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PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2015
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES | 2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of presentation The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("US GAAP"). In the opinion of the Company's management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company's interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30 2014 and 2015. The year-end condensed balance sheet data as of December 31, 2014 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014, previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Consolidation The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries. All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries, VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation. A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting power; has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors; to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. The Company has adopted the guidance codified in Accounting Standard Codification 810, Consolidations ("ASC 810") on accounting for VIEs and their respective subsidiaries, which requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity in which it has a controlling financial interest. A VIE is an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack the ability to make certain decisions, the obligation to absorb expected losses or the right to receive expected residual returns, or (c) an equity investor has voting rights that are disproportionate to its economic interest and substantially all of the entity's activities are on behalf of the investor. Accordingly, the financial statements of the following VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries are consolidated into the Company's financial statements since July 1, 2003 or their respective date of establishment/acquisition, whichever is later: The following is a summary of the Company's major VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries:
Name of VIE and VIEs' subsidiaries |  | Date of establishment/acquisition
Shanghai Ctrip Commerce Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai Ctrip Commerce") |  | Established on July 18, 2000
Beijing Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Beijing Ctrip") |  | Acquired on January 15, 2002
Guangzhou Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Guangzhou Ctrip") |  | Established on April 28, 2003
Shanghai Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai Ctrip" formerly Shanghai Ctrip Charming International Travel Agency Co., Ltd.) |  | Acquired on September 23, 2003
Shenzhen Ctrip Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Shenzhen Ctrip") |  | Established on April 13, 2004
Ctrip Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Insurance") |  | Established on July 25, 2011
Shanghai Huacheng Southwest International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai Huacheng" formerly Shanghai Huacheng Southwest Travel Agency Co., Ltd.) |  | Established on March 13, 2001
Chengdu Ctrip Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Chengdu Ctrip") |  | Established on January 8, 2007
Chengdu Ctrip International Travel Agency Co., Ltd. ("Chengdu Ctrip International") |  | Established on November 4, 2008
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of a VIE or VIEs' subsidiary and consolidated the VIE or VIEs' subsidiary if the Company had variable interests, that will absorb the entity's expected losses, receive the entity's expected residual returns, or both. Major variable interest entities and their subsidiaries As of September 30, 2015, the Company conducts a part of its operations through a series of agreements with certain VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries as stated in above. These VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries are used solely to facilitate the Group's participation in Internet content provision, advertising business, travel agency and air-ticketing services in the People's Republic of China ("PRC") where foreign ownership is restricted. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce holds a value-added telecommunications business license and is primarily engaged in the provision of advertising business on the Internet website. Two senior officers of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Shanghai Ctrip Commerce. The registered capital of Shanghai Ctrip Commerce was RMB30,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Beijing Ctrip is a domestic company incorporated in Beijing, the PRC. Beijing Ctrip holds an air transport sales agency license, domestic and cross-border travel agency license and is mainly engaged in the provision of air-ticketing services and packaged tour services. A senior officer of the Company and Shanghai Ctrip Commerce collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Beijing Ctrip. The registered capital of Beijing Ctrip was RMB40,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Guangzhou Ctrip is a domestic company incorporated in Guangzhou, the PRC. Guangzhou Ctrip holds air transport sales agency license, domestic and cross-border travel agency license and is mainly engaged in the provision of air-ticketing services and packaged tour services. Two senior officers of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Guangzhou Ctrip. The registered capital of Guangzhou Ctrip was RMB3,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Shanghai Ctrip is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Ctrip holds domestic and cross-border travel agency licenses, air transport sales agency license and mainly provides domestic and cross-border tour services. In September 2012, the Company purchased of the ownership interests from the unrelated minority shareholder and effected a simultaneous reduction of capital of Shanghai Ctrip. Upon completion of the above transactions, a senior officer of the Company control 100% of the equity interest in Shanghai Ctrip. The registered capital of Shanghai Ctrip was RMB10,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Shenzhen Ctrip is a domestic company incorporated in Shenzhen, the PRC. Shenzhen Ctrip holds air transport sales agency license and domestic travel agency license and is engaged in the provision of air-ticketing service. Two senior officers of the Company collectively hold 100% of the equity interest in Shenzhen Ctrip. The registered capital of Shenzhen Ctrip was RMB2,500,000 as of September 30, 2015. Ctrip Insurance is an insurance agency incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Ctrip Insurance was established in July 2011. Ctrip Insurance holds an insurance agency business license. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce and Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Computer Technology") hold 100% of the equity interest in Ctrip Insurance. The registered capital of Ctrip Insurance was RMB50,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Shanghai Huacheng is a domestic company incorporated in Shanghai, the PRC. Shanghai Huacheng holds a domestic travel agency license and an air transport sales agency license and mainly provides domestic tour services and air-ticketing services. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce holds 100% of the equity interest in Shanghai Huacheng. The registered capital of Shanghai Huacheng was RMB100,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Chengdu Ctrip is a domestic company incorporated in Chengdu, the PRC. Chengdu Ctrip holds air transport sales agency license and domestic travel agency license and is engaged in the provision of air-ticketing service. Shanghai Ctrip holds 100% of the equity interest in Chengdu Ctrip. The registered capital of Chengdu Ctrip was RMB20,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. Chengdu Ctrip International is a domestic company incorporated in Chengdu, the PRC. Chengdu Ctrip International holds domestic and cross-border travel agency licenses, air transport sales agency license and mainly provides domestic and cross-border tour services. Shanghai Ctrip holds 100% of the equity interest in Chengdu Ctrip International. The registered capital of Chengdu Ctrip International was RMB2,000,000 as of September 30, 2015. The capital injected by senior officers or senior officer's family member are funded by the Company and are recorded as long-term business loans to related parties. The Company does not have any ownership interest in these VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has various agreements with its consolidated VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries, including loan agreements, exclusive technical consulting and services agreements, share pledge agreements, exclusive option agreements and other operating agreements. Details of certain key agreements with the VIEs are as follows: Powers of Attorney: Each of the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities signed an irrevocable power of attorney to appoint Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. or another wholly owned subsidiary of ours, as attorney-in-fact to vote, by itself or any other person to be designated at its discretion, on all matters of our affiliated Chinese entities. Each power of attorney will remain effective during the existence of the applicable affiliated Chinese entity. The Power of Attorney shall remain effective as long as the applicable affiliated Chinese entity exists, and the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities are not entitled to terminate or amend the terms of the Power of Attorneys without prior written consent from us. Amended and Restated Technical Consulting and Services Agreement: Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Network and Ctrip Travel Information provide our affiliated Chinese entities with technical consulting and related services and staff training and information services. We also maintain their network platforms. In consideration for our services, our affiliated Chinese entities agree to pay us service fees as calculated in such manner as determined by us from time to time based on the nature of service, which may be adjusted periodically. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015, our affiliated Chinese entities paid Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network a quarterly fee based on the number of air tickets sold and the number of packaged-tour products sold in the quarter, at an average rate of RMB7 (US$1.1) per ticket and from RMB82 (US$12.9) to RMB175 (US$27.5) per person per tour. Although the service fees are typically determined based on the number of air tickets sold and packaged tour products sold, given the fact that the nominee shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities have irrevocably appointed the employees of our subsidiaries to vote on their behalf on all matters they are entitled to vote on, we have the right to determine the level of service fees paid and therefore receive substantially all of the economic benefits of our affiliated Chinese entities in the form of service fees. The services fees paid by all of our affiliated Chinese entities as a percentage of their total net income were 104.8% and 48.2% for the nine-month periods September 30, 2014 and 2015. The initial term of these agreements is 10 years and may be renewed automatically in 10-year terms unless we disapprove the extension. We retain the exclusive right to terminate the agreements at any time by delivering a 30-day advance written notice to the applicable affiliate Chinese entity. Amended and Restated Share Pledge Agreements: The shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities have pledged their respective equity interests in our affiliated Chinese entities as a guarantee for the performance of all the obligations under the other contractual arrangements, including payment by our affiliated Chinese entities of the technical and consulting services fees to us under the amended and restated technical consulting and services agreements, repayment of the business loan under the amended and restated business loan agreements and performance of obligations under the amended and restated exclusive option agreements, each agreement as described herein. In the event any of our affiliated Chinese entity breaches any of its obligations or any shareholder of our affiliated Chinese entities breaches his/her obligations, as the case may be, under these agreements, we are entitled to enforce the equity pledge right and sell or otherwise dispose of the pledged equity interests, and retain the proceeds from such sale or require any of them to transfer his or her equity interest without consideration to the PRC citizen(s) designated by us. These amended and restated share pledge agreements came into effect on the day when the respective pledgors became shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities, and shall expire two years after the pledgor and the affiliated Chinese entities no longer undertake any obligations under the above-referenced agreements. Amended and Restated Business Loan Arrangements: Under the amended and restated business loan agreements we entered into with the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities, we extended long-term business loans to these shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities with the sole purpose of providing funds necessary for the capitalization or acquisition of our affiliated Chinese entities. These loan amounts were injected into the affiliated Chinese entities as capitals and cannot be accessed for any personal uses. The amended and restated business loan agreements shall remain effective until the parties have fully performed their respective obligations under the agreement, and the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities have no right to unilaterally terminate these agreements. In the event that the PRC government lifts its substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the air-ticketing, travel agency, or value-added telecommunications business in China, as applicable, we will exercise our exclusive option to purchase all of the outstanding equity interests of our affiliated Chinese entities, as described in the following paragraph, and the amended and restated business loan agreements will be cancelled in connection with such purchase. However, it is uncertain when, if at all, the PRC government will lift any or all of these restrictions. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreements: As consideration for our entering into the amended and restated business loan agreements described above, each of the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities has granted us an exclusive, irrevocable option to purchase, or designate one or more person(s) at our discretion to purchase, all of their equity interests in our affiliated Chinese entities at any time we desire, subject to compliance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations. We may exercise the option by issuing a written notice to the relevant affiliated Chinese entity. The purchase price shall be equal to the contribution actually made by the shareholder for the relevant equity interest. Therefore, if we exercise these options, we may choose to cancel the outstanding loans we extended to the shareholders of our affiliated Chinese entities pursuant to the amended and restated business loan agreements as the loans were used solely for equity contribution purposes. The initial term of these agreements is 10 years and may be renewed automatically in 10-year terms unless we disapprove the extension. We retain the exclusive right to terminate the agreements at any time by delivering a written notice to the applicable affiliate Chinese entity. The affiliated Chinese entities and their shareholders agree not to enter into any transaction that would affect the assets, obligations, rights or operations of the affiliated Chinese entities without the Company's prior written consent. They also agree to accept the Company's guidance with respect to day-to-day operations, financial management systems and the appointment and dismissal of key employees. In addition, the Company also enters into amended and restated technical consulting and services agreements with its majority or wholly owned subsidiaries of the affiliated Chinese entities, such as Chengdu Ctrip and Chengdu Ctrip International, and these subsidiaries pay the Company service fees based on the level of services provided. The existence of such amended and restated technical consulting and services agreements provides the Company with the enhanced ability to transfer economic benefits of these majority or wholly owned subsidiaries of the affiliated Chinese entities to us in exchange for the services provided, and