China Eastern Airlines Corporation
Limited
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(Registrant)
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Date
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October 18, 2010
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By
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/s/ Luo Zhuping
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Name:
Luo Zhuping
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Title:
Director and Company
Secretary
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Reference
is made to the announcements of the Company dated 29 April 2008, 28
October 2008, 15 April 2009 and 24 March 2010 respectively and the
circular of the Company dated 13 May 2008 in relation to, amongst others,
the Existing Continuing Connected Transactions in respect of agreements
for the provision of goods and/or services between certain members of the
CEA Holding Group and the Group.
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In
order to better manage the Existing Continuing Connected Transactions and
to regulate the continuing business relationships between the Group and
the CEA Holding Group, the Company entered into respective renewed
agreements relating to the Existing Continuing Connected
Transactions.
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In
respect of the provision of deposit services under the Financial Services
Renewal Agreement, the relevant “percentage ratio” applicable to such
transactions for the purpose of Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules is
expected to exceed 5% on an annual basis in the on-going performance of
the agreement. Such transactions therefore constitute non-exempt
continuing connected transactions of the Company under the Listing Rules,
and such transactions together with the associated annual caps will be
subject to approval by the Independent Shareholders at the EGM.
Furthermore, such transactions under the Financial Services Renewal
Agreement also constitute a discloseable transaction pursuant to the
Listing Rules and are accordingly subject to the relevant disclosure and
reporting requirements.
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In
respect of the provision of loan and financing services under the
Financial Services Renewal Agreement, since the services are being
provided by the Eastern Air Finance Entities to the Group at interest
rates not higher than the relevant standard rates set by the People’s Bank
of China, the transaction involves provision of financial assistance by
the Eastern Air Finance Entities for the benefit of the Group on normal
commercial terms (or better to the Group) where no security over the
assets of the Group is granted in respect of the financial assistance.
This part of the transaction is therefore exempt from the reporting,
announcement and approval from the Independent Shareholders requirements,
by virtue of Rule 14A.65(4) of the Listing
Rules.
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In
respect of the provision of the “other financial services” under the
Financial Services Renewal Agreement, the Eastern Air Finance Company had
not previously provided any such services to the Group and any future
transaction that may take place between the Group (on the one hand) and
the Eastern Air Finance Entities (on the other hand) in respect of such
services is expected to be minimal. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 14A.31
such transactions are exempt from all reporting, announcement and
Independent Shareholders approval requirements. Should such transactions
exceed the exemption threshold in future, the Company will be required to
re-comply with the applicable connected transaction regulatory
requirements under Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.
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Apart
from the transactions under the Financial Services Renewal Agreement, as
the relevant percentage ratios set out in the Listing Rules in respect of
the transactions under each Renewed Continuing Connected Transaction are
expected to be less than 5% on an annual basis, such transactions fall
within Rule 14A.34 of the Listing Rules and are subject to the reporting,
announcement and annual review requirements only and are exempt from
approval by the Independent Shareholders under the Listing
Rules.
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With
respect to the provision of loan and financing services under the
Financial Services Renewal Agreement and the transactions under the
Catering Services Renewal Agreement, pursuant to the relevant provisions
of the Shanghai Listing Rules, such transactions will be subject to
approval by the Independent Shareholders at the EGM.
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The
annual caps under the Existing Maintenance Services Agreement, the
Existing Automobile Repairing Services Agreement and the Existing Sales
Agency Services Agreements for the financial year ending 31 December 2010
are revised. As the relevant applicable percentage ratios set out in the
Listing Rules in respect of the revised annual caps for the Existing
Maintenance Services Agreement, the Existing Automobile Repairing Services
Agreement and the Existing Sales Agency Services Agreements for the
financial year ending 31 December 2010 are less than 5%, the transactions
thereunder fall within Rule 14A.34 of the Listing Rules and are subject to
the reporting, announcement and annual review requirements only and are
exempt from approval by the Independent Shareholders under the Listing
Rules.
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Agreements
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Counterparties
and connected person relationship
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1.
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Property
Leasing Renewal Agreement
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CEA
Holding
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2.
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Financial
Services Renewal Agreement
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東航集團財務有限責任公司
(Eastern Air Group Finance Company
Limited) (the “Eastern Air Finance Company”), which is directly
interested as to approximately 53.75% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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3.
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Import
and Export Agency Renewal Agreement
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東方航空進出口有限公司
(Eastern Aviation Import & Export Company) (the “Eastern Aviation Import & Export Company”), which is
directly interested as to 55% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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4.
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Maintenance
and Repair Services Renewal Agreement
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上海東方航空實業有限公司
(CEA Development Co.) (“CEA Development”), which is
directly interested as to 95% by, and is thus an associate, of CEA
Holding
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5.
