SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
June 10, 2015
CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
278 Jichang Road
Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F x Form 40-F ¨
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 o No x
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number
assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________.)
China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the “Company”)
published the following announcements on June 9, 2015 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s website at:
http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0609/LTN20150609416.pdf,
in relation to the Supplemental Notice of Annual General Meeting;
http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0609/LTN20150609402.pdf,
in relation to continuing connected transactions;
http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0609/LTN20150609429.pdf,
in relation to the Second Form of Proxy for Annual General Meeting;
http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0609/LTN20150609443.pdf,
in relation to the Notification Letter; and
http://www.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/SEHK/2015/0609/LTN20150609396.pdf,
in relation to proposed appointment of independent non-executive Directors.
The announcements in English are included
as exhibits to this Form 6-K.
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 SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED |
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By: |
/s/ Liu Wei and Xie Bing |
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Name: Liu Wei and Xie Bing |
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Title: Joint Company Secretaries |
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Date: June 10, 2015 |
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Exhibit 99.1
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.
(a joint stock limited company incorporated
in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Reference is made to the Notice of
Annual General Meeting dated 15 May 2015 of China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the “Company”). The
annual general meeting of the Company (the “AGM”) will be held at No. 1 Conference Room, 4th Floor, Pearl
Hotel CSN, No. 5 Road, Southern Work District, Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the PRC on
Tuesday, 30 June 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
The board of directors (the “Directors”)
of the Company (the “Board”) received the motion made by China Southern Air Holding Company (“CSAHC”),
a controlling shareholder of the Company, for additional proposal to be submitted to the AGM for approval by the shareholders of
the Company. After careful deliberation and discussion, the Board resolved unanimously to approve the additional proposal to be
submitted to the AGM for review. The format and procedure for the proposed submission of additional resolutions were in compliance
with the provisions of the Company Law and the Articles of Association of the Company.
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE is hereby given that
the AGM will be held as originally scheduled and will consider and, if thought fit, approve the following resolutions as ordinary
resolutions, in addition to the resolutions as set out in the Notice of AGM dated 15 May 2015:
AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
To consider and, if thought fit, approve the following resolution
as ordinary resolutions:
| 10. | to consider and approve the appointment of Mr. Guo Wei
as the independent non-executive director of the seventh session of the board of directors of the Company. |
| 11. | to consider and approve the appointment of Mr. Jiao Shu
Ge as the independent non-executive director of the seventh session of the board of directors of the Company. |
(For further details of the proposed appointment
of the independent non-executive directors, please refer to the Appendix)
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By Order of the Board of |
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China Southern Airlines Company Limited
Xie Bing and Liu Wei |
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Joint Company Secretaries |
Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China
As at the date of this notice, the Directors
include Si Xian Min, Yuan Xin An and Yang Li Hua as non-executive Directors, Tan Wan Geng, Zhang Zi Fang and Li Shao Bin as executive
Directors; and Wei Jin Cai, Ning Xiang Dong, Liu Chang Le and Tan Jin Song as independent non-executive Directors.
Notes:
| 1. | Save for the inclusion of the newly proposed resolutions, there are no other changes to the resolutions
set out in the notice of AGM dated 15 May 2015. Please refer to the notice of AGM for the other resolutions to be passed at the
AGM and other relevant matter. |
| 2. | Since the proxy form sent together with the circular dated 15 May 2015 (the “First Proxy
Form”) does not contain the proposed additional resolution as set out in this supplemental notice of AGM, a new proxy
form (the “Second Proxy Form”) has been prepared and is enclosed with this supplemental notice of AGM. |
| 3. | The Second Proxy Form for use at AGM is enclosed and is also published on the websites of The Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (http://www.hkexnews.hk) and the Company (http://www.csair.com). Whether or not you intend to attend
the AGM, you are requested to complete and return the enclosed Second Proxy Form in accordance with the instructions printed thereon
no later than 24 hours before the time fixed for holding the AGM or any adjournment thereof (as the case may be). |
| 4. | A shareholder who has not yet lodged the First Proxy Form with the Company’s H Share
registrar – Hong Kong Registrars Limited is requested to lodge the Second Proxy Form if he or she wishes to appoint
proxies to attend the AGM on his or her behalf. The Company’s H Share registrar – Hong Kong Registrars Limited is
at 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. In this case, the First Proxy Form should
not be lodged with the Company’s H Share registrar. |
| 5. | A shareholder who has already lodged the First Proxy Form with the Company’s H Share registrar should note that: |
| (i) | If no Second Proxy Form is lodged with the Company’s H Share registrar, the First Proxy Form
will be treated as a valid proxy form lodged by him or her if correctly completed. The proxy so appointed by the shareholder will
be entitled to vote at his or her discretion or to abstain from voting on any resolutions properly put to the AGM other than those
referred to in the notice convening the AGM and the First Proxy Form, including the additional proposed resolutions as set out
in this supplemental notice of AGM. |
| (ii) | If the Second Proxy Form is lodged with the Company’s H Share registrar at or before 2:00
p.m. on Monday, 29 June 2015, the Second Proxy Form will revoke and supersede the First Proxy Form previously lodged by him or
her. The Second Proxy Form will be treated as a valid proxy form lodged by the shareholder if correctly completed. |
| (iii) | If the Second Proxy Form is lodged with the Company’s H share registrar after 2:00 p.m. on
Monday, 29 June 2015, the Second Proxy Form will be invalid. It will not revoke the First Proxy Form previously lodged by the shareholder.
The First Proxy Form will be treated as a valid proxy form lodged by him or her if correctly completed. The proxy so appointed
by the shareholder will be entitled to vote at his or her discretion or to abstain from voting on any resolutions properly put
to the AGM other than those referred to in the notice convening the AGM and the First Proxy Form, including the additional proposed
resolutions as set out in this supplemental notice of AGM. |
| 6. | Shareholders are reminded that completion and delivery of the First Proxy Form and/or the Second
Proxy Form will not preclude shareholders from attending and voting in person at the AGM or at any adjourned meeting should they
so wish. |
APPENDIX
FURTHER DETAILS OF
THE PROPOSED APPOINTMENTS
| 1. | THE PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS |
According to the recommendation
of CSAHC, the Board proposed to nominate Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge as the independent non-executive Directors of the seventh
session of the Board (the “Proposed Appointments”) and submit such resolutions to the AGM for approval.
The biographical details of Mr. Guo Wei and Mr.
Jiao Shu Ge are as follows:
Mr. Guo Wei, aged 52,
holds a master’s degree. He graduated from the Department of Management of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (formerly known as Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology of China), majoring in management, and
obtained a master’s degree in engineering. Mr. Guo has extensive experience in business strategy development and business
management. Mr. Guo served as executive director and senior vice president of the Legend Group, vice chairman of the board of directors,
president and chief executive officer of Digital China Holdings Limited (“Digital China”), and director of DigiWin
Software Co., Ltd. At present, he is chairman of the board of directors of Digital China, and director of certain subsidiaries
and associates of Digital China. He is also currently chairman of Digital China Information Service Co., Ltd., non-executive director
of HC International, Inc., independent director of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., independent director of Taikang
Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and director of Kosalaki Investments Limited. In addition, Mr. Guo also serves as member of the 12th National
Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, member of the 4th Advisory Committee for State Informatization,
chairman of Beijing Informatization Association and chairman of the 6th Council of China Non-Governmental Science Technology Entrepreneurs
Association. Mr. Guo was awarded major prizes including China’s Top Ten Outstanding Youths (2002), Future Economic Leader
of China (2003), and the First Annual China Young Entrepreneurs Creative Management Golden Honour (2005). He was also selected
as one of the 50 Most Powerful Business Leaders in China by Fortune (Chinese version) in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Mr. Jiao Shu Ge, aged
49, holds a master’s degree. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Mathematics of Shangdong
University, majoring in control theory, and a master’s degree in engineering from the No. 2 Research Institute of Ministry
of Aeronautics and Astronautics, majoring in systems engineering. Mr. Jiao has extensive experience in fund management and equity
investment. Mr. Jiao is currently director and president of CDH China Management Company Limited (“CDH”). He
is also the founder of CDH. Mr. Jiao was computer researcher of the No. 710 Research Institute of Ministry of Aeronautics, and
deputy general manager of China International Capital Corporation Limited. He formerly served as non-executive director of China
Yurun Food Group Limited, and non-executive director of China Shanshui Cement Group Limited. Currently, he is also director of
associate companies of CDH, independent non-executive director of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, non-executive director and
vice chairman of WH Group Limited, director of Joyoung Co., Ltd., vice chairman of Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development
Co., Ltd., and director of companies including Beijing Taiyang Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., Inner
Mongolia Hetao Spirit Group Co., Ltd., Fujian Nanfu Nanping Battery Co., Ltd. and. Shanghai Qingchen Real Estate Development Co.,
Ltd.
If the above candidates are
appointed as Directors, each of them will enter into a service contract with the Company and shall hold their office until the
expiry of the term of the seventh session of the Board. Pursuant to the “Administrative Measures on Directors’ Remuneration
of China Southern Airlines Company Limited”, the annual basic emolument of RMB150,000 for Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge
is determined with reference to the responsibilities, risk and contributions of his/her position. Further details of the emolument
for Directors have been disclosed in the circular of the Company dated 14 May 2009 and 14 October 2011.
Save as disclosed, none of
the above director candidates (i) had held any directorships in other publicly listed companies in the last three years; (ii) had
any relationship with any Directors, supervisors, senior management, substantial or controlling shareholders of the Company; and
(iii) had any interests in shares of the Company within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter
571 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu
Ge have also confirmed that they have met the independence requirements as set out in Rule 3.13 of The Rules Governing the Listing
of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Listing Rules”).
There is no other matter relating
to the Proposed Appointments that needs to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company (the “Shareholders”),
nor is there any other information to be disclosed pursuant to any of the requirements of Rule 13.51(2)(h) to (v) of the Listing
Rules.
The Directors believe that
all the resolutions (including the resolutions relating to the Proposed Appointments) proposed for consideration and approval by
the Shareholders at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and the shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors
recommend that the Shareholders should vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM as set out in the notices of
AGM.
As no Shareholder has a material
interest in the Proposed Appointments, no Shareholder is required to abstain from voting on the resolution to approve the Proposed
Appointments at the AGM.
| 3. | RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT |
This supplemental notice of
AGM, for which the Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility, includes particulars given in compliance
with the Listing Rules for the purpose of giving information with regard to the Company. The Directors, having made all reasonable
enquiries, confirm that to the best of their knowledge and belief the information contained in this supplemental notice of AGM
is accurate and complete in all material respects and not misleading or deceptive, and there are no other matters the omission
of which would make any statement herein or this supplemental notice of AGM misleading.
Exhibit 99.2
THIS
CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION |
If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of this circular,
you should consult a stockbroker or other registered dealer in securities, bank manager, solicitor, professional accountant or
other professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all
your shares of China Southern Airlines Company Limited, you should at once hand this circular to the purchaser or transferee or
to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale was effected for transmission to the purchaser or the transferee.
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited
and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this circular, make no representation as
to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss however arising from or in reliance
upon the whole or any part of the contents of this circular.
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People’s
Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
DISCLOSEABLE AND CONNECTED TRANSACTION
AND
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISION OF ANNUAL
CAP FOR THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
Independent Financial Adviser to the Independent
Board Committee
and the Independent Shareholders
A notice convening the AGM to be held at
2:00 p.m., Tuesday, 30 June 2015 at No. 1 Conference Room, 4th Floor, Pearl Hotel CSN, No. 5 Road, Southern Work District, Baiyun
International Airport, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the PRC as set out in the general mandate circular of the Company and a form
of proxy for the AGM have been despatched on 15 May 2015 and are also published on the websites of the Stock Exchange (http://www.hkexnews.hk)
and the Company (http://www.csair.com).
If you are not able to attend and/or vote
at the general meeting, you are strongly urged to complete the form of proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon
and return it to the Company’s branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Registrars Limited, at 17M Floor, Hopewell
Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong as soon as possible and in any event not later than 24 hours before the
time appointed for the holding of the general meeting or any adjournment thereof. Completion and return of the form of proxy will
not preclude you from attending and voting at the meeting or any adjourned meeting should you so wish.