this is in addition to the Company's existing ability to consolidate and extract the economic benefits of these majority or wholly owned subsidiaries of the affiliated Chinese entities (for instance, the affiliated Chinese entities may cause the economic benefits to be channeled to them in the form of dividends, which then may be further consolidated and absorbed by the Company through the contractual arrangements described above). Risks in relation to contractual arrangements between the Company's PRC subsidiaries and its affiliated Chinese entities: The Company has been advised by Commerce & Finance Law Offices, its PRC legal counsel, that its contractual arrangements with its consolidated VIEs as described in the Company's annual report are valid, binding and enforceable under the current laws and regulations of China. Based on such legal opinion and the management's knowledge and experience, the Company believes that its contractual arrangements with its consolidated VIEs are in compliance with current PRC laws and legally enforceable. However, there may be in the event that the affiliated Chinese entities and their respective shareholders fail to perform their contractual obligations, the Company may have to rely on the PRC legal system to enforce its rights. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since the PRC legal system is still evolving, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties, which may limit remedies available to us. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Due to the uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, the PRC government authorities may ultimately take a view contrary to the opinion of its PRC legal counsel with respect to the enforceability of the contractual arrangements. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that the PRC government authorities will not ultimately take a view that is contrary to the Company's belief and the opinion of its PRC legal counsel. On January 19, 2015, the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, or (the "MOFCOM") released for public comments a proposed PRC law (the "Draft FIE Law") which includes VIEs within the scope of entities that could be considered to be foreign invested enterprises (or "FIEs") and may be subject to restrictions under existing PRC law on foreign investment in certain categories of industries. Specifically, the Draft FIE Law introduces the concept of "actual control" for determining whether an entity is considered to be an FIE. In addition to control through direct or indirect ownership on equity, the Draft FIE Law includes control through contractual arrangements within the definition of "actual control." If the Draft FIE Law is passed by the People's Congress of the PRC and goes into effect in its current form, these provisions regarding control through contractual arrangements could be construed to reach the Company's VIE arrangements, and as a result the Company's VIEs could become explicitly subject to the current restrictions on foreign investment in certain categories of industry. The Draft FIE Law includes provisions that would exempt from the definition of FIEs where the ultimate controlling shareholders are either entities organized under PRC law or individuals who are PRC citizens. The Draft FIE Law is silent as to what type of enforcement action might be taken against existing VIEs that operate in restricted or prohibited industries and are not controlled by entities organized under PRC law or individuals who are PRC citizens. If the contractual arrangements establishing the Company's VIE structure are found to be in violation of any existing law and regulations or future PRC laws and regulations or under the Draft FIE Law if it becomes effective, the relevant PRC government authorities will have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation, levying fines, confiscating our income or the income of our affiliated Chinese entities, revoking our business licenses or the business licenses of our affiliated Chinese entities, requiring us and our affiliated Chinese entities to restructure our ownership structure or operations and requiring us or our affiliated Chinese entities to discontinue any portion or all of our value-added telecommunications, air-ticketing, travel agency or advertising businesses. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to the Company's business operations, and have a severe adverse impact on the Company's cash flows, financial position and operating performance. If the imposing of these penalties cause the Company to lose its rights to direct the activities of and receive economic benefits from its VIEs, which in turn may restrict the Company's ability to consolidate and reflect in its financial statements the financial position and results of operations of its VIEs. Summary financial information of the Group's VIEs in the consolidated financial statements Pursuant to the contractual arrangements with the VIEs, the Company has the power to direct activities of the VIEs, and can have assets transferred freely out of the VIEs without any restrictions. Therefore the Company considers that there is no asset of a consolidated VIE that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIE, except for registered capital and PRC statutory reserves of the VIEs amounting to a total of RMB118 million as of September 30, 2015. As all the consolidated VIEs are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law, creditors of the VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for any of the liabilities of the consolidated VIEs. Summary financial information of the VIEs, which represents aggregated financial information of the VIEs and their respective subsidiaries included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, is as follows:
|  | As of December 31, 2014 |  | As of September 30, 2015 |
|  | RMB |  | RMB |
Total assets |  |  | 13,495,852,174 |  |  | 16,673,014,679 |
Less: Inter-company receivables |  |  | (1,424,351,080 | ) |  | (2,574,833,491 | )
Total assets excluding inter-company |  |  | 12,071,501,094 |  |  | 14,098,181,188 |
Total liabilities |  |  | 12,509,239,945 |  |  | 15,348,023,915 |
Less: Inter-company payables |  |  | (6,133,068,354 | ) |  | (5,645,069,141 | )
Total liabilities excluding inter-company |  |  | 6,376,171,591 |  |  | 9,702,954,774 |
As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, the VIEs' assets mainly consisted of short-term investment (December 31, 2014: RMB3.1 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB2.4 billion), cash and cash equivalent (December 31, 2014: RMB2.6 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB2.2 billion), prepayments and other current assets (December 31, 2014: RMB2.0 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB3.6 billion), investments (non-current) (December 31, 2014: RMB1.6 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB1.6 billion) and accounts receivables (December 31, 2014: RMB1.4 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB2.6 billion). The inter-company receivables of RMB1.4 billion and RM2.6 billion as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015 mainly represented the cash paid by a VIE to one of the Company's WFOEs for treasury cash management purpose. As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, the VIEs' liabilities mainly consisted of advance from customers (December 31, 2014: RMB3.5 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB4.8 billion), accounts payable (December 31, 2014: RMB1.8 billion, September 30, 2015: RMB3.6 billion), other payables and accruals (December 31, 2014: RMB588 million, September 30, 2015: RMB631 million), salary and welfare payable (December 31, 2014: RMB195 million, September 30, 2015: RMB171 million) and taxes payable (December 31, 2014: RMB45 million, September 30, 2015: RMB109 million). The inter-company payables as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015 were RMB6.1 billion and RMB5.6 billion, respectively, which primarily consisted of the payables due to Ctrip.com (Hong Kong) Limited ("Ctrip HK"), one of the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries, for its payment of overseas air tickets and tour packages on behalf of a VIE and another VIEs' subsidiary and the service fees payable to the WFOEs under the technical consulting and services agreements, which are operational in nature from the VIEs and their subsidiaries' perspectives.