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Catering
Services Renewal Agreement
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東方航空食品投資有限公司
(Eastern Air Catering Investment Co. Ltd.) (the “Eastern Air Catering Company”), which is
directly interested as to 55% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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6.
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Sales
Agency Services Renewal Agreements
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上海東美航空旅遊有限公司
(Shanghai Dongmei Aviation Tourism Co., Ltd.) (“Shanghai Dongmei”), which is indirectly
interested as to 72.84% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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7.
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Advertising
Services Renewal Agreement
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東方航空傳媒有限公司
(Eastern Aviation Advertising Company Limited) (the “Eastern Aviation Advertising Company”), which is
directly interested as to 55% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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(On
5 February 2008, the Eastern Aviation Advertising Company’s name was
changed from 上海東方航空傳
媒有限公司
(Shanghai Eastern Aviation Advertising Company Limited) to its
present name above.)
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8.
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Media
Resources Renewal Agreement
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The
Eastern Aviation Advertising Company, which is directly interested as to
55% by, and is thus an associate of, CEA
Holding
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1.
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PROPERTY
LEASING RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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(a)
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a
maximum of altogether 33 land properties owned by CEA Northwest, covering
an aggregate site area of approximately 692,539 square metres primarily
located in Xi’an, Xianyang and Lanzhou together with a total of 225
building properties and related construction, infrastructure and
facilities occupying an aggregate floor area of approximately 269,148
square metres;
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(b)
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a
maximum of altogether 7 land properties owned by CEA Yunnan, covering an
aggregate site area of approximately 420,768 square metres primarily
located in Kunming, together with a total of 77 building properties and
related construction, infrastructure and facilities occupying an aggregate
floor area of approximately 452,949 square
metres;
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(c)
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building
properties and related construction, infrastructure and facilities owned
by CEA Holding, occupying an aggregate floor area of approximately 8,853
square metres located in
Shijiazhuang;
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(d)
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building
properties and related construction, infrastructure and facilities owned
by CEA Holding, occupying an aggregate floor area of approximately 63,552
square metres located in Taiyuan;
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(e)
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a
total of altogether 7 building properties and related construction,
infrastructure and facilities owned by CEA Holding, occupying an aggregate
floor area of approximately 13,195 square metres located in
Shanghai;
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(f)
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a
total of altogether 29 guest rooms and 2 suites in Eastern Hotel owned by
CEA Holding, occupying an aggregate floor area of approximately 1,500
square metres located in Shanghai;
and
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(g)
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other
property facilities owned by CEA Holding and/or its subsidiaries as may be
leased to the Company from time to time due to the urgent business
requirements of the Company.
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2.
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FINANCIAL
SERVICES RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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(a)
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The
respective Eastern Air Finance Entity shall accept deposits from the Group
at interest rates not lower, and thus no less favourable, than the
relevant standard rates set by the People’s Bank of China for similar
deposits;
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(b)
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The
respective Eastern Air Finance Entity shall provide loan and financing
services to the Group at interest rates not higher than the relevant
standard rates set by the People’s Bank of China for similar services;
and
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(c)
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In
respect of the provision of other financial services, the fees and charges
payable by the relevant member(s) of the Group to the respective Eastern
Air Finance Entity shall be determined by reference to the applicable
standard fees and charges as specified by the People’s Bank of China from
time to time, and if no such standard fees and/or charges have been
specified by the People’s Bank of China for the particular services, such
services shall be provided by the respective Eastern Air Finance Entity on
terms no less favourable than terms available from commercial banks in
China. The fees and charges, together with other details in respect of
each specific transaction for the particular services, will then be
recorded in separate implementation agreement(s) between the relevant
member(s) of the Group and the respective Eastern Air Finance Entity in
the performance of the Financial Services Renewal
Agreement.
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(a)
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With
regard to the transactions relating to the provision of loan and financing
services and “other financial services” under the Financial Services
Renewal Agreement, the Directors believe that the entering into such
transactions will be beneficial to the Group and its business
developments, and in turn is believed to be conducive to the interests of
the Company’s shareholders, and that the terms of such transactions are
fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company’s shareholders as
a whole; and
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(b)
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With
regard to the transactions relating to the provision of deposit services
under the Financial Services Renewal Agreement, the Directors (excluding
the independent non-executive Directors) believe that the entering into
such transactions will be beneficial to the Group and its business
developments, and in turn is believed to be conducive to the interests of
the Company’s shareholders, and that the terms of such transactions are
fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Company’s shareholders as
a whole. As such transactions will be subject to approval by the
Independent Shareholders at the EGM, the independent non- executive
Directors shall establish the Independent Board Committee to advise the
Independent Shareholders in respect of such transactions via the circular
to be issued by the Company and despatched to its shareholders on or by 5
November 2010 in accordance with the Listing
Rules.