10 June 2015
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1. |
Definition |
1 |
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2. |
Letter from the Board |
4 |
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3. |
Letter from the Independent Board Committee |
15 |
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4. |
Letter from the Independent Financial Adviser |
17 |
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5. |
Appendix – General Information |
33 |
In this circular, the following expressions
have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
“A Share(s)” |
A share(s) of RMB 1.00 each in the capital of the Company |
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“AGM |
an annual general meeting to be convened at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, 30 June 2015 |
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“Articles of Association” |
the articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to time |
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“Board” |
the board of Directors |
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“Cap(s)” |
the maximum daily balance of deposits placed by the Company (including the corresponding interest accrued thereon) on any given day during the life of the Financial Services Framework Agreement |
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“CBRC” |
China Banking Regulatory Commission |
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“Company” |
China Southern Airlines Company Limited, a joint stock company incorporated in the PRC with limited liability |
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“CSAHC” |
China Southern Air Holding Company, a state-owned enterprise established under the laws of the PRC and the controlling shareholder of the Company |
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“CSAHC Group” |
CSAHC and its subsidiaries |
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“Directors” |
directors of the Company |
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“Finance Company” |
Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited, a company incorporated in the PRC with limited liability |
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“Financial Services Framework Agreement” |
the financial services framework agreement dated 8 November 2013 entered into between the Parties |
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“Group” |
the Company and its subsidiaries |
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“H Share(s) “ |
H share(s) of RMB1.00 each in the capital of the Company |
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“Independent Board Committee” |
the independent committee of the Board, the members of which consist of the independent non-executive Directors, formed to advise the Shareholders with respect to the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement |
“Independent Financial Adviser” or “Challenge Capital “ |
Challenge Capital Management Limited, a corporation licensed to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 2 (dealing in futures contracts), Type 4 (advising on securities), Type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the SFO and is the independent financial adviser to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement |
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“Independent Shareholders” |
shareholders of the Company other than CSAHC and its associates |
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“Latest Practicable Date” |
5 June 2015, being the latest practicable date prior to the printing of this circular for ascertaining certain information contained herein |
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“Listing Rules” |
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Stock Exchange |
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“Parties” |
the Company and the Finance Company |
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“PBOC” |
the People’s Bank of China, the central bank of the PRC |
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“PRC” or “China” |
the People’s Republic of China (other than, for the purpose of this circular only, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) |
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“Provision of Deposit Services” |
the provision of deposit of money services (including but not limited to time deposit, saving deposit) by the Finance Company to the Company pursuant to the Financial Services Framework Agreement |
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“Provision of Loan Services” |
the provision of loan services (including credit line services) by the Finance Company to the Company pursuant to the Financial Services Framework Agreement |
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“Share(s)” |
collectively, the H Shares and A Shares |
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“Shareholder(s)” |
shareholder(s) of the Company |
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“SFO” |
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) |
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“Stock Exchange” |
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited |
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“Supervisor(s)” |
supervisor(s) of the Company |
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“Supervisory Committee” |
the supervisory committee of the Company |
“Supplemental Agreement” |
the agreement supplemental to the Financial Services Framework Agreement dated 4 May 2015 entered into between the Parties to revise the Cap |
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the
People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
Directors: |
Registered address: |
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278 Ji Chang Road |
Non-Executive Directors: |
Guangzhou 510405 |
Si Xian Min (Chairman of the Board) |
PRC |
Yuan Xin An |
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Yang Li Hua |
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Executive Directors
Tan Wan Geng
Zhang Zi Fang
Li
Shao Bin
Independent Non-Executive Directors:
Wei Jin Cai
Ning Xiang Dong
Liu Chang Le
Tan Jin
Song
Supervisors:
Pan Fu (Chairman of the Supervisory Committee)
Li Jia Shi
Zhang Wei
Yang Yi Hua
Wu De Ming
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
DISCLOSEABLE AND CONNECTED TRANSACTION
AND
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISION OF ANNUAL CAP
FOR THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
Reference is made
to the announcements of the Company dated 8 November 2013 and 4 May 2015 in relation to the Financial Services Framework Agreement,
and the proposed revision of the Cap for the Provision of the Deposit Services pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement. The purpose
of this circular is, among other things, to provide you with more information in relation to the Provision of the Deposit Services
and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement, to enable you to make an informed decision on whether to vote for or against
the resolution at the AGM.
| (1) | Supplemental Agreement |
Date
4 May 2015 (after trading hours)
Parties
| (a) | The Company, its principal business activity of the Company is that of civil aviation. |
| (b) | The Finance Company, a non-wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAHC which is owned as to approximately
66.02% by CSAHC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, 33.98% by the Company together with its four subsidiaries. The principal business
activity of the Finance Company is that of providing financial services, which it is authorised to carry out under the applicable
rules and regulations of the PRC. |
Subject matter
Pursuant
to the Supplemental Agreement, the Parties have agreed to revise each of the Cap in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services
and the Provision of the Loan Services for the period from the effective date of the Supplemental Agreement to 31 December 2016
from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion, subject to the Independent Shareholders’ approval. Save as the said revision, all other
terms of the Financial Services Framework Agreement (as disclosed below) shall remain unchanged. The Supplemental Agreement shall
be effective from the date of obtaining the Independent Shareholders’ approval at the general meeting.
Provision of Deposit Services
The Finance
Company shall accept deposit of money from the Group at interest rates not lower than those set by the PBOC for the same term of
deposit. The Finance Company will in turn deposit the whole of such sums of money with certain stated-owned commercial banks and
listed commercial banks to control the risk. The Finance Company will ensure the Group is able to use the deposits at any time.
The Company
is not subject to any extra charges for depositing money with the Finance Company. The interest rate (such as time deposit rate
and saving deposit rate) for the Group’s deposits with the Finance Company shall not be lower than the rate payable by normal
commercial banks in the PRC for comparable deposits (whichever is higher).
Provision of Loan Services
The Finance
Company shall make loans or provide credit line services to the Group and the entering into of separate loan agreements, which
will set out the terms and conditions of the loans, upon application by the Company during the term of the Financial Services Framework
Agreement. The Company will comply with the Listing Rules when entering into such separate written agreements. The Finance Company
shall not charge interest rates higher than those set by the PBOC for similar loans. The total amount of outstanding loans extended
by the Finance Company to the CSAHC Group (excluding the Group) must not exceed the sum of the Finance Company’s shareholders’
equity, capital reserves and money deposit received from other parties (except the Group).
The interest
rate for loans provided to the Group by the Finance Company shall not be higher than the basis rate allowed by the PBOC for the
same type of loan and, subject to the above, the interest rate charged on the loans to the Group shall be equal to or lower than
the rate charged by normal commercial banks in the PRC for comparable loans (whichever is lower).
The Company
will make repayment of principal and payment for interest in accordance with the payment terms of the separate loan agreements
as might be entered into between the Parties.
Provision of other financial services
Upon
request by the Company, the Finance Company shall also provide other financial services to the Group, including financial and financing
consultation, credit certification and other relevant advice and agency services, insurance agency services, and other businesses
which are approved by CBRC to be operated by the Finance Company by entering into of separate agreements, which will set out the
terms and conditions of such services. If the Company is approved to issue bond, the Finance Company can accept engagement by the
Company to provide bond issuance or underwriting services, subject to the entering into of separate agreements. The Company will
comply with the reporting, annual review, announcement and independent shareholders’ approval requirements of the Listing
Rules if the transaction amount of other financial services contemplated under the Financial Services Framework Agreement would
exceed the relevant threshold when entering into such separate written agreements.
For the
other financial services provided by the Finance Company under the Financial Services Framework Agreement, the fees charged by
the Finance Company for the provision of other financial services shall be fixed according to the rate of fees chargeable by the
PBOC or the CBRC and, subject to the above principle, the fees chargeable by the Finance Company will be no less favourable to
the Company than terms available from other normal commercial banks and financial institutions in the PRC for the same type of
financial services.
The Company
will make payment for such fees and commissions in accordance with the payment terms of the separate agreements for other financial
services as might be entered into between the Parties. In respect of the other financial services to be provided by the Finance
Company to the Group, the Company expects that the annual fees payable by the Group to the Finance Company will not exceed RMB5
million during the term of the Financial Services Framework Agreement.
Term of the Financial Services Framework Agreement
The Financial Services Framework
Agreement is for a fixed term of three years, commencing from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016.
Proposed revised Cap
Pursuant
to the Supplemental Agreement, each of the maximum daily balance of deposits (including the corresponding interests accrued thereon)
placed by the Company as well as the maximum amount of the outstanding loan provided by the Finance Company to the Company (including
the corresponding interests payable accrued thereon) at any time during the term of the Financial Services Framework Agreement
shall not exceed the Cap which is proposed to be increased to RMB8 billion on any given day.
The revised Cap of RMB8 billion is determined principally
by reference to:
| (i) | the cash flow position of the Group. The amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the Group
as at 31 December 2014 and 31 March 2015 were RMB15,414 million and RMB14,467 million (unaudited), respectively; |
| (ii) | the original Cap of RMB6 billion provided for the Provision of Deposit Services under the Financial
Services Framework Agreement (details of which are provided in the announcement of the Company dated 8 November 2013); |
| (iii) | the maximum historical daily balance of the deposits of the Group with the Finance Company was
close to RMB6 billion during the fourth quarter of 2014 (as provided above which had indicated that the original Cap for the year
ended 31 December 2014 has been nearly
fully utilized). The original Cap is insufficient to cover the need of the Group; and |
| (iv) | the stable growth of the aviation transportation industry, the operation scale of the Company and the increase of the deposits
and loans demand. |
Historical figures
The historical
figures relating to the Provision of Deposit Services, Provision of Loan Services and provision of other financial services, during
the three financial years ended 31 December 2014 and three months ended 31 March 2015, were as follows:
| |
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Deposit | | |
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| |
| |
| | |
| | |
interest income | | |
Loan interest | | |
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| |
Balance of the | | |
Balance of the | | |
received from | | |
payable to the | | |
Other financial | |
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deposits placed | | |
outstanding | | |
the Finance | | |
Finance | | |
services fee | |
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with the | | |
loans provided | | |
Company for | | |
Company for | | |
payable to the | |
| |
Finance | | |
by the Finance | | |
the financial | | |
the financial | | |
Finance | |
| |
Company as at | | |
Company as at | | |
period ended | | |
period ended | | |
Company | |
| |
RMB(’000,000) | | |
RMB(’000,000) | | |
RMB(’000,000) | | |
RMB(’000,000) | | |
RMB(’000,000) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
31 December 2012 | |
| 2,307 | | |
| 426 | | |
| 61 | | |
| 30 | | |
| 0 | |
31 December 2013 | |
| 2,675 | | |
| 520 | | |
| 66 | | |
| 28 | | |
| 0 | |
31 December 2014 | |
| 4,264 | | |
| 0 | | |
| 68 | | |
| 11 | | |
| 0 | |
31 March 2015 | |
| 4,861 | | |
| 0 | | |
| 17 | | |
| 0 | | |
| 0 | |
The historical
maximum daily balance of the deposits with the Finance Company placed by the Group and the historical maximum daily balance of
outstanding loans owned by the Group to the Finance Company, during the three financial years ended 31 December 2014 and three
months ended 31 March 2015, were as follows:
| |
| | |
For the three | |
| |
For the financial year ended | | |
months ended | |
| |
31 December | | |
31 March | |
| |
RMB(’000,000) | | |
RMB(’000,000) | |
| |
2012 | | |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Maximum daily amount of deposits placed by the Group | |
| 5,889 | | |
| 5,844 | | |
| 5,988 | | |
| 5,932 | |
Maximum daily amount of outstanding loans owed by the Group | |
| 680 | | |
| 526 | | |
| 520 | | |
| 0 | |
The historical
maximum daily amount of deposits placed by the Group was greater than the historical maximum daily amount of outstanding loans
owed by the Group to the Finance Company because over 95% of the bank loans of the Group are denominated in US dollars (instead
of in RMB), so as to meet the business need (i.e. payment for consideration of aircraft, etc) and facilitate daily financial operation
of the Group. The Group can also take advantage of the continued appreciation of RMB against US$ in a long term.
The loans
provided by the Finance Company to the Group in the past were unsecured. In future, if the Company provides any guarantee and/or
security in respect of any future loans to be provided by the Finance Company to members of the Group, it will comply with the
then applicable requirements under the Listing Rules.
