipulated otherwise by laws and regulations or required otherwise by the regulatory bodies;

6.1.4 Party B has the right to transfer the debt to a third party upon the approval of Party A.

6.2 Party B assumes the following obligations:

6.2.1 Party B shall truthfully provide the documents requested by Party A (including but not limited to faithful financial statements, annual financial reports, major decisions and changes on production, operation and management according to the frequency requested by Party A) and the information about Party B’s bank, account number and balances of deposits and loans to Party A, and shall cooperate in the investigation, inspection, and review of Party A;

6.2.2 Party B shall be subject to the supervision of Party A in respect of the use of credit fund, and related production, operation and financial activities;

6.2.3 Party B shall use the loans and/or other credits in accordance with the purpose designated and/or committed in this agreement and any other individual contracts;

6.2.4 Party B shall repay the principals and interest of the loans, advances and other credits on time and in full in accordance with the terms and conditions of this agreement and any other individual contracts;

6.2.5 Party B can only transfers part or whole of the debts under this agreement to a third party, under the written approval of Party A;

6.2.6 Party B shall notify Party A immediately when the following conditions occur, and cooperate with Party A in implementing the repayment-ensuring measures in relation to the loans, advances, and other credits with both principals and interest, as well as all accompanied expenses:

6.2.6.1 Significant financial loss, assets loss or other financial crisis occurs to Party B;

6.2.6.2 Party B provides loans or warranties to a third party, or collateralize its own property or rights for mortgage or pledge;

6.2.6.3 Matters of change occur to Party B, such as merger (acquisition), demergers, reorganization, joint venture (cooperation), transfer of ownership of assets (stock), joint-stock reform and so on;

6.2.6.4 Following situations occur to Party B, closure, business license withdrawal or deregistration, applying for or being applied for bankruptcy, dissolution 6.2.6.5 Significant operational or financial crisis occur in controlling shareholders and other related companies of Party B, which affects its normal operation;

6.2.6.6 Significant related party transactions occur between Party B and its controlling shareholders or related companies, which affect its normal operation;

6.2.6.7 Any significant lawsuits, arbitration, criminal or administrative punishment of Party B, which adversely affect its operation and assets situation;

6.2.6.8 The occurrence of other significant events which may affect Party B’s solvency.


6.2.7 Party B shall not neglect to manage and claim for its due credit, or dispose of its existing major property free of charge or in other inappropriate ways.

6.3 If Party B is a group corporate, Party B shall also comply with the following terms

6.3.1 Upon the occurrence of a related transaction whose amount accounts for more than 10% of its net assets, Party B shall notify Party A within 5 working days after its occurrence, and ensure that the content of the notice is complete and accurate. The items of the notice include:

6.3.1.1 The relationship among all the transacting parties;

6.3.1.2 The items and nature of each transaction;

6.3.1.3 Amount or corresponding proportion of each transaction;

6.3.1.4 Pricing policies (including transactions with no amount or only nominal amount).

6.3.2 Party B must obtain the written approval of Party A in advance in the event of transfer of equity or major assets. The transfer of major assets refers to that the assets sold accounts for more than 20% of Party B’s total assets in the latest audit or the related profits of the assets sold account for more than 20% of the profits of Party B in the latest audit.

6.3.3 Party B shall not make use of false contracts with related parties, or receipts, accounts receivable and other creditor’s claims without trading background to do business with Party A, such as note discount, factoring, pledge, L/C, forfeiting, etc.

6.3.4 Party B shall not use related transactions to intentionally damage or evade the creditor’s claims on Party A.

Related party transaction refers to the transfer of resources or obligations among related parties, regardless of whether charged or not. Related party refers to that, during enterprise finance and operation decision-making, if one party is able to directly or indirectly control, jointly control the other party or impose significant influence on the other party, then they are regarded as related parties; if two parties or multiple parties are controlled by the same party, then they are also related parties; both parties agree that the specific definition of the related party shall be set by Party A.

The term Group as mentioned in this agreement refers to a legal entity group with direct or indirect control, being-controlled relationships, or a legal entity group with substantial material risk relationships (such as being jointly controlled by a third party, the existence of other connections, which may lead to the transfer of assets and profits deviant from the principle of fair value). The controlling relationship means the relationship where, one party has substantial control or exerts significant influence on the operating decisions, capital operation, and the appointment of senior management of the other party. The parties agree that, Party A’s definition of whether the party concerned is a member of the group shall prevail.

Article 7 Rights and obligations of Party A

7.1 Party A is entitled to the following rights:

7.1.1 Party A has the right to request Party B to repay, on time and in full, the principal and interest of the loans, advances, and other credits under this agreement and other specific contracts;

7.1.2 Party A has the right to request Party B to provide the documents related to its use of the credit line;

7.1.3 Party A has the right to know about the production, operating and financial activities of Party B;

7.1.4 Party A has the right to supervise whether Party B use the loans and/or other credit in accordance with the agreed purposes of this agreement and other specific contracts;


7.1.5 After accepting Party B’s application for opening an L/C, Party A has the right to entrust another branch institution of China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. in the location of beneficiaries to open a back-to-back L/C to the beneficiaries in accordance with the needs of its internal process;

7.1.6 Party A has the right to directly debit from the bank accounts of Party B to repay the debts of Party B under this agreement and other specific contracts;

7.1.7 Party A has the right to transfer the creditor’s claim on Party B, and adopt any ways deemed as appropriate by Party A, including but not limited to faxing, mailing, delivering by hand, announcement on mass media, to notify Party B of the transfer and to urge Party B to make repayment.

7.1.8 Other rights specified in this agreement.

7.2 Party A assumes the following obligations:

7.2.1 Party A shall provide loans and other credits within the credit line to Party B in accordance with the terms and conditions of this agreement and other specific contracts;

7.2.2 Party A shall keep confidential the information of assets, finance, production, and operation of Party B, unless stipulated otherwise by laws and regulations or required otherwise by the regulatory authorities.

Article 8 Party B’s special warranty of the following issues

8.1 Party B is a legal-person entity which is incorporated formally in accordance with laws of the PRC, and has full capacity for civil conduct to sign and fulfill this agreement;

8.2 Party B is fully authorized by its board of directors or any other competent authorities to sign and fulfill this agreement;

8.3 Party B shall ensure that the documents, files, and vouchers related to Party B, any warrantor, mortgagor (pledgor), and collateral are authentic, accurate, complete and valid without material mistakes inconsistent with the facts or the omission of any material fact;

8.4 Party B shall strictly comply with the terms and conditions of each specific contract, letters of commitment on opening a L/C, trust receipts, and other related documents issued to Party A.

8.5 Party B shall ensure that it does not have and will not have any lawsuit, arbitration, criminal penalty or administrative penalty which may have significant adverse impact on Party B or the main property of Party B at the time of signing and during the execution of this agreement. If any of the above-mentioned events occur, Party B shall notify Party A immediately.

8.6 Party B shall strictly comply with national laws and regulations in its operating activities, carry out businesses in strict accordance with the scope of business specified in the business license or legal authorization, and perform annual registration and inspection on time.

8.7 Party B shall keep or improve its current operating and managing standard, ensure the preservation and appreciation of the existing assets, do not forego any due claims, and do not dispose of the main existing property free of charge or in any other inappropriate ways;

8.8 Without the permission of Party A, Party B is forbidden to prepay any other long-term debt and others. (refer to Article 20 of this contract).

8.9 When signing this agreement, there does not exist any other matters which will affect Party B’s ability to fulfill its obligations under this agreement.


Article 9 Other expenses

In the case of notarization (not including compulsory notarization), and other services provided by a third party under entrustment, the related expenses shall be covered by the entrusting party on its own. If the two parties are jointly the entrusting parties, then each party shall bear 50%.

Party B shall bear all the expenses incurred by Party A for the realization of the creditor’s claims when Party B cannot repay the debts owed to Party A under this agreement on time, which include lawyer fees, filing fees, travelling expense, announcement fees, fees of service and so on. Party A is authorized by Party B to directly debit the above-mentioned expenses from the bank accounts of Party B. In the case of a shortfall, Party B assures full payment after receiving Party A’s notice, where Party A is not required to provide any proof.

Article 10 Event of default and its settlement

10.1 The occurrence of any of the following circumstances shall be deemed as a default if Party B:

10.1.1 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.1, provides fraudulent information or conceals real status of important matters to Party A, or fails to cooperate with Party A in investigation, review, or inspection;

10.1.2 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.2, rejects or evades Party A’s supervision on the use of the credit capital within the credit line and on related production, operating and financial activities;

10.1.3 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.3, does not use the loans and/or other credit as agreed in this agreement and each other specific contract;

10.1.4 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.4, does not repay the principal and interest of the loans, advances or other credit debts in a timely manner or in full amount as agreed in this agreement and/or each other specific contract;

10.1.5 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.5, and transfers the debt under this agreement to a third party without the approval of Party A; or defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.7, and neglect to manage and recourse of the due creditor’s claims, or dispose of its existing major properties free of charge or in other inappropriate ways;

10.1.6 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.2.6, and does not notify Party A in a timely manner in the case of the circumstances specified in the Article 6.2.6, or provides no cooperation when Party A demands enhanced security measures of debt repayment under the agreement when Party A is informed of the occurrence of such circumstances to Party B, or Party A considers it less probable to collect the principal and interest of the credit herein;

10.1.7 Defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.3.1, and does not notify the related party transaction of more than 10% of its net assets in a timely, complete, accurate manner; defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.3.2, and does not obtain the written consent of Party A in advance before conducting the equity transfer or the sales of material assets; defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.3.3, and makes use of false contracts or notes, accounts receivable and other creditor’s claims without real trading background with related parties to do related business with Party A; defaults on the obligations specified under Article 6.3.3, and Party B makes use of related party transactions to intentionally undermine or evade Party A’s creditor’s right; if Party B is a corporate group, the default of any member enterprises of Party B or of the group where Party B is affiliated to any creditor shall be deemed as the default by Party B;

10.1.8 Defaults on the provisions of Articles 8.1, 8.2, 8.5, or defaults on the provisions of Articles 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, and makes no prompt rectification as requested by Party A;


10.1.9 The occurrence of other circumstances that Party A deems doing harm to Party A’s legal rights and interests, such as the default of specific circumstances; (refer to Article 21 of this contract)

10.2 When one of the following circumstances occurs to the guarantor, Party A considers that it may affect the guaranty ability of the guarantor and asks the guarantor to eliminate the negative influence caused thereby, or asks Party B to add, change the guaranty conditions, it is deemed as default when the guarantor or Party B fail to do so;

10.2.1 The occurrence of the circumstance similar to one of those described in Article 6.2.6 of this agreement;

10.2.2 Concealment of one’s actual capacity for assuming the guaranty obligation when issuing the irrevocable letter of guarantee, or failure to obtain the authorization of the competent authority;

10.2.3 Failure to handle the formalities of annual inspection and registration in a timely manner;

10.2.4 Negligence to manage or claim for its due credit, or disposing of the existing material assets free of charge or in other inappropriate ways.

10.3 Where one of the following circumstances occurs to the mortgagor (pledgor), Party A, holding that it may cause nullification of the mortgage (or pledge) or insufficient value of the collateral (or pledged objects), asks the mortgagor (or pledgor) to eliminate the negative influence caused thereby, or asks Party B to add, change the guaranty conditions, it is deemed as default if the guarantor (or pledgor) and Party B fail to do so;

10.3.1 Having no ownership or right of disposal on the collateral (or the pledged objects), or the ownership is in dispute;

10.3.2 Where the circumstances of beingrent out, sealed up, detained, monitored, or the existence of legal priority (including but not limited to the priority of payment for construction project) occur to the collateral (or pledged objects), and/or the concealment of the occurrence of such circumstances;

10.3.3 Without the written consent of Party A, the mortgagor transfers, rents, re-mortgages or disposes of the collateral in any other inappropriate ways, or even with the written consent of Party A, but does not repay the debts owed to Party A by Party B with the income of disposing of the collateral according to Party A’s requirements;

10.3.4 The mortgagor fails to properly store, maintain and repair the collateral, which leads to significant devaluation of the collateral; or the acts of the mortgagor which directly endanger the collateral and lead to reduced value of the collateral; or the mortgagor does not purchase insurance for the collateral as required by Party A within the mortgage period.

