Continuing Connected Transactions

RNS Number : 7579X

Air China Ld

31 August 2022

 

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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.

AIR CHINA LIMITED (a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People's Republic of China with limited liability) (Stock Code: 753)

CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS LIMITED (Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability) (Stock Code: 293)

Joint Announcement

Continuing Connected Transactions

Reference is made to the joint announcements dated 26th June 2008, 10th September 2010, 26th September 2013, 30th August 2016 and 28th August 2019 issued by Air China and Cathay Pacific in connection with the Framework Agreement entered into between Air China and Cathay Pacific on 26th June 2008. The Framework Agreement will be renewed on 1st October 2022 for a term of three years from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2025.

As Air China is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Cathay Pacific, the Transactions constitute continuing connected transactions for Cathay Pacific under Rule 14A.31 of the Listing Rules and are subject to reporting, annual review and announcement requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

As Cathay Pacific is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Air China, the Transactions constitute continuing connected transactions for Air China under Rule 14A.31 of the Listing Rules and are subject to reporting, annual review and announcement requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

Framework Agreement dated 26th June 2008 and to be renewed on 1st October 2022

Parties: (1) Air China

(2) Cathay Pacific

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Background and Particulars

Reference is made to the joint announcements dated 26th June 2008, 10th September 2010, 26th September 2013, 30th August 2016 and 28th August 2019 issued by Air China and Cathay Pacific in connection with the Framework Agreement entered into between Air China and Cathay Pacific on 26th June 2008. The Framework Agreement will be renewed on 1st October 2022 for a term of three years from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2025.

As Air China is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Cathay Pacific, the Transactions constitute continuing connected transactions for Cathay Pacific under Rule 14A.31 of the Listing Rules and are subject to reporting, annual review and announcement requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

As Cathay Pacific is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Air China, the Transactions constitute continuing connected transactions for Air China under Rule 14A.31 of the Listing Rules and are subject to reporting, annual review and announcement requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

The Framework Agreement provides the framework under which Relevant Agreements between members of Air China Group on the one hand and members of Cathay Pacific Group on the other hand are entered into, renewed and extended. The Transactions (under the Relevant Agreements) are transactions between members of Air China Group on the one hand and members of Cathay Pacific Group on the other hand arising from interline arrangements, code sharing arrangements, joint operating arrangements, aircraft leasing, frequent flyer programmes, the provision of airline catering, ground support and engineering services and other services agreed to be provided and other transactions agreed to be undertaken under the Framework Agreement.

The Framework Agreement was renewed on 1st October 2019 for the three years from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2022. Under its terms, it is renewed automatically for successive periods of three years unless either party to it gives to the other notice of termination of not less than three months expiring on any 31st December.

Pricing Terms and Policies

The pricing terms and policies for the Transactions in the left hand column below are those stated opposite such transactions in the right hand column below.

Transaction  Pricing Terms and Policies

Interline arrangements and codeshare arrangements

Revenue is apportioned between the parties in accordance with bilateral prorate agreements which follow the principles in the Multi-lateral Prorate Agreement of International Air Transport Association.

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Joint operating arrangements  Revenue is apportioned between the

parties having regard to the fleet capacity of both parties and the values of seats sold by each party.

Aircraft leasing  Rentals payable under aircraft leases are

determined after negotiations at arm's length between the parties having regard to rentals payable under comparable leases between unconnected parties for comparable aircraft and comparable periods and prevailing long term interest rates.

Frequent flyer programmes  Frequent flyers of either party can earn

mileage credits by taking the other party's flights. Payments by each party to the other for mileage values are determined by the parties on an arm's length basis having regard to comparable mileage values payable by unconnected airlines to each other.

Airline catering  The parties determine the pricing of

airline catering having regard to quotations provided by unconnected caterers, taking due account of material and labour costs, quality, assurance of supply, safety and innovation (including changes in the foregoing matters).

Ground support and engineering services

The pricing of ground support and engineering services charged by one party to the other party is required to be no less favourable than that offered for comparable services to unconnected parties taking due account of the quality of services.

Other products and services  The pricing of other products and

services (including for leasing premises and handling customs clearance) is determined having regard to relevant

market  information  (including
independent third party quotations for comparable products and services), costs incurred by the relevant party and the quality of products and services (including changes in any of the foregoing).

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The annual caps

The annual caps for the Transactions have been determined by reference to the actual payments in respect of the Transactions in the three years ended 31st December 2021 and the forecast payments in respect of the Transactions to be made by Air China Group to Cathay Pacific Group, and by Cathay Pacific Group to Air China Group, having regard, among other things, to the projections of Air China Group and Cathay Pacific Group in respect of their fleet sizes, the delivery schedules of new aircraft which they have ordered, aircraft daily utilisation and other operating parameters.

The Air China Directors estimate that the amounts payable by Cathay Pacific Group to Air China Group, and payable by Air China Group to Cathay Pacific Group, in respect of the Transactions will not exceed the annual caps set out below.

The Cathay Pacific Directors estimate that the amounts payable by Air China Group to Cathay Pacific Group, and payable by Cathay Pacific Group to Air China Group, in respect of the Transactions will not exceed the annual caps set out below.