Reasons and benefits of the revision of the Cap
The Directors
have been closely monitoring the Provision of Deposit Services. However, in light of the increase in the amount of deposits actually
required to be placed by the Group with the Finance Company exceeds the original projection, the original Cap will no longer be
sufficient to cover the maximum daily balance of the deposits to be placed by the Group with the Finance Company during the remaining
term of the Financial Services Framework Agreement. Accordingly, the Company and the Finance Company entered into the Supplemental
Agreement on 4 May 2015 to revise the Cap for the period from the effective date of the Supplemental Agreement to 31 December 2016
from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion in order to comply with Rule 14A.54 of the Listing Rules.
The main reasons for the election
by the Company to continue to use the Finance Company for the Provision of Deposit Services are as follows:
| • | the Finance Company is a non-bank financial company established under the approval of the PBOC
according to the “Administrative Measures for Enterprise Group Finance Companies” and with a financial license issued
by CBRC; |
| • | the total amount of outstanding loans extended by the Finance Company to the CSAHC Group (excluding
the Group) must not exceed the sum of the Finance Company’s shareholders’ equity, capital reserves and money deposit
received from other parties (except the Group); |
| • | the pricing policy of the Finance Company and commercial banks in China are subject to guidelines
set by the PBOC. Therefore, the fees charged by the Finance Company for its services to the Company is comparable to those charged
by PRC commercial banks for similar services; |
| • | the Finance Company is regulated by the PBOC and the CBRC and provides its services in accordance
with and in satisfaction of the rules and operational requirements of these regulatory authorities. In addition, the capital risks
are reduced through the introduction of risk control measures; |
| • | the Group usually receives interest on its money deposited with the Finance Company at rates which
are no less favourable than the rate payable by normal commercial banks in the PRC for comparable deposits (whichever is higher).
This arrangement allows the Group to achieve a more efficient use of its current capital, since the Group can enjoy better interest
rates on depositing its current capital with the Finance Company than the PRC commercial banks can offer to the Group; |
| • | the Finance Company is a regulated financial institution in the PRC and is entitled to interbank
interest rates, which are generally higher than normal commercial interest rates when re-depositing deposits with commercial banks
in the PRC. The Company also holds 21.09% equity interest directly, and 12.89% equity interest indirectly through its subsidiaries,
in the Finance Company. Accordingly, the Company will share the benefit from the Finance Company’s profits; |
| • | (i) pursuant to the relevant regulations of the PBOC and the CBRC, the customers of the Finance
Company are principally limited to entities within the CSAHC Group (including the Group); and (ii) the Finance Company is not allowed
to provide certain services including the deposit services to the independent third parties outside of the CSAHC Group, thereby
reducing the risks that the Finance Company may otherwise be exposed to if its customers included other entities unrelated to Group.
Having said so, due to the facts the customers of the Finance Company are principally limited to entities within the CSAHC Group
(including the Group), the Finance Company also faces a higher customer concentration risk than other commercial banks, whose customers
are open to the public. However, as the Finance Company is a non-wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAHC which is owned as to approximately
66.02% by CSAHC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, 33.98% by the Company together with its four subsidiaries, the Finance Company
is able to gain access to the details of financial positions of its customers, and can obtain sufficient information in advance
to determine whether to grant the loan to the applicant, which is very unlikely for most of the commercial banks to evaluate their
customers. As a result, the high customer concentration risk is mitigated; |
| • | leveraging the Finance Company as the settlement platform, the Company can strengthen its centralized
funds management and shorten the transit time for fund transfer; |
| • | the Company has appointed director representatives in the Finance Company to supervise the operation
and management and the internal control of the Finance Company. Further, the Finance Company will report to the Company on a monthly
basis regarding the status of the Company’s deposit and re-deposit with other commercial banks made by the Finance Company
so as to strengthen the Company’s supervision over its deposit in the Finance Company; |
| • | on 31 March 2009, pursuant to the financial services agreement entered into between the Company
and the Finance Company, CSAHC, as the controlling shareholder of the Finance Company, has undertaken to the Company the following: |
| • | the Finance Company is a duly incorporated enterprise group finance company under the
“Administrative Measures for Enterprise Group Finance Companies” and the other relevant rules and regulations,
whose principal business is
to provide finance management services, such as deposit and financing for the members of the CSAHC Group; and the relevant capital
flows are kept within the CSAHC Group; |
| • | the operations of the Finance Company are in compliance
with the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations and it is running well, therefore the deposits placed with and loans
from the Finance Company of the Company are definitely secure. In future, the Finance Company will continue to operate in strict
compliance with the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations; |
| • | in respect of the Company’s deposits with and borrowings
from the Finance Company, the Company will continue to implement its internal procedures in accordance with the relevant laws
and regulations and the Articles of Association, and CSAHC will not intervene in the relevant decision-making process of the Company;
and |
| • | as the Company is independent from CSAHC in respect of
its assets, businesses, personnel, finance and organizational structures, CSAHC will continue to fully respect the rights of the
Company to manage its own operations, and will not intervene in the daily business operations of the Company; and |
| • | the Board has passed the “The Risk Control System
relating to the Connected Transactions between China Southern Airlines Company Limited and Southern Airlines Group Finance Company
Limited” on 28 July 2010 (the full text of which has been uploaded on the website of the Shanghai Stock Exchange at www.sse.com.cn)
and carried out connected transactions with the Finance Company in accordance with this system, so as to ensure the safety and
liquidity of the deposits placed by the Company with the Finance Company. |
The Directors
are of the opinion that the Provision of Deposit Services contemplated under the Financial Services Framework Agreement will not
increase the indebtedness of Group and will not have an adverse effect on the sufficiency of the working capital of the Group.
The Board
(including the independent non-executive Directors) considers that the terms of the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised
Cap under the Supplemental Agreement in respect of the maximum daily balance of deposit (including the corresponding interests
accrued thereon) are fair and reasonable and are entered into on normal commercial terms, or on terms no less favourable than those
available to independent third parties under the prevailing local market conditions, in the ordinary and usual course of business
of the Company and in the interests of the Group and its shareholders as a whole.
Implications under the Listing Rules
The Finance
Company is a non-bank finance company established under the direction of the PBOC with the main business scope of providing various
financial services, including deposit and loan facilities, credit facilities, guarantee, remittance of money and credit references,
principally to the CSAHC Group. CSAHC, the controlling shareholder of the Company, directly and indirectly holding approximately
51.99% equity interests in the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date, is a connected person of the Company, The Finance Company
is a non-wholly owned subsidiary of CSAHC thus also a connected person of the Company. As the Finance Company is a connected person
of the Company under the Listing Rules, the Financial Services Framework Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereunder
constitute continuing connected transactions of the Company under the Listing Rules.
As the
relevant applicable percentage ratios for the revised Cap is higher than 5% on an annual basis, the Provision of Deposit Services
constitutes a non-exempt continuing connected transaction under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules and is subject to the reporting,
annual review, announcement and the independent shareholders’ approval requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.
Further, the Provision of Deposit Services constitutes the provision of financial assistance under Rule 14.04(1)(e) of the Listing
Rules, and as the relevant applicable percentage ratios for the revised Cap is higher than 5% and less than 25% on an annual basis,
the Provision of Deposits Services also constitute a discloseable transaction under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules.
The Provision
of Loan Services provided by the Finance Company to the Group would amount to financial assistance by the Group from a connected
person, which are on normal commercial terms or better terms than those offered from independent third parties for comparable services
in the PRC and which is exempt under Rule 14A.90 of the Listing Rules from all reporting, annual review, announcement and independent
shareholders’ approval requirements since no security over the assets of the Group granted in respect of the loan.
In respect
of the other financial services to be provided by the Finance Company to the Group, the Company expects that the total fees payable
by the Group to the Finance Company will not exceed RMB5 million for each of the three years ending 31 December 2016, which fall
within the de minimis threshold set out in the Rule 14A.76 of the Listing Rules, therefore the provision of the other financial
services by the Finance Company to the Group is exempt from the reporting, annual review, announcement and independent shareholders’
approval requirements of the Listing Rules.
Among
the ten Directors, three connected Directors, Mr. Si Xian Min, Mr. Yuan Xin An and Ms. Yang Li Hua, were required to abstain from
voting in the Board meeting in respect of the resolutions to approve the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under
the Supplemental Agreement. All remaining seven Directors who were entitled to vote, unanimously approved the above resolutions.
The format and procedure for passing the resolution was in compliance with the Company Law of the PRC and the Articles of Association.
CSAHC
and its associates, who were directly and indirectly holding an aggregate of 5,103,998,665 Shares (representing approximately 51.99%
of the issued share capital of the Company) as at the Latest Practicable Date, are required to abstain from voting in respect of
the proposed resolution to approve the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement and the
revised Cap in the AGM.
The Company
will comply with the Listing Rules when it enters into further separate agreements with the Finance Company in connection with
the Provision of Loan Services and the other financial services by the Finance Company.
The Supplemental Agreement
is also required to be disclosed pursuant to the relevant rules and regulations of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
| (2) | INDEPENDENT BOARD COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL
ADVISER |
The Independent
Board Committee comprising all four independent non-executive Directors has been formed to consider the Provision of Deposit Services
and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement so far as the Company and the Shareholders are concerned as a
whole. Challenge Capital has been appointed as the Independent Financial Adviser to advise the Independent Board Committee and
the Shareholders on the same.
The Independent
Board Committee, having taken into account and based on the recommendation of the Independent Financial Adviser, considers that
the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement are on normal commercial terms
or better, in ordinary course of business of the Company, fair and reasonable so far as the Company and its Shareholders as a whole
are concerned and in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
A notice convening
the AGM to be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, 30 June 2015 at No. 1 Conference Room, 4th Floor, Pearl Hotel CSN, No. 5 Road, Southern
Work District, Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the PRC as set out in the general mandate circular
of the Company and a form of proxy for the AGM have been despatched on 15 May 2015 and are also published on the websites of the
Stock Exchange (http://www.hkexnews.hk) and the Company (http://www.csair.com).
If you are not able
to attend and/or vote at the general meeting, you are strongly urged to complete the form of proxy in accordance with the instructions
printed thereon and return it to the Company’s branch share registrar in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Registrars Limited, at 17M
Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong as soon as possible and in any event not later than 24
hours before the time appointed for the holding of the general meeting or any adjournment thereof. Completion and return of the
form of proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the meeting or any adjourned meeting should you so wish.
The Directors believe
that all the resolutions (including the resolution regarding the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental
Agreement) proposed for consideration and approval by the Shareholders at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and
the Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors recommend that the Shareholders should vote in favour of the resolutions
(including the resolution regarding the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement) to
be proposed at the AGM.
Your attention is
drawn to (i) the letter from the Independent Board Committee as set out on pages 15 to 16 of this circular which contains its recommendation
to the Shareholders as to voting at the AGM in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental
Agreement; and (2) the letter from the Independent Financial Adviser as set out on pages 17 to 32 of this circular which contains
its advice to the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services
and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement.
Your attention is drawn to the general information
set out in the appendix to this circular.
By Order of the Board
Si Xian Min
Chairman
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT
BOARD COMMITTEE |
The following is the letter of advice
from the Independent Board Committee to the Shareholders in respect of the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision
of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement, which has been prepared for the purpose of inclusion in this circular.
(a joint stock limited company incorporated in
the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
To the Shareholders
Dear Sir or Madam,
DISCLOSEABLE AND CONNECTED TRANSACTION
AND
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISION OF ANNUAL CAP
FOR THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
INTRODUCTION
We refer to a circular
(the “Circular”) of the Company dated 10 June 2015 of which this letter forms part. Terms used in this letter have
the same meaning as defined in the Circular unless the context otherwise requires.
We have been appointed
by the Board as the Independent Board Committee to advise you whether the terms of the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed
revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement are on normal commercial terms or better, in ordinary and usual course of business
of the Company, fair and reasonable as far as the Company and the Shareholders are concerned and in the interests of the Company
and the Shareholders as a whole. Challenge Capital has been appointed as the Independent Financial Adviser to advise us and the
Shareholders in this regard.
We wish to draw your
attention to the letter from the Board as set out on pages 4 to 14 of the Circular and the letter from the Independent Financial
Adviser as set out on pages 17 to 32 of the Circular, which contains, inter alia, its advice and recommendation regarding the terms
of Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement with the principal factors and reasons
for its advice and recommendation.
