UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

___________________

 

FORM 6-K

 

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of March 2015

 

Commission File Number: 001-14550

 

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited

———————————————————————————————————

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Board Secretariat’s Office

Kong Gang San Lu, Number 88

Shanghai, China 200335

———————————————————————————————————

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:  x Form 20-F    ¨ Form 40-F

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:  ¨ Yes    x No

 

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):    n/a 

 

 
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

                   China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited
                                       (Registrant)
         
Date   March 27, 2015   By    /s/ Wang Jian
        Name: Wang Jian
        Title: Joint Company Secretary

 

 
 

 

Certain statements contained in this announcement may be regarded as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual performance, financial condition or results of operations of the Company to be materially different from any future performance, financial condition or results of operations implied by such forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this announcement represent the Company's views as of the date of this announcement. While the Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's views to change, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, unless required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this announcement.

 

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

 

 

2014 ANNUAL RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT

 

The board of directors (the “Board”) of China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (the “Company” or “CEA”) announces the audited consolidated financial results of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Group”) prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) for the year ended 31 December 2014 with comparative figures for the year 2013 as follows.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

A.PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH IFRS

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the year ended 31 December 2014

 

      2014   2013 
   Notes  RMB million   RMB million 
            
Revenues  4   90,185    88,245 
Other operating income  6   3,685    2,725 
              
Operating expenses             
Aircraft fuel      (30,238)   (30,681)
Gain on fair value movements of derivative financial instruments  7   11    18 
Take-off and landing charges      (9,440)   (9,190)
Depreciation and amortisation      (9,183)   (8,226)
Wages, salaries and benefits      (11,270)   (13,454)
Aircraft maintenance      (4,453)   (4,690)
Impairment charges      (12)   (186)
Food and beverages      (2,364)   (2,268)
Aircraft operating lease rentals      (4,502)   (4,605)
Other operating lease rentals      (637)   (679)
Selling and marketing expenses      (4,120)   (4,139)
Civil aviation development fund      (1,656)   (1,566)
Ground services and other expenses      (4,998)   (5,105)
Indirect operating expenses      (4,950)   (4,623)
              
Total operating expenses      (87,812)   (89,394)

 

1
 

  

      2014   2013 
   Notes  RMB million   RMB million 
            
Operating profit      6,058    1,576 
Share of results of associates      91    38 
Share of results of joint ventures      36    27 
Finance income  8   88    2,125 
Finance costs  9   (2,160)   (1,549)
              
Profit before income tax      4,113    2,217 
Income tax expense  10   (573)   (124)
              
Profit for the year      3,540    2,093 
              
Other comprehensive income for the year             
              
Other comprehensive income/(loss) to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:             
Cash flow hedges, net of tax      (11)   246 
Fair value movements of available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax      13    157 
Fair value movements of available-for-sale financial assets held by an associate, net of tax      (1)   (3)
              
Net other comprehensive income to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods      1    400 
              
Other comprehensive income/(loss) not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:             
Actuarial (losses)/gains on the post- retirement benefit obligations, net of tax      (333)   467 
              
Net other comprehensive income/(loss) not to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods      (333)   467 
              
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax      (332)   867 
              
Total comprehensive income for the year      3,208    2,960 

 

2
 

 

      2014   2013 
   Notes  RMB million   RMB million 
            
Profit/(loss) attributable to:             
Equity shareholders of the Company      3,410    2,373 
Non-controlling interests      130    (280)
              
Profit for the year      3,540    2,093 
              
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to:             
Equity shareholders of the Company      3,071    3,180 
Non-controlling interests      137    (220)
              
Total comprehensive income for the year      3,208    2,960 
              
Earnings per share attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company during the year             
– Basic and diluted (RMB)  12   0.27    0.20 
              
Dividends  11        

 

3
 

  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

31 December 2014

 

      31 December   31 December 
      2014   2013 
   Notes  RMB million   RMB million 
            
Non-current assets             
Intangible assets      11,500    11,490 
Property, plant and equipment      109,439    92,783 
Lease prepayments      2,206    2,155 
Advanced payments on acquisition of aircraft      20,260    16,296 
Investments in associates      1,086    1,064 
Investments in joint ventures      505    433 
Available-for-sale financial assets      433    411 
Other long-term assets      1,957    2,369 
Deferred tax assets      170    389 
Derivative financial instruments      30    68 
              
       147,586    127,458 
              
Current assets             
Flight equipment spare parts      2,259    2,305 
Trade receivables  13   3,862    3,525 
Prepayments and other receivables      6,394    4,058 
Derivative financial instruments      5     
Restricted bank deposits and short-term bank deposits      38    383 
Cash and cash equivalents      1,355    1,995 
Assets classified as held for sale      4,330    344 
              
       18,243    12,610 
              
Current liabilities             
Sales in advance of carriage      5,064    3,535 
Trade and bills payable  14   2,083    3,463 
Other payables and accruals      19,215    18,146 
Current portion of obligations under finance leases      4,596    2,980 
Current portion of borrowings      28,676    23,285 
Income tax payable      229    216 
Current portion of provision for return condition checks for aircraft under operating leases      1,267    1,454 
Derivative financial instruments          3 
              
       61,130    53,082 
              
Net current liabilities      (42,887)   (40,472)
              
Total assets less current liabilities      104,699    86,986 

 

4
 

 

   31 December   31 December 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Non-current liabilities          
Obligations under finance leases   34,099    20,155 
Borrowings   30,513    27,315 
Provision for return condition checks for aircraft under operating leases   2,617    2,763 
Other long-term liabilities   2,756    2,402 
Post-retirement benefit obligations   2,822    5,615 
Deferred tax liabilities   26    30 
Derivative financial instruments   95    124 
           
    72,928    58,404 
           
Net asset   31,771    28,582 
           
Equity          
Capital and reserves attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company          
– Share capital   12,674    12,674 
– Reserves   17,300    14,228 
           
    29,974    26,902 
           
Non-controlling interests   1,797    1,680 
           
Total equity   31,771    28,582 

 

5
 

  

Notes:

 

1.CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited (the “Company”), a joint stock company limited by shares, was incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) on 14 April 1995. The address of the Company’s registered office is 66 Airport Street, Pudong International Airport Shanghai, the PRC. The Company and its subsidiaries (together, the “Group”) are principally engaged in the operation of civil aviation, including the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery, tour operations and other extended transportation services.

 

The Company is majority owned by China Eastern Air Holding Company (“CEA Holding”), a state-owned enterprise incorporated in the PRC.

 

The Company’s shares are traded on Shanghai Stock Exchange, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and The New York Stock Exchange.

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

The financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board. These financial statements also comply with the applicable requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance relating to the preparation of financial statements, which for this financial year and the comparative period continue to be those of the predecessor Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32), in accordance with transitional and saving arrangements for Part 9 of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), “Accounts and Audit”, which are set out in sections 76 to 87 of Schedule 11 to that Ordinance. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of available-for-sale financial assets and financial assets and financial liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value through profit or loss.

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by approximately RMB42.89 billion. In preparing the financial statements, the Board conducts adequate and detailed review over the Group’s going concern ability based on the current financial situation.

 

The Board has taken active actions to deal with the situation that current liabilities exceeded its current assets, and the Board is confident that they have obtained adequate credit facility from the banks to support the floating capital. As at 31 December 2014, the Group had total unutilised credit facilities amounted to approximately RMB44 billion from banks.

 

Based on the bank facility obtained by the Group, its past record of financing and the good working relationship with major banks and financial institutions, the Board considers that the Group will be able to obtain sufficient financing to enable it to operate, as well as to meet its liabilities as and when they become due, and the capital expenditure requirements for the upcoming twelve months. Accordingly, the Board believes that it is appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern basis without including any adjustments that would be required should the Company and the Group fail to continue as a going concern.

 

6
 

 

3.ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

New and amended standards adopted by the Group

 

The Group has adopted the following revised standards and new interpretation for the first time for the current year’s financial statements.

  

Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and IAS 27 (2011)   Investment Entities
Amendments to IAS 32   Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
Amendments to IAS 39   Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting
IFRIC-Int 21   Levies
Amendment to IFRS 2 included in Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle   Definition of Vesting Condition
Amendment to IFRS 3 included in Annual Improvements 2010-2012 Cycle   Accounting for Contingent Consideration in a Business Combination
Amendment to IFRS 13 included in Annual Improvements 2010-2012   Short-term Receivables and Payables
Amendment to IFRS 1 included in Annual Improvements 2011-2013 Cycle   Meaning of Effective IFRSs

 

The above new and amended standards have had no material impact on the Group.

 

4REVENUES

 

The Group is principally engaged in the operation of civil aviation, including the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery, tour operations and other extended transportation services.

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Traffic revenues   82,589    80,531 
– Passenger   75,261    72,928 
– Cargo and mail   7,328    7,603 
Tour operations income   3,047    3,169 
Ground service income   2,168    2,253 
Cargo handling income   286    263 
Commission income   94    93 
Others   2,001    1,936 
           
    90,185    88,245 

 

Notes:

 

Before 1 January 2012, the major elements of the Group’s revenues were subject to business tax levied at rates of 3% or 5%. The Group’s revenues from the provision of international transportation services are exempted from business tax from 1 January 2010, pursuant to the notice of exemption of business tax on the provision of international transportation services (Cai Shui [2010] No. 8) jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (“MoF”) and the State Administration of Taxation of the PRC (“SAT”).