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3.
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IMPORT
AND EXPORT AGENCY RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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4.
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MAINTENANCE
AND REPAIR SERVICES RENEWAL
AGREEMENT
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5.
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CATERING
SERVICES RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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6.
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SALES
AGENCY SERVICES RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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7.
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ADVERTISING
SERVICES RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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8.
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MEDIA
RESOURCES RENEWAL AGREEMENT
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(i)
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to
distribute certain in-flight reading materials to the customers of the
Company;
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(ii)
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to
operate advertisements in the media resources of the Company, which
includes the folding tables, occipital plate to the seat, in-flight radios
and video entertainment programmes, advertisement system on airport
shuttles, website and mobile connection (mobile phones);
and
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(iii)
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to
be commissioned to purchase in-flight entertainment programmes (which may
include the content of the advertisements) from independent third parties
or produce such programmes on its
own.
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Annual
caps
For
the financial year ending (RMB)
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Agreement
and transactions thereunder
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31
December 2011
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31
December 2012
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31
December 2013
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1.
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Property
Leasing Renewal Agreement
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RMB79,800,000
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RMB95,760,000
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RMB114,900,000
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2.
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Financial
Services Renewal Agreement*
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RMB4,000,000,000
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RMB4,000,000,000
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RMB4,000,000,000
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3.
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Import
and Export Agency Renewal Agreement
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RMB81,900,000
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RMB98,300,000
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RMB118,000,000
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4.
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Maintenance
and Repair Services Renewal Agreement
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RMB103,320,000
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RMB123,980,000
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RMB148,780,000
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5.
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Catering
Services Renewal Agreement
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RMB825,000,000
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RMB980,000,000
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RMB1,160,000,000
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6.
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Sales
Agency Services Renewal Agreement
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RMB80,000,000
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RMB96,000,000
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RMB115,200,000
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7.
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Advertising
Services Renewal Agreement
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RMB36,000,000
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RMB46,000,000
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RMB56,000,000
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8.
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Media
Resources Renewal Agreement
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RMB40,000,000
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RMB50,000,000
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RMB60,000,000
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“associate(s)”
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has
the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules;
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“Board”
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means
the board of the Directors;
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“CEA
Holding”
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means
中國東方航空集團公司 (China
Eastern Air Holding Company), a wholly PRC state-owned enterprise and the
controlling shareholder of the Company holding directly and indirectly
approximately 59.94% of its issued share capital;
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“CEA
Holding Group”
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means
CEA Holding and its subsidiaries and other associates, excluding the
Group;
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“CEA
Northwest”
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means
中國東方航空西北公司 (China
Eastern Air Northwest Company), a company wholly-owned by CEA
Holding;
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“CEA
Yunnan”
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means
中國東方航空雲南公司 (China
Eastern Air Yunnan Company, a company wholly-owned by CEA
Holding;
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“Company”
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means
中國東方航空股份有限公司 (China
Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited), a joint stock limited company
incorporated in the PRC with limited liability, whose H shares, A shares
and American depositary shares are listed on the Stock Exchange, the
Shanghai Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.,
respectively;
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“connected
person(s)”
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has
the meaning ascribed thereto under the Listing Rules;
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“Directors”
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means
the directors of the Company;
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“EGM”
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means
the extraordinary general meeting of the Company to be convened for the
purpose of approving, among others, the Financial Services Renewal
Agreement;
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“Existing
Advertising Services Agreement”
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means
the advertising services agreement dated 12 May 2005 entered into between
the Eastern Aviation Advertising Company and the Company, as renewed by an
agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the Eastern Aviation
Advertising Company and the Company, details of which are found in the
paragraphs headed “Advertising Services Renewal Agreement” on pages 13 and
14 of the Company’s announcement dated 29 April 2008;
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“Existing
Automobile Repairing Services Agreement”