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT
BOARD COMMITTEE |
RECOMMENDATION
Taking into account
the advice and recommendation of the Independent Financial Adviser, we are of the view that the terms of the Provision of Deposit
Services and the proposed revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement are on normal commercial terms or better, in ordinary course
of business of the Company, fair and reasonable so far as the Company and its Shareholders are concerned and in the interests of
the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, we recommend the Shareholders to vote in favour of the proposed resolution
to approve the Supplemental Agreement at the AGM.
Yours
faithfully,
For and on behalf of
the Independent Board Committee of
CHINA
SOUTHERN AIRLINES COMPANY LIMITED
Wei Jin Cai Ning Xiang Dong Liu Chang Le Tan Jin Song
Independent Non-executive Directors
LETTER FROM THE INDEPENDENT
FINANCIAL ADVISER |
The following
is the text of a letter from Challenge Capital Management Limited in connection with its advice to the Independent Board Committee
and the Independent Shareholders in respect of the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental
Agreement, which has been prepared for the purpose of inclusion in this circular.
3/F, Kailey Tower,
16 Stanley Street,
Central,
Hong Kong
| To: | The Independent Board Committee and the Independent
Shareholders of China Southern Airlines Company Limited |
Dear Sirs,
DISCLOSEABLE AND CONNECTED TRANSACTION
AND
CONTINUING CONNECTED TRANSACTIONS
REVISION OF ANNUAL CAP
FOR THE
FINANCIAL SERVICES FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
INTRODUCTION
We refer to our engagement
as the independent financial adviser to the independent board committee (the “Independent Board Committee”)
and the independent shareholders (the “Independent Shareholders”) of China Southern Airlines Company Limited
(the “Company”) in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap pursuant to the Supplemental
Agreement, details of which are contained in the letter from the board (the “Letter from the Board”), set out
on page 4 to page 14 of the circular of the Company dated 10 June 2015 (the “Circular”) to its shareholders
(the “Shareholders”), of which this letter forms part. Capitalized terms used in this letter shall have the
same meanings as those defined in the Circular unless otherwise defined or the context requires otherwise.
On 4 May 2015, the
Company and the Finance Company entered into the Supplemental Agreement, pursuant to which the Parties have agreed to revise, inter
alia, the Cap in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services for the period from the effective date of the Supplemental Agreement
to 31 December 2016 from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion, subject to the Independent Shareholders’ approval.
CSAHC is the controlling
shareholder of the Company and directly and indirectly holds approximately an aggregate of 51.99% equity interests in the Company,
and is, therefore, a connected person of the Company. The Finance Company is a non-wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAHC thus also a
connected person of the Company.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
As the Finance Company
is a connected person of the Company under the Listing Rules, the Provision of Deposit Services constitutes continuing connected
transactions of the Company under the Listing Rules. As the relevant applicable percentage ratios for the revised Cap is higher
than 5% on an annual basis, the Provision of Deposit Services constitutes a non-exempt continuing connected transaction under Chapter
14A of the Listing Rules and is subject to the reporting, annual review, announcement and the Independent Shareholders’ approval
requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules. Furthermore, the Provision of Deposit Services constitutes the provision of
financial assistance under Rule 14.04(1)(e) of the Listing Rules, and as the relevant applicable percentage ratios for the revised
Cap is higher than 5% and less than 25% on an annual basis, the Provision of Deposit Services also constitutes a discloseable transaction
under Chapter 14 of the Listing Rules.
The Company proposed
to the Shareholders to approve the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement
at the AGM to be held on 30 June 2015. CSAHC and its associates are required to abstain from voting in respect of the proposed
resolution to approve the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement at the
AGM.
The Independent Board
Committee comprising all of the Company’s independent non-executive Directors, namely Mr. Wei Jin Cai, Mr. Ning Xiang Dong,
Mr. Liu Chang Le and Mr. Tan Jin Song, has been formed to consider and advise the Independent Shareholders as to whether the Provision
of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement is on normal commercial terms, fair and reasonable
so far as the Company and the Independent Shareholders as a whole are concerned and in the interests of the Company and its Shareholders
as a whole. We, Challenge Capital Management Limited, have been appointed as the Independent Financial Adviser to advise the Independent
Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders in this regard.
We are independent
from and not connected with the Group, the CSAHC Group, the Finance Company or any of their respective substantial shareholders,
directors or chief executives, or any of their respective associates pursuant to Rule 13.84 of the Listing Rules. Accordingly,
we are considered eligible to give independent advice on the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revised Cap contemplated
under the Supplemental Agreement. Apart from the normal advisory fee payable to us in connection with our appointment as the Independent
Financial Adviser to advise the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders, no arrangement exists whereby we
shall receive any other fees or benefits from the Company or any of its substantial Shareholders or any person acting or deemed
to be acting in concert with any of them.
BASIS OF OUR OPINION
In formulating our
opinion and recommendations, we have relied on the information, facts and representations contained or referred to in the Circular
and the information, facts and representations provided by, and the opinions expressed by the Directors, the Company and its management.
We have assumed that all information, opinions and representations contained or referred to in the Circular are true, accurate
and complete in all material respects as at the date of the Circular and that they may be relied upon in formulating our opinion.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
We also assumed that
all views, opinions and statements of intention provided by the Directors, advisors and representatives of the Company have been
arrived at after due and careful enquiries. The Directors have confirmed to us that no material facts have been withheld or omitted
from the information supplied and opinions expressed. We consider that we have been provided with, and have reviewed, all currently
available information and documents which are available under present circumstances to enable us to reach an informed view to provide
a reasonable basis for our opinion. We have no reason to suspect that any relevant information has been withheld, nor are we aware
of any facts or circumstances which would render the information provided and representations made to us untrue, inaccurate or
misleading. We consider that we have performed all the necessary steps to enable us to reach an informed view and to justify our
reliance on the information provided so as to provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. We have not, however, for the purpose
of this exercise, conducted any independent detailed investigation or audit into the businesses or affairs or future prospects
of the Group. Our opinion is necessarily based on the financial, economic, market and other conditions in effect, and the information
made available to us, as at the Latest Practicable Date and we have no obligation to update our recommendation to take into account
circumstances and events that could occur after the date of this letter. As such, circumstances and events could occur prior to
the Independent Shareholders’ approval of the Provision of Deposit Services and the revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement,
if known to us at the time when we had rendered our recommendation, would have altered our recommendation.
All Directors collectively
and individually accept full responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in the Circular and confirm, having made
all reasonable enquiries, that to the best of their knowledge and belief, opinions expressed in the Circular have been arrived
at after due and careful consideration and there are no other facts not contained in the Circular, the omission of which would
make any statement in the Circular misleading.
This letter is issued
for the information for the Independent Board Committee and the Independent Shareholders solely in connection with their consideration
of the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revised Cap under the Supplemental Agreement, and, except for its inclusion
in the Circular, is not to be quoted or referred to, in whole or in part, nor shall this letter be used for any other purposes,
without our prior written consent.
PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT
The Finance Company
has been providing financial services to the Group for over 19 years since the establishment of the Finance Company. On 8 November
2013, the Company and the Finance Company entered into the Financial Services Framework Agreement in relation to the Provision
of Deposit Services, Provision of Loan Services and provision of other related financial services by the Finance Company to the
Group for a fixed term of three years, commencing from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016, and is renewable, subject to the compliance
with the applicable requirements under the Listing Rules.
Pursuant to the Financial
Services Framework Agreement, the maximum daily balance of deposits (including the corresponding interests accrued thereon) placed
by the Company shall not exceed the Cap which were set on any given day for the three years ended or ending 31 December 2014, 2015
and 2016.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
The Directors have
been closely monitoring the Provision of Deposit Services. However, in light of the increase in the amount of deposits actually
required to be placed by the Group with the Finance Company exceeds the original projection, the original Cap will no longer be
sufficient to cover the maximum daily balances of the deposits to be placed by the Group with the Finance Company during the remaining
term of the Financial Services Framework Agreement.
Accordingly, on 4 May
2015, the Company and the Finance Company entered into the Supplemental Agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to revise
each of the Caps in relation to the Provision of Deposit Services and the Provision of Loan Services by the Finance Company for
the period from the effective date of the Supplemental Agreement to 31 December 2016 from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion, subject
to the compliance with the applicable requirements under the Listing Rules and the approval of the Independent Shareholders at
the AGM. Save as the said revision, all other terms of the Financial Services Framework Agreement remain unchanged.
Please refer to the
section headed “Supplemental Agreement” in the Letter from the Board for the detailed terms of the Supplemental Agreement
and the announcement and circular of the Company dated 8 November 2013 and 11 November 2013, respectively, for the details of the
Financial Services Framework Agreement.
INFORMATION OF THE GROUP, CSAHC AND THE FINANCE COMPANY
The Group is principally
engaged in civil aviation including the provision of passenger, cargo, mail delivery and other extended transportation services
and is one of the largest airline companies in the PRC. According to the annual report of the Company for the year ended 31 December
2014, the Group ranked first among all Chinese airlines in terms of its fleet, network and volume of passengers in 2014. As at
31 December 2014, the Group owned a total of 612 passenger and cargo aircrafts and operated more than 2,000 flights daily flying
to 210 destinations in nearly 40 countries and regions across the world. As stated in the annual report for the year ended 31 December
2014, the Group’s volume of passenger traffic exceeded 100 million for the first time in history and became the first airline
in China to have achieved such milestone.
CSAHC is a state-owned enterprise established
under the laws of the PRC and the controlling shareholder of the Company. Its principal activity is investment holding.
The Finance Company,
a non-wholly-owned subsidiary of CSAHC, is owned as to approximately 66.02% by CSAHC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, and approximately
33.98% by the Company together with its four subsidiaries. The Finance Company is a non-bank finance company established in 1995
under the laws of PRC with registered capital of approximately RMB724 million and under the direction of the
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
PBOC with the main business scope of providing
various financial services, including deposit and loan facilities, credit facilities, guarantee, remittance of money and credit
references, principally to CSAHC and its subsidiaries under the applicable rules and regulations of the PRC.
Regulatory environment of the Finance Company
As a licensed non-bank
financial institution in the PRC, the Finance Company is supervised by the PBOC and the CBRC under the Administrative Measures
for Enterprise Group Finance Companies (the “Administrative Measures”,企業集團財務公司管理
法). The Provision of Deposit Services is part of the scope of business of the Finance Company. Pursuant to the Administrative
Measures, the Finance Company is required to submit audited financial statements and report its operation status to the CBRC annually.
In addition, the Finance Company must comply with certain financial ratio requirements set by the CBRC from time to time.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
The below table set
out the financial ratio requirements of the CBRC with reference to the Administrative Measures and the respective financial ratios
of the Finance Company as at 31 December 2013, 31 December 2014 and 31 March 2015:
| |
| |
Financial ratios of the | |
| |
| |
Finance Company as at | |
Financial ratios | |
Requirements of
the CBRC | |
31 December
2013 | | |
31 December
2014 | | |
31 March
2015 | |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Capital adequacy ratio | |
Not less than 10% | |
| 28.18 | % | |
| 26.66 | % | |
| 25.95 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Inter-bank borrowing balances to total capital | |
Not more than 100% | |
| 75.25 | % | |
| 30.84 | % | |
| 29.60 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Total amount of outstanding guarantees to total capital | |
Not more than 100% | |
| 0.00 | % | |
| 0.00 | % | |
| 0.00 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Total amount of investment to total capital ratio | |
Not more than 70% | |
| 54.17 | % | |
| 58.11 | % | |
| 66.76 | % |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Self-owned fixed assets to total equity ratio | |
Not more than 20% | |
| 0.22 | % | |
| 0.12 | % | |
| 0.10 | % |
The Finance Company
reports to the CBRC regarding its compliance with the relevant regulatory requirements on a monthly basis. The financial ratios
stated above were computed based on the Finance Company’s management accounts and were submitted to CBRC for such purpose.