 

Pursuant to the notice of the pilot programme for the transformation of transportation and certain modern service industries from BT to VAT in all locations of China (Cai Shui [2013] No.37) issued by MoF and SAT, traffic revenue and other revenues (including ground service income, cargo handling income, commission income and part of others) generated by all provinces/cities of China are subjected to VAT levied at rates of 11% or 6% from 1 August 2013, instead of BT.

 

7
 

 

5SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

(a)CODM, office of the General Manager, reviews the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess performance and allocate resources.

 

The Group has one reportable operating segment, reported as “airline transportation operations”, which comprises the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground service and cargo handling income.

 

Other services including primarily tour operations, air catering and other miscellaneous services are not included within the airline transportation operations segment, as their internal reports are separately provided to the CODM. The results of these operations are included in the “other segments” column.

 

Inter-segment transactions are entered into under normal commercial terms and conditions that would be available to unrelated third parties.

 

In accordance with IFRS 8, segment disclosure has been presented in a manner that is consistent with the information used by the Group’s CODM. The Group’s CODM monitors the results, assets and liabilities attributable to each reportable segment based on financial results prepared under the PRC Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises (“PRC Accounting Standards”), which differ from IFRS in certain aspects. The amount of each material reconciling items from the Group’s reportable segment revenue and profit or loss, arising from different accounting policies are set out in Note 5(c) below.

 

The segment results for the year ended 31 December 2014 were as follows:

 

   Airline                 
   transportation   Other             
   operations   segments   Elimination   Unallocated*   Total 
   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million 
                     
Reportable segment revenue from external customers   86,031    3,715            89,746 
Inter-segment sales       343    (343)        
                          
Reportable segment revenue   86,031    4,058    (343)       89,746 
                          
Reportable segment profit before income tax   3,946    32        142    4,120 
                          
Other segment information                         
                          
Depreciation and amortisation   9,604    131            9,735 
Impairment charges   20    2            22 
Interest income   61    27            88 
Finance expenses   1,707    250            1,957 
Capital expenditure   35,922    464            36,386 

 

8
 

 

The segment results for the year ended 31 December 2013 were as follows:

 

   Airline                 
   transportation   Other             
   operations   segments   Elimination   Unallocated*   Total 
   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million 
                   Restated** 
                     
Reportable segment revenue from external customers   84,248    3,861            88,109 
Inter-segment sales       258    (258)        
                          
Reportable segment revenue   84,248    4,119    (258)       88,109 
                          
Reportable segment profit before income tax   2,044    93        68    2,205 
                          
Other segment information                         
                          
Depreciation and amortisation   8,470    244            8,714 
Impairment charges/(reversal)   186    (2)           184 
Interest income   99    49            148 
Finance expenses   1,368    180            1,548 
Capital expenditure   24,756    310            25,066 

 

The segment assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013 were as follows:

 

   Airline                 
   transportation   Other             
   operations   segments   Elimination   Unallocated*   Total 
   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million   RMB million 
                     
At 31 December 2014                         
Reportable segment assets   156,786    8,679    (3,947)   2,024    163,542 
Reportable segment liabilities   130,696    7,306    (3,947)       134,055 
                          
At 31 December 2013 (Restated**)                         
Reportable segment assets   133,311    7,309    (4,682)   1,908    137,846 
Reportable segment liabilities   109,792    6,416    (4,682)       111,526 

 

*Unallocated assets primarily represent investments in associates and joint ventures, and available-for-sale financial assets. Unallocated results primarily represent the share of results of associates and joint ventures, and available-for-sale financial assets.

 

9
 

 

(b)The Group’s business segments operate in three main geographical areas, even though they are managed on a worldwide basis.

 

The Group’s revenues by geographical areas are analysed based on the following criteria:

 

1)Traffic revenue from services within the PRC (excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”), Macau Special Administrative Region (“Macau”) and Taiwan, (collectively known as “Regional”)) is classified as domestic operations. Traffic revenue from inbound and outbound services between overseas markets excluding Regional is classified as international operations.
  
2)Revenue from ticket handling services, ground services, cargo handling service and other miscellaneous services are classified on the basis of where the services are performed.

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Domestic (the PRC, excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)   60,531    59,563 
Regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan)   3,799    3,911 
International   25,855    24,771 
           
Total   90,185    88,245 

 

The major revenue-earning assets of the Group are its aircraft, all of which are registered in the PRC. Since the Group’s aircraft a re deployed flexibly across its route network, there is no suitable basis of allocating such assets and the related liabilities by geographic areas and hence segment non-current assets and capital expenditure by geographic areas are not presented. Except the aircraft, most non-current assets (except financial instruments) are registered in the PRC.

 

(c)Reconciliation of reportable segment revenue, profit, assets and liabilities to the consolidated figures as reported in the consolidated financial statements:

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated** 
         
Revenue        
Reportable segment revenue   89,746    88,109 
– Reclassification of business tax and expired sales in advance of carriage   521    236 
– Adjustment of business combination under common control   (82)   (100)
           
Consolidated revenue   90,185    88,245 

 

10
 

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated** 
         
Profit before income tax          
Reportable segment profit   4,120    2,205 
– Differences in depreciation charges for aircraft and engines due to different depreciation lives   (4)   (3)
– Adjustments of business combination under common control   (3)   15 
           
Consolidated profit before income tax   4,113    2,217 

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated** 
         
Assets          
Reportable segment assets   163,542    137,846 
– Differences in depreciation charges for aircraft and engines due to different depreciation lives   45    49 
– Difference in intangible asset arising from the acquisition of Shanghai Airlines   2,242    2,242 
– Adjustments of business combination under common control       (69)
           
Consolidated assets   165,829    140,068 

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated** 
         
Liabilities          
Reportable segment liabilities   134,055    111,526 
– Adjustments of business combination under common control   3    (40)
           
Consolidated liabilities   134,058    111,486 

 

**In 2014, the Group acquired a subsidiary which was under common control of CEA Holding. The acquisition of this subsidiary under common control has been accounted for using the merger method of accounting in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared under PRC Accounting Standards.

 

The merger method of accounting involves incorporating the financial statement items of the consolidating entities or businesses in which the common control combination occurs as if they had been consolidated from the date when the consolidating entities or businesses first came under the control of the controlling party.

 

Hence, the financial statement items of the Group prepared under PRC Accounting Standards as at 31 December 2013 were restated to reflect the inclusion of the acquiree, resulting in the restatement of the corresponding information in the Group’s reportable segment as at 31 December 2013 and for the year then ended as shown above.

 

11
 

 

6OTHER OPERATING INCOME

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Other operating income          
– Subsidy income (Note)   3,627    2,369 
– Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment   58    356 
           
    3,685    2,725 

 

Note:

 

Subsidy income represent (i) subsidies granted by various local governments based on certain amount of tax paid; and (ii) subsidies granted by various local governments and other parties to encourage the Group to operate certain routes to cities where these governments are located.

 

There are no unfulfilled conditions and other contingencies related to subsidies that were recognised for the years ended 31 December 2014 and 2013.

 

7GAIN ON FAIR VALUE MOVEMENTS OF DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Gain arising from fair value movements of derivative financial instruments          
– Interest rate swap contract   11    16 
– Others       2 
           
    11    18 

 

8FINANCE INCOME

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Exchange gains, net       1,977 
Interest income   88    148 
           
    88    2,125 

 

12
 

 

9FINANCE COSTS

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Interest on bank borrowings   1,257    1,191 
Interest relating to obligations under finance leases and post-retirement benefits   722    335 
Interest on bonds and debentures   509    339 
Interest relating to bills payable   92    75 
           
    2,580    1,940 
           
Exchange losses, net (Note(b))   203     
           
Less: amounts capitalised into advanced payments on acquisition of aircraft (Note(a))   (606)   (385)
  amounts capitalised into construction in progress (Note(a))   (17)   (6)
           
    2,160    1,549 

 

Note:

 

(a)The average interest rate used for interest capitalisation was 2.69% per annum for the year ended 31 December 2014 (2013: 2.75%).

 

(b)The exchange losses primarily related to the translation of the Group’s foreign currency denominated borrowings and obligations under finance leases.

 

10INCOME TAX EXPENSE

 

Income tax charged to the consolidated profit or loss is as follows:

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Provision for PRC income tax   484    347 
Deferred taxation   89    (223)
           
    573    124 

 

Pursuant to the “Notice of the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and the General Administration of Customs on Issues Concerning Relevant Tax Policies for Enhancing the Implementation of Western Region Development Strategy” (Cai Shui [2011] No.58), and other series of tax regulations, the enterprises, located in the western regions and engaged in the industrial activities as listed in the “Catalogue of Encourage d Industries in Western Regions”, will be entitled to a reduced income tax rate of 15% from 2011 to 2020 upon approval from tax authorities. In 2012, China Eastern Yunnan Airlines Co., Ltd. (“CEA Yunnan”), a subsidiary of the Group, obtained approval from tax authorities and enjoys the reduced tax rate of 15% from 1 January 2011.