|  | Nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 |  | Nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 |
|  | RMB |  | RMB |
Net revenues |  |  | 3,131,473,717 |  |  | 4,841,152,848 |
Cost of revenues |  |  | 920,625,006 |  |  | 1,516,879,374 |
Net (loss) / income |  |  | (43,734,329 | ) |  | 714,987,373 |
As aforementioned, the VIEs mainly conduct air-ticketing, travel agency, advertising and value-added telecommunication businesses. Revenues from VIEs accounted for around 60% of the Company's total revenues in nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. The air-ticketing and packaged-tour revenues continued to increase, primarily driven by the increase in the air-ticketing volume and leisure travel volume. The VIEs' net income before the deduction of the inter-company consulting fee charges were RMB906 million and RMB1.4 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The amount of service fees paid by all the VIEs as a percentage of the VIEs' total net income were 104.8% and 48.2% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The WFOEs are the sole and exclusive provider of technical consulting and related services and information services for the VIEs. Pursuant to the Exclusive Technical Consulting and Service Agreements, the VIEs pay service fees to the WFOEs based on the VIEs' actual operating results. The WFOEs are entitled to receive substantially all of the net income and transfer a majority of the economic benefits in the form of service fees from the VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries to the WFOEs. The WFOEs did not request service fee payments of RMB286 million from Chengdu Ctrip and Chengdu Ctrip International during the years ended December 31 2012, primarily for tax planning purpose. In 2013, Chengdu Ctrip and Chengdu Ctrip International started to pay service fee to WFOEs, and the retained earnings of 2013 and 2014 have been transferred to the WFOEs, respectively. For remaining undistributed retained earnings, tax planning strategies are in place to support their enterprise income tax free treatment. Currently there is no contractual arrangement that could require the Company to provide additional financial support to the consolidated VIEs. As the Company is conducting certain business in the PRC mainly through the VIEs, the Company may provide such support on a discretionary basis in the future, which could expose the Company to a loss. Foreign currencies The Group's reporting currency is RMB. The Company's functional currency is US$. The Company's operations are conducted through the subsidiaries and VIEs where the local currency is the functional currency and the financial statements of those subsidiaries are translated from their respective functional currencies into RMB. Transactions denominated in currencies other than functional currencies are translated at the exchange rates quoted by the People's Bank of China (the "PBOC"), the Hong Kong Association of Banks (the "HKAB") or major Taiwan banks, prevailing or averaged at the dates of the transaction for PRC and Hong Kong subsidiaries and ezTravel, a Taiwan subsidiary respectively. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated using the applicable exchange rates quoted by the PBOC, HKAB or banks located in Taiwan at the balance sheet dates. All such exchange gains and losses are included in the statements of income. Assets and liabilities of the group companies are translated from their respective functional currencies to the reporting currency at the exchange rates at the balance sheet dates, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates and revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the reporting period. The exchange differences for the translation of group companies with non-RMB functional currency into the RMB functional currency are included in foreign currency translation adjustments, which is a separate component of shareholders' equity on the consolidated financial statements. Translations of amounts from RMB into US$ are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.3556 on September 30, 2015, representing the certificated exchange rate published by the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on September 30, 2015, or at any other rate. Cash and cash equivalents Cash includes currency on hand and deposits held by financial institutions that can be added to or withdrawn without limitation. Cash equivalents represent short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and with original maturities from the date of purchase of generally three months or less. Restricted cash Restricted cash represents cash that cannot be withdrawn without the permission of third parties. The Group's restricted cash is substantially cash balance on deposit required by its business partners and commercial banks. Short-term investment Short-term investments represent the investments issued by commercial banks or other financial institutions with a variable interest rate indexed to the performance of underlying assets within one year. The Company elected the fair value method at the date of initial recognition and carried these investments subsequently at fair value. Changes in the fair value are reflected in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Long term loan receivable Long-term loan receivables are recorded at cost and compounded accrued interests as we do not intend to sell the security, or it is more likely than not that the company will not be required to sell the security before full recovery of our cost. The Company evaluates the qualitative criteria to determine whether we expect to recover our cost. Land use rights Land use rights represent the prepayments for usage of the parcels of land where the office buildings are located, are recorded at cost, and are amortized over their respective lease periods (usually over 40 to 50 years). Property, equipment and software Property, equipment and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives, taking into account any estimated residual value:
Building |  | 20 - 30 years
Leasehold improvements |  | Lesser of the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the assets
Website-related equipment |  | 5 years
Computer equipment |  | 3 - 5 years
Furniture and fixtures |  | 3 - 5 years
Software |  | 3 - 5 years
Construction in progress is stated at cost. Construction in progress as of December 31, 2014 mainly refers to costs associated with the purchase of building in Shanghai Sky SOHO and construction of information and technology center in Chengdu before the buildings are put into service. All direct costs related to the new buildings are capitalized as construction in progress until it is substantially completed and available for use. Investments The Company investments include cost method investments, equity method investments and available-for-sale investments in certain publicly traded companies and privately-held companies. Cost method is used for investments over which the Company does not have the ability to exercise significant influence. Gain or losses are realized when such investments are sold or when dividends are declared or payments are received. In October 2013, the Company contributed cash in return for 5% equity shares in Zhong An Online Property Insurance Co., Ltd. ("Zhong An Online"). In December 2013, the Company acquired approximately 4% equity shares in Keystone Lodging Holdings Limited ("Keystone"), which in 2013 merged with 7 Days Group Holdings Limited ("7 Days"), a leading economy hotel chain based in China. In 2014, dividends of RMB39 million are received from Keystone. Cost method of accounting was applied to both transactions due to lack of ability to exercise significant influence (Note 3). The Company applies equity method in accounting for our investments in entities in which the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise controls. In 2008, the Company acquired equity interest in Homeinns Hotel Group ("Homeinns" formerly Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.) and on May 21, 2009, the Company started to have the ability to exercise significant influence and meeting requirement to apply equity method of accounting. In 2014, through a series of transactions, the Company culminated 35% share capital of Skyseas Holding International Ltd. ("Skyseas") and provided a loan of US$80 million to Skyseas to finance its purchase of a cruise ship. The Company therefore has the ability to exercise significant influence on Skyseas and applied equity method to account for the investment (Note 3). In May 2015, the Company acquired approximately 