10.4 Upon the occurrence of any default specified under Articles 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, Party A shall have the right to separately or simultaneously take the following measures:

10.4.1 Reduce the credit line under this agreement, or suspend the use of the remaining credit line;

10.4.2 Collect the principal and interest of the loans issued and related expenses within the credit line ahead of time;

10.4.3 For the bank draft accepted or the L/C (including back to back), letter of guarantee, delivery guarantee, etc. opened by Party A within the credit period, no matter whether Party A has made advances, Party A can ask Party B to do margin calls, or transfer the deposit of the other accounts opened by Party B in Party A’s to its security deposit account as the security deposit for the repayment of Party A’s future advances under this agreement, or give the money to a third party escrow, as the security deposit for Party A’s future advances to Party B;


10.4.4 For Party A’s unpaid creditor’s claims to accounts receivable transferred from Party B with recourse under domestic factoring, export factoring, Party A shall have the right to ask Party B to immediately fulfill the obligations of re-purchase; for Party A’s creditor’s claim to accounts receivable to Party B transferred under domestic factoring without recourse, export factoring, Party A shall have the right to immediately claim from Party B.

10.4.5 Party A can directly debit Party B’s settlement account and/or other accounts, so as to repay all the debts of Party B under this agreement and each specific contract;

10.4.6 Party A can make claims according to the provisions of Article 13 of this contract.

Article 11 Modification and dissolution of the agreement

The Agreement can be modified or dissolved after reaching a consensus and a written agreement between the two parties. This Agreement shall remain valid prior to the conclusion of the written agreement. Any party shall not unilaterally modify, amend or dissolve this agreement without authorization.

Article 12 Other matters

12.1 During the life of this agreement, any grace, extension or postponing of the execution of Party A’s interests or rights under this agreement granted by Party A to any default or delay conducted by Party B shall not damage, affect, or limit all the rights and interests of Party A as a creditor entitled by relevant laws and this agreement, and shall not be deemed as Party A’s authorization or approval as to any event of default committed by Party B, nor be deemed as Party A’s waiver of right to take actions against any existing or future default.

12.2 In the event that this agreement or any of its articles become null and void for any reason, Party B shall still have the responsibility to repay all the debts owed to Party A under this agreement. Under the above circumstances, Party A shall have the right to terminate this agreement and promptly claim for the repayment of all the debts owed by Party B under this agreement.

12.3 For both parties, the notice, request and other documents related to this agreement shall be delivered in written form.

Refer to Article 22 for the contact address of Party A and Party B.

For the personal delivery, the notice shall be deemed as served when the addressee signs the waybill (otherwise the date of rejection if the addressee rejects); for the delivery by mail, the notice shall be deemed as served on the 7th day after delivery; for the delivery by fax, the notice shall be deemed as served after the fax system of the receiver has accepted the fax.

For the notice to Party B regarding the transfer of the creditor’s right or dunning published by Party A on mass media, it shall be deemed as served on the date of announcement.

Any Party that changes the contact address shall timely notify the other party; otherwise the defaulting Party shall bear the losses that might occur thereby on its own.

12.4 The two Parties agree that for the application documents for businesses of trading and financing, Party B may affix on the documents the specimen seal in accordance with the “Authorization Letter on the Specimen Seal” provided to Party A, whose legal force shall be recognized by both Parties.


Article 13 Applicable law and dispute settlement

13.1 The conclusion, interpretation, and dispute settlement of this agreement shall all be applicable to the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and the rights and interests of both parties are protected by the laws of the People’s Republic of China.

13.2 Any dispute occurred during the performance of this agreement shall be settled through friendly consultation by the Parties; if the parties cannot reach an agreement by consultation, then refer to Article 23 of this contract.

13.3 If the two parties have had this agreement and any other specific contracts notarized for compulsory legal enforcement, then party A may apply for compulsory enforcement directly to a people’s court with jurisdiction for the recovery of the debt that party B owes under this agreement and any other specific contracts.

Article 14 Validity of the agreement

This agreement shall come into effect upon signing (or affixing of the personal seal) by the legal representative/person in charge or the authorized agent of Party A and Party B and affixing the official seal/special contract seal of the unit, and shall automatically become null and void upon the expiration date of the credit period or the date when all the debts and all other related expenses that Party B owes to Party A under this agreement have been paid off (the later date of the two shall prevail).

Part of the signed terms

No.: 2012 Jing Zi No. 21120818

Article 15 Contracting parties

Party A (credit grantor): China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd.              Shanghai Jing’an Temple Sub-branch             

Person in charge: Xu Xuehong

Party B (credit applicant): Han Ting Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

Legal representative/person in charge: He Hui

Credit-sharing applicant: Shanghai Han Ting Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

Legal representative/person in charge: He Hui

Credit-sharing applicant: Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

Legal representative/person in charge: He Hui

Credit-sharing applicant:

Legal representative/person in charge:

Credit-sharing applicant:

Legal representative/person in charge:

The above credit applicant and credit-sharing applicants are individually or collectively referred to as “Party B”.


Article 16 Credit line

1.1 Party A shall grant Party B a credit line amounting to RMB currency 300 million (or equivalent amount of other currencies calculated with the exchange rate published by Party A on the particular date when the specific transaction occurs, as is the same hereinafter). Among which (choose by ticking “ü” hereinafter):

-Revolving credit line RMB currency 300 million Yuan;

-One-off credit line          currency          /        Yuan.

Revolving credit line means the maximum limit of the total balance of the credit principals provided to Party B By Party A during the credit period that can be used continuously and cyclically, including loans, trade financing, note discounting, acceptance of commercial bills, letter of guarantee, bank account overdraft, and domestic factoring,          /         ,         /         , etc.

One-off credit line refers to that during the credit period Party B makes applications to Party A for several credit transactions by installment, the accumulative amount of all the credit transactions shall not exceed the amount of one-off credit line specified by this agreement. Party B shall not cyclically use the one-off credit line, the corresponding amount of several credit transactions applied for by Party B will occupy the amount of one-off credit line specified in this Article, until it is accumulatively occupied in full.

“Trade Financing” includes opening L/C, import bill advance, delivery guarantee, inward bill purchase under collection, packing credit, export bill purchase, advance against documentary collection, financing by import and export remittance, short-term financing by credit insurance, import factoring, and export factoring(excluding non-recourse double-factoring, and the aforesaid service in the system of Party A, as is the same hereinafter),         /         ,         /          and other types of transactions.

1.2 When Party A deals with transactions of import factoring and non-recourse domestic factoring and with Party B as payer, then creditor’s claims of accounts receivable transferred to Party A from Party B in the transactions will occupy the above-mentioned credit line. When Party B applies for transactions of recourse domestic factoring or export factoring, then basic purchase fund (underwriting fund) provided by Party A to Party B in the transaction will occupy the above-mentioned credit line.

1.3 When Party A entrusts other branches of China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. to open a back to back letter of credit to the beneficiaries after opening a L/C, in accordance with the regulations of its internal process, then the opening of L/C as well as the import bill advance and delivery guarantee under it will occupy the above-mentioned credit line;

1.4 The above-mentioned credit line does not include the corresponding credit amounts of the security deposit or the guarantee of deposit receipt pawn provided by Party B or a third party specific toindividual transaction under this agreement, as is the same hereinafter.

1.5 Party A and Party B had signed the No.              credit agreement, from the effective date of this agreement, any balance not repaid under that credit agreement, will be automatically included in the credit line of this agreement, and directly occupy the credit line under this agreement (if this Article is applicable, please tick “ü” in ¨).

Article 17 Credit period

The credit period is 36 months, from October 10, 2012 to October 9, 2015. Party B shall submit its application for use of the credit line to Party A within the credit period, and Party A will reject any application for use of the credit line raised by Party B after the expiration date of the credit period, unless specified otherwise in this agreement.


Article 18 Use of the credit line

3.1 Types and scope of credit line

The above-mentioned credit line is (choose one among the two alternatives, by ticking “ü”):

3.1.1 General credit line, and the specific types of transactions include (fill in on the basis of facts):

Working capital loan, Acceptance

Non-financing letter of guarantee, Domestic letter of credit

Meanwhile, Party B can (fill in “can” or “cannot”) adjust the use of the above-mentioned credit line, and (make choice by ticking “ü” below):

-All types of transactions can be used with adjustment;

-Certain types of transactions can be used with adjustment, that is,         /         ;

3.1.2         /         single credit line.

Article 19 Warranty clause

5.1 Under this agreement, Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd., Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. shall be the guarantor of joint and several liabilities for all the debts owed to Party A by Party B, who shall issue an irrevocable letter of maximum amount guarantee to Party A and/or           /           ;

5.2 All debts of Party B owed to Party A under this agreement, shall be mortgaged (pledged) with           /            property with legal right of ownership and disposal by           /           , where the two parties shall separately sign a guaranty agreement.

Party A has the right to refuse to provide the credit to Party B, if the guarantor fails to sign the guaranty document or complete all the guaranty procedures in accordance with the provision of this article.

Article 20 Party B specially guarantees the following matters:

8.8 Without the permission of Party A, Party B shall not pay off other long-term debts earlier than contract, as well as           /           ,           /           .

Article 21 Breach of contract and penalties

10.1.9 The occurrence of other circumstances where the legal rights and interests of Party A are undermined as deemed by Party A, such as the occurrence of the circumstances specified in Article 24.1, 24.2, 24.3;

Article 22 Contact address

Party A’s contact address: No. 1700 West Beijing Road, Shanghai

Party B’s contact address: No. 2266 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai

Article 23 Applicable law and dispute settlement

Any disputes between Party A and Party B that occurred in the course of fulfilling this agreement shall be settled by the two parties through consultation. Where the consultation fails, either party may (choose one among the three alternatives, by ticking “ü”):

13.2.1 Lodge a lawsuit to the people’s court in the location of Party A;


13.2.2 Apply for arbitration to           /            Arbitration Commission;

13.2.3 Submit to (for this option, choose one among the two alternatives, by ticking “ü”):

-China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

-China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission           /            Sub-commission for arbitration in accordance with the arbitration rules on financial disputes.

Article 24

For the issues not covered or need to be altered under this agreement, Party A and Party B shall sign a complementary agreement in writing upon consensus through consultation, which, appended with each individual contract of this agreement, consists of the appendix of this agreement, and constitutes an integral part of this agreement.

24.1 Party B confirms that, the line that can be actually used each year under this agreement only can be used upon the approval of Party A.

24.2 Party B confirms that: Shanghai Han Ting Hotel Management Group, Ltd., Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. can share the credit under this agreement, each no more than RMB 30 million.

24.3 The purpose for the use of the capital under this agreement is limited to normal operation turnover.

Article 25 Supplementary provisions

This agreement is made in five copies, with Party A, Party B and __/__, __/         each holding one copy, which shall have the same legal effect.

Special Reminder:

The parties have carried out full consultation on all the terms and conditions of this agreement. The bank has invited the other parties to pay special attention to related clauses on the exemption or limitation of the bank’s responsibility, the unilateral possession of certain rights by the bank, and the extension of responsibility or restriction of the rights of the other parties, which shall be completely, accurately understood. Upon the request of the other parties, the bank has made corresponding explanations on the
above-mentioned clauses. All the contracting parties have reached a completely consistent understanding of the terms and conditions of this agreement.