 

The Company and subsidiaries except for those incorporated in Hong Kong, which are subject to Hong Kong corporate income tax rate of 16.5% (2013: 16.5%), are generally subject to the PRC standard corporate tax rate of 25% (2013: 25%).

 

13
 

 

11DIVIDENDS

 

The Board has not recommended any dividend for the year ended 31 December 2014 (2013: Nil).

 

12EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

The calculation of basic earnings per share was based on the profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company of RMB3,410 million (2013: RMB2,373 million) and the weighted average number of shares of 12,674,269,000 (2013: 12,091,881,000) in issue during the year ended 31 December 2014. The Company had no potentially dilutive options or other instruments relating to the ordinary shares.

 

13TRADE RECEIVABLES

 

The credit terms given to trade customers are determined on an individual basis.

 

The aging analysis of trade receivables was as follows:

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Within 90 days   1,539    2,772 
91 to 180 days   1,774    610 
181 to 365 days   456    148 
Over 365 days   299    193 
           
    4,068    3,723 
Less: provision for impairment of receivables   (206)   (198)
           
Trade receivables   3,862    3,525 

 

14TRADE AND BILLS PAYABLE

 

The aging analysis of trade payables and bills payable was as follows:

 

   Group 
   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
         
Within 90 days   764    2,310 
91 to 180 days   309    245 
181 to 365 days   240    416 
1 to 2 years   420    172 
Over 2 years   350    320 
           
    2,083    3,463 

 

14
 

 

B.PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRC ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT OR LOSS

For the year ended 31 December 2014

 

   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated* 
         
Revenue   89,746    88,109 
Less:  Cost of operation   (79,645)   (80,455)
Taxes and surcharges   (107)   (305)
Selling and distribution expenses   (5,788)   (5,909)
General and administrative expense   (2,451)   (2,838)
Finance expenses, net   (2,286)   440 
Impairment loss   (22)   (184)
Add:   Fair value gain   11    18 
Investment income   142    68 
           
Operating profit   (400)   (1,056)
Add:   Non-operating income   4,609    3,319 
Less:  Non-operating expenses   (89)   (58)
           
Total profit   4,120    2,205 
Less:  Income tax   (573)   (126)
           
Net profit   3,547    2,079 
           
Attribute to:          
– Equity shareholders of the Company   3,417    2,358 
– Non-controlling interests   130    (279)
           
    3,547    2,079 

 

15
 

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

For the year ended 31 December 2014

 

   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated* 
         
Assets          
Current assets   18,243    12,683 
Long-term investment   1,591    1,494 
Fixed assets and construction in progress   129,654    109,029 
Goodwill   9,028    9,028 
Intangible assets and non-current assets   4,856    5,223 
Deferred tax assets   170    389 
           
Total assets   163,542    137,846 
           
Liabilities and equity          
Current liabilities   61,127    53,122 
Non-current liabilities   72,902    58,374 
Deferred tax liabilities   26    30 
           
Total Liabilities   134,055    111,526 
           
Equity shareholders of the Company   27,696    24,646 
Non-controlling interests   1,791    1,674 
           
Total equity   29,487    26,320 
           
Total liabilities and equity   163,542    137,846 

 

16
 

 

C.SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IFRS AND PRC ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated* 
         
Consolidated profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company          
           
As stated in accordance with PRC          
Accounting Standards   3,417    2,358 
           
Impact of IFRS and other adjustments:          
– Difference in depreciation charges for aircraft and engines due to different depreciation lives and revaluation   (4)   (3)
– Adjustment of business combination under common control   (3)   18 
           
As stated in accordance with IFRS   3,410    2,373 

 

   2014   2013 
   RMB million   RMB million 
       Restated* 
         
Consolidated net assets attributable to equity shareholders of the Company          
           
As stated in accordance with PRC          
Accounting Standards   27,696    24,646 
           
Impact of IFRS and other adjustments:          
– Intangible assets(goodwill)   2,242    2,242 
– Difference in depreciation charges for aircraft and engines due to different depreciation lives and revaluation   45    49 
– Adjustment of business combination under common control       (29)
– Non-controlling interests   (6)   (6)
– Others   (3)    
           
As stated in accordance with IFRS   29,974    26,902 

 

*In 2014, the Group acquired a subsidiary which was under common control of CEA Holding. The acquisition of this subsidiary under common control has been accounted for using the merger method of accounting in the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared under PRC Accounting Standards.

 

The merger method of accounting involves incorporating the financial statement items of the consolidating entities or businesses in which the common control combination occurs as if they had been consolidated from the date when the consolidating entities or businesses first came under the control of the controlling party.

 

17
 

 

Hence, the financial statement items of the Group prepared under PRC Accounting Standards as at 31 December 2013 were restated to reflect the inclusion of the acquiree.

 

SUMMARY OF SELECTED OPERATING DATA

 

   As at 31 December     
   2014   2013   Change 
             
Capacity               
ATK (available tonne – kilometres) (millions)   22,538.50    21,714.78    3.79%
– Domestic routes   12,025.72    11,572.95    3.91%
– International routes   9,703.57    9,377.23    3.48%
– Regional routes   809.21    764.60    5.83%
                
ASK (available seat – kilometres) (millions)   160,585.07    152,075.22    5.60%
– Domestic routes   110,381.01    104,459.31    5.67%
– International routes   44,445.16    42,181.19    5.37%
– Regional routes   5,758.90    5,434.72    5.96%
                
AFTK (available freight tonne – kilometres) (millions)   8,085.84    8,028.01    0.72%
– Domestic routes   2,091.43    2,171.61    -3.69%
– International routes   5,703.50    5,580.93    2.20%
– Regional routes   290.91    275.47    5.60%
                
Hours flown (thousands)   1,625.14    1,540.39    5.50%
                
Traffic               
RTK (revenue tonne – kilometres) (millions)   16,122.38    15,551.78    3.67%
– Domestic routes   8,726.35    8,321.46    4.87%
– International routes   6,883.12    6,749.46    1.98%
– Regional routes   512.91    480.85    6.67%
                
RPK (revenue passenger – kilometres) (millions)   127,749.87    120,461.13    6.05%
– Domestic routes   88,191.50    82,811.97    6.50%
– International routes   35,191.49    33,600.01    4.74%
– Regional routes   4,366.89    4,049.14    7.85%
                
RFTK (revenue freight tonne – kilometres) (millions)   4,802.43    4,857.18    -1.13%
– Domestic routes   898.69    959.29    -6.32%
– International routes   3,776.09    3,774.61    0.04%
– Regional routes   127.66    123.28    3.55%

 

18
 

 

   As at 31 December     
   2014   2013   Change 
             
Number of passengers carried (thousands)   83,811.48    79,093.68    5.96%
– Domestic routes   71,004.87    67,142.33    5.75%
– International routes   9,649.06    8,991.71    7.31%
– Regional routes   3,157.55    2,959.64    6.69%
                
Weight of freight carried (kg) (millions)   1,363.37    1,410.29    -3.33%
– Domestic routes   660.63    697.53    -5.29%
– International routes   599.82    613.56    -2.24%
– Regional routes   102.92    99.20    3.75%
                
Load factors               
Overall load factor (%)   71.53    71.62    -0.09 pts 
– Domestic routes   72.56    71.90    0.66 pts 
– International routes   70.93    71.98    -1.05 pts 
– Regional routes   63.38    62.89    0.49 pts 
                
Passenger load factor (%)   79.55    79.21    0.34 pts 
– Domestic routes   79.90    79.28    0.62 pts 
– International routes   79.18    79.66    -0.48 pts 
– Regional routes   75.83    74.51    1.32 pts 
                
Freight load factor (%)   59.39    60.50    -1.11 pts 
– Domestic routes   42.97    44.17    -1.20 pts 
– International routes   66.21    67.63    -1.42 pts 
– Regional routes   43.88    44.75    -0.87 pts 
                
Unit revenue index*               
Revenue tonne – kilometres yield (RMB)   5.282    5.178    2.00%
– Domestic routes   6.275    6.226    0.80%
– International routes   3.851    3.680    4.64%
– Regional routes   7.574    8.077    –6.23%
                
Passenger – kilometres yield (RMB)   0.608    0.605    0.50%
– Domestic routes   0.608    0.610    –0.41%
– International routes   0.587    0.564    4.18%
– Regional routes   0.788    0.846    –6.87%
                
Freight tonne – kilometres yield (RMB)   1.545    1.565    –1.27%
– Domestic routes   1.271    1.303    –2.48%
– International routes   1.546    1.562    –1.04%
– Regional routes   3.470    3.707    –6.39%

 

*In calculating unit revenue index, the relevant revenue includes income generated from co-operation routes.

 

19
 

 

Fleet Structure

 

The Group has been continuously optimising its fleet structure in recent years. In 2014, the Group introduced a total of 75 aircraft of four major models including B777 series, B737 series, A330 series and A320 series and surrendered a total of 43 aircraft of various models, including A300 series and CRJ200 aircraft. With the introduction of B777 series aircraft and the entire retirement of A300 series and CRJ200 aircraft, the variety of aircraft models of the Group’s fleet have been further streamlined and the fleet structure has been made younger.

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group operated a fleet of 515 aircraft, which included 485 passenger aircraft, 12 freighters and 18 business aircraft held under trust.