As advised by the Company, the Finance Company would subsequently review and compare the financial information submitted to the
CBRC with its annual audited financial statements and no material discrepancies which would affect the correctness of the information
submitted or result in non-compliance have been noted in the past. As shown in the table above, the Finance Company complied with
all the financial ratio requirements of the CBRC as at 31 December 2013, 31 December 2014 and 31 March 2015. We have been advised
by the Directors that to the best of their knowledge, up to the Latest Practicable Date, there is no record of non-compliance with
relevant laws, rules and regulations of the PRC on the Finance Company.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
Financial performance of the Finance Company
The table below sets
out the financial performance of the Finance Company extracted from its audited financial statements for the years ended 31 December
2013 and 2014 and its unaudited management accounts for the period ended 31 March 2015.
| |
For the year ended 31 December | | |
For the period ended 31 March | |
| |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | |
| |
(Audited) | | |
(Audited) | | |
(Unaudited) | | |
(Unaudited) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
Revenue | |
| 291 | | |
| 304 | | |
| 87 | | |
| 86 | |
Profit before tax | |
| 135 | | |
| 153 | | |
| 50 | | |
| 81 | |
Profit after tax | |
| 103 | | |
| 110 | | |
| 38 | | |
| 62 | |
| |
As at 31 December | | |
As at 31 March | |
| |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | |
| |
(Audited) | | |
(Audited) | | |
(Unaudited) | | |
(Unaudited) | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net asset value | |
| 798 | | |
| 940 | | |
| 839 | | |
| 983 | |
According
to the Administrative Measures, the Finance Company has to suspend part of its operation in the event it incurs a loss more than
30% of its registered capital in a year or incur a loss more than 10% of its registered capital for three consecutive years. Since
the Finance Company achieved a profit after tax of approximately RMB92 million, RMB103 million, RMB110 million, and RMB62 million
for the years ended 31 December 2012, 2013 and 2014 and for the period ended 31 March 2015 respectively, there is no indication
that the operation of the Finance Company will be suspended.
PRINCIPAL FACTORS AND REASONS CONSIDERED
In formulating our opinion in respect of
the proposed revised Cap, we have considered the following principal factors and reasons:
Reasons for and benefits of the revision of the Cap
The pricing policy
of the Finance Company and commercial banks in the PRC are subject to the guidelines set by the PBOC. According to the Financial
Services Framework Agreement, the interest rate (such as time deposit rate and saving deposit rate) for the Group’s deposits
with the Finance Company shall not be lower than the benchmark rate allowed by the PBOC for the same type of deposit and, subject
to the above, the interest rate payable shall not be lower than the rate payable by normal commercial banks in the PRC for comparable
deposits (whichever is higher).
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
We have obtained and
reviewed certain internal records provided by the Company including the notices on the interest received from the Finance Company
since 2013. We have also obtained and reviewed the benchmark rates on deposits announced by the PBOC since 2013. On 22 November
2014, the PBOC announced to reduce the benchmark rate on deposits and increase the upper floating-range limit on the benchmark
rates on deposits from 1.1 times to 1.2 times of the benchmark rates on deposits. As advised by the Company, the Finance Company
immediately increased the deposit interest rates on the money deposited by the Group on 22 November 2014 to 1.2 times of the benchmark
rates on deposits, which was the maximum interest rate that the licensed financial institutions in the PRC could offer under the
guideline of the PBOC.
On 1 March 2015, being
the latest benchmark rate revision of the PBOC before the issue of the announcement of the Company dated 4 May 2015, the PBOC announced
to further reduce the benchmark rate on deposits and further increased the upper floating-range limit on the benchmark rates on
deposits from 1.2 times to 1.3 times of the benchmark rates on deposits. However, as advised by the Company, the Finance Company
had maintained the deposit interest rates on the money deposited by the Group at 1.2 times of the benchmark rates on deposits after
considering that the normal commercial banks in the PRC had maintained the deposit interest rates for comparable deposits in the
range of 1.1 to 1.2 times of the benchmark rates on deposits. In this respect, the Company has provided us with the deposit interest
rates for comparable deposits offered by the normal commercial banks in the PRC with which the Group has placed deposits and we
noted that the deposit interest rate paid by the Finance Company was not lower than the benchmark rates allowed by the PBOC and
the rates payable by those commercial banks for comparable deposits.
After reviewing the
above, we have noted the Finance Company and the Group have followed the aforesaid pricing policy in relation to placing of deposits
with the Finance Company. We agree with the management of the Company that the arrangement to place deposits with the Finance Company
allows the Group to achieve higher rate of return on its current deposits, given that the Group can benefit from depositing its
current capital with the Finance Company at interest rates not lower than that the PRC normal commercial banks can offer to the
Group. We concur with the view of the Board that the terms of the deposit interest rates, as part of the terms contemplated under
the Financial Services Framework Agreement, are on normal commercial terms, in the ordinary and usual course of business of the
Company, fair and reasonable and are in the interest of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. Furthermore, with the proposed
revised Cap from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion, we concur with the management of the Company that the Group is able to place more
deposits with the Finance Company and the expected interest income for the Group in this regard will increase accordingly.
As set out in the Letter
from the Board, the Finance Company, being a regulated non-bank financial institution, is entitled to interbank interest rates,
which are generally not less than normal commercial interest rates when re-depositing deposits with normal commercial banks in
the PRC. In addition, the Company holds 21.09% equity interest directly, and 12.89% equity interest indirectly through its subsidiaries,
in the Finance Company. Accordingly, the Company will share the benefit from the Finance Company’s profit.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
The Group is expected
to place additional deposits with the Finance Company when the revised Cap is approved. In return, the Finance Company is able
to re-deposit a larger amount of the Group’s deposits and lend the new capital to the companies within the CSAHC Group to
generate additional interest income. Therefore, given that the Company holds equity interest in the Finance Company, the management
of the Company expects that the Group will share additional profit from the Finance Company after the revision of the Cap pursuant
to the Supplemental Agreement.
CSAHC is a state-owned
company and is the controlling shareholder of the Company. CSAHC Group is one of the three major air transportation groups directly
managed by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. Since its establishment in 2002,
CSAHC Group has become a well-established flight services group with diversified businesses including air transportation and cargo
logistics, aircraft engine maintenance, import and export trading, financing, construction and development, and media and advertising.
It was one of the top 500 PRC enterprises in 2014. According to a credit rating report provided by the Company, an independent
state-owned professional credit rating company consecutively rated CSAHC Group’s long-term credit rating as the top AAA grade
in 2013 and 2014, representing an extremely strong capability in debt repayment, free from influence of unfavorable environment,
and extremely low default risk. As such, we concur with the Directors’ view that given that the provision of financial services
by the Finance Company is limited to entities within the CSAHC Group and considering CSAHC Group’s credit rating and reputation
in the industry, the Finance Company is expected to be in a relatively low risk position to grant loans to the CSAHC Group.
| 3. | Internal control measures |
According to the Letter
from the Board, the Finance Company is established under the direction of the PBOC and is supervised by both the PBOC and the CBRC.
With reference to the Administrative Measures, the customers of the Finance Company are limited to its member companies only (including
the Group). This guideline reduces the business risk that the Finance Company may otherwise be exposed to if its customers include
entities other than its member companies. We have been advised by the Directors that to the best of their knowledge, up to the
Latest Practicable Date, there is no record of non-compliance with the Administrative Measures set out by the CBRC, any relevant
laws, rules and regulations of the PRC on the Finance Company.
Pursuant to the Financial
Services Framework Agreement, the Finance Company undertakes that it will only deposit its idle cash with state-owned or listed
commercial banks and that the total amount of outstanding loans extended by the Finance Company to the CSAHC Group (excluding the
Group) must not exceed the sum of the Finance Company’s shareholders’ equity, capital reserves and money deposit received
from other parties (except the Group). As advised by the management of the Company, the Finance Company reports to the Company
on a monthly basis regarding the status of the Company’s deposit and the re-deposit of the Finance Company with other stated-owned
or listed commercial banks. These measures allow the Company to closely monitor the status of its deposits placed with the Finance
Company.
As stated in the Letter
from the Board, the Company has appointed representatives to the board of the Finance Company to supervise the operation and management
of the Finance Company, as well as its internal control environment. According to the information provided by the Company regarding
the board members of the Finance Company, two of the five existing directors of the Finance Company were appointed by the Group
to monitor the business and the operation of the Finance Company.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
In 2013, the CBRC has
performed reviews on the Finance Company mainly in respect of its corporate governance and internal control. The management of
the Company advised us that the CBRC recognized that the Finance Company had complied with the relevant laws, rules and regulatory
requirements of the PRC, and its corporate governance and internal control were effective. In addition, according to the “Notice
for Corporate Group Finance Company Risk Assessment and Categorization Monitoring Guidelines” (企業集團財務公司風險評價和分類監管指引)
(the “Notice”) issued by the CBRC, the Finance Company was rated as Grade 2 (Satisfactory) by the CBRC for the year
2012 and 2013 risk assessments conducted in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The CBRC reviews the finance companies of enterprise groups
in the PRC pursuant to the Notice which covers aspects including the finance company’s management, operation and the group’s
control over its members and support to the finance company. The CBRC assigns one of five grades (Grade 1 to 5) after each assessment
exercise and Grade 2 represents the second highest grade which indicates that the relevant finance company possesses comprehensive
internal management, maintains good operating conditions and can effectively provide the central treasury management function for
the group.
We have discussed with
the Company and understand that the Finance Company together with the Company would carry out the following internal control procedures
to ensure that the deposit interest rates provided by the Finance Company are adjusted on a timely basis:
| (a) | The designated department of the Finance Company would closely monitor the benchmark deposit rates
set by the PBOC for any updates announced, as well as the deposit rates offered by normal commercial banks in the PRC for any changes
made subsequently. |
| (b) | In the event any adjustments are made by the PBOC to the benchmark deposit rates, the designated
departments of the Finance Company would discuss internally to determine the adjustment to the deposit rates in accordance with
the pricing policy pursuant to the Financial Services Framework Agreement and obtain management approval in a timely manner. The
finance department of the Company would also liaise and negotiate with the Finance Company on the deposit rate adjustment, taking
into account the deposit rates offered by normal commercial banks. |
| (c) | After adopting the adjusted deposit rates, such rates would be applied to subsequent deposits placed
by the Company, and the Finance Company would continue to monitor the benchmark deposit rates set by the PBOC as well as the rates
offered by normal commercial banks to ensure its deposit rates are adjusted on a timely basis and are not lower than the PBOC benchmark
rates and normal commercial rates. |
| (d) | The finance department of the Company would monitor its outstanding deposit balances with the Finance
Company on a daily basis and would check the applicable deposit interest rates upon obtaining the notices on interest received
from the Finance Company to ensure that they are in accordance with the pricing policy. Such procedures would be reviewed by the
general manager and the chief accountant of the Company on a regular basis. |
| (e) | The Company’s internal audit department would review and assess the internal control procedures
of the Group, including, among other things, its deposits with and interest income from financial institutions as well as with
the Finance Company, on an annual basis. |
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
| (f) | An internal control assessment report will be prepared and presented by the internal audit department
to the Board for review and approval. Upon approval, the internal control assessment report will be announced and published on
the Shanghai Stock Exchange. |
We have confirmed with
the Company that the above measures are in place and no irregularities have been identified in implementing such measures. We have
also reviewed the internal control assessment report for the year 2014 published by the Company which concluded that no material
weaknesses had been identified during the relevant period under review.
In addition, the Company
has engaged an external internal control consultant to review its internal control system on various aspects including the controls
on asset management, financial, cash flow (which includes the deposits of the Group with financial institutions as well as the
Finance Company), operational, legal, human resources, research and development, and information technology for the year ended
2014. The Company advised us that the internal control review report issued by the external internal control consultant concluded
that the Company had maintained effective internal control in all material aspects.
Furthermore, we have
reviewed the 2014 annual report of the Company and noted that the independent non-executive directors have reviewed and confirmed
that the non-exempt continuing connected transactions, which includes the Provision of Deposit Services under the Financial Services
Framework Agreement, have been entered into (a) in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Group; (b) on normal commercial
terms or better; and (c) according to the relevant agreement on terms that are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the
Shareholders as a whole. The auditors of the Company have confirmed that the non-exempt continuing connected transactions (a) have
been approved by the Board; (b) are in accordance with the pricing policies of the Company, for those transactions involving the
provision of goods or services by the Group; (c) have been entered into, in all material respects, in accordance with the relevant
agreement; and (d) have not exceeded the respective annual Cap. As advised by the Company, the Company will continue to comply
with the relevant Listing Rules requirements on an ongoing basis.