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means
the automobile repairing services agreement dated 28 October 2008 entered
into between CEA Development and the Company, details of which are found
in the Company’s announcement dated 28 October 2008;
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“Existing
Catering Services Agreement”
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means
the catering services agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between
the Eastern Air Catering Company and the Company, details of which are
found in the paragraphs headed “Catering Services Agreement” on pages 10
to 12 of the Company’s announcement dated 29 April 2008 and the Company’s
circular dated 13 May 2008;
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“Existing
Continuing Connected Transactions”
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means
the existing continuing connected transactions of the Company with the CEA
Holding Group as more particularly described in the announcements of the
Company dated 29 April 2008, 28 October 2008, 15 April 2009 and 24 March
2010 respectively and the circular of the Company dated 13 May
2008;
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“Existing
Financial Services Agreement”
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means
the financial services agreement dated 12 May 2005 entered into between
the Eastern Air Finance Company and the Company, as renewed by an
agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the Eastern Air Finance
Company and the Company, details of which are found in the paragraphs
headed “Financial Services Renewal Agreement” on pages 5 to 7 of the
Company’s announcement dated 29 April 2008 and the Company’s circular
dated 13 May 2008;
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“Existing
Import and Export Agency Agreement”
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means
the import and export agency agreement dated 12 May 2005 entered into
between the Eastern Aviation Import & Export Company and the Company,
as renewed by an agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the
Eastern Aviation Import & Export Company and the Company, details of
which are found in the paragraphs headed “Import and Export Agency
Agreement” on pages 7 to 9 of the Company’s announcement dated 29 April
2008;
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“Existing
Maintenance Services Agreement”
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means
the maintenance services agreement dated 12 May 2005 entered into between
上海東方航空設備制造公司 (Shanghai
Eastern Aviation Equipment Manufacturing Corporation) and the Company, as
renewed by an agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the same
parties thereto, details of which are found in the paragraphs headed
“Maintenance Services Renewal Agreement” on pages 9 and 10 of the
Company’s announcement dated 29 April 2008;
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“Existing
Media Resources Agreement”
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means
the media resources agreement dated 24 March 2010 entered into between the
Eastern Aviation Advertising Company and the Company, details of which are
found in the Company’s announcement dated 24 March
2010;
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“Existing
Property Leasing Agreement”
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means
the property leasing agreement dated 12 May 2005 entered into among CEA
Holding, CEA Northwest, CEA Yunnan and the Company, as renewed by an
agreement dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the same parties
thereto, details of which are found in the paragraphs headed “Property
Leasing Renewal Agreement” on pages 3 and 4 of the Company’s announcement
dated 29 April 2008;
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“Existing
Sales Agency Services Agreements”
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means
the sales agency service agreements dated 12 May 2005 entered into between
a number of subsidiaries or associates of CEA Holding and the Company, as
renewed by agreements dated 29 April 2008 entered into between the same
parties thereto, details of which are found in the paragraphs headed
“Sales Agency Services Renewal Agreements” on pages 12 and 13 of the
Company’s announcement dated 29 April
2008;
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“Group”
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means
the Company and its subsidiaries;
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“Hong
Kong”
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means
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of
China;
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“Independent
Board Committee”
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means
the independent board committee of the Company to be formed to advise the
Independent Shareholders in respect of the transactions relating to the
provision of deposit services under the Financial Services Renewal
Agreement and its associated annual caps;
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“Independent
Shareholders”
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means
shareholders of the Company, other than CEA Holding and its associate(s),
if any;
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“Listing
Rules”
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means
the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of
Hong Kong Limited;
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“PRC”
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means
the People’s Republic of China;
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“Renewed
Continuing Connected Transactions”
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means
the renewed continuing connected transactions of the Company with the CEA
Holding Group as more particularly described in the sections headed
“Property Leasing Renewal Agreement”, “Financial Services Renewal
Agreement”, “Import and Export Agency Renewal Agreement”, “Maintenance and
Repair Services Renewal Agreement”, “Catering Services Renewal Agreement”,
“Sales Agency Services Renewal Agreement”, “Advertising Services Renewal
Agreement” and “Media Resources Renewal Agreement” of this
announcement;
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“RMB”
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means
Renminbi yuan, the lawful currency of the PRC;
|
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“Shanghai
Airlines”
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means
上海航空股份有限公司 (Shanghai
Airlines Co., Ltd);
|
|
“Shanghai
Listing Rules”
|
means
the 上海証券交易所股票上市規則 (Rules
Governing Listing of Securities on the Shanghai Stock
Exchange);
|
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“Stock
Exchange”
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means
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited; and
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“%”
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means
per cent.
|
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By
order of the Board
CHINA
EASTERN AIRLINES CORPORATION LIMITED
Luo
Zhuping
Director
and Company
Secretary
|
Liu
Shaoyong
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(Chairman)
|
Li
Jun
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(Vice
Chairman)
|
Ma
Xulun
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(Director,
President)
|
Luo
Chaogeng
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(Director)
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Luo
Zhuping
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(Director,
Company Secretary)
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Sandy
Ke-Yaw Liu
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(Independent
Non-executive Director)
|
Wu
Xiaogen
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(Independent
Non-executive Director)
|
Ji
Weidong
|
(Independent
Non-executive Director)
|
Shao
Ruiqing
|
(Independent
Non-executive Director)
|