 

(Units)

 

Fleet structure as at 31 December 2014
      Self-owned             
      and under   Under       Average 
      finance   operating       fleet age 
No.  Model  lease   lease   Sub-total   (Years) 
                    
Total number of passenger aircraft   347    138    485    6.06 
                        
Wide-body aircraft   48    10    58    5.56 
1  B777-300ER   4        4    0.2 
2  B767   6        6    13.8 
3  A340-600*   4        4    10.9 
4  A330-300   9    7    16    7.3 
5  A330-200   25    3    28    2.8 
                        
Narrow-body aircraft   299    128    427    6.13 
6  A321   39        39    4.5 
7  A320   113    41    154    6.4 
8  A319   24    5    29    3.7 
9  B757-200*   4    1    5    9.7 
10  B737-800   44    68    112    4.4 
11  B737-700   49    13    62    7.2 
12  B737-300*   16        16    17.4 
13  EMB-145LR*   10        10    8.3 
                        
Total number of freighters   2    10    12    6.07 
                        
14  B747-400ER   2    2    4    7.5 
15  B757-200F*       2    2    8.5 
16  B777F       6    6    4.3 
                        
Total number of passenger aircraft and freighters   349    148    497    6.1 
                        
Business aircraft held on trust             18      
                        
Total number of aircraft             515      

 

*A340-600, B737–300, B757 series and EMB-145LR will be retired from the Company’s fleet in the coming years.

 

20
 

 

REPORT OF THE BOARD

 

Business Overview

 

In 2014, the global economy shambled towards recovery circuitously and major economies became increasing diversified. The global air transportation market showed diversified trends due to the worldwide uneven growth of the economy. Benefiting from factors such as the continued growth of the Chinese economy, improved domestic consumption trends and demand for leisure travel and consumption, demand from domestic aviation market continued to grow. However, industry capacity accelerated rapidly with intensified competition in core markets. Facing the complicated business environment, the Group, on the precondition of securing safe operation, has been strengthening passenger and freight transportation marketing, continuously improving service quality, stringently controlling cost and steadily pushing for transformation. As a result, the Group achieved favourable results of operations.

 

In 2014, the Group recorded operating revenue of RMB90,185 million, representing an increase of 2.20% from the last year. Net profit attributable to the parent company was RMB3,410 million, representing an increase of 43.70% from the last year.

 

Review of Operations

 

Safe operation

 

The Group places great emphasis on ongoing safe operation. In 2014, the Group continued to facilitate the construction and application of the Safety Management System (SMS) and strictly implementing risk management. The Group also put greater efforts in safety inspection and supervision as well as fulfillment of responsibilities in relation to safety enhancement. The Group enhanced its flight training management and commenced specialised training covering pilots management and transition to B777-300ER aircraft to reinforce the foundations of flight safety. Emphasizing technology applications, the Group established a research institute of flight safety technology application to provide intellectual support to the Group’s ongoing safe operations. In 2014, the Group had 1,625,140 hours and 713,500 flights flown, which increased by 5.50% and 3.90%, respectively over the same period last year.

 

Passenger transportation marketing

 

Facing unfavourable factors such as geopolitical instability, decreasing demand from high-end business travelers and formation of a high–speed railway network, the Group has proactively responded and maintained growth in its passenger transportation business. Passenger revenue amounted to RMB75,261 million, representing an increase of 3.20% from the same period last year.

 

In 2014, the Group adopted a scientific approach in formulating its flight plans and flexibly adjusted its operating capability according to peak and off-peak seasons and market changes. The Group enhanced the establishment of its sales control platform, optimised cabin seat configuration and tightened control over the authority of sales personnel and improved the income level. The Group adjusted and optimised aircraft models for international routes, and further enhanced marketing capabilities of its overseas sales team. The Group put greater effort in products research and development, enriched and promoted its first and business class products and value-added products. Utilising mobile network platforms and digital marketing, sales channels were expanded to increase the proportion of direct sales. In 2014, the number of newly registered members of the mobile application grew by 425,245 members or by 3.2 times from the same period last year while the proportion of revenue from direct sales increased by 5.4%. Through proactively developing its corporate customers and frequent flyer members, the Group optimised its customer structure. As at the end of 2014, the Group’s total number of corporate customers reached 5,550, representing an increase of 11.24% from the same period last year, and its total number of frequent flyer members amounted to 22.84 million.

 

21
 

 

Hub Development

 

With Shanghai as a core hub and Kunming and Xi’an as regional hubs, the Group continued to expand its route network to provide additional connecting opportunities and consolidate its market influence in these three major hubs. New routes from Pudong to Toronto and Auckland were introduced at Shanghai Pudong hub while flight frequency for international routes to New York, Los Angeles, London and Paris was increased to enlarge the coverage of the Shanghai hub network. The Kunming hub launched a new route from Kunming to Paris, which is the first inter-continental route in Yunnan Province, and continued to optimise route network and flight schedules for Kunming to East Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia. The Group proactively utilised above-plateau aircraft to expand its above-plateau route network and the flight destinations of Xi’an hub were increased to 70.

 

In 2014, the Group accounted for 48.9%, 37.3%, 41.3% and 30.7% of the total market share at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Kunming Airport and Xi’an Airport, respectively, in terms of total flight departures and arrivals, and accounted for 47.3%, 34.7%, 37.6% and 30.3% of the total market share at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Kunming Airport and Xi’an Airport, respectively, in terms of passenger throughput. The Group continued to maintain relatively strong influence in its market at Shanghai core hub and Kunming and Xi’an regional hubs. The differences in market share between the above two statistics was mainly affected by factors such as aircraft models and flight frequency.

 

The Group proactively promoted international cooperation among members and non-members airlines of SkyTeam Alliance at various levels and expanded its route network to increase its brand recognition. The Group implemented transit service cooperation with China Airlines, Delta Airlines and Air France between different terminals at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. By optimising transit connection with Delta Airlines, joint sales were facilitated. By increasing the number of code-share flights, co-operations with Air France were enhanced. By establishing joint operation with Qantas, cooperation on the China-Australia route was comprehensively improved.

 

Service Quality

 

Adhering to the service philosophy of “Customer-Oriented and Dedicated Service”, the Group enhanced basic service management, formulated a three-year service plan to optimise the Company’s “Service Manual”, and improved the evaluation system for service quality on an ongoing basis.

 

22
 

 

The Group continuously enhanced its product quality based on a customer-oriented approach. By utilising information technology to establish a convenient online service platform, the Group was able to promote self check-in. Self check-in rates of domestic flights increased to 40%. Through launching intelligent customer service platforms on its official website, WeChat and Weibo, communication channels with travelers were expanded. The implementation of irregula flight service and program of enhancing baggage transportation service led to the improvement of the notification rate of irregula flight service and quality of baggage transportation, which improved overall customer experiences.

 

In September 2014, the Group introduced B777 aircraft, which is equipped with advanced cabin facilities. Focusing on the B777 aircraft and assessing needs from the perspective of a passenger’s flight experience, the Group service flow, in-flight catering, in-flight supplies and entertainment system are well-designed to provide comprehensive services and demonstrate the Group’s advanced service quality. Meanwhile, the Group upgraded and modified cabin configuration of aircraft for other long-and-medium routes to further improve cabin environment. The Group continuously increased service input, advanced renovation of VIP lounges and establishment of lounges for the first and business classes at Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Lanzhou, Jinan and Nanjing airports and thus, provided passengers with a more comfortable experience.

 

Freight transportation and logistics

 

In 2014, the global aviation freight transportation business recovered slowly. The Group achieved relatively significant improvement in results by controlling flight capacity and enhancing marketing efforts. The Group further streamlined its fleet of freighters and terminated the leases of two older freighters in order to reduce operating costs. By improving the utilisation rate of freighters and providing flexible flight capacity options, the Group’s market share in Europe and America was stabilised. The Group has also established a regional freight hub in Zhengzhou by launching cargo flights from Zhengzhou to Amsterdam and Chicago and establishing a Zhengzhou-based regulated truck delivery network which covered 28 locations in China. The Group also refined its cabin management by enhancing its management on capacity and fares.

 

Meanwhile, the Group proactively promoted the transformation of freight transportation and logistics business and expanded value-added businesses such as logistics integration and express delivery. The Group established a logistics resources bank which covers 510 suppliers with domestic suppliers generally covering the entire country. The Group also completed the layout of international suppliers network in four major regions, including Shanghai, Europe, America and Southeast Asia. The Group also proactively participated in cross-border e-commerce business by providing logistics solutions for cross-border e-commerce and completing self-development of the “cross-border e-commerce logistics business system”. The Group enhanced global trading procurement and imported the best and freshest in-season products from regions such as North America and South America.

 

23
 

 

Cost Control

 

The Group continued to intensify comprehensive budget management and enhance follow-up tracking of budget items in order to improve the accuracy of budget control. With continuous optimisation of its fleet and routes, fuel consumption was reduced and aircraft fuel costs were lowered. The Group strengthened its management for termination of aircraft leases and engine repairs, with the goal of lowering aircraft maintenance costs. The Group strictly controlled new staff recruitment, optimised the retirement schemes, improved labour efficiency and strengthened labour cost management. The Group also strengthened capital management to improve capital utilisation efficiency with a focus on capital management of subsidiaries and overseas operating units. The Group also diversified its financing channels and reduced financing costs. In 2014, the Company issued RMB3.3 billion of offshore RMB-denominated bonds and RMB4 billion of PRC super short-term commercial paper at relatively low costs.