38% share capital of eLong, Inc. ("eLong"). The Company therefore has the ability to exercise significant influence on eLong and applied equity method to account for the investment (Note 3).Unrealized gains on transactions between the Company and the affiliated entity are eliminated to the extent of the Company's interest in the affiliated entity; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. The Company classifies its investments in debt and equity securities into one of three categories and accounts for these as follows: (i) debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and the ability to hold to maturity are classified as "held to maturity" and reported at amortized cost; (ii) debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as "trading securities" with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings; (iii) debt and equity securities not classified as held to maturity or as trading securities are classified as "available-for-sale" and reported at fair value through other comprehensive income. The Company has designated its investment in commons shares of China Lodging Group, Limited ("Hanting"), Tuniu Corporation ("Tuniu") and eHi Car Services Limited("eHi") as available-for-sale equity securities, investment in shares with liquidation preference right of Tongcheng Network Technology Share Co., Ltd. ("LY.com") and a travel agency focusing on teenager market as available-for-sale equity securities and its investments in convertible redeemable preferred shares ("Preferred Share") of Easy Go Inc.("Easy Go"), Dining Secretary China Limited ("Dining Secretary") , Happy City Holdings Limited("Happy City"), Tujia.com International Co., Ltd ("Tujia") and a big-data advertisement company as available-for-sale debt securities in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 320-10, respectively (Note 3). Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Realized gains or losses are charged to earnings during the period in which the gains or losses are realized. The Company monitors its investments for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the companies including current earnings trends and other company-specific information. Fair value measurement of financial instruments Financial instruments of the Group primarily comprise of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, due from related parties, available-for-sale investments, accounts payable, due to related parties, advances from customers, short-term bank borrowings, other short-term liabilities and long-term debts. As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, carrying values of these financial instruments except for short-term investments and available-for-sale investments approximated their fair values because of their generally short maturities, and the carrying value of the long-term debts also approximates their fair value, as they bear interest at rates determined based on prevailing interest rates in the market. The Company reports short-term investments and available-for-sale investments at fair value at each balance sheet date and changes in fair value are reflected in the statements of income and comprehensive income. The Company does not have any financial liabilities which must be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. We measure our financial assets and liabilities using inputs from the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy. The three levels are as follows: Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets that the management has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). Level 3 includes unobservable inputs that reflect the management's assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset. The management develops these inputs based on the best information available, including the own data. Business combination U.S. GAAP requires that all business combinations not involving entities or businesses under common control be accounted for under the purchase method. From January 1, 2009, the Group adopted ASC 805, "Business combinations". Following this adoption, the cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the fair values at the date of exchange of the assets given, liabilities incurred, and equity instruments issued. The costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any non-controlling interests. The excess of the (i) the total of cost of acquisition, fair value of the non-controlling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The determination and allocation of fair values to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed is based on various assumptions and valuation methodologies requiring considerable management judgment. The most significant variables in these valuations are discount rates, terminal values, the number of years on which to base the cash flow projections, as well as the assumptions and estimates used to determine the cash inflows and outflows. Management determines discount rates to be used based on the risk inherent in the related activity's current business model and industry comparisons. Terminal values are based on the expected life of products and forecasted life cycle and forecasted cash flows over that period. Although we believe that the assumptions applied in the determination are reasonable based on information available at the date of acquisition, actual results may differ from the forecasted amounts and the difference could be material. Acquisitions Travel agencies The Company completed several transactions to acquire controlling shares of certain travel agencies to enrich its products and to expand business. The Company makes estimates and judgments in determining the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities, based in part on independent appraisal reports as well as its experience with purchasing similar assets and liabilities in similar industries. The amount excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired is recorded as goodwill. In August, 2013, the Company completed the transaction to acquire controlling shares of a B2B hotel reservation company. The purchase consideration is approximately RMB47 million (US$8 million). The financial results of the acquired entity have been included in the Company's consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. In February, 2014, Ctrip acquired the remaining share capital of this B2B hotel reservation company at a consideration of approximately RMB44 million (US$7 million). The purchase of the remaining non-controlling interests initiated by the Company was treated as an equity transaction. The difference between the book value of the remaining non-controlling interests and the cash consideration was recorded as additional paid in capital. Upon completion of this share purchase, Ctrip holds 100% of the share capital of the B2B hotel reservation company. In January, 2014, the Company completed the transaction to acquire a 51% controlling interest of an online trip package service provider. The purchase consideration is RMB139 million (US$23 million). The results of the acquired entity's operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company since the acquisition date. On the acquisition date, the preliminary allocation of the purchase price of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values was as follows. The non-controlling interest represents the fair value of the 49% equity interest not held by the Company:
|  | RMB |
Net assets |  |  | 13,176,760 |
Identifiable intangible assets—trademark and domain |  |  | 61,564,134 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  | (9,234,620 | )
Non-controlling interests |  |  | (134,009,200 | )
Goodwill |  |  | 207,981,890 |
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Total purchase consideration |  |  | 139,478,964 |
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In January, 2015, the Company completed an investment transaction in Travelfusion by purchasing a majority stake in the company. Travelfusion is a UK-based leading online Low Cost Carrier (LCC) travel content aggregator and innovator of Direct Connect global distribution solutions. The purchase consideration is RMB721 million (GBP75.6 million). The results of the acquired entity's operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company since the acquisition date. On the acquisition date, the preliminary allocation of the purchase price of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values was as follows. The non-controlling interest represents the fair value of the 30% equity interest not held by the Company:
|  | RMB |