(This page is the signature page)

Party A: (Seal) China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd. Shanghai Jing’an Temple Sub-branch Person in charge or authorized agent:
Xu Xuehong

(Signature/Personal seal):

Party B: (Seal) HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.;

Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.;

Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.;

Legal representative/ person in charge or authorized agent:

(Signature/Personal seal): He Hui; He Hui; He Hui

Date of signing: September 25, 2012

EX-4.11

Exhibit 4.11

SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

dated as of

April 15, 2012

between

CHINA LODGING HOLDINGS (HK) LIMITED,

and

C-TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

relating to the purchase and sale

of

Ordinary Shares

of

STARWAY HOTELS (HONG KONG) LIMITED

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE  

ARTICLE 1

  

DEFINITIONS

  

Section 1.01. Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02. Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions

     7   

ARTICLE 2

  

PURCHASE AND SALE

  

Section 2.01. Purchase and Sale

     8   

Section 2.02. Closing

     8   

Section 2.03. Right to Purchase Additional Shares

     10   

Section 2.04. Closing Balance Sheet

     10   

Section 2.05. Adjustment of Purchase Price

     12   

ARTICLE 3

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

  

Section 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power

     13   

Section 3.02. Corporate Authorization

     13   

Section 3.03. Governmental Authorization

     13   

Section 3.04. Noncontravention

     13   

Section 3.05. Capitalization

     13   

Section 3.06. Ownership of Shares

     14   

Section 3.07. Subsidiaries

     14   

Section 3.08. Financial Statements

     15   

Section 3.09. Books and Records

     15   

Section 3.10. Absence of Certain Changes

     15   

Section 3.11. No Undisclosed Material Liabilities

     16   

Section 3.12. Intercompany Accounts

     16   

Section 3.13. Material Contracts

     16   

Section 3.14. No Litigation

     18   

Section 3.15. Compliance with Laws and Court Orders

     18   

Section 3.16. Properties

     18   

Section 3.17. Tax

     19   

Section 3.18. No Illegal or Improper Transactions

     20   

Section 3.19. Intellectual Property

     20   

Section 3.20. Insurance Coverage

     23   

Section 3.21. Licenses and Permits

     23   

Section 3.22. Receivables

     24   

 

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Section 3.23. Selling Documents

     24   

Section 3.24. Finders’ Fees

     24   

Section 3.25. Employees and Labor Matters

     25   

Section 3.26. Xingyue Hui

     26   

Section 3.27. Representations

     26   

ARTICLE 4

  

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

  

Section 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power

     26   

Section 4.02. Corporate Authorization

     26   

Section 4.03. Governmental Authorization

     26   

Section 4.04. Noncontravention

     26   

Section 4.05. Purchase for Investment

     27   

Section 4.06. Litigation

     27   

Section 4.07. No Illegal or Improper Transactions

     27   

ARTICLE 5

  

COVENANTS OF SELLER

  

Section 5.01. Conduct of the Company

     28   

Section 5.02. Access to Information; Confidentiality

     30   

Section 5.03. Key Employees

     30   

Section 5.04. Tax

     30   

Section 5.05. Notices of Certain Events

     31   

Section 5.06. Resignations

     31   

Section 5.07. Assistance/Action

     31   

Section 5.08. Noncompetition

     32   

ARTICLE 6

  

COVENANTS OF BUYER

  

Section 6.01. Confidentiality

     32   

ARTICLE 7

  

COVENANTS OF BUYER AND SELLER

  

Section 7.01. Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts; Further Assurances

     33   

Section 7.02. Certain Filings

     34   

Section 7.03. Public Announcements

     34   

Section 7.04. Transfer Taxes

     34   

 

ii


ARTICLE 8

  

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

  

Section 8.01. Conditions to Obligations of Buyer and Seller

     35   

Section 8.02. Conditions to Obligation of Buyer

     35   

Section 8.03. Conditions to Obligation of Seller

     37   

ARTICLE 9

  

SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION

  

Section 9.01. Survival

     37   

Section 9.02. Indemnification

     38   

Section 9.03. Tax Indemnity

     39   

Section 9.04. Third Party Claim Procedures

     39   

Section 9.05. Direct Claim Procedures

     40   

ARTICLE 10

  

TERMINATION

  

Section 10.01. Grounds for Termination

     41   

Section 10.02. Effect of Termination

     41   

ARTICLE 11

  

MISCELLANEOUS

  

Section 11.01. Notices

     42   

Section 11.02. Amendments and Waivers

     42   

Section 11.03. Disclosure Schedule References

     43   

Section 11.04. Expenses

     43   

Section 11.05. Successors and Assigns

     43   

Section 11.06. Governing Law

     43   

Section 11.07. Arbitration

     43   

Section 11.08. Counterparts; Effectiveness

     44   

Section 11.09. Entire Agreement

     44   

Section 11.10. Severability

     44   

Section 11.11. Specific Performance

     45   

 

iii


SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of March 12, 2012 by and among China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited, a company limited by shares incorporated under the Laws of Hong Kong (“Buyer”), C-Travel International Limited, an exempted company incorporated under the Laws of the Cayman Islands (“C-Travel” or “Seller”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, STARWAY HOTELS (HONG KONG) LIMITED (the “Company”) is the sole registered shareholder of Shanghai WFOE (defined below) which engages in the hotel management and operation business;

WHEREAS, C-Travel is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ctrip;

WHEREAS, C-Travel is the record and beneficial owner of the Shares and the Additional Shares; and

WHEREAS, Seller desire to sell the Shares to Buyer and grant to Buyer a right to purchase the Additional Shares, and Buyer desires to purchase the Shares from Seller and be granted the right by Seller to purchase the Additional Shares, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

The parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions. (a) The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

Additional Shares” means 49% shares of Company Ordinary Shares.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person; provided that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall be considered an Affiliate of Seller.

Applicable Exchange Rate” means the average of the selling rate and buying rate of the U.S. dollar as announced by the People’s Bank of China on the 1Business day prior to the Closing Date.

 

1


Applicable Antitrust Laws” means any competition, merger control, antitrust or similar Applicable Law, including the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC.

Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any transnational, domestic or foreign, federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise.

Balance Sheet” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the Balance Sheet Date.

Balance Sheet Date” means December 31, 2011.

Base Working Capital” means the amount of working capital which be recorded on Balance Sheet.

“Business Day” means a day, other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Hong Kong, Beijing or New York City are authorized or required by Applicable Law to close.

Closing Date” means the date of the Closing May 1, 2012.

Closing Working Capital” means (A) the sum of (i) cash and bank deposits, (ii) account receivables, (iii) prepayments and (iv) other receivables, minus (B) the sum of (i) account payables, (ii) accrued payroll liabilities, (iii) taxes payable and (iv) other payables of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of close of business on the Closing Date, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Company Ordinary Shares” means the ordinary shares, par value HKD 0.0001per share, of the Company.

Consent” means any consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, certificate, exemption, order, registration, declaration, filing, report or notice of, with or to any Person.

Consideration” means an amount equal to RMB 33,591,685.00.

Contract” means, with respect to any specified Person, all loan agreements, indentures, letters of credit (including related letter of credit applications and reimbursement obligations), mortgages, security agreements, pledge agreements, deeds of trust, bonds, notes, guarantees, surety obligations,

 

2


warranties, licenses, franchises, permits, powers of attorney, purchase orders, leases, and other agreements, contracts, instruments, obligations, offers, commitments, arrangements and understandings, written or oral, to which the specified Person is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected.

Control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” have correlative meanings.

Covered Tax” means with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder, any and all PRC Taxes that are payable as a result of the application of PRC Circular 698 to such transactions and any and all PRC Taxes that are in the nature of capital gains levied on such transactions.

“Ctrip” means Ctrip.com International, Ltd., an exempted company incorporated under the Laws of the Cayman Islands.

“Ctrip WOFE” means any WOFE invested directly or indirectly by Ctrip.

Equivalent Foreign Currency Amount” means, with respect to any amount in RMB, the equivalent amount in any currency other than RMB calculated at the average of the selling rate and buying rate of such currency as announced by the People’s Bank of China on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of this Agreement.

“Effective date of the Agreement” means April 15, 2012.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Governmental Authority” means any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, department, court, agency or official, including any political subdivision thereof.

Hong Kong” means the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (ii) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) all obligations of such Person upon

 

3


which interest charges are customarily paid, (iv) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to any asset or property purchased by such Person, (v) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of assets, property or services, (vi) all lease obligations of such Person capitalized on the books and records of such Person, (vii) all obligations of other Persons secured by a Lien on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (viii) all obligations of such Person under interest rate, currency or commodity derivatives or hedging transactions (valued at the termination value thereof), (ix) all letters of credit or performance bonds issued for the account of such Person and (x) all guarantees and arrangements having the economic effect of a guarantee of such Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.

Intellectual Property Rights” means (i) inventions, whether or not patentable, reduced to practice or made the subject of one or more pending patent applications, (ii) national and multinational statutory invention registrations, patents and patent applications (including all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions and reexaminations thereof) registered or applied for in the United States and all other nations throughout the world, all improvements to the inventions disclosed in each such registration, patent or patent application, (iii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, domain names, trade names and corporate names (whether or not registered) in the United States and all other nations throughout the world, including all variations, derivations, combinations, registrations and applications for registration of the foregoing and all goodwill associated therewith, (iv) copyrights (whether or not registered) and registrations and applications for registration thereof in the United States and all other nations throughout the world, including all derivative works, moral rights, renewals, extensions, reversions or restorations associated with such copyrights, now or hereafter provided by law, regardless of the medium of fixation or means of expression, (v) computer software (including source code, object code, firmware, operating systems and specifications), (vi) trade secrets and, whether or not confidential, business information (including pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and customer and supplier lists) and know-how (including manufacturing and production processes and techniques and research and development information), (vii) industrial designs (whether or not registered), (viii) databases and data collections, (ix) copies and tangible embodiments of any of the foregoing, in whatever form or medium, (x) all rights to obtain and rights to apply for patents, and to register trademarks and copyrights, (xi) all rights in all of the foregoing provided by treaties, conventions and common law and (xii) all rights to sue or recover and retain damages and costs and attorneys’ fees for past, present and future infringement or misappropriation of any of the foregoing.

 

4


knowledge” of any Person that is not an individual means the knowledge of such Person’s directors and officers after due and careful inquiries, and includes imputed knowledge under principles of agency law and knowledge that an ordinary person would have exercising prudence of a reasonable manner in the same or similar circumstances.

Licensed Intellectual Property Rights” means all Intellectual Property Rights owned by a third party and licensed or sublicensed to either the Company or any Subsidiary.

Lien” means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or other adverse claim of any kind in respect of such property or asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property or asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such property or asset.

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the condition (financial or otherwise), business, assets, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

MOFCOM” means the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, or its authorized local branch, as the case may be, or any successor thereto.

Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any entity, the certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, bylaws or similar organizational documents of such entity.

Owned Intellectual Property Rights” means all Intellectual Property Rights owned by either the Company or any Subsidiary.

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority.

PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this Agreement only, Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan.

RMB” means renminbi, the legal currency of the PRC.

 

5


SAFE” means the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC or its authorized local branch, as the case may be, or any successor thereto.

SAIC” means the State Administration of Industry and Commerce of the PRC or its relevant local office.

Shanghai WFOE” means Starway Hotels Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC.

“Shares” means 51% shares of Company Ordinary Shares.

Subsidiary” means any entity (i) of which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company or (ii) directly or indirectly Controlled by the Company.

Tax” means (a) taxes on income, profits and gains, and (b) all other taxes, levies, duties, imposts, charges and withholdings of any nature, in each case imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by (or on behalf of) any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction, including any excise, customs, property, sales, transfer, franchise, turnover and payroll taxes and other benefits related tax and stamp duties, together with all penalties, charges and interest relating to any of the foregoing or to any late or incorrect Tax Return in respect of any of them.

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund or information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

Transaction Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement and the other agreements and documents required by, or in connection with implementing the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.

U.S.” means the United States of America.

US$” or “U.S. dollars” means United States dollars, the lawful currency of the U.S.

(b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite such term:

 

Term

  

Section

Agreement

   Preamble

Arbitration

   Section 11.07

 

6


Term

  

Section

Benefits

   Section 3.25(c)

Buyer

   Preamble

Buyer Indemnitee

   Section 9.02

Buyer Purchase Right

   Section 2.03(a)

Capex Budget

   Section 5.01

Closing

   Section 2.02

Closing Balance Sheet

   Section 2.04(a)

Company Real Properties

   Section 3.16

Company Securities

   Section 3.05(b)

Covered Tax Loss

   Section 9.03

C-Travel

   Preamble

Ctrip

   Section 1.01

Damages

   Section 9.02

Dispute

   Section 11.07

e-mail

   Section 11.01

Employment Agreement

   Section 5.03

Final Closing Working Capital

   Section 2.05(a)

Financial Statements

   Section 3.08

Government Officials

   Section 3.18

HKIAC

   Section 11.07(a)

Intercompany Account Balances

   Section 3.12

Indemnified Party

   Section 9.04

Indemnifying Party

   Section 9.04

Key Employees

   Section 3.25(a)

Material Contracts

   Section 3.13(b)

Non-Compete Agreement

   Section 5.03

Notice of Arbitration

   Section 11.07(b)

Permits

   Section 3.21(a)

Purchase Price

   Section 2.01

Seller Indemnitee

   Section 9.02

Seller

   Preamble

Social Insurance

   Section 3.25(c)

Subsidiary Securities

   Section 3.07(d)

Subsequent Closing

   Section 2.03(c)

Third Party Claim

   Section 9.04

Tribunal

   Section 11.07(d)

Warranty Breach

   Section 9.02

Section 1.02. Other Definitional and Interpretative Provisions. The words “hereof”, “hereto”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or

 

7


interpretation hereof. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. All Exhibits and Schedules annexed hereto or referred to herein are hereby incorporated in and made a part of this Agreement as if set forth in full herein. Any capitalized terms used in any Exhibit or Schedule but not otherwise defined therein, shall have the meaning as defined in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”, whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any statute shall be deemed to refer to such statute as amended from time to time and to any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder. References to any agreement or contract are to that agreement or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; provided that with respect to any agreement or contract listed on any schedules hereto, all such amendments, modifications or supplements must also be listed in the appropriate schedule. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. References to “law”, “laws” or to a particular statute or law shall be deemed also to include an and all Applicable Law.