 

Reform and Transformation

 

In 2014, the Group continued its various efforts in deepening reform and transformation in various operations. In order to proactively respond to the trend of rapid development of domestic and international low-cost airlines, the Group transformed China United Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group, into a low-cost airline in July 2014 and commenced an innovative way of simultaneously operating both full service carrier and low-cost carrier. We have adopted an innovative asset management model and established 東航技術有限公司 (Eastern Airlines Technology Co. Ltd.) to explore the transformation of supporting assets to operational assets. The Group also attempted to establish in-flight internet access, and in July 2014, the Group completed trial operations of the first WIFI-equipped commercial passenger flight in Mainland China. In December 2014, an e-commerce company was established to carry out planning and integration of various products and service resources to provide customers with one-stop travel-related integrated products and service solutions.

 

Brand and Social Responsibilities

 

While pursuing sustainable enterprise development, the Group has adopted a social responsibility philosophy with respect to corporate decision making and operations, which seeks to unify corporate development and social responsibility.

 

In 2014, the Group has adopted the new company logo of CEA with four B777 aircraft painted with the new logo and commenced operations to demonstrate a brand new corporate image. The Group’s “accurate, exquisite, refined and wonderful” service has been increasingly and positively recognised by passengers. The Group completed the significant transportation assurance tasks for charter flights for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), Youth Olympic Games, APEC meeting and West Africa Anti-Ebola Event and the Group earned high praise from the public.

 

24
 

 

The Group’s charity service campaign “Love at China Eastern Airlines” was awarded the Gold Award at the 首屆中國青年志願者服務項目大賽 (First Chinese Young Volunteers Services Contest). In 2014, the “Love at China Eastern Airlines” campaign have organized activities such as visiting welfare and nursing homes, subsidising Hope Schools and schools for urban and rural migrant workers’ children and caring for children at schools for hearing-speaking impaired, voluntary blood donation, environmental protection and activities which promote public code of conduct. 4,649 projects were launched with a staff and members participation count of 248,860, serving a total of 193,187 people. Through interaction with the community, the Group has established a charity brand image of “delivering love and serving the community”.

 

In 2014, the Group was recognised as “Top 50 Most Valuable Chinese Brands” by WPP, a global brand communication firm; awarded the “China Securities Golden Bauhinia Award” and ranked first as the “Best Listed Company Award” by Ta Kung Pao in Hong Kong for three consecutive years; and ranked among top 10 in terms of “Most Competitive Asia Airline 2014” and “Most Popular Asia Airline 2014” in the 5th World Airline Competitiveness Rankings.

 

Operating Revenues

 

In 2014, there was an increase in the Group’s passenger revenues, which amounted to RMB75,261 million, representing an increase of 3.2% from the previous year, and accounted for 91.13% of the Company’s traffic revenues in 2014. Passenger traffic volume was 127,749.87 million passenger-kilometres, representing a 6.1% increase from the previous year.

 

The passenger traffic volume of the Group’s domestic routes was 88,191.50 million passenger-kilometres, representing an increase of 6.5% from the previous year. Compared to 2013, domestic passenger revenues increased by 2.16% to RMB51,647 million, accounting for 68.62% of the Group’s passenger revenues.

 

The passenger traffic volume of the Group’s international routes was 35,191.49 million passenger-kilometres, representing a 4.7% increase from the previous year. Compared to 2013, international passenger revenues increased by 7.16% to RMB20,301 million, accounting for 26.97% of the Group’s passenger revenues.

 

The passenger traffic volume of the Group’s regional routes was 4,366.89 million passenger-kilometres, representing an increase of 7.8% from the previous year. Compared to 2013, regional passenger revenues decreased by 3.33% to RMB3,313 million, accounting for 4.40% of the Group’s passenger revenues.

 

In 2014, cargo and mail traffic revenues amounted to RMB7,328 million, representing a decrease of 3.62% from the previous year, and accounting for 8.87% of the Company’s traffic revenues in 2014. Cargo and mail traffic volume was 4,802.43 million tonne-kilometres, representing a decrease of 1.1% from last year.

 

In 2014, other revenues were RMB7,596 million, representing a decrease of 1.53% from the previous year, primarily due to a decrease in the income from tour operations and ground services of the Company.

 

25
 

 

Operating Expenses

 

In 2014, the Group’s total operating cost was RMB87,812 million, representing a decrease of 1.77% from previous year.

 

Analysis of the changes in other items under operating costs of the Group is set out as follows:

 

Aircraft fuel costs accounted for the most substantial part of the Group’s operating costs. In 2014, the average price of fuel decreased by 4.73% compared to that of last year. The Group’s total aviation fuel consumption was approximately 4,757,400 tonnes, representing an increase of 3.45% from last year. Jet fuel expenditures of the Group reached RMB30,238 million, representing a decrease of 1.44% from last year.

 

Take-off and landing charges amounted to RMB9,440 million, or an increase of 2.72% from last year, and was primarily due to the increase in the number of take-off and landings from last year.

 

Gain on fair value movements of derivative financial instruments was RMB11 million, representing a decrease of 38.89% from previous year.

 

Depreciation and amortisation amounted to RMB9,183 million, representing an increase of 11.63% from last year, and was primarily due to the addition of new aircraft and engines.

 

Wages, salaries and benefits amounted to RMB11,270 million, representing a decrease of 16.23% from last year, and was primarily due to changes to the Company’s retirement benefit policies.

 

Aircraft maintenance expenses amounted to RMB4,453 million, representing a decrease of 5.05% from last year, and was primarily due to the enhancement in the Company’s aircraft maintenance abilities and a decrease in the number of aircraft under material repairs.

 

Food and beverage expenses were RMB2,364 million, representing an increase of 4.23% from last year, and was primarily due to the increased passengers.

 

Aircraft operating lease rentals amounted to RMB4,502 million, representing a decrease of 2.24% from last year, and was primarily due to a decrease in the number of aircraft held through operating leases.

 

Other operating lease rentals amounted to RMB637 million, representing a decrease of 6.19% from last year, and was primarily due to a decrease in leasehold properties.

 

Selling and marketing expenses were RMB4,120 million, representing a decrease of 0.46% from last year, and was primarily due to decreased basic standards of handling fees of agency businesses.

 

The amount of civil aviation infrastructure levies payable to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”) was RMB1,656 million, representing an increase of 5.75% compared to last year. This increase was primarily due to an increase in miles flown during the year.

 

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Ground service and other expenses were RMB4,998 million, representing a decrease of 2.10% over the previous year. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in corresponding expenses following a decrease in the income from tour operations and ground services of the Company.

 

Indirect operating expenses were RMB4,950 million, representing an increase of 7.07% compared to last year. This was primarily attributable to an increase in corresponding expenses following the expansion of fleet of the Company.

 

Other operating income

 

In 2014, other operating income of the Group amounted to RMB3,685 million, which represented an increase of 35.23% from last year, primarily due to an increase in income from co-operation routes of the Company.

 

Finance Income/Costs

 

In 2014, the Group’s finance income was RMB88 million, which is a decrease of 95.86% from RMB2,125 million of the same period last year. Finance costs amounted to RMB2,160 million, representing an increase of 39.44% from last year. The above fluctuations primarily due to the Group recording net exchange losses in 2014 as compared to net exchange gains in the same period last year, leading to the substantial year-on-year increase of finance costs for the period.

 

Profit

 

As a result of the foregoing, the Group’s profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company in 2014 was RMB3,410 million, representing a 43.70% increase as compared to the Group’s profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company of RMB2,373 million in 2013. This results was also primarily due to the continuous improvement of the Group’s operating abilities and the decrease of jet fuel prices, as well as adjustments to the retirement benefit policies of our employees.

 

Liquidity and Capital Structure

 

The Group generally finances its working capital requirements through business operations and short-term bank loans. As at 31 December 2014 and 2013, the Group’s cash and cash equivalents amounted to RMB1,355 million and RMB1,995 million, respectively. Net cash inflow generated from the Group’s operating activities was RMB12,295 million and RMB10,806 million, respectively, for 2014 and 2013. Capital expenditures for the purchase of aircraft were partly funded by internal funds, the balance of which was mainly financed by long-term and short-term borrowings and finance leasing. In 2014 and 2013, the Group’s net cash outflow from investment activities was RMB24,033 million and RMB17,028 million, respectively. In 2013, net cash inflow from the Group’s financing activities was RMB5,730 million. In 2014, net cash inflow from the Group’s financing activities was RMB11,112 million, which was primarily due to new substantial borrowings and finance leases during the period.

 

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The Group generally operates with net current liabilities. As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by RMB42,887 million. The Group has been and believes it will continue to be capable of financing its working capital requirements by obtaining loans from banks and various financing means such as the issuance of bonds.

 

The Group monitors its capital on the basis of its debt ratio, which is calculated as total liabilities divided by total assets. As at 31 December 2014, the debt ratio of the Group was 80.84%.

 

As at 31 December 2014 and 2013, the Group’s borrowings payable within one year were RMB28,676 million and RMB23,285 million, respectively. As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s borrowings payable from one to two years, from three to five years and beyond five years were RMB8,801 million, RMB10,868 million and RMB10,844 million, respectively, as compared to RMB6,606 million, RMB9,952 million and RMB10,758 million, respectively, as at 31 December 2013.