Net assets |  |  | 36,936,493 |
Identifiable intangible assets—trademark and domain |  |  | 344,256,108 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  |  | (72,293,783 | )
Non-controlling interests |  |  | (275,995,802 | )
Goodwill |  |  | 687,633,024 |
​ | ​ | ​ | ​ | ​
Total purchase consideration |  |  | 720,536,040 |
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Other acquisitions From time to time, the Company selectively acquired or invested in businesses that complement our existing business, and will continue to do so in the future. Other than disclosed above, none of such acquisitions or investments is material to our businesses or financial results. Goodwill and other intangible assets Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the Company's acquisitions of interests in its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. Goodwill is not amortized but is reviewed at least annually at the fourth quarter of each year for impairment or earlier, if an indication of impairment exists. Recoverability of goodwill is evaluated using a two-step process. In the first step, the fair value of a reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit, goodwill is considered not impaired and no further testing is required. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to a reporting unit exceeds the fair value of a reporting unit, the second step of the impairment test is performed in order to determine the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill. Determining the implied fair value of goodwill requires valuation of a reporting unit's tangible and intangible assets and liabilities in a manner similar to the allocation of purchase price in a business combination. If the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, goodwill is deemed impaired and is written down to the extent of the difference. The Company estimates total fair value of the reporting unit using discounted cash flow analysis, and makes assumptions regarding future revenue, gross margins, working capital levels, investments in new products, capital spending, tax, cash flows, and the terminal value of the reporting unit. As of December 31, 2014, the step one analysis performed indicated that the fair value of the Company's reporting units was substantially greater than the respective carrying value. There was no impairment of goodwill during the years ended December 31, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Each quarter the Company reviews the events and circumstances to determine if goodwill impairment may be indicated. Separately identifiable intangible assets that have determinable lives continue to be amortized and consist primarily of non-compete agreements, customer list, supplier relationship, technology patent and a cross-border travel agency license as of December 31, 2013 and 2014. The Company amortizes intangible assets on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which is three to ten years. The estimated life of amortized intangibles is reassessed if circumstances occur that indicate the life has changed. Other intangible assets that have indefinite useful life primarily include trademark and domain names as of December 31, 2013 and 2014. The Company evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. If an intangible asset that is not being amortized is subsequently determined to have a finite useful life, the asset is tested for impairment. The Company estimates total fair value of the reporting unit using discounted cash flow analysis, and makes assumptions regarding future revenue, gross margins, working capital levels, investments in new products, capital spending, tax, cash flows, and the terminal value of the reporting unit. The Company reviews intangible assets with indefinite lives annually at the fourth quarter of each year for impairment. No impairment triggering events were identified on other intangible assets during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015. No impairment on the other intangible assets was recorded for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and September 30, 2015. Impairment of long-lived assets Long-lived assets (including intangible with definite lives) are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Reviews are performed to determine whether the carrying value of asset group is impaired, based on comparison to undiscounted expected future cash flows. If this comparison indicates that there is impairment, the Group recognizes impairment of long-lived assets to the extent the carrying amount of such assets exceeds the fair value. No impairment of long-lived assets was recognized for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2015. Accrued liability for customer reward program The Group's customers participate in a reward program, which provides travel awards and other gifts to members based on accumulated membership points that vary depending on the services rendered and fees paid. The estimated incremental costs to provide free travel and other gifts are recognized as sales and marketing expense in the statements of income and comprehensive income and accrued for as a current liability as members accumulate points. As members redeem awards or their entitlements expire, the accrued liability is reduced correspondingly. As of December 31, 2014, and September 30, 2015, the Group's accrued liability for its customer reward program amounted to RMB431 million and RMB575 million, respectively, based on the estimated liabilities under the customer reward program. Our expenses for the customer rewards program were approximately RMB274 million and RMB328 million for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2015. Deferred revenue In 2011, the Group launched a coupon program, through which the Group provides coupons for customers who book selected hotels online through website. Customers who use the coupons receive credits in their virtual cash accounts upon check-out from the hotels and reviews for hotels submitted. Customers may redeem the amount of credits in their virtual cash account in cash, voucher, or mobile phone credit. In accordance with ASC 605-50 "Revenue Recognition: Customer Payments and Incentives", the Group accounts for the estimated cost of future usage of coupons as contra-revenue or sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements. Revenue recognition The Group conducts its principal businesses in Great China Area primarily through Ctrip Computer Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Computer Technology"), Ctrip Travel Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Travel Information"), Ctrip Travel Network Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Travel Network"), Ctrip Information Technology (Nantong) Co., Ltd. ("Ctrip Information Technology"), ezTravel and Wing On Travel. Some of the operations of Ctrip Computer Technology and Ctrip Travel Network are conducted through a series of services and other agreements with the VIEs and VIE subsidiaries. Ctrip Computer Technology, Ctrip Travel Information, Ctrip Travel Network, Ctrip Information Technology and the VIEs are subject to business tax and related surcharges on the provision of taxable services in the PRC, which include hotel reservation and ticketing services provided to customers. In the statements of income and comprehensive income, business tax and related surcharges are deducted from revenues to arrive at net revenues. The Group presents revenues on a net basis generally. Revenues are recognized at gross amounts received from customers in cases where the Group undertakes the majority of the business risks and acts as principal related to the services provided. The amount of revenues recognized at gross basis was immaterial during the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance released Circular Caishui [2011] No. 111 mandating Shanghai to carry out a pilot program of tax reform. Effective January 1, 2012, selected entities within modern service industries will switch from a business tax payer to a value-added tax ("VAT") payer. In May 2013, the Ministry of Finance released Circular Caishui [2013] No. 37 to extend the tax reform nationwide. Effective August 1, 2013, entities within transportation service and selected modern service industries will switch from a business tax payer to a VAT payer. Accommodation reservation services The Group receives commissions from travel suppliers for hotel room reservations through the Group's transaction and service platform. Commissions from hotel reservation services rendered are recognized after hotel customers have completed their stay at the