ARTICLE 2

PURCHASE AND SALE

Section 2.01. Purchase and Sale. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, Seller agree to sell to Buyer, and Buyer agrees to purchase from Seller, the Shares at the Closing. The purchase price for the Shares (the “Purchase Price”) is an amount in U.S. dollars equal to (x) 51% of the Consideration divided by (y) the Applicable Exchange Rate for U.S. dollars. The Purchase Price shall be paid as provided in Section 2.02.

Section 2.02. Closing. The closing (the “Closing”) of the purchase and sale of the Shares hereunder shall take place at the places agreed to by the parties hereto, as soon as possible, at the Closing Date, after satisfaction or, to the extent permissible, waiver by the party or parties entitled to the benefit of the conditions set forth in Article 8 (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permissible, waiver of those conditions at the Closing), or at such other time or place as Buyer and Seller may agree. At the Closing:

 

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(a) At the Closing Date, Seller shall:

(i) deliver to Buyer the instrument of transfer duly executed by C-Travel with Buyer as a transferee in respect of the Shares,

(ii) deliver to Buyer the sold note duly executed by C-Travel, and

(iii) deliver to the Company the original share certificates in respect of the Shares;

(b) At the Closing Date, Seller shall cause the Company to deliver to Buyer the following documents:

(i) a new share certificate issued to Buyer with respect to the Shares,

(ii) a certified true copy of the updated register of members of the Company reflecting the transfer of the Shares from C-Travel to Buyer;

(iii) a certified true copy of the register of Director(s) of the Company reflecting the change of the composition of the board of directors or director of the Company, including but not limited to the appointment of the person(s) designated by Buyer to the board of directors or director of the Company; and

(c) Buyer shall:

(i) Within fifteen (15) Business Days after the effective date of the Agreement, Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered the amount of 80% RMB13,705,407.00 of the Purchase Price to Seller in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Seller.

(ii) Within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Closing Date, Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered the mount of 20% RMB3,426,352.00 of the Purchase Price to Seller in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Seller.

(d) No later than two (2) Business Days after to the effective date of the Agreement, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a written notice setting forth the bank accounts for the wires described in Section 2.02(c)(i)

 

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Section 2.03. Right to Purchase Additional Shares. (a) Seller hereby grant to Buyer a right (the “Buyer Purchase Right”) to purchase the Additional Shares, which right may be exercised by Buyer in its sole discretion at any time following the effective date of the Agreement until and including the first anniversary of the Closing Date. Seller hereby agree that, regardless whether Buyer chooses to exercise the Buyer Purchase Right or not, Buyer shall have full control of the management and operation of the Company and the Subsidiaries in all respects at any time from and after the Closing.

(b) Buyer may exercise the Buyer Purchase Right by delivery to the Seller of a written notice. Upon delivery of such notice, Seller shall cause the transfer of the Additional Shares to Buyer as provided below in this Section.

(c) The closing (the “Subsequent Closing”) of the purchase and sale of the Additional Shares shall take place at the places agreed to by the parties hereto, as soon as possible, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days, after the delivery by Buyer of the notice to exercise the Buyer Purchase Right. No later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Subsequent Closing, Seller shall deliver a written notice to Buyer setting forth the bank accounts for the wires described in Section 2.03(c)(ii). At the Subsequent Closing:

(i) Seller shall: (A) deliver to Buyer the instrument of transfer duly executed by C-Travel with Buyer as a transferee in respect of the Additional Shares, (B) deliver to Buyer the sold note duly executed by C-Travel, and (C) deliver to the Company the original share certificates in respect of the Additional Shares;

(ii) Buyer shall:

(A) within fifteen (15) Business Days after Subsequent Closing deliver to Seller an amount in U.S. dollars equal to(x) 49% [RMB16,459,926.00]of the Consideration divided by (y) the Applicable Exchange Rate for U.S. dollars in immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Seller(or if not so designated, then by certified or official bank check payable in immediately available funds to the order of C-Travel in such amount);

Section 2.04. Closing Balance Sheet. (a) As promptly as practicable, but no later than 60 days after the Closing Date, Buyer will cause to be prepared and delivered to Seller the Closing Balance Sheet and a statement based on such

 

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Closing Balance Sheet setting forth Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital. The Closing Balance Sheet (the “Closing Balance Sheet”) shall (x) fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as at the close of business on the Closing Date in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, (y) include line items substantially consistent with those in the Balance Sheet, provided that all Taxes currently payable shall be set forth as separate line items and (z) be prepared in accordance with accounting policies and practices consistent with those used in the preparation of the Balance Sheet, but in all instances in accordance with GAAP.

(b) If Seller disagrees with Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a), Seller may, within 20 days after delivery of the documents referred to in Section 2.04(a), deliver a written statement (the “Objections Statement”) to Buyer disagreeing with such calculation and which specifies Seller’s calculation of such amount and in reasonable detail Seller’s grounds for such disagreement. The Objections Statement shall specify those items or amounts as to which Seller disagree, and Seller shall be deemed to have agreed with all other items and amounts contained in the Closing Balance Sheet and the calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a).

(c) If an Objections Statement shall be duly delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b), Buyer and Seller shall, during the 15 days following such delivery, use their best efforts to reach agreement on the disputed items or amounts in order to determine, as may be required, the amount of the Closing Working Capital, which amount shall not be less than the amount thereof shown in Buyer’s calculations delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a) nor more than the amount thereof shown in Seller’s calculation delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b). If Buyer and Seller are unable to reach such agreement during such period, they shall promptly thereafter cause independent accountants of nationally recognized standing reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and Seller (who shall not have any material relationship with Buyer or any Seller), promptly to review this Agreement and the disputed items or amounts for the purpose of calculating the Closing Working Capital. In making such calculation, such independent accountants shall consider only those items or amounts in the Closing Balance Sheet or Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital as to which Seller have disagreed. Such independent accountants shall deliver to Buyer and Seller, as promptly as practicable, a report setting forth such calculation. Such report shall be final and binding upon Buyer and Seller. The cost of such review and report shall be borne (i) by Buyer if the difference between the Final Closing Working Capital and Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a) is greater than the difference between the Final Closing Working Capital and Seller’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b), (ii) by Seller if the first such

 

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difference is less than the second such difference and (iii) otherwise equally by Buyer and Seller.

(d) Buyer and Seller agree that they will, and agree to cause their respective independent accountants and the Company and each Subsidiary to, cooperate and assist in the preparation of the Closing Balance Sheet and the calculation of the Closing Working Capital and in the conduct of the audits and reviews referred to in this Section 2.04, including the making available to the extent necessary of books, records, work papers and personnel.

Section 2.05. Adjustment of Purchase Price. (a) If Base Working Capital exceeds the Final Closing Working Capital more than RMB 3,000,000, Seller shall pay to Buyer, as an adjustment to the Purchase Price, in the manner as provided in Section 2.05 (b) , the amount of such Return Excess (the amount of Base Working Capital minus Final Closing Working Capital minus RMB 3,000,000). If the Final Closing Working Capital exceeds Base Working Capital more than RMB 3,000,000, Buyer shall pay to Seller, in the manner as provided in Section 2.05 (b), the amount of such Excess (the amount of Final Closing Working Capital minus Base Working Capital minus RMB 3,000,000). “Final Closing Working Capital” means the Closing Working Capital (i) as shown in Buyer’s calculation delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a), if no Objections Statement with respect thereto is duly delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b); or (ii) if such an Objections Statement is delivered, (A) as agreed by Buyer and Seller pursuant to Section 2.04(c) or (B) in the absence of such agreement, as shown in the independent accountant’s calculation delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(c); provided that in no event shall the Final Closing Working Capital be less than Buyer’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(a) or more than Seller’s calculation of the Closing Working Capital delivered pursuant to Section 2.04(b).

(b) Any payment pursuant to Section 2.05(a) shall be made at a mutually convenient time and place within 10 days after the Final Closing Capital has been determined by delivery by Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, of a certified or official bank check payable in immediately available funds to the other party or by causing such payments to be credited to such account of such other party as may be designated by such other party.

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

Except as set forth in the Seller Disclosure Schedule attached hereto (“Seller Disclosure Schedule”), Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date that:

 

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Section 3.01. Corporate Existence and Power. Seller and the Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted. The Seller has heretofore made available to Buyer true and complete copies of the Organizational Documents of Seller, the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently in effect.

Section 3.02. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which such Seller is a party, the performance of the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within such Seller’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of such Seller. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Transaction Document to which such Seller is a party when executed and delivered by such Seller in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof will constitute, a valid and binding agreement of such Seller enforceable against such Seller in accordance with their respective terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

Section 3.03. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority.

Section 3.04. Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by such Seller of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) violate the Organizational Documents of such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.03, violate any Applicable Law, (iii) require any consent or other action by any Person under, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary or to a loss of any benefit to which such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary is entitled under any provision of any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any Subsidiary.

Section 3.05. Capitalization. (a) The authorized share capital of the Company consists of 100,000,000 Company Ordinary Shares.

 

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(b) All outstanding capital shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as set forth in this Section 3.05, there are no outstanding (i) capital shares or voting securities of the Company, (ii) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for capital shares or voting securities of the Company or (iii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company, or other obligation of the Company to issue, any capital shares, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital shares or voting securities of the Company (the items in Sections 3.05 (b)(i), 3.05(b)(ii) and 3.05(b) (iii) being referred to collectively as the “Company Securities”). There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities.

Section 3.06. Ownership of Shares. C-Travel is the record and beneficial owner of the Shares, free and clear of any Lien and any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of the Shares), and will transfer and deliver to Buyer at the Closing valid title to the Shares free and clear of any Lien and any such limitation or restriction.

Section 3.07. Subsidiaries. (a) Section 3.07(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, accurate and complete list of each Subsidiary of the Company, including, for each Subsidiary, (i) its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) description of its registered capital, paid-in registered capital and total amount of investment, (iii) its shareholder(s) and the equity interests owned by such shareholders and (iv) its business scope.

(b) For each Subsidiary incorporated under the laws of PRC, (i) all of the registered capital of such Subsidiary has been timely and adequately contributed in accordance with the Applicable Laws of the PRC; (ii) there are no resolutions pending to increase or decrease the registered capital of such Subsidiary; (iii) all changes to the share capital (including capital increase and capital reduction) and all changes in the shareholding (including transfers by shareholders) of each such Subsidiary have been duly authorized and approved by and filed and registered with the relevant Governmental Authorities in the PRC, and have been made in full compliance with the Applicable Law of the PRC; and (iv) each such Subsidiary has a valid business license issued by SAIC (a true and complete copy of which has been made available to Buyer), and has, since its establishment, carried on its business in compliance with the business scope set forth in its business license.

(c) Each Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws its jurisdiction of incorporation, and, except as set forth on Section 3.07 (c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and

 

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approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, including those issued by MOFCOM and the Ministry of Information Industry.

(d) All of the outstanding capital shares or other voting securities of each Subsidiary is owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other voting securities). There are no outstanding (i) securities of the Company or any Subsidiary convertible into or exchangeable for capital shares or voting securities of any Subsidiary or (ii) options or other rights to acquire from the Company or any Subsidiary, or other obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue, any capital shares, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital shares or voting securities of any Subsidiary (the items in Sections 3.07(d)(i) and 3.07(d)(ii) being referred to collectively as the “Subsidiary Securities”). There are no outstanding obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding Subsidiary Securities.

Section 3.08. Financial Statements. Section 3.08 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true, correct and complete copy of the audited consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 and the related audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2009, 2010 and 2011 (collectively, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (i) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby and (ii) fairly present, in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto), the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended.

Section 3.09. Books and Records. True and complete copies of all minute books containing the records of meetings of the shareholders and the boards of directors (or analogous parties) of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof and the register of members (or equivalent documents) as of the date hereof have been made available to Buyer.

Section 3.10. Absence of Certain Changes. (a) Since the Balance Sheet Date, the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and there has not been any event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) From the Balance Sheet Date until the date hereof, there has not been any action taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, if taken during the period from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date without Buyer’s consent, would constitute a breach of Section 5.01Section 5.01.

Section 3.11. No Undisclosed Material Liabilities. There are no liabilities of the Company or any Subsidiary of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than:

(a) liabilities provided for in the Balance Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto; and

(b) other undisclosed liabilities which, individually or in the aggregate, are not material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Section 3.12. Intercompany Accounts. Section 3.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of all intercompany balances as of the Balance Sheet Date between Seller and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and the Subsidiaries, on the other hand (the “Intercompany Account Balances”). Since the Balance Sheet Date there has not been any accrual of liability by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Seller or any of their Affiliates or other transaction between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Seller and any of their Affiliates, except with respect to the period prior to the date of this Agreement, in the ordinary course of business of the Company and the Subsidiaries consistent with past practice, and thereafter, as provided in Section 3.12 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.