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s borrowings comprised USD-denominated borrowings of USD7,025 million and RMB-denominated borrowings of RMB16,205 million. Fixed-rate borrowings accounted for 36.98% of the total borrowings, and floating-rate borrowings accounted for 63.02% of the total borrowings. As at 31 December 2013, the Group’s borrowings comprised USD-denominated borrowings of USD5,776 million and RMB-denominated borrowings of RMB15,386 million. Fixed-rate borrowings accounted for 28.38% of the total borrowings, and floating-rate borrowings accounted for 71.62% of the total borrowings.

 

The Group’s obligations under finance leases as at 31 December 2014 and 2013 were RMB38,695 million and RMB23,135 million, respectively. As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s lease obligations payable within two years, from three to five years and beyond five years were RMB9,007 million, RMB11,482 million and RMB18,206 million, respectively, as compared to RMB5,945 million, RMB8,651 million and RMB8,539 million, respectively, as at 31 December 2013. The Group’s obligations under finance leases comprised only floating-rate obligations.

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s obligations under finance leases comprised USD-denominated obligations of USD5,954 million, SGD-denominated obligations of SGD201 million, HKD-denominated obligations of HKD1,203 million and JPY-denominated obligations of JPY7,309 million. As at 31 December 2013, the Group’s obligations under finance leases comprised USD-denominated obligations of USD3,076 million, SGD-denominated obligations of SGD224 million, HKD-denominated obligations of HKD1,336 million and JPY-denominated obligations of JPY8,222 million.

 

Interest Rate Fluctuation

 

The Group’s total interest-bearing liabilities (including long-term and short-term borrowings, finance leases payable and bonds payable) as at 31 December 2014 and 2013 were RMB97,884 million and RMB73,736 million, respectively, of which short-term liabilities accounted for 33.99% and 35.62%, respectively, for those years. Most of the long-term interest-bearing liabilities were liabilities with floating interest rates. Both of the short-term liabilities and the long-term interest-being liabilities were affected by fluctuations in current market interest rates.

 

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The Group’s interest-bearing liabilities were primarily denominated in USD and RMB. As at 31 December 2014 and 2013, the Group’s liabilities denominated in USD accounted for 81.14% and 75.61%, respectively, of total liabilities while liabilities denominated in RMB accounted for 16.56% and 20.88%, respectively, of total liabilities. Fluctuations in the USD and RMB interest rates have and will continued to have significant impact on the Group’s finance costs. As at 31 December 2013, the notional amount of the outstanding interest rate swap agreements was approximately USD844 million. As at 31 December 2014, such amount was USD801 million and these agreements will expire between 2015 and 2024.

 

Exchange Rate Fluctuation

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group’s total interest-bearing liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, converted to RMB, amounted to RMB81,679 million, of which USD liabilities accounted for 97.24% of the total amount. Therefore, a significant fluctuation in foreign exchange rates will subject the Group to significant foreign exchange loss/gain arising from the translation of foreign currency denominated liabilities, which will also affect the profitability and development of the Group. The Group typically uses hedging contracts for foreign currencies to reduce the foreign exchange risks for foreign currency revenue generated from ticket sales and expenses to be paid in foreign currencies. The Group’s foreign currency hedging contracts mainly involve the sales of JPY and the purchase of USD at fixed exchange rates. As at 31 December 2013, foreign currency hedging contracts held by the Group amounted to a notional amount of USD38 million. Such amount was USD39 million as at 31 December 2014, and will expire between 2015 and 2017.

 

In 2014, the Group’s net foreign exchange losses were RMB203 million. In 2013, the Group’s net foreign exchange gains were RMB1,977 million.

 

Fluctuation of Fuel Prices

 

In 2014, assuming constant factors, if the average price of jet fuel had increased or decreased by 5%, jet fuel costs of the Group would have increased or decreased by approximately RMB1,512 million.

 

In 2014, the Group did not engage in any aviation fuel hedging activities.

 

RISK ANALYSIS

 

1.Macro-economic Risk

 

The aviation transportation industry is closely related to macro-economic development. Civil aviation transportation industry is more sensitive to macro-economic climate, which directly affects the development of economic activities, disposable income of residents and changes in amount of import and export activity. These factors will in turn affect the demand for passenger and cargo services. If the macroeconomic climate, worsens, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

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2.Policy and Regulation Risk

 

The aviation transportation industry is relatively sensitive to policies and regulations. Changes in domestic and foreign economic environment and the continuous development of aviation industry could result in the relevant laws and regulations and industry policies to be adjusted accordingly. Such changes may, to a certain extent, result in uncertainties to the future operating results of the Company.

 

3.Flight Safety Risk

 

Flight safety is the principle and foundation for airlines to maintain normal operations and good reputation. Bad weather, mechanical failure, human errors, aircraft and equipment irregularities or failures and other force majeure events may have an adverse effect on the flight safety of the Company.

 

4.Human Resources Risk

 

Various airlines have continued to increase investment in flight capacity and newly-established airlines have launched their operations. This contributed to competition among domestic airlines for core technical staff such as pilots, cabin crew, operations and control staff as well as major management personnel. If the core technical human resources reserves are unable to sufficiently to address the outflow of core personnel, or fail to adequately respond to the rapid growth of the Company’s operational scale, the business and operations of the Company may be adversely affected.

 

5.Competition Risk

 

With the liberalisation of the domestic aviation market, development of low-cost airlines and the strengthening position of leading international airlines, future competition in the domestic and overseas aviation transportation industries will be intensified and may adversely affect the results of operations and revenue of the Company.

 

There is a certain level of overlap between the railway transportation, road transportation and air transportation in respect of medium to short distance transportation means. With the development of railway and road transportation network, the domestic civil aviation market may be affected. Certain of the Company’s routes will experience continuous competitive pressure.

 

6.Risk Associated with the Fluctuation of Fuel Prices

 

Jet fuel is one of the major expenses of airlines. The fluctuations of international crude oil prices and adjustments on domestic jet fuel prices have an impact on the Company’s profitability. Therefore, significant fluctuations of future oil prices in the international markets or adjustments on domestic jet fuel prices may have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations.

 

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7.Interest Rate Fluctuation Risk

 

The majority of the Company’s liabilities are attributable to USD-denominated liabilities and RMB-denominated liabilities resulting from introduction of aircraft and engines. Therefore, changes in interest rates of USD and RMB may increase repayment costs of the Company’s existing loans that carry floating interest rates, as well as future finance costs, which in turn may affect the implementation of material operating plans regarding the introduction of aircraft and the results of operations and financial and condition of the Company.

 

8.Exchange Rate Fluctuation Risk

 

Fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates against RMB may lead to foreign exchange loss/gain arising from the translation of foreign currency such as USD, denominated liabilities of the Company and increase in overseas purchase costs, which will materially affect the results of operations of the Company.

 

9.Information Technology Safety Risk

 

The network information system of the Company covers all operational process, from front-end service to back-office support and imposes new requirements on traditional management and work processes of the Company. If there are any design discrepancies, operation default or interruption in the network information system of the Company, or if it experiences external network attacks, the Company’s business and operations may be affected or result in leakage of customers’ data. The occurrence of any of the foregoing may have an adverse effect on the brand image of the Company. Future upgrades of information technology that are required will challenge the reliability of the Company’s existing systems.

 

10.Development and Transformation Risk

 

While the Company expands to new international markets and carries out external investments or mergers and acquisition, it may face risks including business decision-making, foreign laws and managements, which may affect the results of implementing the development strategies of the Company.

 

During the process of transformation, the Company will explore the e-commerce market to reduce aviation operation costs and innovative asset management methods, with new requirements for the overall operating management abilities of the Company. The Company may be unable to achieve expected goals.

 

11.Suppliers Risk

 

The aviation transportation industry requires high technology and high operating costs. There are limited available suppliers in respect of key operating resources including aircraft, engines, flight spare parts, jet fuel and information technology services. Airlines generally obtain operating resources through centralised purchases to reduce operating costs. If the Company’s major suppliers are adversely affected, this may have an adverse impact on the business and operations of the Company.

 

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12.Other Force Majeure and Unforeseeable Risks

 

The aviation transportation industry is highly sensitive to external factors. Natural disasters, public health emergencies, terrorist attacks and political instability may affect the normal operation of airlines. Flight suspension, decrease in passenger capacity and income, as well as increased safety and insurance costs may adversely affect the business and operations of the Company.

 

Pledges on Assets and Contingent Liabilities

 

The Group generally finances the purchases of aircraft through finance leases and bank loans secured by its assets. As at 31 December 2013, the value of the Group’s assets used to secure certain bank loans was RMB24,306 million. As at 31 December 2014, the value of the Group’s assets used to secure certain bank loans was RMB23,117 million, representing a decrease of 4.89% compared to last year.

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group had no significant contingent liabilities.