According to the Letter
from the Board, on 31 March 2009, CSAHC, as the controlling shareholder of the Finance Company, has undertaken to the Company the
following: (1) The Finance Company is a duly incorporated enterprise group finance company under the Administrative Measures and
the other relevant rules and regulations, whose principal business is to provide finance management services, such as deposit and
financing for the members of the CSAHC Group; and the relevant capital flows are kept within the CSAHC Group; (2) the operations
of the Finance Company are in compliance with the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations and it is running well, therefore
the deposits placed with and loans from the Finance Company of the Company are definitely secure. In future, the Finance Company
will continue to operate in strict compliance with the requirements of the relevant laws and regulations; (3) in respect of the
Company’s deposits with and borrowings from the Finance Company, the Company will continue to implement its internal procedures
in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations and the Articles of Association, and CSAHC will not intervene in the relevant
decision-making process of the Company; and (4) as the Company is independent from CSAHC in respect of its assets, businesses,
personnel, finance and organizational structures, CSAHC will continue to fully respect the rights of the Company to manage its
own operations, and will not intervene in the daily business operations of the Company. According to the 2014 annual report of
the Company, it’s a long-term undertaking, and it has been strictly performed.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
Given the above, we
agree with the Directors that the Finance Company and the Group have implemented effective internal control measures to secure
the deposits in mitigating the capital risks of depositing the monies in the Finance Company and to ensure that the deposit rates
can be adjusted on a timely basis in accordance with the pricing policy. Based on the above, we concur with the Directors’
view that the continuous placing of deposits with the Finance Company and the revision of Cap pursuant to the Supplemental Agreement
are in the interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole.
Historical figures and the proposed Cap
As advised by the Company,
they have determined the revised Cap with reference to (a) the cash flow position of the Group; (b) the original Cap and the maximum
historical daily balance of the deposits; and (c) the stable growth of the aviation transportation industry, the operation scale
of the Group, and the increase of the deposits demand.
The following table
summarized the relevant financial information extracted from the audited financial statements of the Group for the years ended
31 December 2013 and 2014 and the unaudited financial information provided by the Group for the periods ended 31 March 2014 and
2015:
| |
As at 31 December | | |
As at 31 March | |
| |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | |
| |
(Audited) | | |
(Audited) | | |
(Unaudited) | |
| |
| | |
| | |
| |
Cash and cash equivalents | |
| 11,748 | | |
| 15,414 | | |
| 14,467 | |
Deposits placed with the Finance Company | |
| 2,675 | | |
| 4,264 | | |
| 4,861 | |
Historical Caps | |
| 6,000 | | |
| 6,000 | | |
| 6,000 | |
| |
For the year ended 31 December | | |
For the period ended 31 March | |
| |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | |
| |
(Audited) | | |
(Audited) | | |
(Unaudited) | | |
(Unaudited) | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net cash flow from operating activities | |
| 9,703 | | |
| 13,570 | | |
| 987 | | |
| 5,441 | |
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
Based on the information
provided by the Company, the table set out below summarized (i) the historical maximum and average amount of deposits placed by
the Group with the Finance Company and (ii) the historical maximum and average daily utilization of historical Caps, during the
years ended 31 December 2013 and 2014 and the period ended 31 March 2015.
| |
For the year ended 31 December | | |
For the period ended 31 March | |
| |
2013 | | |
2014 | | |
2015 | |
| |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | | |
RMB in millions | |
| |
(Audited) | | |
(Audited) | | |
(Unaudited) | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Maximum balance of deposits placed with the Finance Company by the Group (including accrued interest) | |
| 5,844 | | |
| 5,988 | | |
| 5,932 | |
Maximum daily utilization of historical Caps (Note 1) | |
| 97.4 | % | |
| 99.8 | % | |
| 98.9 | % |
Average balance of deposits placed with the Finance Company by the Group (including accrued interest) (Note 2) | |
| 3,396 | | |
| 4,159 | | |
| 4,561 | |
Average daily utilization of historical Caps (Note 3) | |
| 56.6 | % | |
| 69.3 | % | |
| 76.0 | % |
Notes:
| 1. | The maximum daily utilization of historical Cap is calculated by dividing the maximum balance of deposits placed with the Finance
Company by the Group during the respective year or period by the historical Cap. |
| 2. | Average balance of deposits placed with the Finance Company by the Group is the average daily balance of deposits placed with
the Finance Company by the Group during the respective year or period. |
| 3. | The average daily utilization of historical Cap is calculated by dividing the average balance of deposits placed with the Finance
Company by the Group during the respective year or period by the historical Cap. |
With reference to the
aforementioned basis advised by the management of the Company in determining the Cap, we have taken into account the following
factors in assessing the reasonableness of the proposed revised Cap:
| (i) | Historical
cash flow and cash positions of the Group |
According to the 2014
annual report of the Company, net cash flow from operating activities increased from RMB9,703 million for the year ended 31 December
2013 to RMB13,570 million for the year ended 31 December 2014, representing an increase of approximately RMB3,867 million or 39.9%.
Additionally, according to the unaudited quarterly report for the three months ended 31 March 2015 (the “2015 First Quarterly
Report”) of the Company, which were prepared in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and unaudited, net cash flow
from operating activities increased from RMB987 million for the three months ended 31 March 2014 to RMB5,441 million for the three
months ended 31 March 2015, representing an increase of approximately RMB4,454 million or 451.3%.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
In addition, the amount
of cash and cash equivalents held by the Group as at 31 December 2014 was RMB15,414 million, representing an increase of approximately
RMB3,666 million or 31.2% as compared to RMB11,748 million as at 31 December 2013. As at 31 March 2015, the Group’s cash
and cash equivalents decreased by RMB947 million or 6.1% to RMB14,467 million from 31 December 2014. As advised by the Company,
such decrease was primarily due to repayment of its short term financing bond and corresponding interest of approximately RMB3.1
billion in January 2015. As such, taking that into account, there has been a continuous growth trend in the Group’s cash
and cash equivalents since 2013.
As advised by the Directors,
the strengthening of the capital base and increase in cash position of the Group were mainly attributable to the improvement in
the business performance of the Group in 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, together with the substantial decrease in oil prices,
which is the largest component in operating expenses, since the second half of 2014. According to the 2014 annual report of the
Company, revenue for the year ended 31 December 2014 increased by RMB10,037 million or 10.2% to RMB108,584 million from RMB98,547
million for the year ended 31 December 2013. According to the 2015 First Quarterly Report, the Group recorded revenue of RMB27,718
million for the period ended 31 March 2015, representing an increase of RMB1,767 million or 6.8% as compared to RMB25,951 million
for the period ended 31 March 2014. Furthermore, due to the significant decline in oil prices since July 2014, the Group’s
operating expenses increased by RMB7,746 million or 7.9% from RMB98,280 million for the year ended 31 December 2013 to RMB106,026
million for the year ended 31 December 2014, which was at a lower rate than the increase in revenue of 10.2%, and decreased by
RMB977 million or 4.3% from RMB22,678 million for the period ended 31 March 2014 to RMB21,701 million for the period ended 31 March
2015.
| (ii) | Daily utilization of the historical Caps |
With reference to the
table above, during the years ended 31 December 2013 and 2014 and the three months ended 2015, the Group’s maximum daily
balance of deposits placed with the Finance Company had reached approximately 97.4%, 99.8%, and 98.9% of the historical Caps, respectively.
Additionally, we have also noted that the Group’s average daily utilization of the historical Caps, being 56.6%, 69.3%, and
76.0% for the years ended 31 December 2013 and 2014 and the three months ended 31 March 2015 respectively, have demonstrated an
increasing trend as illustrated on the table above. Furthermore, based on the information provided by the Company, we have noted
that the maximum daily balance of deposits placed with the Finance Company by the Group reached above RMB5.5 billion in eight months
and above RMB5 billion in seven months out of the twelve months in 2014, and above RMB5.5 billion in two months in the first quarter
of 2015, indicating a high frequency of the historical Caps being almost fully utilized during the year ended 31 December 2014
and up to 31 March 2015.
Having considered (1)
the Group’s maximum daily utilization of the historical Caps; (2) the Group’s average daily utilization of the historical
Caps; and (3) the frequency of the Group’s historical Caps being almost fully utilized, we concur with the Directors’
view that the original Cap may no longer be sufficient to cover the Group’s needs.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
| (iii) | Expected stable growth in the aviation transportation
industry in the PRC |
As advised by the Company,
according to the statistics released by Civil Aviation Administration of China (“CAAC”), the total aviation transportation
turnover (航空運輸總周轉量) and the number of passengers carried (旅客運輸量)
handled by the PRC airports increased by approximately 11.1% and 10.3% respectively during the period from January to November
2014. Furthermore, according to the CAAC, the total aviation transportation turnover and the number of passengers carried handled
by the PRC airports is expected to grow by approximately 10.2% and 10.0% respectively from 2014 to 2015.
The Company advised
that, in determining the revised Cap, the management has also considered the expected continuing stable growth in the aviation
transportation industry and the expected increase in the operation scale of the Group. The Directors expect that the aviation transportation
industry in the PRC will continue to grow in the coming two years and the demand for the Group’s services will increase accordingly.
As such, they also anticipate that the scale for the deposits to be placed with the Finance Company will increase. Assuming an
expected revenue growth of around 8% per annum and that the Group will deposit approximately 50% of its cash and bank balances
with the Finance Company after taking into account the internal treasury policy and cash flow position of the Group, and applying
such growth rate to the cash and bank balances of the Group as at 31 December 2014 and excluding its foreign currency deposits
and funds assigned for designated use, the amount of RMB deposits with the Finance Company would be over RMB8 billion. However,
the Directors emphasized that such assumption is solely made as a reference in determining the Cap and shall not be regarded as
any indication directly or indirectly as to the respective revenue, profitability or business prospects of the Group.
We noted in the 2014
annual report of the Company that the Group’s total aviation transportation turnover and the number of passengers carried
increased by approximately 13.2% and 9.9% respectively in 2014, which is considered in line with the growth of the industry.
Having taken into account
(i) the historical cash flows and cash positions of the Group; (ii) the daily utilization of the historical Caps; and (iii) the
expected stable growth of the aviation transportation industry in the PRC and the expected increase in operation scale of the Group,
we concur with the Directors’ view that the original Cap of RMB6 billion will no longer be sufficient to cover the maximum
daily balance of the deposits to be placed by the Group with the Finance Company during the remaining term of the Financial Services
Framework Agreement and the revision of the proposed Cap from RMB6 billion to RMB8 billion contemplated under the Supplemental
Agreement is in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company, fair and reasonable so far as the Independent Shareholders
are concerned and are in the interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Taking into account
the above factors, we consider that the Provision of Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement
is on normal commercial terms, in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Company, fair and reasonable so far as the Company
and its Independent Shareholders as a whole are concerned and in the interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole.
LETTER
FROM THE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER |
Accordingly, we recommend the Independent
Board Committee to advise the Independent Shareholders to vote in favour of the proposed resolution to approve the Provision of
Deposit Services and the proposed revision of Cap under the Supplemental Agreement at the AGM.