Section 3.13. Material Contracts. (a) Except for the Contracts listed in Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (true and complete copies of such Contracts have been made available to Buyer prior to the date hereof), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by:

(i) any Contract providing for the payment by or to the Company or any Subsidiary of an amount in excess of RMB 100,000 or its Equivalent Foreign Currency Amount annually or RMB 100,000 or its Equivalent Foreign Currency Amount over the entire term of such Contract;

(ii) any partnership, joint venture or other similar Contract or arrangement;

(iii) any Contract relating to the acquisition or disposition of any business (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);

 

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(iv) any Contract relating to Indebtedness, except any such agreement with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding RMB 100,000 or its Equivalent Foreign Currency Amount and which may be prepaid on not more than 45 days’ notice without the payment of any material penalty;

(v) any franchise or similar Contract;

(vi) any license or other Contract granting rights to any third party to any material Owned Intellectual Property Rights or Licensed Intellectual Property Rights;

(vii) any Contract that limits the freedom of the Company or any Subsidiary to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any area or which would so limit the freedom of the Company or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date;

(viii) any Contract by the Company or any Subsidiary with (A) any Person directly or indirectly owning, Controlling or holding with power to vote any of the outstanding equity securities of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate of such Person, (B) any Person whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, Controlled or held with power to vote by the Company or any Subsidiary or (C) any director or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary or any Affiliates of any such director or officer;

(ix) any Contract that involves the ownership or lease of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in, any real or personal property (except for personal property leases involving payments of less than RMB 100,000 or its Equivalent Foreign Currency Amount per annum);

(x) any Contract involves the waiver, compromise, or settlement of any material dispute, claim, litigation or arbitration;

(xi) any other Contract or plan not made in the ordinary course of business that is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) Each Contract disclosed in Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or required to be so disclosed pursuant to Section 3.13(a) (collectively, the “Material Contracts”) is in full force and effect and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

 

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(c) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of such Seller, any other party thereto is in default or breach under any Material Contract and, to the knowledge of such Seller, no event or circumstance has occurred, or would likely to occur, that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute any event of default thereunder.

(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has delegated any power or issued any powers of attorney in favor of any Person, other than powers of attorney issued to directors, officers, or employees of the Company or the Subsidiaries for purposes of executing contracts or agreements for and on behalf of the Company or such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business.

Section 3.14. No Litigation. Except for the litigation that has been notified to Buyer, there is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding (or any basis therefor) pending against, or to the knowledge of such Seller, threatened against or affecting, such Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets before (or, in the case of threatened actions, suits, investigations or proceedings, would be before) any Governmental Authority or arbitrator which, individually or in the aggregate, if determined or resolved adversely in accordance with the plaintiff’s demands, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.15. Compliance with Laws and Court Orders. Except as disclosed on Section 3.15 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, and has not since the inception of the Company or such Subsidiary violated, and to the knowledge of such Seller is not under investigation with respect to and has not been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any Applicable Law, except for violations that have not had and could not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. There is no judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any arbitrator or Governmental Authority outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or that in any manner seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.16. Properties. (a) All of the land and buildings currently owned or leased by the Company or the Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Real Properties”) are listed in Section 3.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule. Except for the Company Real Properties, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary directly or indirectly owns or leases any land or building. The current use, occupancy and operation of the Company Real Properties do not constitute any

 

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nonconforming use under any applicable construction, building, zoning, subdivision and other land use and similar Applicable Law.

(b) (i) The Company and each Subsidiary have valid title to, or in the case of leased property and assets have valid leasehold interests in, all property and assets (whether real, personal, tangible or intangible, other than Intellectual Property Rights) actually used by the Company or such Subsidiary, regardless of whether such property and assets are reflected on its balance sheet or acquired after the Balance Sheet Date, other than personal property disposed of in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) none of such property or assets is subject to any Lien. Shanghai WOFE is entitled to continue to use all the assets on the Balance Sheet free of charge, including the fixed assets in amount of RMB 300,000 purchased by Ctrip WOFE.

(c) All leases and sub-leases of the Company Real Properties that are listed in Section 3.16(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule are valid and binding obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and enforceable against each the Company or the applicable Subsidiary in accordance with their respective terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under any such leases or sub-leases and there does not exist under any such lease or sub-lease any event which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material default.

Section 3.17. Tax.

(a) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all national, provincial and local Tax Returns required to be filed under the Applicable Law and such Tax Returns were true and complete, and has paid all national, provincial and local Taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or its assets or properties, revenue or income or otherwise due and payable by the Company and the Subsidiaries, and have withheld and paid all individual income tax for its employees or contractors, in each case in accordance with the requirements of Applicable Law and the relevant Tax authorities. To the knowledge of such Seller, there is no proposed Tax assessment against the Company or any Subsidiary. There has been no claim in writing concerning any liability for Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary asserted, raised or threatened by any taxing authority.

(b) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has complied with, and currently complies with all conditions and terms of all subsidies, rebates, reductions, exemptions and other preferential treatment claimed by and/or given to the Company or such Subsidiary in respect of any Tax.

 

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(c) (i) The charges, accruals and reserves for Taxes with respect to each of the Company and the Subsidiaries reflected on the most recent audited Financial Statements are adequate to cover Tax liabilities as of the date of the most recent audited Financial Statements and all information set forth in such Financial Statements relating to Tax matters is true and complete, and (ii) since the date of the most recent Financial Statements, each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has not engaged in any transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business, that would materially impact any Tax asset (e.g., net operating or capital losses) or Tax liability of the Company or such Subsidiary.

Section 3.18. No Illegal or Improper Transactions.

(a) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee, nor to the knowledge of such Seller, any agent or representative of the Company or the Subsidiaries, has (i) taken any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, whether in the form of a bribe, kickback, rebate, payoff, influence payment or otherwise, to any Governmental Authority or any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or Controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office, all of the foregoing being referred to as “Government Officials”), or to any other person while knowing that all or some portion of the money or value was or will be offered, given or promised to a Governmental Authority or a Government Official, to influence official action or secure an improper advantage or (ii) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity.

(b) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has conducted their businesses in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the PRC Law on Anti-Unfair Competition adopted on September 2, 1993 (if applicable) and the Interim Rules on Prevention of Commercial Bribery issued by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce on November 15, 1996 (if applicable) and all other applicable anti-corruption laws.

Section 3.19. Intellectual Property. (a) Section 3.19(a) (i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of each of the registrations and applications for registrations and other material Intellectual Property Rights included in the Owned Intellectual Property Rights. True and complete copies of relevant registrations or application for registration, as applicable, have been made available to Buyer. Section 3.19(a) (ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of all material agreements (whether written or

 

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otherwise, including license agreements, research agreements, development agreements, distribution agreements, settlement agreements, consent to use agreements and covenants not to sue, but excluding licenses for personal computer software that are generally available on nondiscriminatory pricing terms and have an individual acquisition cost of $500 per seat or less) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound, granting or restricting any right to use, exploit or practice any Intellectual Property Rights. True and complete copies of such documents have been made available to Buyer.

(b) The Licensed Intellectual Property Rights and the Owned Intellectual Property Rights together constitute all the Intellectual Property Rights necessary to, or used or held for use in, the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and as proposed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be conducted. There exist no restrictions on the disclosure, use, license or transfer of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents will not alter, encumber, impair or extinguish any Owned Intellectual Property Rights or Licensed Intellectual Property Rights.

(c) None of such Seller, the Company and any Subsidiary has given to any Person an indemnity in connection with any Intellectual Property Right.

(d) None of the Company and its Subsidiaries has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property Right of any third person. There is no claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or, to the knowledge of such Seller, threatened against or affecting, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any present or former officer, director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) based upon, or challenging or seeking to deny or restrict, the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary in any of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights and the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights, (ii) alleging that the use of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights or the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights or any services provided, processes used or products manufactured, used, imported or sold by the Company or any Subsidiary do or may conflict with, misappropriate, infringe or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property Right of any third party or (iii) alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property Right of any third party. Except as set forth in Section 3.19(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company and any Subsidiary has received from any third party an offer to license any Intellectual Property Rights of such third party.

(e) None of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights and Licensed Intellectual Property Rights has been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole

 

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or part, and, to the knowledge of such Seller, all such Owned Intellectual Property Rights and Licensed Intellectual Property Rights are valid and enforceable.

(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries hold all right, title and interest in and to all Owned Intellectual Property Rights and all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ licenses under the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights, free and clear of any Lien. In each case where a patent or patent application, trademark registration or trademark application, service mark registration or service mark application, or copyright registration or copyright application included in the Owned Intellectual Property is held by assignment, the assignment has been duly recorded with the Governmental Authority from which the patent or registration issued or before which the application or application for registration is pending. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken all actions necessary to maintain and protect the Owned Intellectual Property Rights and their rights in the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights, including payment of applicable maintenance fees and filing of applicable statements of use, payment of royalties, filing of the license agreements and other relevant documents in respect of the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights with the Governmental Authorities (including the State Intellectual Property Office and the Trademark Office of SAIC) as required by the Applicable Law, where applicable.

(g) To the knowledge of such Seller, no Person has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Owned Intellectual Property Right or Licensed Intellectual Property Right. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain the confidentiality of all confidential Intellectual Property Rights. None of the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company or any Subsidiary that are material to the business or operation of the Company or any Subsidiary and the value of which to the Company or any Subsidiary is contingent upon maintaining the confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed other than to employees, representatives and agents of the Company or any Subsidiary all of whom are bound by written confidentiality agreements substantially in the form previously disclosed to Buyer.

(h) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to preserve and maintain reasonably complete notes and records relating to the Owned Intellectual Property Rights and the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights.

(i) With respect to pending applications and applications for registration of the Owned Intellectual Property Rights and the Licensed Intellectual Property Rights that are material to the business or operation of the Company or any Subsidiary, none of such Seller, the Company and any Subsidiary is aware of any reason that could reasonably be expected to prevent

 

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any such application or application for registration from being granted with coverage substantially equivalent to the latest amended version of the pending application or application for registration. None of the trademarks, service marks, applications for trademarks and applications for service marks included in the Owned Intellectual Property Rights that are material to the business or operation of the Company or any Subsidiary has been the subject of an opposition or cancellation procedure. None of the patents and patent applications included in the Owned Intellectual Property Rights that are material to the business or operation of the Company or any Subsidiary has been the subject of an interference, protest, public use proceeding or third party reexamination request.

Section 3.20. Insurance Coverage. Section 3.20 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all insurance policies relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers or directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries. Such Seller has made available to Buyer true and complete copies of all such insurance policies. There is no claim by the Company or any Subsidiary pending under any of such policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies. All premiums payable under all such policies have been timely paid and the Company and the Subsidiaries have otherwise complied fully with the terms and conditions of all such policies. Such policies are of the type and in amounts customarily carried by Persons conducting businesses similar to those of the Company or any Subsidiary. As of the date hereof, such Seller does not know of any threatened termination of, material premium increase with respect to, or material alteration of coverage under, any of such policies.

Section 3.21. Licenses and Permits.

(a) Section 3.21(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of each Consent issued to the Company or the Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority affecting, or relating in any way to, the assets or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Permits”) together with the name of the Governmental Authority issuing such Permit. True and complete copies of all Permits have been made available to Buyer prior to the date hereof. Except for the Consents set forth in Section 3.21(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no other Consents of any Governmental Authority (including the Consents relating to the qualifications of officers of the Company or the Subsidiaries) are necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, as currently conducted.

(b) The Permits are valid and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default under, and no condition exists that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default under, the Permits. To the knowledge of such Seller, there is no outstanding or anticipated investigation,

 

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enquiry or proceeding which would reasonably be expected to result in the suspension, cancellation, modification or revocation of any such Permits. None of the Permits will be terminated or impaired or become terminable, in whole or in part, as a result of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or other Transaction Documents. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all the terms and conditions of, or relating to, all such Permits and has not received any written or oral notice that it is in default under any of the terms and conditions of such Permits.

(c) Each holder or beneficial owner of any Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities, who is a PRC citizen or resident, have completed all necessary foreign exchange registrations with the SAFE required by the Applicable Laws for his or her direct or indirect holding of such Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities. None of such Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary has, nor, has any such holder or beneficial owner of any Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities, received any oral or written inquiries, notifications, orders or any other form of official correspondence from the SAFE with respect to any actual or alleged non-compliance with the Applicable Laws relating to foreign exchange registrations with the SAFE.