 

Capital Expenditure

 

The Company’s capital expenditure comprises of aircraft, engines, aviation equipment and other fixed assets and investments, which mainly includes aircraft, engines and aviation equipment. According to the agreements entered into in relation to aircraft, engines and aviation equipment, as at 31 December 2014, we expect our future capital expenditures for aircraft, engines and aviation equipment to be, in the aggregate, approximately RMB105,011 million, including approximately RMB25,830 million in 2015 and RMB18,249 million in 2016, in each case subject to contractual changes or any change relating to inflation. We plan to finance our capital commitments through a combination of funds generated from operations, existing bank credit facilities, bank loans, leasing arrangements and other external financing arrangements.

 

Human Resources

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group had 69,849 employees, the majority of whom were located in the PRC. The wages of the Group’s employees generally consisted of basic salaries and performance bonuses. The Group was not involved in any major labour disputes with its employees, nor did it experience any significant turnover of employees or encounter any difficulties in recruiting new employees.

 

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OUTLOOK FOR 2015

 

The Group would like to bring to the attention of readers of this report that this report contains certain forward-looking statements, including a general outlook of international and domestic economies and the aviation industry, and descriptions of the Group’s future operating plans for 2015 and beyond. Such forward-looking statements are subject to many uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond the control of the Group. The actual events that occur may be materially different from these forward-looking statements.

 

In 2015, despite a solid foundation, the global economy is expected to experience weak recovery with insufficient total demand. The PRC economy is expected to generally have slowing growth. With this complicated operating environment, the Group will leverage on opportunities arising from related regulations and the development of domestic tourism economy to focus on the following areas in order to achieve better operating results:

 

1.reinforcing safety responsibilities system, strengthening its safety culture and enhancing awareness of safety responsibilities to maintain continuous safety;

 

2.strengthening the market share of its hubs, optimising interline transit, enhancing operating abilities of international routes to increase revenue level of passenger and freight transportation;

 

3.upgrading service quality, enhancing online services integration, improving service standards and processes, reinforcing service management;

 

4.strengthening cost control, enhancing management on capital, improving debt structure to realise lower cost with higher efficiency;

 

5.intensifying transformation, exploiting the leading effect of information technology by emphasizing technological application of, among others, big data and mobile internet; promoting the construction and operation of e-commerce platform, intensifying the promotion of operating efficiency of the transformation of China United Airlines, maintaining continuous promotion of the new commercial logistics transformation model of “Freight Expressway + E-commerce + Trading”.

 

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FLEET PLAN

 

The Group will continue to streamline and optimise its fleet structure. The future fleet of the Group is expected to mainly comprise four models, namely B777 series for long-haul, A330 series for long-and-medium-haul, and A320 series and B737NG series for medium-and-short-haul. Older aircraft models that have high energy-consumption characteristics will be actively phased out.

 

Introduction and Retirement Plan of Aircraft for 2015 to 2016 (Units)

 

Model  2015   2016 
   Introduction   Retirement   Introduction   Retirement 
                 
Passenger aircraft                    
                     
A320 series   29    11    30    6 
A330 series   7             
A340-600       4         
B777 series   5        5     
B737 series   39    18    35    15 
B757       5         
EMB-145LR       5        5 
                     
Total number of passenger aircraft   80    43    70    26 
                     
Freighters                    
                     
B747-400ER       1         
B757-200F       2         
                     
Total number of freighters       3         
                     
Total   80    46    70    26 

 

Notes:

 

1.As at 31 December 2014, according to confirmed orders, the Company planned to introduce 166 aircraft and retire 54 aircraft in 2017 and future years.

 

2.The abovementioned quantity and timing for the introduction and retirement of aircraft will be subject to adjustment based on market conditions and flight capacity allocation.

 

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SHARE CAPITAL

 

1.As at 31 December 2014, the share capital structure of the Company is set out as follows:

 

             Approximate 
         Total number   percentage in 
      of shares   shareholding (%) 
               
I  A Shares             
   1.  Listed shares with trading moratorium   698,865,000    5.514 
   2.  Listed shares without trading moratorium   7,782,213,860    61.402 
                 
II  H Shares             
   1.  Listed shares with trading moratorium   698,865,000    5.514 
   2.  Listed shares without trading moratorium   3,494,325,000    27.570 
                 
III  Total number of shares   12,674,268,860    100 

 

Note:

 

As at 31 December 2014, among the listed A shares of the Company, the Company had 698,865,000 A shares with trading moratorium held by China Eastern Air Holding Company (“CEA Holding”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, CES Finance Holding Co., Ltd. (“CES Finance”), and 7,782,213,860 A shares without trading moratorium. Among the listed H shares of the Company, he Company had 698,865,000 H shares with trading moratorium held by CES Global Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited (“CES Global”), an overseas wholly-owned subsidiary of CEA Holding, and 3,494,325,000 H shares without trading moratorium. The total number of shares of the Company amounted to 12,674,268,860 shares.

 

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2.Substantial shareholders

 

Shareholders with an interest in 10% or more of any class of the issued shares of the Company as at 31 December 2014 are as follows:

 

          Approximate 
          percentage 
   Type of  Number   in total 
Name  shares held  of shares   share capital (%) 
            
CEA Holding(1)  A shares   5,530,240,000    43.63%
              
CES Global(2)  H shares   2,626,240,000    20.72%
              
HKSCC Nominees Limited(3)  H shares   4,179,493,198    32.97%

 

Notes:

 

Based on the information available to the Directors (including such information as was available on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) and so far as they are aware of, as at 31 December 2014:

 

1.Among such A shares, 5,072,922,927 A shares were directly held by CEA Holding; and 457,317,073 A shares were directly held by CES Finance, which in turn was wholly-owned by CEA Holding.

 

2.Such H shares were held by CES Global in the capacity of beneficial owner, which in turn was wholly-owned by CEA Holding.

 

3.Among the 4,179,493,198 H shares held by HKSCC Nominees Limited, 2,626,240,000 H shares (representing approximately 62.85% of the Company’s then total issued H shares) were held by CES Global in the capacity of beneficial owner, which in turn was wholly-owned by CEA Holding.

 

Details relating to interests, as at 31 December 2014, of the Company’s directors, supervisors, chief executive officer, members of senior management and those of other shareholder(s) of the Company having interests or short positions which would fall to be disclosed to the Company and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (“Hong Kong Stock Exchange”) pursuant to the relevant requirements under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (and as recorded in the register required to be kept by the Company under Section 336 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance) will be set out in the 2014 annual report of the Company in accordance with the relevant disclosure requirements under the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”).

 

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MATERIAL MATTERS

 

1.Dividends

 

Based on the audited financial statements of the Company under the PRC Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises as at and for the year 2014, the retained earnings of the parent company was RMB21 million as at 31 December 2014. Based on the audited financial statements of the Company under the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as at and for the year 2014, the accumulated loss of the parent company was RMB385 million as at 31 December 2014.

 

Pursuant to the PRC Company Law and its Articles of Association, the Company must recover its losses incurred in previous years with its profit for the year before any dividend distributions are made to its shareholders. The basis of dividend distribution of the Company is the distributable profit of the parent company, which is subject to the principle of adopting the lesser of the profit after tax under the PRC accounting standards and IFRS. As at 31 December 2014, the Company has been recording accumulated losses under IFRS. The Board recommended that no dividend be distributed for the year 2014 and no share capital of the Company be increased through capitalisation of its capital reserve. The dividend profit distribution proposal for the year 2014 shall be submitted to the 2014 annual general meeting for consideration.

 

2.Purchase, Sale or Redemption of Securities

 

During the financial year of 2014, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries purchased, sold or redeemed any of its listed securities (“Securities”, having the meaning ascribed thereto under Section 1 of Appendix 16 to the Listing Rules).

 

3.Material Litigation

 

As at 31 December 2014, the Group was not included in any material litigation, arbitration or claim.

 

4.Corporate Governance

 

The Board has reviewed the relevant provisions and corporate governance practices under the codes of corporate governance adopted by the Company, and took the view that the Company’s corporate governance practices during the year ended 31 December 2014 met the requirements under the code provisions in the Code on Corporate Governance (the “Code”).

 

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To further strengthen the awareness of compliance among the Directors, supervisors and senior management of the Company, and to enhance their understanding and application of the relevant rules. In June 2014, the Company invited senior partners from renowned PRC law firms to conduct seminars and training on monitoring policies for inside information and review practical case studies. At the same time, in order to continue strengthening the comprehensive understanding of the Directors, supervisors and senior management of the Company on their respective duties and responsibilities, the Company has, comprehensively reviewed and implemented written monitoring rules for listed companies promulgated by regulatory bodies including the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange in the year, as well as the latest development of the relevant rules and regulations regarding the duties and responsibilities of directors, supervisors and senior management of a listed company, and arranged training and learning sessions.

 

5.Audit and Risk Management Committee

 

The Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company has reviewed with the management of the Company the accounting principles and methods adopted by the Group, and has discussed with the Board the internal controls and financial reporting issues, including a review of the consolidated results prepared under IFRS for the year ended 31 December 2014.

 

The Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company has no disagreement with the accounting principles and methods adopted by the Group.

 

6.Changes in personnel

 

On 24 March 2014, the sixth ordinary meeting of the seventh session of the Board considered and passed the resolution regarding the change in Vice President of the Company and appointed Mr. Sun Youwen as a Vice President of the Company. Mr. Shu Mingjiang ceased to be a Vice President of the Company due to work reallocation.

 

Mr. Shao Ruiqing, due to personal commitments, tendered his resignation as an independent non-executive director of the Company with effect from 29 April 2014 in accordance with relevant requirement.