Payable by Air China Group to Cathay Pacific Group:

2019 2020 2021  2022  2023 2024  2025

(HK$ million)  Actual  Actual  Actual  Cap  Cap  Cap  Cap

Transactions  374  54  20  900  700  800  900

Payable by Cathay Pacific Group to Air China Group:

2019 2020 2021  2022  2023 2024 2025

(HK$ million)  Actual  Actual  Actual  Cap  Cap  Cap  Cap

Transactions  286  71  39  900  700  800  900

Reasons for, and benefits of, the Transactions

The cooperation between Air China Group and Cathay Pacific Group is expected to continue to further the development of Beijing Capital International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport as gateways to and hubs for Mainland China and will assist Air China Group and Cathay Pacific Group in their efforts to optimise the allocation of operating resources.

Connection between the parties

Air China, by virtue of its 29.99% shareholding in Cathay Pacific, is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Cathay Pacific under the Listing Rules.

Cathay Pacific, by virtue of its 18.13% shareholding in Air China, is a substantial shareholder and therefore a connected person of Air China under the Listing Rules.

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Compliance with Listing Rules

As the highest of the applicable percentage ratios as defined under Rule 14.07 of the Listing Rules in respect of the annual caps applicable to the Transactions will, on an annual basis, be more than 0.1% but less than 5%, the Transactions constitute continuing connected transactions for each of Air China and Cathay Pacific and are subject to the announcement, annual review and annual reporting requirements but are exempt from the circular (including independent financial advice) and shareholders' approval requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

Each of Air China and Cathay Pacific will comply with the continuing obligations under Rules 14A.55-59 of the Listing Rules and will re-comply with the relevant Listing Rules if the annual caps are exceeded, when the Framework Agreement is renewed or when there is a material change to its terms.

Opinion of the directors

The Air China Directors, including the independent non-executive directors, consider that the terms of the Framework Agreement are fair and reasonable and that the Framework Agreement is on normal commercial terms or better and in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Air China Group and is in the interests of Air China and its shareholders as a whole.

The Cathay Pacific Directors, including the independent non-executive directors, consider that the terms of the Framework Agreement are fair and reasonable and that the Framework Agreement is on normal commercial terms or better and in the ordinary and usual course of business of the Cathay Pacific Group and is in the interests of Cathay Pacific and its shareholders as a whole.

Song Zhiyong, Ma Chongxian and Patrick Healy, being directors of Cathay Pacific, are materially interested in the Transactions and have abstained from voting on the relevant board resolutions of Air China in respect of the Transactions.

Patrick Healy, Song Zhiyong and Ma Chongxian, being directors of Air China, and Sun Yuquan and Xiao Feng, holding positions in Air China, are materially interested in the Transactions and have abstained from voting on the relevant board resolutions of Cathay Pacific in respect of the Transactions.

Directors of Air China

As at the date of this announcement, the Air China Directors are:

Executive Director s : Song Zhiyong (Chairman), Ma Chongxian;

Non-Executive Directors: Feng Gang, Patrick Healy; and

Independent Non-Executive Directors: Li Fushen, He Yun, Xu Junxin and Winnie

Tam Wan-chi.

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Directors of Cathay Pacific

As at the date of this announcement, the Cathay Pacific Directors are:

Executive Directors: Patrick Healy (Chairman), Gregory Hughes, Ronald Lam, Rebecca Sharpe, Augustus Tang;

Non-Executive Directors: Guy Bradley, Ma Chongxian, Song Zhiyong, Sun Yuquan, Merlin Swire, Samuel Swire, Xiao Feng, Zhang Zhuo Ping; and

Independent Non-Executive Directors: Bernard Chan, John Harrison, Christoph Mueller and Andrew Tung.

Definitions

"Air China"  Air China Limited, a company incorporated in the People's Republic of China, whose H shares are listed on the Stock Exchange as its primary listing venue and on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority as its secondary listing venue, and whose A shares are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The principal activity of Air China is the operation of scheduled airline services.

"Air China  The directors of Air China.
Directors"

"Air China Group" Air China and its subsidiaries.

"Cathay Pacific"  Cathay Pacific Airways Limited 國 泰 航 空 有 限 公 司 , a company incorporated in Hong Kong and listed on the Stock Exchange, the principal activity of which is the operation of scheduled airline services.

"Cathay Pacific Directors" "Cathay Pacific Group" "Framework Agreement"

The directors of Cathay Pacific. Cathay Pacific and its subsidiaries. The framework agreement dated 26th June 2008 between Air China and Cathay Pacific under which a framework is provided for entry into the Relevant Agreements.

"Hong Kong"  The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

"Listing Rules"  The Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

"Relevant  Agreements between members of the Air China Group on the

Agreements"  one hand and members of the Cathay Pacific Group on the other hand in respect of the Transactions.

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"Stock Exchange" The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

"Transactions"  Transactions between members of Air China Group on the

one hand and members of Cathay Pacific Group on the other hand arising from joint venture arrangements for the operation of passenger air transportation, code sharing arrangements, interline arrangements, aircraft leasing, frequent flyer programmes, the provision of airline catering, ground support and engineering services and other services agreed to be provided and other transactions agreed to be undertaken under the Framework Agreement.

By Order of the Board  By Order of the Board

Air China Limited  Cathay Pacific Airways Limited

Huang Bin Huen Ho Yin  Joanna Lai

Joint Company Secretaries  Company Secretary

Beijing, 30th August 2022  Hong Kong, 30th August 2022

 

END

 

 

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