Section 3.22. Receivables. All accounts, notes receivable and other receivables (other than receivables collected since the Balance Sheet Date) reflected on the Balance Sheet are, and all accounts and notes receivable arising from or otherwise relating to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date will be, valid, genuine and fully collectible in the aggregate amount thereof, subject to normal and customary trade discounts, less any reserves for doubtful accounts recorded on the Balance Sheet. All accounts, notes receivable and other receivables arising out of or relating to such business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Balance Sheet Date have been included in the Balance Sheet. The receivable arising from franchise shall be collected no later than twelve months hereafter,

Section 3.23. Selling Documents. None of the documents or information delivered to Buyer in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not misleading. The financial projections relating to the Company or any Subsidiary delivered to Buyer are made in good faith and are based upon reasonable assumptions, and such Seller is not aware of any fact or set of circumstances that would lead it to believe that such projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect.

Section 3.24. Finders’ Fees. There is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on

 

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behalf of such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 3.25. Employees and Labor Matters.

(a) Section 3.25 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of the names, titles, annual salaries and other compensation of all officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all other employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Key Employees”).

(b) The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all currently Applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, and are not engaged in any unfair labor practice, failure to comply with which or engagement in which, as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no labor disputes or other disputes currently subject to any grievance procedure, arbitration or litigation with respect to any employee of the Company or the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability which remains outstanding for breach of any contract of employment or for services, for redundancy payments, protective awards or compensation, for wrongful or unfair dismissal, or for failure to comply with any order for the reinstatement or re-engagement of any employee or any other liability accruing from the termination of any contract of employment for services.

(c) The Company and the Subsidiaries have complied with Applicable Laws relating to social insurance and other benefits, including pension, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, birth and nursery insurance and unemployment insurance (collectively, the “Social Insurance”) and housing provident fund (together with Social Insurance, the “Benefits”). All contributions or payments required to be made or paid by the Company and the Subsidiaries or any of their employees to the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to any Benefit have been made or fully deducted, as applicable, and paid to on or before their due dates. None of the current incentive programs (whether equity-based or not) linked to the performance of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries conflicts with Applicable Laws of the PRC.

(d) Except as set forth on Section 3.25(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no employee or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary will become entitled to any bonus, retirement, severance, job security or similar benefit, or the enhancement of any such benefit (including acceleration of vesting or exercise of an incentive award), as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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Section 3.26. Xingyue Hui Documents. Section 3.26 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of all documents relating to the operation and membership of the membership club named “Xingyue Hui” including all the rules, regulations and policies with respect to membership and benefits and all membership data. Such Seller has made available to Buyer true and complete copies of all such documents prior to the date hereof.

Section 3.27. Representations. The representations and warranties of such Seller contained in this Agreement, disregarding all qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, are true and correct with only such exceptions as would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 4

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date that:

Section 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. Buyer is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction and has all corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.

Section 4.02. Corporate Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are within the corporate powers of Buyer and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which such Buyer is a party constitutes a valid and binding agreement of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with their respective terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity).

Section 4.03. Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby require no material action by or in respect of, or material filing with, any Governmental Authority.

Section 4.04. Noncontravention. The execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation of the

 

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transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) violate the memorandum and articles of association of Buyer or (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.03, violate any material Applicable Law.

Section 4.05. Purchase for Investment. Buyer is purchasing the Shares for investment for its own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. Buyer (either alone or together with its advisors) has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Shares and is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment. Whereas Buyer knows the option incentive plan in Company in advance. Buyer covenants that Buyer shall continue to perform the option incentive plan as the successor of Seller.

Section 4.06. Litigation. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending against, or to the knowledge of Buyer threatened against or affecting, Buyer before any arbitrator or any Governmental Authority which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.07 No Illegal or Improper Transactions.

(a) Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee, nor to the knowledge of such Buyer, any agent or representative of the Buyer or the Subsidiaries, has (i) taken any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, whether in the form of a bribe, kickback, rebate, payoff, influence payment or otherwise, to any Governmental Authority or any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or Controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office, all of the foregoing being referred to as “Government Officials”), or to any other person while knowing that all or some portion of the money or value was or will be offered, given or promised to a Governmental Authority or a Government Official, to influence official action or secure an improper advantage or (ii) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity.

(b) Each of the Buyer and the Subsidiaries has conducted their businesses in compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the PRC Law on Anti-Unfair Competition adopted on September 2, 1993 (if applicable) and the Interim Rules on Prevention of Commercial Bribery

 

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issued by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce on November 15, 1996 (if applicable) and all other applicable anti-corruption laws.

ARTICLE 5

COVENANTS OF SELLER

Seller agrees that:

Section 5.01. Conduct of the Company. From the date hereof until the Closing Date, each Seller shall cause each of the Company and the Subsidiaries to, conduct its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and use its best efforts to (i) preserve intact its present business organization, (ii) maintain in effect all of its licenses, permits, consents, franchises, approvals and authorizations, (iii) keep available the services of its directors, officers and key employees, (iv) maintain satisfactory relationships with its franchisees, customers, lenders, suppliers and other Persons having material business relationships with it, (v) manage its working capital (including the timing of collection of accounts receivable and of the payment of accounts payable and the management of inventory) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (vi) continue to make capital expenditures consistent with the capital expenditure budget for the Company and the Subsidiaries that has been made available to Buyer (the “Capex Budget”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or other Transaction Documents, neither Seller shall permit any of the Company or the Subsidiaries to:

(a) amend its Organizational Documents (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);

(b) split, combine or reclassify any capital shares of the Company or any Subsidiary or declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of the capital shares of the Company or any Subsidiary, or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any Company Securities or any Subsidiary Securities;

(c)(i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize the issuance, delivery or sale of, any Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities or (ii) amend any term of any Company Securities or any Subsidiary Securities (in each case, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise);

(d) sell, lease or otherwise transfer, or create or incur any Lien on, any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s assets (including Intellectual Property Rights), securities, properties, interests or businesses;

 

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(e) create, incur, assume, suffer to exist or otherwise be liable with respect to any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantees thereof;

(f) (i) enter into any agreement or arrangement that limits or otherwise restricts in any material respect the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates or any successor thereto or that could, after the Closing Date, limit or restrict in any material respect the Company, any Subsidiary, Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates, from engaging or competing in any line of business, in any location or with any Person or (ii) enter into, amend or modify in any material respect or terminate any Material Contract or otherwise waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(g) (i) grant or increase any severance or termination pay to (or amend any existing arrangement with) any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) increase benefits payable under any existing severance or termination pay policies or employment agreements, (iii) enter into any employment, deferred compensation or other similar agreement (or amend any such existing agreement) with any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) establish, adopt or amend (except as required by Applicable Law) any collective bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, thrift, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, compensation, stock option, restricted stock or other benefit plan or arrangement covering any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or (v) increase compensation, bonus or other benefits payable to any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary;

(h) change the Company’s methods of accounting, except as required by concurrent changes in GAAP, as agreed to by its independent public accountants;

(i) settle, or offer or propose to settle, (i) any material litigation, investigation, arbitration, proceeding or other claim involving or against the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any shareholder litigation or dispute against the Company or any of its officers or directors or (iii) any litigation, arbitration, proceeding or dispute that relates to the transactions contemplated hereby;

(j) make or change any Tax election, change any annual tax accounting period, adopt or change any method of tax accounting, amend any Tax Returns or file claims for Tax refunds, enter any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim, audit or assessment, or surrender any right to claim a Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax liability;

(k) take any action that would make any representation or warranty of Seller with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary hereunder, or omit to take

 

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any action necessary to prevent any representation or warranty of Seller with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary hereunder from being, inaccurate in any respect at, or as of any time before, the Closing Date; or

(l) agree, resolve or commit to do any of the foregoing.

Section 5.02. Access to Information; Confidentiality. (a) From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Seller will (i) give, and will cause the Company and each Subsidiary to give, Buyer, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives full access to the offices, properties, books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries and to the books and records of Seller relating to the Company and the Subsidiaries, (ii) furnish, and will cause the Company and each Subsidiary to furnish, to Buyer, its counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized representatives such financial and operating data and other information relating to the Company or any Subsidiary as such Persons may reasonably request and (iii) instruct the employees, counsel and financial advisors of such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary to cooperate with Buyer in its investigation of the Company or any Subsidiary. No investigation by Buyer or other information received by Buyer shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by Seller hereunder.

(b) After the Closing, Seller and their Affiliates will hold, and will use their best efforts to cause their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents to hold, in confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of law, all confidential documents and information concerning Buyer, the Company, the Subsidiaries and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (i) previously known on a nonconfidential basis by Seller, (ii) in the public domain through no fault of Seller or their Affiliates or (iii) later lawfully acquired by Seller from sources other than those related to its prior ownership of the Company and the Subsidiaries. The obligation of Seller and their Affiliates to hold any such information in confidence shall be satisfied if they exercise the same care with respect to such information as they would take to preserve the confidentiality of their own similar information.

Section 5.03. Key Employees. See attached Key Employees list as Section 3.25 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule hereto.

Section 5.04. Tax. All Covered Tax, if any, shall be borne, jointly and severally, by Seller. Seller agrees to timely pay and discharge all Covered Tax, if any, and to file all necessary documentations with respect to such Covered Tax if required by Applicable Law.

 

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Section 5.05. Notices of Certain Events. Seller shall promptly notify Buyer of:

(a) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(b) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(c) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or, to its knowledge threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting such Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.14 or that relate to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents;

(d) any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in this Agreement at any time during the term hereof that could reasonably be expected to cause the conditions set forth in Section 8.02(b) not to be satisfied; and

(e) any failure of such Seller to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder;

provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 5.05 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving that notice.

Section 5.06. Resignations. Seller will deliver to Buyer the resignations of all officers and directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries who will be officers, directors or employees of Seller or any of their Affiliates after the Closing Date from their positions with the Company or any Subsidiary at or prior to the Closing Date, which resignations shall be effective as of the Closing.

Section 5.07. Assistance/Action. Since Shanghai WFOE has not obtained all governmental licenses , caused all required operation items necessary for conduct of its current operations to be registered in its business license or done all required registrations in connection with its franchise business, which is a violation of PRC Laws and regulations , including without limitation, regulations issued by MOFCOM such as Regulation on the Administration of Commercial

 

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Franchise, the Administrative Measures on Filing of Commercial Franchise (2011 Amendment) and the Administrative Measures on Information Disclosure of Commercial Franchise. After the Closing, Seller, will assist all things necessary or desirable as requested by Buyer to ensure to cure any violations of and noncompliance with any Applicable Law that have been disclosed on Section 5.07 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.

Section 5.08. Noncompetition. (a) Seller agrees that for a period of 20 full years after the Closing Date, neither it nor any of its Affiliates shall:

(i) further directly engage in hotel franchise business, except existing investment and shareholding which have been disclosed.

(b) If any provision contained in this Section 5.08 shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Section 5.08, but this Section 5.08 shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. It is the intention of the parties that if any of the restrictions or covenants contained herein is held to cover a geographic area or to be for a length of time which is not permitted by applicable law, or in any way construed to be too broad or to any extent invalid, such provision shall not be construed to be null, void and of no effect, but to the extent such provision would be valid or enforceable under Applicable Law, a court of competent jurisdiction shall construe and interpret or reform this Section 5.08 to provide for a covenant having the maximum enforceable geographic area, time period and other provisions (not greater than those contained herein) as shall be valid and enforceable under such Applicable Law. Each Seller acknowledges that Buyer would be irreparably harmed by any breach of this and that there would be no adequate remedy at law or in damages to compensate Buyer for any such breach. Each Seller agrees that Buyer shall be entitled to injunctive relief requiring specific performance by such Seller of this, and such Seller consents to the entry thereof.

ARTICLE 6

COVENANTS OF BUYER

Buyer agrees that:

Section 6.01. Confidentiality. Prior to the Closing Date and after any termination of this Agreement, Buyer and its Affiliates will hold, and will use their best efforts to cause their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents to hold, in confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or by other

 

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requirements of law, all confidential documents and information concerning the Company or any Subsidiary furnished to Buyer or its Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (i) previously known on a nonconfidential basis by Buyer, (ii) in the public domain through no fault of Buyer or (iii) later lawfully acquired by Buyer from sources other than Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that Buyer may disclose such information to its officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement so long as such Persons are informed by Buyer of the confidential nature of such information and are directed by Buyer to treat such information confidentially. The obligation of Buyer and its Affiliates to hold any such information in confidence shall be satisfied if they exercise the same care with respect to such information as they would take to preserve the confidentiality of their own similar information. If this Agreement is terminated, Buyer and its Affiliates will, and will use their reasonable best efforts to cause their respective officers, directors, employees, accountants, counsel, consultants, advisors and agents to, destroy or deliver to Seller, upon request, all documents and other materials, and all copies thereof, obtained by Buyer or its Affiliates or on their behalf from Seller or the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement that are subject to such confidence.