Yours faithfully,
For and on behalf of |
Challenge Capital Management Limited |
Jackson Woo |
Wilson Fok |
Managing Director |
Managing Director |
APPENDIX |
GENERAL
INFORMATION |
| 1. | RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT |
This circular, for
which the Directors collectively and individually accept full responsibility, includes particulars given in compliance with the
Listing Rules for the purpose of giving information with regard to the Group. The Directors having made all reasonable inquiries,
confirm that to the best of their knowledge and belief the information contained in this circular is accurate and complete in all
material respects and not misleading or deceptive, and there are no other matters the omission of which would make any statement
herein or this circular misleading.
| 2. | DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND SUPERVISORS |
As at the Latest Practicable
Date, none of the Directors, chief executive or Supervisors of the Company and their respective associates had interests or short
positions in the shares, underlying shares and/ or debentures (as the case may be) of the Company or its associated corporations
(within the meaning of Part XV of the SFO) which were notified to the Company and the Stock Exchange pursuant to Divisions 7 and
8 of Part XV of SFO (including interests or short positions which are taken or deemed to have under such provisions of the SFO),
or recorded in the register maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 352 of the SFO or which were notified to the Company
and the Stock Exchange pursuant to the Model Code for Securities Transactions by Directors of the Listed Issuers in Appendix 10
of the Listing Rules. None of the Directors, chief executive or Supervisors of the Company and their respective associates (as
defined in the Listing Rules) has any competing interests which would be required to be disclosed under Rule 8.10 of the Listing
Rules if each of them were a controlling shareholder of the Company.
| 3. | SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS |
As at the Latest Practicable
Date, so far as was known to the Directors, chief executive and Supervisors of the Company, the interests and short positions of
the following persons other than the Directors, chief executive or supervisors of the Company in the Shares and underlying Shares
which would fall to be disclosed to the Company under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO or who were, directly
or indirectly, interested in 10% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital carrying rights to vote in all circumstances
at general meeting of any other members of the Group, or had any option in respect of such capital are set out below:
APPENDIX |
GENERAL
INFORMATION |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
% of the | |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
total issued | |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
% of the | | |
% of the | | |
share capital | |
Name of | |
| |
Type of | |
Number of | | |
total issued | | |
total issued | | |
of the | |
Shareholder | |
Capacity | |
Shares | |
Shares held | | |
A Shares | | |
H Shares | | |
Company | |
| |
| |
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |
CSAHC (Note) | |
Beneficial owner | |
A Share | |
| 4,039,228,665 | | |
| 57.52 | % | |
| – | | |
| 41.14 | % |
| |
| |
| |
| (L) | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
Interest in controlled | |
H Share | |
| 1,064,770,000 | | |
| – | | |
| 38.10 | % | |
| 10.85 | % |
| |
corporation | |
| |
| (L) | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| |
| |
Total | |
| 5,103,998,665 | | |
| – | | |
| – | | |
| 51.99 | % |
| |
| |
| |
| (L) | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Nan Lung Holding | |
Beneficial Owner | |
H Share | |
| 1,064,770,000 | | |
| – | | |
| 38.10 | % | |
| 10.85 | % |
Limited (“Nan | |
Interest in controlled | |
| |
| (L) | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Lung”)
(Note) | |
corporation | |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
| Note: | CSAHC was deemed to be interested in an aggregate of 1,064,770,000 H Shares through its direct
and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries in Hong Kong, of which 31,120,000 H Shares were directly held by Yazhou Travel Investment
Company Limited (representing approximately 1.11% of its then total issued H Shares) and 1,033,650,000 H Shares were directly held
by Nan Lung (representing approximately 36.98% of its then total issued H Shares). As Yazhou Travel Investment Company Limited
is also an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Nan Lung, Nan Lung was also deemed to be interested in the 31,120,000 H Shares held
by Yazhou Travel Investment Company Limited. |
| | As at the Latest Practicable Date, Mr. Si Xian Min, Mr.
Yuan Xin An and Ms. Yang Li Hua were also senior management of CSAHC. |
Save as disclosed above,
as at the Latest Practicable Date, so far as was known to the Directors, chief executive and Supervisors of the Company, no other
person (other than the Directors, chief executive or supervisors of the Company) had an interest or short position in the Shares
or underlying Shares under the provisions of Divisions 2 and 3 of Part XV of the SFO or who were, directly or indirectly, interested
in 10% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital carrying rights to vote in all circumstances at general meeting
of any other members of the Group.
| 4. | DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ INTERESTS |
| (a) | None of the Directors or Supervisors of the Company has any direct or indirect interest in any
assets which have been, since 31 December 2014, the date to which the latest published audited financial statements of the Company
were made up, acquired or disposed of by or leased to, or which are proposed to be acquired or disposed of by, or leased to, any
member of the Group. |
APPENDIX |
GENERAL
INFORMATION |
| (b) | None of the Directors or Supervisors was materially interested in any contract or arrangement subsisting
at the Latest Practicable Date and which was significant in relation to the business of the Group. |
None of the Directors
has any existing or proposed service contract with any member of the Group which is not determinable by the Group within one year
without payment of compensation (other than statutory compensation).
| 6. | MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE |
As at the Latest Practicable
Date, the Directors confirmed that there was not any material adverse change in the financial or trading position of the Group
since 31 December 2014, the date to which the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Group were made up.
No member of the Group
was engaged in any litigation or claims of material importance, and no such litigation or claim of material importance was known
to the Directors to be pending or threatened by or against any members of the Group, as at the Latest Practicable Date.
| 8. | QUALIFICATION AND CONSENT OF EXPERT |
The following is the
qualification of the expert who has given opinion or advice, which are contained or referred to in this circular:
Name |
Qualification |
|
|
Challenge Capital Management Limited |
a corporation licensed to carry out Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 2 (dealing in futures contracts), Type 4 (advising on securities), Type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities under the SFO |
As at the Latest Practicable
Date, Challenge Capital had no shareholding interest in any member of the Group or the right (whether legally enforceable or not)
to subscribe for or to nominate persons to subscribe for securities of any member of the Group.
As at the Latest Practicable
Date, Challenge Capital was not interested, directly or indirectly, in any assets which had since 31 December 2014 (being the date
to which the latest published audited accounts of the Company were made up) been acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member
of the Group or which are proposed to be acquired or disposed of by or leased to any member of the Group.
Challenge Capital has given and has not
withdrawn its written consent to the issue of this circular with the inclusion herein of its letter and references to its name
in the form and context in which it appears.
APPENDIX |
GENERAL
INFORMATION |
| (a) | The joint company secretaries of the Company are Mr. Xie Bing and Dr. Liu Wei. |
Mr. Xie Bing, aged 43, graduated
from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, majoring in civil aviation management. He subsequently received a master
degree of business administration, a master degree of business administration (international banking and finance) and an Executive
Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from Jinan University, the University of Birmingham, Britain and Tsinghua University,
respectively. Mr. Xie is a senior economist. Mr. Xie worked in the Planning and Development Department, Company Secretary Office
of the Company and General Office of CSAHC. He has been the Company Secretary of the Company since November 2007.
Dr. Liu Wei, aged 58, graduated
from the Northwest University of China, the Chinese University of Political Science and Law, the University of Cambridge and the
University of Hong Kong, with a bachelor in Chinese literature, a master degree in law and a PhD in Law respectively. He also completed
his Common Professional Examination (CPE) with the Manchester University in England, as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws
(PCLL) with the University of Hong Kong. Dr. Liu is qualified to practice law in PRC, Hong Kong and England. He has extensive exposure
in corporate finance and is a partner of DLA Piper Hong Kong.
| (b) | The registered address of the Company is at 278 Ji Chang Road, Guangzhou, PRC and the principal
place of business of the Company in Hong Kong is at Unit B1, 9th Floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong Kong. |
| (c) | The Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office of the Company is Hong Kong Registrars
Limited, 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. |
| 10. | DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION |
Copies of the Financial
Services Framework Agreement and the Supplemental Agreement will be available for inspection during normal business hours at the
head office and principal place of business of the Company in Hong Kong at Unit B1, 9th Floor, United Centre, 95 Queensway, Hong
Kong from the date of this circular up to and including the date of AGM.
Exhibit 99.3
(a joint stock limited company incorporated
in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
Attachment B
|
The number of H Shares to which
this proxy form relates1 |
|
Second Form of Proxy for Annual General Meeting
I/We2, _________________________________________________________________________________________,
residing at ______________________________________________________________________________________,
being the registered holder of3 ___________________________________
ordinary shares of the Company, HEREBY, APPOINT4, ________________________________________, residing at _____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
as my/our proxy/proxies to attend
on my/our behalf the annual general meeting (the “AGM”) of China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the
“Company”) to be held at the No. 1 Conference Room, 4th Floor, Pearl Hotel CSN, No. 5 Road, Southern
Work District, Baiyun International Airport, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, the PRC at 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, 30 June 2015
and to act and vote on my/our behalf at the AGM in respect of the resolutions listed below, in accordance with my/our
instructions below5.
Ordinary Resolutions |
For5 |
Against5 |
Abstain5 |
1. |
To consider and approve the Report of the Directors of the Company for the year 2014. |
|
|
|
2. |
To consider and approve the Report of the Supervisory Committee of the Company for the year 2014. |
|
|
|
3. |
To consider and approve the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year 2014. |
|
|
|
4. |
To consider and approve the profit distribution proposal for the year 2014. |
|
|
|
5. |
To consider and approve the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP to provide professional services to the Company for its domestic financial reporting, U.S. financial reporting and internal control of financial reporting for the year 2015 and PricewaterhouseCoopers to provide professional services to the Company for its Hong Kong financial reporting for the year 2015, and authorize the Board to determine their remuneration. |
|
|
|
6. |
To consider and approve the supplemental agreement to the financial services framework agreement entered into between the Company and Southern Airlines Group Finance Company Limited. |
|
|
|
7. |
To consider and approve to authorize Xiamen Airlines Company Limited to provide loan guarantees to Hebei Airlines Company Limited with an aggregate balance up to RMB3.5 billion within the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016. |
|
|
|
Special Resolutions |
For5 |
Against5 |
Abstain5 |
8. |
To authorise the Board to allot, issue and deal with additional shares of the Company and to authorise the Board to increase the registered capital and make such appropriate and necessary amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company to reflect such increase in the registered capital of the Company upon the allotment or issuance of shares. |
|
|
|
9. |
To consider the authorization given to the Board, generally and unconditionally, to issue the debt financing instruments. |
|
|
|
Additional Ordinary Resolutions |
For5 |
Against5 |
Abstain5 |
10. |
To consider and approve the appointment of Mr. Guo Wei as the independent non-executive director of the seventh session of the board of directors of the Company. |
|
|
|
11. |
To consider and approve the appointment of Mr. Jiao Shu Ge as the independent non-executive director of the seventh session of the board of directors of the Company. |
|
|
|
Notes:
| 1. | Please insert the number of shares in the Company registered in your name(s) and to which this proxy form relates. If no such
number is inserted, this form of proxy will be deemed to relate to all the shares in the Company registered in your name(s). |
| 2. | Please insert the name(s) and address(es) (as shown in the register of members) in block capital(s). |
| 3. | Please insert the number of all the shares in the Company registered in your name(s). |
| 4. | If no person is appointed as proxy, the Chairman of the AGM will be deemed to have been appointed by you as your proxy. |
| 5. | If you wish to vote for any of the resolutions,
please insert a “ü”
in the box marked “FOR” or if you wish to vote against any of the resolutions, please insert a “ü” in the box marked “AGAINST”; or if you wish
to abstain from voting for or against the resolution, please insert a “ü”
in the box marked “ABSTAIN”. If no indication is given, then your proxy/proxies may vote in such manner as he/she/they
think(s) fit. Your proxy will also be entitled to vote at his discretion on any resolution properly put to the Meeting other than
those referred to in the notice convening the AGM. The shares abstained will be counted in the calculation of required majority. |
| 6. | This form of proxy must be signed by you or your attorney duly authorised in writing or, in the
case of a company or an organization, either under the common seal or under the hand of any director or attorney duly authorised
in writing. In any event, the execution shall be made in accordance with the articles of association of such company or organization. |
| 7. | To be valid, this proxy form and, if such proxy form is signed by a person under a power of attorney
or authority on behalf of the appointer, a notarised copy of that power of attorney or other authority, must be delivered to Hong
Kong Registrars Limited at 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong in not less than 24 hours
before the time appointed for the holding of the AGM. |
| 8. | A proxy, on behalf of the shareholder, attending AGM shall bring along the proxy form duly completed
and signed as well as the proof of identification of the proxy, in the case of a company or an organization, the proxy shall also
bring along a notarised copy of the resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of the appointer or a letter of
authorization. |
| 9. | This proxy form shall be completed in form of a set of two copies, one of which shall be lodged to the Company pursuant to
Note 7; and the other copy shall be produced upon the AGM by the proxy of the shareholder pursuant to Note 8. |
| 10. | Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude
you from attending and voting in person at the AGM or any adjourned AGM should you so wish. |
Exhibit 99.4
(a joint stock limited company incorporated
in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(在中華人民共和國註冊成立的股份有限公司)
(Stock Code 股份代號 : 1055)
10 June 2015
Dear Non-registered holder (1),
China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the “Company”)
— Notice of Publication of Circular and Supplemental
Notice of Annual General Meeting (“Current Corporate Communications”)
The English and Chinese versions of the
Company’s Current Corporate Communications are available on the Company’s website at www.csair.com and the HKExnews’s
website at www.hkexnews.hk. You may access the Current Corporate Communications by clicking “Investor Relations”
on the home page of our website, then selecting “Performance Report” or “Other Reports” and viewing them
through Adobe® Reader® or browsing through the HKExnews’s website.