 

Cessation

 

Name   Date of Cessation   Reason for Change   Position
             
Shu Mingjiang   24 March 2014   Work reallocation   Vice President
Shao Ruiqing   29 April 2014   Personal commitments   Independent
            Non-executive Director
             
Appointment            
             
Name   Date of Appointment   Reason for Change   Position
             
Sun Youwen   24 March 2014   Appointed by the sixth ordinary meeting of the seventh session of the Board   Vice President

 

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7.Change of particulars of directors or supervisors under Rule 13.51B(1) of the Listing Rules

 

Mr. Xi Sheng, a supervisor of the Company, ceased to act as a supervisor of 東航旅業投資(集團)有限公司 (Eastern Air Tourism Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.) (a subsidiary of CEA Holding) with effect from August 2014.

 

Mr. Feng Jingxiong, a supervisor of the Company, was appointed as a supervisor of 北京東投置業有限公司 (Beijing Tongtou Properties Company Limted) (a subsidiary of the Company) with effect from September 2014 and a supervisor of 東方航空技術有限公司 (China Eastern Airlines Technology Co., Ltd.) (a subsidiary of the Company) with effect from December 2014.

 

8.Miscellaneous

 

The Company wishes to highlight the following information:

 

1.On 28 February 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with Airbus SAS in Shanghai, PRC regarding the purchase of seventy brand new A320NEO aircraft from Airbus SAS, which are expected to be delivered to the Company in stages from 2018 to 2020. On the same date, the Company entered into a disposal agreement with Airbus SAS regarding the disposal of seven Airbus A300-600 aircraft and certain spare parts and spare engines. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 28 February 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

2.On 6 March 2014, Eastern Air Overseas (Hong Kong) Corporation Limited (“Eastern Air Overseas”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued RMB2.5 billion guaranteed bonds with an interest rate of 4.8% due 2017 to professional investors in Hong Kong, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 7 March 2014 and 13 March 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

3.On 18 March 2014, the Company paid for the accrued interest from 18 March 2013 to 17 March 2014 of the first tranche of the 2012 corporate bonds which was issued on 20 March 2013 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 22 April 2013. The first tranche of the corporate bonds are 10-year fixed interest rate bonds, with an amount of RMB4.8 billion, issue price of RMB100 each and a coupon interest rate of 5.05%. On 30 April 2014, Dagong International Credit Rating Co., Ltd. evaluated this tranche of corporate bonds and issued a credit rating report. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 10 March 2014 and 30 June 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

4.On 14 May 2014, the Company completed the issuance of the 2014 first tranche of super short-term commercial paper, with an issuance amount of RMB4 billion, with a maturity of 270 days, with the nominal value of RMB100 per unit and an issuance interest rate of of 4.95%. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 14 May 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

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5.On 14 May 2014, Eastern Air Overseas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued an additional RMB800 million guaranteed bonds with an interest rate of 4.8% due 2017 to professional investors in Hong Kong, which was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 15 May 2014 and 22 May 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

6.On 13 June 2014, the Company entered into an agreement with Boeing Company in Shanghai, PRC to purchase eighty brand new B737 series aircraft from Boeing Company. The above aircraft will be delivered to the Company in stages from 2016 to 2020. On the same day, the Company entered into an agreement with Boeing Company regarding the disposal of fifteen B737-300 aircraft and five B757 aircraft to Boeing Company. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 13 June 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

7.On 26 June 2014, the 2013 annual general meeting of the Company considered and approved The Resolution on Amendments to Parts of the Terms of the Articles of Association (《關於修訂〈公司章程〉部分條款的議案》). It was agreed that amendments will be made to corresponding terms in the articles of association of the Company in connection with the priority of cash dividends to share dividends in profit distributions and intervals for cash dividend distributions. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 26 June 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

8.On 17 July 2014, Eastern Air Overseas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Jestar Hong Kong Limited (“Jestar Hong Kong”), an associated company of the Company, entered into a loan agreement, pursuant to which Eastern Air Overseas will provide a loan of USD60 million to Jetstar Hong Kong at fair market interest rates. This transaction constitutes a connected transaction of the Company. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 18 July 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

9.On 15 August 2014, 上海航空國際旅 遊(集團)有限公司 (Shanghai Airlines Tours, International (Group) Co., Ltd.) (“Shanghai Airlines Tours”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into the equity transfer agreement with 東航旅業投 資(集團)有限公司 (Eastern Air Tourism Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.) (“Eastern Tourism”), pursuant to which, Shanghai Airlines Tours acquired 72.84% equity interest in 上海東美航空旅遊有限公司 (Shanghai Dongmei Air Travel Co., Ltd.) (“Shanghai Dongmei”) from Eastern Tourism at a consideration of RMB32,147,700. This acquisition has been completed and Shanghai Dongmei has become an indirect holding company of the Company. This acquisition constitutes a connected transaction of the Company. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 15 August 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

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10.On 14 November 2014, the Company entered into the Aircraft Finance Lease Framework Agreement with CES Lease. The Company leased 14 aircraft under finance lease from the wholly-owned subsidiaries which CES Lease Company intended to incorporate in the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone or the Tianjin Dongjiang Bonded Zone of the PRC. The transaction constitutes a connected and disclosable transaction of the Company. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 14 November 2014 and 15 January 2015 and the circular dated 5 December 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

11.On 22 December 2014, the Company, CEA Holding and CES Finance (as shareholders of Eastern Air Group Finance Company Limited (“Eastern Air Finance”)) agreed to inject a total of RMB1,500 million into Eastern Air Finance in proportion according to their respective shareholding in Eastern Air Finance. The Company will contribute a pro-rata amount of RMB375 million in cash. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 22 December 2014 issued in Hong Kong.

 

12.On 9 February 2015, the Company redeemed the 2014 first tranche of RMB4 billion 4.95% super short-term commercial paper, which was issued on 14 May 2014. The commercial papers had a maturity of 270 days at a nominal value of RMB100 per unit. For details, please refer to the announcements of the Company dated 4 February 2015 issued in Hong Kong.

 

13.On 12 February 2015, the Company completed the issuance of the 2015 first tranche of super short-term commercial paper in the amount of RMB3 billion, with a maturity of 180 days and nominal value of RMB100 per unit and an issuance interest rate of 4.5%. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 13 February 2015 issued in Hong Kong.

 

14.On 18 March 2015, the Company paid for the accrued interest from 18 March 2014 to 17 March 2015 of the first tranche of the 2012 corporate bonds which was issued on 18 March 2013 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 22 April 2013. The first tranche of the corporate bonds are RMB4.8 billion 5.05% to 10-year fixed interest rate bonds, with an issue price of RMB100 each. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 10 March 2015 issued in Hong Kong.

 

15.On 27 March 2015, the Company completed the issuance of the 2015 second tranche of super short-term commercial paper in the amount of RMB3 billion, with a maturity of 180 days and nominal value of RMB100 per unit and an issuance interest rate of 4.5%. For details, please refer to the announcement of the Company dated 27 March 2015 issued in Hong Kong.

 

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16.The estimated transaction caps for the continuing connected transactions, which were considered and approved by the Board and at the general meetings of the Company, and their actual amounts incurred up to 31 December 2014, are set out as follows:

 

       Unit: RMB thousand 
         
   Actual amount   The approved 
   incurred up to   2014 estimated 
Category  31 December 2014   transaction caps 
         
Financial services (balance)          
– balance of deposit   369,078    6,000,000 
– balance of loans   198,428    6,000,000 
Catering supply services   851,136    1,000,000 
Import and export agency services   119,954    120,000 
Production and maintenance services   141,864    150,600 
Property services   50,049    110,000 
Advertising agency services   4,755    50,000 
Sales agency services (Note 1)   5,406    30,000 
Hotel accommodation services   506    38,150 

 

Note 1:On 15 August 2014, 上海航空國際旅遊(集團)有限公司 (Shanghai Airlines Tours, International (Group) Co., Ltd.) (“Shanghai Airlines Tours”), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into the equity transfer agreement with 東航旅業投資(集團)有限公司 (Eastern Air Tourism Investment (Group) Co., Ltd.) (“Eastern Air Tourism”), pursuant to which, Shanghai Airlines Tours agreed to acquire 72.84% equity interest in 上海東美航空旅遊有 限公司 (Shanghai Dongmei Air Travel Co., Ltd.) (“Shanghai Dongmei”) held by Eastern Air Tourism. This acquisition has been completed and Shanghai Dongmei has become a subsidiary of the Group with its consolidated financial information consolidated into the Group’s financial statements. Upon the completion of the acquisition, the provision of sales agency services to the Group by Shanghai Dongmei no longer constitutes daily connected transactions.

 

  By order of the Board
  China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited
  Liu Shaoyong
  Chairman

 

Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China

27 March 2015

 

As at the date of this announcement, the directors of the Company include Liu Shaoyong (Chairman), Ma Xulun (Vice Chairman, President), Xu Zhao (Director), Gu Jiadan (Director), Li Yangmin (Director, Vice President), Tang Bing (Director, Vice President), Sandy Ke-Yaw Liu (Independent non-executive Director), Ji Weidong (Independent non-executive Director), Li Ruoshan (Independent non-executive Director) and Ma Weihua (Independent non-executive Director).

 

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