ARTICLE 7

COVENANTS OF BUYER AND SELLER

Buyer and each Seller agree that:

Section 7.01. Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts; Further Assurances. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer and each Seller will use their commercially reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary or desirable under Applicable Laws to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) preparing and filing as promptly as practicable with any Governmental Authority or other third party all documentation to effect all necessary filings, notices, petitions, statements, registrations, submissions of information, applications and other documents and (ii) obtaining and maintaining all approvals, consents, registrations, permits, authorizations and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority or other third party that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that the parties hereto understand and agree that the commercially reasonable best efforts of any party hereto shall not be deemed to include (i) entering into any settlement, undertaking, consent decree, stipulation or agreement with any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) divesting or otherwise holding separate

 

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(including by establishing a trust or otherwise), or taking any other action (or otherwise agreeing to do any of the foregoing) with respect to any of its or the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates’ businesses, assets or properties. Each Seller and Buyer agree, and each Seller, prior to the Closing, and Buyer, after the Closing, agree to cause the Company and each Subsidiary, to execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and to take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate or implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, if required by any Applicable Antitrust Law, each of Buyer and Seller shall make an appropriate filing pursuant to any Applicable Antitrust Law with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable and in any event within 3 Business Days of the date hereof and to supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to any Applicable Antitrust Law and to take all other actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under such Applicable Antitrust Law as soon as practicable.

Section 7.02. Certain Filings. Seller and Buyer shall cooperate with one another (i) in determining whether any action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required, or any actions, consents, approvals or waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any material contracts, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) in taking such actions or making any such filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith and seeking timely to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers.

Section 7.03. Public Announcements. The parties agree to consult with each other before issuing any press release or making any public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and, except for any press releases and public statements the making of which may be required by Applicable Law or any listing agreement with any national securities exchange, will not issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation.

Section 7.04. Transfer Taxes. All transfer, stamp, documentary, sales, use, registration, value-added and other similar Taxes (including all applicable real estate transfer Taxes) (the “Transfer Taxes”) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be borne, as required by Applicable Law in effect as of the date hereof, by the applicable party hereto. Such party agrees to timely pay and discharge all Transfer Tax, if any, and to file all necessary documentation with respect to such Transfer Tax if required by

 

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Applicable Law in effect as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Transfer Taxes shall not include any Covered Tax.

ARTICLE 8

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

Section 8.01. Conditions to Obligations of Buyer and Seller. The obligations of Buyer and Seller to consummate the Closing are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) No provision of any Applicable Law shall prohibit the consummation of the Closing.

(b) All actions by or in respect of or filings with SAFE required to permit the consummation of the Closing shall have been taken, made or obtained.

Section 8.02. Conditions to Obligation of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

(a) Seller shall have performed and complied with in all material respects all of its covenants and agreements to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date under this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

(b) The representations and warranties of each Seller contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by such Seller pursuant hereto (A) that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such date, and (B) that are not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such time.

(c) All Consents of any Governmental Authority or of any other Person that are required to be obtained by Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and other Transaction Documents shall have been duly obtained and effective as of the Closing, and evidence thereof shall have been delivered to Buyer.

(d) All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions to be completed at the Closing and all documents incident thereto, including without limitation necessary board and shareholder

 

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approvals of Seller, the Company and the Subsidiaries, with respect to this Agreement and other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, shall have been completed, and Buyer shall have received all such counterpart original or other copies of such documents as it may reasonably request.

(e) Buyer shall have received a certificate signed by the authorized representative of each Seller to the effect set forth in Section 8.02(a) through Section 8.02(d).

(f) Buyer shall have received all documents it may reasonably request relating to the existence of Seller, the Company and the Subsidiaries and the authority of Seller for this Agreement.

(g) Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any event, occurrence or development of a state of circumstances or facts which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) All parties (other than Buyers) to each of the Transaction Documents other than this Agreement shall have duly, validly and irrevocably executed and delivered such Transaction Document and such Transaction Document shall remain effective and in full force.

(i) Each holder or beneficial owner of any Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities, who is a PRC citizen or resident, shall have completed all necessary foreign exchange registrations with the SAFE required by the Applicable Laws for his or her direct or indirect holding of such Company Securities or Subsidiary Securities.

(j) The Company and the Subsidiaries shall have made all contributions or payments required to be made or paid by the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective employees to the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to any Benefit.

(k) As of the date hereof, Seller should provide all documents which be required by due diligence materials list provided by Buyer, except for that have be provided.

(p) As of the date of the Closing, the right and obligation of 16 Franchise Agreements which engaged by Ctrip WOFE should be transferred to the Shanghai WOFE.

 

36


Section 8.03. Conditions to Obligation of Seller. The obligation of Seller to consummate the Closing is subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

(a) Buyer shall have performed and complied with in all material respects all of its covenants and agreements to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date under this Agreement or any other Transaction Documents to which it is a party.

(b) The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Buyer pursuant hereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such date.

(c) Seller shall have received a certificate signed by the authorized officer of Buyer to the effect set forth in Section 8.03(a) and Section 8.03(b).

(d) Buyer shall have received all consents, authorizations or approvals from the Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.03, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller, and no such consent, authorization or approval shall have been revoked.

(e) Seller shall have received all documents it may reasonably request relating to the existence of Buyer and the authority of Buyer for this Agreement, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller.

(f) The advance payment shall have paid to Seller set forth in Section2.02(c)(i).

ARTICLE 9

SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION

Section 9.01. Survival. The representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the Closing until the third anniversary of the Closing Date; provided that the representations and warranties in Sections 3.01 (Corporate Existence and Power), 3.02 (Corporate Authorization), 3.03 (Governmental Authorization), 3.04 (Noncontravention), 3.06 (Ownership of Shares), 3.17 (Tax), 3.24 (Finder’s Fees), 4.01 (Corporate Existence and Power) and 4.02 (Corporate Authorization) shall survive indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by law. The covenants and agreements of the parties hereto contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive

 

37


the Closing indefinitely or for the shorter period explicitly specified therein, except that for such covenants and agreements that survive for such shorter period, breaches thereof shall survive indefinitely or until the latest date permitted by law. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, any breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in respect of which indemnity may be sought under this Agreement shall survive the time at which it would otherwise terminate pursuant to the preceding sentences, if notice of the inaccuracy or breach thereof giving rise to such right of indemnity shall have been given to the party against whom such indemnity may be sought prior to such time.

Section 9.02. Indemnification. (a) Effective at and after the Closing, Seller hereby, jointly and severally, indemnifies Buyer, its Affiliates and their respective successors and assignees (each, a “Buyer Indemnitee”) against, and agrees to hold each of them harmless from any contingent liability (whether disclosed or not), any and all damage, loss, liability , payment, charge, judgment, interest, fine, penalty and expense (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ and other experts’ fees and expenses in connection with any action, suit or proceeding whether involving a third party claim or a claim solely between the parties hereto and any incidental, indirect or consequential damages, losses, liabilities or expenses, and any lost profits or diminution in value) (“Damages”), incurred or suffered by each Buyer Indemnitee arising or resulting from or related to any Warranty Breach or breach of covenant or agreement made or to be performed by Seller pursuant to this Agreement regardless of whether such Damages arise as a result of the negligence, strict liability or any other liability under any theory of law or equity of, or violation of any law by, any Buyer Indemnitee:

(i) any misrepresentation or breach of warranty determined, except with respect to Section 3.27, without regard to any qualification or exception contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect or any similar qualification or standard (each such misrepresentation and breach of warranty a “Warranty Breach”);

(ii) any breach of covenant or agreement made or to be performed by such Seller pursuant to this Agreement; or

(iii) any violation of or noncompliance with any Applicable Law that has been disclosed on Section 5.07 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule;

in each case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) regardless of whether such Damages arise as a result of the negligence, strict liability or any other liability under any theory of law or equity of, or violation of any law by, any Buyer Indemnitee.

(b) Effective at and after the Closing, Buyer hereby indemnifies each Seller, its Affiliates and their respective successors and assignees (each, a “Seller

 

38


Indemnitee”) against, and agrees to hold each of them harmless from, any and all Damages incurred or suffered by such Seller, any of its Affiliates or any of their respective successors and assignees arising or resulting from or related to any Warranty Breach or breach of covenant or agreement made or to be performed by Buyer pursuant to this Agreement regardless of whether such Damages arise as a result of the negligence, strict liability or any other liability under any theory of law or equity of, or violation of any law by, any Seller Indemnitee.

Section 9.03. Tax Indemnity. Effective at and after the Closing, each of the party hereby, jointly and severally, indemnifies the other party Indemnitee and harmless from, any Covered Tax, and to the extent applicable, any Transfer Taxes required to be borne by any party in accordance with Section 7.04 and, in each case, any Damages relating thereto (together, a “Covered Tax Loss”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Covered Tax Loss shall include any additional amount of tax payable by or losses suffered by the other party Indemnitee or the Company arising from the non-payment of, or the non-reporting by, any Seller Company of Taxes in connection with its obligations under Section 5.04 and Section 7.04 (to the extent applicable) in accordance with the terms thereof.

Section 9.04. Third Party Claim Procedures. (a) The party seeking indemnification under Section 9.02 (the “Indemnified Party”) agrees to give prompt notice in writing to the party against whom indemnity is to be sought (the “Indemnifying Party”) of the assertion of any claim or the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding by any third party (“Third Party Claim”) in respect of which indemnity may be sought under such Section. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail such Third Party Claim and the basis for indemnification (taking into account the information then available to the Indemnified Party). The failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

(b) The Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim, shall be entitled to control and appoint lead counsel for such defense, in each case at its own expense; provided that prior to assuming control of such defense, the Indemnifying Party must (i) acknowledge that it would have an indemnity obligation for the Damages resulting from such Third Party Claim as provided under this Article 9 and (ii) furnish the Indemnified Party with evidence that the Indemnifying Party has adequate resources to defend the Third Party Claim and fulfill its indemnity obligations hereunder.

(c) The Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume or maintain control of the defense of any Third Party Claim and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party if (i) the Indemnifying

 

39


Party does not deliver the acknowledgment referred to in Section 9.04(b)(i) within 30 days of receipt of notice of the Third Party Claim pursuant to Section 9.04(a), (ii) the Third Party Claim relates to or arises in connection with any criminal proceeding, action, indictment, allegation or investigation, (iii) the Indemnified Party reasonably believes an adverse determination with respect to the Third Party Claim would be materially detrimental to the reputation or future business prospects of the Indemnified Party or any of its affiliates, (iv) the Third Party Claim seeks an injunction or equitable relief against the Indemnified Party or any of its affiliates or (v) the Indemnifying Party has failed or is failing to prosecute or defend vigorously the Third Party Claim.

(d) If the Indemnifying Party shall assume the control of the defense of any Third Party Claim in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.04, the Indemnifying Party shall obtain the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) before entering into any settlement of such Third Party Claim.

(e) In circumstances where the Indemnifying Party is controlling the defense of a Third Party Claim in accordance with paragraphs (b) and (c) above, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim and to employ separate counsel of its choice for such purpose, in which case the fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the Indemnified Party; provided that in such event the Indemnifying Party shall pay the fees and expenses of such separate counsel (i) incurred by the Indemnified Party prior to the date the Indemnifying Party assumes control of the defense of the Third Party Claim or (ii) if representation of both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party by the same counsel would create a conflict of interest.

(f) Each party shall cooperate, and cause their respective affiliates to cooperate, in the defense or prosecution of any Third Party Claim and shall furnish or cause to be furnished such records, information and testimony, and attend such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials or appeals, as may be reasonably requested in connection therewith.

Section 9.05. Direct Claim Procedures. In the event an Indemnified Party has a claim for indemnity under Section 9.02 against an Indemnifying Party that does not involve a Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party agrees to give prompt notice in writing of such claim to the Indemnifying Party. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail such claim and the basis for indemnification (taking into account the information then available to the Indemnified Party). The failure to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party within 30 days following the receipt

 

40


of a notice with respect to any such claim that the Indemnifying Party disputes its indemnity obligation to the Indemnified Party for any Damages with respect to such claim, such Damages shall be conclusively deemed a liability of the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnifying Party shall promptly pay to the Indemnified Party any and all Damages arising out of such claim. If the Indemnifying Party has timely disputed its indemnity obligation for any Damages with respect to such claim, the parties shall proceed in good faith to negotiate a resolution of such dispute and, if not resolved through negotiations, such dispute shall be resolved by litigation in an appropriate court of jurisdiction determined pursuant to Section 11.07.