If you want to receive a printed version
of the Current Corporate Communications, please complete the Request Form on the reverse side and return it to the Company c/o
Hong Kong Registrars Limited (the “Hong Kong Share Registrar”) by using the mailing label at the bottom of the Request
Form (no need to affix a stamp if posted in Hong Kong; otherwise, please affix an appropriate stamp). The address of the Hong Kong
Share Registrar is 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. The Request Form may also be downloaded
from the Company’s website at www.csair.com or the HKExnews’s website at www.hkexnews.hk.
Should you have any queries relating to any of the above matters,
please send an email to csair.ecom@computershare.com.hk.
|
Yours faithfully, |
|
For and on behalf of |
|
China Southern Airlines Company Limited |
|
Si Xianmin |
|
Chairman |
Note: |
(1) This letter is addressed to Non-registered holders of the Company only (“Non-registered holder” means such person or company whose shares are held in The Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) and who has notified the Company from time to time through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited to receive Corporate Communications). If you have sold or transferred your shares in the Company, please disregard this letter and the Request Form on the reverse side. |
|
|
各位非登記持有人(1):
中國南方航空股份有限公司
(「本公司」)
—
股東通函及股東週年大會補充通告
(「本次公司通訊文件」)之發佈通知
本公司的本次公司通訊文件的中、英文版本已上載於本公司網站
(www.csair.com) 及香港交易所披露易網站
(www.hkexnews.hk), 歡迎瀏覽。請在本公司網站主頁按「投資者關係」一項, 再在「業績報告」或「其他報告」下使用Adobe®
Reader®
開啟查閱或在香港交易所披露易網站瀏覽有關文件。
如閣下欲收取本次公司通訊文件之印刷本, 請填妥在本函背面的申請表格, 並使用隨附之郵寄標籤寄回本公司經香港證券登
記有限公司 (「香港證券登記處」)
(如在香港投寄, 毋須貼上郵票; 否則, 請貼上適當的郵票)。香港證券登記處地址為香港灣仔
皇后大道東1
8
3號合和中心17M樓。申請表格亦可於本公司網站
(www.csair.com) 或香港交易所披露易網
站 (www.hkexnews.hk) 內下載。
如對本函內容有任何疑問, 請電郵至
csair.ecom@computershare.com.hk 。
|
代表 |
|
中國南方航空股份有限公司 |
|
董事長 |
|
司獻民 |
|
謹啟 |
2015年6月10日
附註 : |
(1)此函件只向本公司之非登記持有人
(「非登記持有人」指股份存放於中央結算及交收系統的人士或公司, 透過香港中央結算有限公司
不時向本公司發出通知, 希望收到公司通訊文件)發出。如果閣下已經出售或轉讓所持有之本公司股份, 則無需理會本函件及所附申
請表格。 |
Non-registered holder’s information (English Name and
Address)
非登記持有人資料
(英文姓名及地址)
To: |
China Southern Airlines Company Limited (the “Company”) |
致 : |
中國南方航空股份有限公司
(「本公司」) |
|
(Stock Code: 1055) |
|
(股份代號 : 1055) |
|
c/o Hong Kong Registrars Limited |
|
經香港證券登記有限公司 |
|
17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East |
|
香港灣仔皇后大道東183號 |
|
Wanchai, Hong Kong |
|
合和中心17M樓 |
I/We would like to receive the Corporate Communications* of
the Company (“Corporate Communications”) in the manner as indicated below:
本人╱我們希望以下列方式收取貴公司之公司通訊文件*
(「公司通訊文件」) :
(Please mark ONLY ONE (X) of the following boxes)
(請從下列選擇中, 僅在其中一個空格內劃上「X」號)
¨ |
to receive the printed English version
of all Corporate Communications ONLY; OR |
|
僅收取公司通訊文件之英文印刷本; 或 |
¨ |
to receive the printed Chinese version
of all Corporate Communications ONLY; OR |
|
僅收取公司通訊文件之中文印刷本; 或 |
¨ |
to receive both printed English and Chinese
versions of all Corporate Communications. |
|
同時收取公司通訊文件之英文及中文印刷本。 |
Contact telephone number |
|
Signature(s) |
聯絡電話號碼 |
|
簽名 |
Notes 附註 :
1. |
Please complete all your details clearly. |
|
請閣下清楚填妥所有資料。 |
2. |
This letter is addressed to the Non-registered holders of the Company only (“Non-registered holder” means such person or company whose shares are held in The Central Clearing and Settlement System (CCASS) and who has notified the Company from time to time through Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited to receive Corporate Communications). |
|
此函件只向本公司之非登記持有人
(「非登記持有人」指股份存放於中央結算及交收系統的人士或公司, 透過香港中央結算有限公司不時向本公司發出通知, 希
望收到公司通訊)發出。 |
3. |
Any form with more than one box marked(X), with no box marked(X), with no signature or otherwise incorrectly completed will be void. |
|
如在本表格作出超過一項選擇、或未有作出選擇、或未有簽署、或在其他方面填寫不正確, 則本表格將會作廢。 |
4. |
The above instruction will apply to the Corporate Communications to be sent to you until you notify the Company c/o Hong Kong Registrars Limited to the contrary or unless you have at anytime ceased to have holdings in the Company. |
|
上述指示適用於發送予閣下之所有公司通訊, 直至閣下通知本公司之香港證券登記處香港證券登記有限公司另外之安排或任何時候停止持有本公司的股 份。 |
5. |
For the avoidance of doubt, we do not accept any other instruction given on this Request Form. |
|
為免存疑, 任何在本申請表格上的額外指示, 本公司將不予處理。 |
* |
Corporate Communications includes but not limited to (a) the directors’ report, its annual accounts together with a copy of the auditors’ report and, where applicable, its summary financial report; (b) the interim report and, where applicable, its summary interim report; (c) a notice of meeting; (d) a listing document; (e) a circular; and (f) a proxy form. |
|
公司通訊文件包括但不限於 : (a)董事會報告、年度財務報表連同核數師報告及如適用, 財務摘要報告 ; (b)中期報告及如適用, 中期摘要報告 ; (c)會議通
告 ; (d)上市文件 ; (e)通函 ; 及
(f)委任代表表格。 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
閣下寄回申請表格時, 請將此郵寄標籤剪貼於信封上。 |
|
|
郵寄標籤 MAILING LABEL |
|
|
如在本港投寄毋須貼上郵票。 |
|
|
香港證券登記有限公司 |
|
|
Please cut the mailing label and stick this on the envelope |
|
|
Hong Kong Registrars Limited |
|
|
to return this Request Form to us. |
|
|
簡便回郵號碼 Freepost No. 37 |
|
|
No postage stamp necessary if posted in Hong Kong. |
|
|
香港 Hong Kong |
|
|
CSAH-10062015-1(0)
Exhibit 99.5
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.
(a joint stock limited company incorporated
in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)
(Stock Code: 1055)
ANNOUNCEMENT
PROPOSED APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
On 8 June 2015, the board (the “Board”)
of directors (the “Directors”) of the China Southern Airlines Company Limited Company (the “Company”)
received the motion regarding the proposed appointment of independent non-executive Directors made by China Southern Air Holding
Company (“CSAHC”), a controlling shareholder of the Company, for additional proposal to be submitted to the
annual general meeting of the Company (the “AGM”) to be held on Tuesday, 30 June 2015 at 2:00 p.m. for approval
by the shareholders of the Company.
Pursuant to Article 176 of the Articles
of Association of the Company (the “Articles of Association”), the Board resolved unanimously by means of correspondence
and written resolution to approve the additional resolutions to be submitted to the AGM for review. The format and procedure for
the proposed submission of additional resolutions were in compliance with the provisions of the Company Law of the People's Republic
of China and the Articles of Association.
According to the recommendation of CSAHC,
the Board proposed to nominate Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge as the independent non-executive Directors of the seventh session
of the Board (the “Proposed Appointments”) and submit such resolutions to the AGM for approval.
The biographical details of Mr. Guo Wei
and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge are as follows:
Mr. Guo Wei, aged 52, holds a master’s
degree. He graduated from the Department of Management of the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (formerly known
as Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology of China), majoring in management, and obtained a master’s
degree in engineering. Mr. Guo has extensive experience in business strategy development and business management. Mr. Guo served
as executive director and senior vice president of the Legend Group, vice chairman of the board of directors, president and chief
executive officer of Digital China Holdings Limited ("Digital China"), and director of DigiWin Software Co., Ltd. At
present, he is chairman of the board of directors of Digital China, and director of certain subsidiaries and associates of Digital
China. He is also currently chairman of Digital China Information Service Co., Ltd., non-executive director of HC International,
Inc., independent director of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., independent director of Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
and director of Kosalaki Investments Limited. In addition, Mr. Guo also serves as member of the 12th National Committee of the
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, member of the 4th Advisory Committee for State Informatization, chairman
of Beijing Informatization Association and chairman of the 6th Council of China Non-Governmental Science Technology Entrepreneurs
Association. Mr. Guo was awarded major prizes including China’s Top Ten Outstanding Youths (2002), Future Economic Leader
of China (2003), and the First Annual China Young Entrepreneurs Creative Management Golden Honour (2005). He was also selected
as one of the 50 Most Powerful Business Leaders in China by Fortune (Chinese version) in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Mr. Jiao Shu Ge, aged 49, holds
a master’s degree. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Mathematics of Shangdong University,
majoring in control theory, and a master’s degree in engineering from the No. 2 Research Institute of Ministry of Aeronautics
and Astronautics, majoring in systems engineering. Mr. Jiao has extensive experience in fund management and equity investment.
Mr. Jiao is currently director and president of CDH China Management Company Limited (“CDH”). He is also the founder
of CDH. Mr. Jiao was computer researcher of the No. 710 Research Institute of Ministry of Aeronautics, and deputy general manager
of China International Capital Corporation Limited. He formerly served as non-executive director of China Yurun Food Group Limited,
and non-executive director of China Shanshui Cement Group Limited. Currently, he is also director of associate companies of CDH,
independent non-executive director of China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, non-executive director and vice chairman of WH Group
Limited, director of Joyoung Co., Ltd., vice chairman of Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co., Ltd., and director of
companies including Beijing Taiyang Pharmaceutical Industry Co., Ltd., Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Hetao Spirit
Group Co., Ltd., Fujian Nanfu Nanping Battery Co., Ltd. and. Shanghai Qingchen Real Estate Development Co., Ltd.
If the above candidates are appointed as
Directors, each of them will enter into a service contract with the Company and shall hold their office until the expiry of the
term of the seventh session of the Board. Pursuant to the "Administrative Measures on Directors' Remuneration of China Southern
Airlines Company Limited", the annual basic emolument of RMB150,000 for Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge is determined with
reference to the responsibilities, risk and contributions of his/ her position. Further details of the emolument for Directors
have been disclosed in the circular of the Company dated 14 May 2009 and 14 October 2011.
As at the date of this announcement, save
as disclosed, none of the above director candidates (i) had held any directorships in other publicly listed companies in the last
three years; (ii) had any relationship with any Directors, supervisors, senior management, substantial or controlling shareholders
of the Company; and (iii) had any interests in shares of the Company within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures
Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong).
Mr. Guo Wei and Mr. Jiao Shu Ge have also
confirmed that they have met the independence requirements as set out in Rule 3.13 of The Rules Governing the Listing of Securities
on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules").
There is no other matter relating to the
Proposed Appointments that needs to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company, nor is there any other information
to be disclosed pursuant to any of the requirements of Rule 13.51(2)(h) to (v) of the Listing Rules.
A supplemental notice of AGM containing,
inter alia, further details of the Proposed Appointments will be despatched to the shareholders as soon as possible.
|
By order of the Board |
|
China Southern Airlines Company Limited |
|
Xie Bing and Liu Wei |
|
Joint Company Secretaries |
Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China
9 June 2015
As at the date of this announcement,
the Directors include Si Xian Min, Yuan Xin An and Yang Li Hua as non-executive Directors; Tan Wan Geng, Zhang Zi Fang and Li Shao
Bin as executive Directors; and Wei Jin Cai, Ning Xiang Dong, Liu Chang Le and Tan Jin Song as independent non-executive Directors.
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