ARTICLE 10

TERMINATION

Section 10.01. Grounds for Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

(a) by mutual written agreement of Seller and Buyer;

(b) by either Seller or Buyer if the Closing shall not have been consummated on or before June 30, 2012 or

(c) by either Seller or Buyer if there shall be any Applicable Law that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibited or if consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby would violate any nonappealable final order, decree or judgment of any Governmental Authority having competent jurisdiction.

The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(c) shall give notice of such termination to the other party.

Section 10.02. Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated as permitted by Section 10.01, such termination shall be without liability of either party (or any shareholder, director, officer, employee, agent, consultant or representative of such party) to the other party to this Agreement; provided that if such termination shall result from the (i) willful failure of either party to fulfill a condition to the performance of the obligations of the other party, (ii) failure to perform a covenant of this Agreement or (iii) breach by either party hereto of any representation or warranty or agreement contained herein, such party shall be fully liable for any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the other party as a result of such failure or breach. The provisions of Section 6.01, 11.04, 11.06 and 11.07 shall survive any termination hereof pursuant to Section 10.01.

 

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ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission and electronic mail (“e-mail”) transmission, so long as a receipt of such e-mail is requested and received) and shall be given to,

if to Buyer, to:

China Lodging Group, Limited

No. 2266 Hongqiao Road

Changning District

Shanghai 200336

Attention: Mr. Yuewu Rong, Legal Director

Facsimile No.: 86-21-61959536

E-mail: ywrong@htinns.com

if to Seller, to:

C-Travel International Limited

Ctrip Building, No. 99 Fuquan Road,

Shanghai 200335

Attention: Mr. Aleck Yeung

Facsimile No.: 86-21-6239 3258

E-mail: qinyang@ctrip.com

or such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt and such day is a Business Day in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.

Section 11.02. Amendments and Waivers. (a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by each party to this Agreement, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

(b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of

 

42


any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

Section 11.03. Disclosure Schedule References.

Section 11.04. Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such cost or expense.

Section 11.05. Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each other party hereto; except that Buyer may transfer or assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or from time to time in part, to (i) one or more of its Affiliates at any time and (ii) after the Closing Date, to any Person; provided that no such transfer or assignment shall relieve Buyer of its obligations hereunder or enlarge, alter or change any obligation of any other party hereto or due to Buyer.

Section 11.06. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of Hong Kong, without regard to the conflicts of law rules.

Section 11.07. Arbitration. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination and the parties’ rights and obligations hereunder (each, a “Dispute”) shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration (the “Arbitration”) in the following manner:

(a) The Arbitration shall be administered by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”);

(b) The Arbitration shall be procedurally governed by the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as in force at the date on which the claimant party notifies the respondent party in writing (such notice, a “Notice of Arbitration”) of its intent to pursue Arbitration;

(c) The seat and venue of the Arbitration shall be Hong Kong and the language of the Arbitration shall be English;

(d) A Dispute subject to an Arbitration shall be determined by a panel of three (3) arbitrators (the “Tribunal”). One (1) arbitrator shall be nominated by the claimant party (and to the extent that there is more than one claimant party, by mutual agreement among the claimant parties) and one (1) arbitrator shall be

 

43


nominated by the respondent party (and to the extent that there is more than one respondent party, by mutual agreement among the respondent parties). The third arbitrator shall be jointly nominated by the claimant party’s and respondent party’s respectively nominated arbitrators and shall act as the presiding arbitrator. If the claimant party or the respondent party fails to nominate its arbitrator within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the Notice of Arbitration by the respondent party or the claimant and respondent parties’ nominated arbitrators fail to jointly nominate the presiding arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the nomination of the respondent—nominated arbitrator, either party to the Dispute may request the Chairperson of the HKIAC to appoint such arbitrator; and

(e) The parties agree that all documents and evidence submitted in the Arbitration (including any statements of case and any interim or final award, as well as the fact that an arbitral award has been made) shall remain confidential both during and after any final award that is rendered unless the parties otherwise agree in writing. The arbitral award is final and binding upon the parties to the Arbitration.

Section 11.08. Counterparts; Effectiveness; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by all of the other parties hereto. Until and unless each party has received a counterpart hereof signed by the other party hereto, this Agreement shall have no effect and no party shall have any right or obligation hereunder (whether by virtue of any other oral or written agreement or other communication). No provision of this Agreement is intended to confer any rights, benefits, remedies, obligations, or liabilities hereunder upon any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 11.09. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

Section 11.10. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such a

 

44


determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

Section 11.11. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any court, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

CHINA LODGING HOLDINGS (HK) LIMITED as Buyer

By:

  /s/ Qi Ji
  Name: Qi Ji
  Title:   Director


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

C-TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

By:

  /s/ Min Fan
  Name: Min Fan
  Title:   Director
EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

List of Subsidiaries

Directly-Owned Subsidiaries:

Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd. (PRC)

HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (PRC)

Yiju (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd. (PRC)

HanTing (Tianjin) Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. (PRC)

China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited (Hong Kong)

China Lodging Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Singapore)

Indirectly-Owned Subsidiaries:

1. 100% Owned Subsidiaries (all PRC companies)

 

1.1    Shanghai HanTing Decoration and Engineering Co., Ltd.
1.2    Shanghai Yiju Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.3    Shanghai Aiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.4    Shanghai Senting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.5    Shanghai Yuanting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.6    Shanghai Ningting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.7    Shanghai Guiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.8    Shanghai Yiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.9    Shanghai Songting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.10    Shanghai Xiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.11    Shanghai Jiating Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.12    Shanghai Hanhao Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.13    Shanghai Yuanting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.14    Shanghai Yangting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.15    Shanghai Baoting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.16    Shanghai Yaogu Shangwu Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.17    Shanghai Yanting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.18    Shanghai Changting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.19    Shanghai Changting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.20    Shanghai Qinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.21    Suzhou Lishan Senbao Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.22    Suzhou HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.23    Suzhou Lishan Yatai Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.24    Suzhou Yiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.25    Beijing Beixie Hongyun Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.26    Beijing Jiating Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.27    Beijing Dongting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.28    Beijing Anting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.29    Beijing Yueting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.30    Hangzhou Senting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.31    Hangzhou Yishitan Investment and Management Co., Ltd.
1.32    Hangzhou Qiuting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.33    Guangzhou Mengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.34    Guangzhou Meiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.35    Guangzhou Huiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.36    Tianjin Chengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.37    Tianjin Xingting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.38    Tianjin HanTing Xingkong Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.39    Tianjin Yiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.40    Wuhu HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.


1.41    Shenyang Maruika Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.42    Shenyang Futing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.43    Wuhan HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.44    Wuhan Changting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.45    Shenzhen HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.46    Shenzhen Shenting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.47    Kunshan Lishan Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.48    Ningbo Jiangdong Meijia City Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.49    Yiwu HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.50    Nanning HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.51    Nanjing Kexiang Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.52    Shanghai Hegao Hotel Management Co., Ltd
1.53    Xiamen Xiating Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.54    Zibo HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.55    Beijing HanTing Jiamei Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.56    Xi’an HanTing Fukai Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.57    Qingdao HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.58    Shanghai Lanting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.59    Shanghai baiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.60    Shanghai Jiangting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.61    Shanghai Zhenting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.62    Shanghai HanTing Guancheng Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.63    Chengdu HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.64    Shanghai Yiju Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.65    Wuxi Yiju Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.66    Hangzhou HanTing Kuaijie Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.67    Beijing Yaoting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.68    Beijing Xiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.69    Shanghai HanTing Service Apartment Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.70    Shanghai Meiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.71    Beijing HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.72    Beijing HanTing Ruijing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.73    Shanghai Yuyi Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.74    Shanghai Liansheng Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.75    Shanghai Yate Zhongtan Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.76    Shanghai Haoting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.77    Shanghai Luting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.78    Beijing Zhongting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.79    Taiyuan Xinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.80    Nanchang Yinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.81    Nantong Botong Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.82    Taiyuan Ruiting Yingze Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.83    Shanghai Yate Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.84    Shanghai Rongting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.85    Shanghai Minting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.86    HanTing Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
1.87    Hanting (Shanghai) Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
1.88    Xiamen Tingju Hotel Co., Ltd
1.89    Shanghai Pengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.90    Nanjing Futing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.91    Suzhou Yongchangjiahe Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.92    Hangzhou Anting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.93    Dalian Yuanyang Sikelai Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.94    Guangzhou Chengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.95    Guangzhou Xiuting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.96    Hangzhou Muting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.


1.97    Shanghai Xinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.98    Xiamen Jiangting Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.99    Hanting Hesheng (Suzhou) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.100    Guangzhou Shangbin Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.101    Baotoushi Anting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.102    Huazhu Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.103    Shanghai Yinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.104    Xi’an Fengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.105    Shanghai Lingting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.106    Xiamen Wuting Hotel Co., Ltd.
1.107    Nanjing Ningru Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.108    Nanjing Yangting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.109    Beijing Duoting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.
1.110    Wuhu Yinting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

2. Majority-Owned Subsidiaries (all PRC companies unless otherwise stated)

 

2.1     

Beijing HanTing Shengshi Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 80% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.2   

Beijing HanTing Dongfang Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 99% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.3   

Hangzhou Hemei HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 65% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.4   

Hangzhou Heju HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 65% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.5   

Hangzhou Heting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 65% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.6   

Shanghai Kailin Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 65% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.7   

Nantong HanTing Zhongcheng Hotel Co., Ltd.

– 95% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.8   

Chengdu HanTing Yangchen Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 51% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.9   

Shenyang HanTing Yonglun Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 60% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.10   

Suzhou Kangjia Shangwu Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 51% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.11   

Wuxi HanTing Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 55% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.12   

Taiyuan HanTing Jiangnan Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 55% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.13   

Shenzhen HanTing Shiji Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 90% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.14   

Changsha Changting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 51% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.15   

Guilin Lishan Huiming Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 79% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.16   

Shanghai HuiGu GangWan Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 65% equity interests owned by HanTing Xingkong (Shanghai) Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

2.17   

Shanghai Huiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 55.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.18   

Shanghai Yuanting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 95.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.19   

Xi’an Shengting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.


2.20   

Chongqing Yiting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.21   

Xi’an Bangting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.22   

Nanjing Leting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 80% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.23   

Shanghai Suting Hotel Management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.24   

Xianyang Dingcheng Hanting Hotel Co., Ltd.

– 60.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.25   

Urumqi Qiting Hotel management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.26   

Urumqi Luting Hotel management Co., Ltd.

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.27   

Chengdu Changting Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 80.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.28   

Chengdu Yuting Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 60.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.29   

Baoding Lianting Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.30   

Guangxi Nanning Leting Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 60.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.31   

Wuhushi Ronghe Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 99.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.32   

Wuhu Jiangting Hotel management Co., Ltd

– 98.00% equity interests owned by Shanghai HanTing Hotel Management Group, Ltd.

2.33   

Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Limited (Hong Kong)

– 51.00% equity interests owned by China Lodging Holdings (HK) Limited

2.34   

Starway Hotel Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

– 100.00% equity interests owned by Starway Hotels (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd.

EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

Certification Pursuant to

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

I, Qi Ji, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of China Lodging Group, Limited;

 

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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report 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 the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (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: April 23, 2013

 

By:   /s/ Qi Ji
 

Name: Qi Ji

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

EX-12.2

Exhibit 12.2

Certification Pursuant to

Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley-Act of 2002

I, Min (Jenny) Zhang, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of China Lodging Group, Limited;

 

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)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and 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) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report 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 the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (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: April 23, 2013

 

By:   /s/ Min (Jenny) Zhang
 

Name: Min (Jenny) Zhang

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

EX-13.1

Exhibit 13.1

Certification Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

April 23, 2013

The certification set forth below is being submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “Report”) of China Lodging Group, Limited (the “Company”) for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

Qi Ji, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Min (Jenny) Zhang, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each certifies that, to the best of his or her knowledge:

 

  1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

 

  2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

  /s/ Qi Ji
 

Name: Qi Ji

Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

  /s/ Min (Jenny) Zhang
 

Name: Min (Jenny) Zhang

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

EX-15.1

Exhibit 15.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-166179 on Form S-8 of our reports dated April 23, 2013, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules of China Lodging Group, Limited, and the effectiveness of China Lodging Group, Limited’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F of China Lodging Group, Limited for the year ended December 31, 2012.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP

Shanghai, China

April 23, 2013