applicable hotel and upon confirmation of pending payment of the commissions by the hotel. Contracts with certain travel suppliers contain incentive commissions typically subject to achieving specific performance targets and such incentive commissions are recognized when it is reasonably assured that the Group is entitled to such incentive commissions. The Group generally receives incentive commissions from monthly arrangements with hotels based on the number of hotel room reservations where customers have completed their stay. The Group presents revenues from such transactions on a net basis in the statements of income and comprehensive income as the Group, generally, does not assume inventory risks and has no obligations for cancelled hotel reservations. Transportation ticketing services Transportation ticketing services revenues mainly represent revenues from reservations of air tickets, railway tickets and other related services. The Group receives commissions from travel suppliers for ticketing services through the Group's transaction and service platform under various services agreements. Commissions from ticketing services rendered are recognized after tickets are issued. The Group presents revenues from such transactions on a net basis in the statements of income as the Group, generally, does not assume inventory risks and has no obligations for cancelled airline ticket reservations. Loss due to obligations for cancelled airline ticket reservations is minimal in the past. Packaged-tour The Group receives referral fees from travel product providers for packaged-tour products and services through the Group's transaction and service platform. Referral fees are recognized as commissions on a net basis after the packaged-tour service are rendered and collections are reasonably assured. Shanghai Ctrip, Beijing Ctrip, Guangzhou Ctrip, Shenzhen Ctrip and Wing On Travel conduct domestic and cross-border travel tour services. Revenues, mainly referral fees, are recognized as commissions on a net basis after the services are rendered. Corporate travel Corporate travel management revenues primarily include commissions from air ticket booking, hotel reservation and packaged-tour services rendered to corporate clients. The Group contracts with corporate clients based on service fee model. Travel reservations are made via on-line and off-line services for air tickets, hotel and package-tour. Revenue is recognized on a net basis after the services are rendered, e.g. air tickets are issued, hotel stays or packaged-tour are completed, and collections are reasonably assured. Other businesses Other businesses comprise primarily of online advertising services, the sale of Property Management System ("PMS"), and related maintenance service. Shanghai Ctrip Commerce receives advertising revenues, which principally represent the sale of banners or sponsorship on the website from customers. Advertising revenues are recognized ratably over the fixed term of the agreement as services are provided. Software Hotel Information conducts sale of PMS and related maintenance service. The sale of PMS is recognized upon customer acceptance. Maintenance service is recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance contract on a straight-line basis. Cost of revenues Cost of revenues consists primarily of payroll compensation of customer service center personnel, credit card service fee, telecommunication expenses, direct cost of principal travel tour services, depreciation, rentals and related expenses incurred by the Group's transaction and service platform which are directly attributable to the rendering of the Group's travel related services and other businesses. Product development Product development expenses include expenses incurred by the Group to develop the Group's travel supplier networks as well as to maintain, monitor and manage the Group's transaction and service platform. The Group recognizes website, software and mobile applications development costs in accordance with ASC 350-50 "Website development costs" and ASC 350-40 "Software—internal use software" respectively. The Group expenses all costs that are incurred in connection with the planning and implementation phases of development and costs that are associated with repair or maintenance of the existing websites and mobile applications or the development of software or mobile applications for internal use and websites content. Sales and marketing Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of costs of payroll and related compensation for the Company's sales and marketing personnel, advertising expenses, and other related marketing and promotion expenses. Advertising expenses, amounting to approximately RMB775 million and RMB1.3 billion for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 respectively, are charged to the statements of income as incurred. Share-based compensation Under ASC 718, the Company applied the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of options granted. Risk-free interest rates are based on US Treasury yield for the terms consistent with the expected life of award at the time of grant. Expected life is based on historical exercise patterns, for options granted before 2008 which the Company has historical data of and believes are representative of future behavior. For options granted since 2008, the Company used simplified method to estimate its expected life. Expected dividend yield is determined in view of the Company's historical dividend payout rate and future business plan. The Company estimates expected volatility at the date of grant based on historical volatilities. The Company recognizes compensation expense on all share-based awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeiture rate is estimated based on historical forfeiture patterns and adjusted to reflect future change in circumstances and facts, if any. If actual forfeitures differ from those estimates, we may need to revise those estimates used in subsequent periods. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from initial estimates. Share-based compensation expense was recorded net of estimated forfeitures such that expense was recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to vest. According to ASC 718, a change in any of the terms or conditions of stock options shall be accounted for as a modification of the plan. Therefore, the Company calculates incremental compensation cost of a modification as the excess of the fair value of the modified option over the fair value of the original option immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors at the modification date. For vested options, the Company would recognize incremental compensation cost in the period the modification occurs and for unvested options, the Company would recognize, over the remaining requisite service period, the sum of the incremental compensation cost and the remaining unrecognized compensation cost for the original award on the modification date. According to ASC 718, the Company classifies options or similar instruments as liabilities if the entity can be required under any circumstances to settle the option or similar instrument by transferring cash or other assets and such cash settlement is probable. The percentage of the fair value that is accrued as compensation cost at the end of each period shall equal the percentage of the requisite service that has been rendered at that date. Changes in fair value of the liability classified award that occur during the requisite service period shall be recognized as compensation cost over that period. Changes in fair value that occur after the end of the requisite service period are compensation cost of the period in which the changes occur. Any difference between the amount for which a liability award is settled and its fair value at the settlement date as estimated is an adjustment of compensation cost in the period of settlement. Share incentive plans On November 5, 2004, the Company's board of directors adopted a 2005 Employee's Stock Option Plan ("2005 Option Plan"). The 2005 Option Plan was approved by the shareholders of the Company in October 2005. The Company has reserved 3,000,000 ordinary shares for future issuances of options under the 2005 Option Plan. The terms of the 2005 Option Plan are substantially similar to the Company's 2003 Option Plan. As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, 386,310 and 188,420 options were outstanding under the 2005 Option Plan respectively. On October 17, 2007, the Company adopted a 2007 Share Incentive Plan ("2007 Incentive Plan"), which was approved by the shareholders of the Company on June 15, 2007. Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares, which may be issued pursuant to all share-based awards (including Incentive Share Options and Restricted Share Units ("RSU")), is one million ordinary shares as of the first business day of 2007, plus an annual increase of one million shares to be added on the first business day of each calendar year beginning in 2008 to 2016. Under the 2007 Incentive Plan, the directors may, at their discretion, grant any employees, officers, directors and consultants of the Company and/or its subsidiaries such share-based awards. Shares options granted under 2007 Incentive Plan are vested over a period of 4 years. The Company granted 803,189 and 625,006 new shares options to employees with 4 year requisite service period for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. RSUs granted under 2007 Incentive Plan have a restricted period for 4 years. As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, 4,585,868 and 4,917,329 options and 1,058,608 and 919,864 RSUs were outstanding under the 2007 Incentive Plan. The Company calculated the estimated fair value of share options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing model with the same assumptions included in the Company's 2014 20-F, there has been no material change in those assumptions for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2015. Option modification In January 2012, the compensation committee passed a resolution to replace all options that previously granted under the 2007 incentive plan but with exercise price above $120.00 per ordinary share, with maximum of 518,017 restricted share units (RSU) of the Company based on the conversion ratio at 4:1 ("the Replacement"). The total options modified approximate 1.9 million and the Company incurred no incremental cost for such modification. As of September 30, 2015, there was US$153 million of total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested share options which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.7 year. Total unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. Total cash received from the exercise of share options amounted to RMB152,960,799 and RMB159,701,667 for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. A summary of RSUs activities under the share option plans The Company granted 557,008 and 229,603 RSUs to employees with 4 year requisite service period for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. In additional, pursuant to the Replacement mentioned above, another 475,343 RSUs replaced the 1,901,372 options initially granted under the 2007 incentive plan. Total share-based compensation cost for the RSUs amounted to US$22 million and US$35 million for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of September 30, 2015, there was US$147 million unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to unvested restricted shares. Total unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. Operating leases Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases net of any incentives received by the Group from the leasing company are charged to the statements of income on a straight-line basis over the lease periods. Taxation Deferred income taxes are provided using the balance sheet liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of significant temporary differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period enacted. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered unlikely that some portion of, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted ASC 740, "Income Taxes". It clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the Company's consolidated financial statements and prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also provides guidance on derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. As of both December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, the Company did not record any liability for uncertain tax positions. The Company's policy is to recognize, if any, tax related interest as interest expenses and penalties as general and administrative expenses. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with tax positions. Other income (net) Other income consists of financial subsidies, investment income and foreign exchange gains/(losses), and re-measurement gains. Financial subsidies from local PRC government authority were recorded as other income in the consolidated statements of income. There are no defined rules and regulations to govern the criteria necessary for companies to enjoy such benefits and the amount of financial subsidy are determined at the discretion of the relevant government authority. Financial subsidies are recognized as other income when received. Components of other income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 were as follows:
|  | Nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 |  | Nine-month period ended September 30, 2015 |
|  | RMB |  | RMB |
Gain on deconsolidation of a subsidiary |  |  | — |  |  | 2,269,860,747 |
Financial subsidies |  |  | 96,454,198 |  |  | 128,633,538 |
Reimbursement from the depository |  |  | — |  |  | 11,582,882 |
Foreign exchange (losses)/ gains |  |  | (10,814,803 | ) |  | 3,994,310 |
Dividends from a cost method investment |  |  | 39,036,138 |  |  | — |
Gain on disposal of cost method investment |  |  | 1,674,498 |  |  | — |
Bank charges |  |  | (35,117,403 | ) |  | (50,633,202 | )
Others |  |  | 7,273,655 |  |  | 26,687,406 |
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Total |  |  | 98,506,283 |  |  | 2,390,125,681 |
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Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries Gain on deconsolidation of subsidiaries refers to the gain recognized from the deconsolidation of Tujia.com International Co., Ltd. ("Tujia") as a result of the loss of control of Tujia after its recent financing in the third quarter of 2015. In July, 2015, Tujia issued Series D+ redeemable convertible preferred shares to a number of new investors. The Company did not participate the Series D+ financing and as a result, its equity interest, and fully converted voting rights was diluted from approximately 50% to 45%. After the Series D+ financing, The Company was entitled to appoint 6 out of 12 board of directors. The Company concluded that the changes in interest resulted in its loss of control in Tujia under ASC 810, thus the financial statement of Tujia shall be deconsolidated. A gain is recognized for the deconsolidation of Tujia as of the deconsolidation date and was recorded in the Other Income. The investment in Tujia was re-measured at its fair value at the date of the deconsolidation. Dividends Dividends are recognized when declared. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The Company's PRC subsidiaries can only distribute dividends after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves. Additionally, as the Company does not have any direct ownership in the VIEs, the VIEs cannot directly distribute dividends to the Company. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. As substantially all of our revenues are in RMB, any restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to use revenue generated in RMB to fund our business activities outside China or to make dividend payments in U.S. dollars. Restricted net assets of the Company's PRC subsidiaries and VIEs not distributable in the form of dividends to the parent as a result of the aforesaid PRC regulations and other restrictions were RMB1.8 billion as of September 30, 2015. As a result of the aforementioned PRC regulation and the Company's organizational structure, accumulated profits of the subsidiaries in PRC distributable in the form of dividends to the parent as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015 were RMB5.0 billion and RMB5.9 billion, respectively. The Company's PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are able to enter into royalty and trademark license agreements or certain other contractual arrangements at the sole discretion of the Company, for which the compensatory element of the arrangement is deducted from the accumulated profits. Effective January 1, 2008, current CIT Law imposes a 10% withholding income tax for dividends distributed by foreign invested enterprises to their immediate holding companies outside mainland China. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there is a tax treaty arrangement between mainland China and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. Distributions to holding companies in Hong Kong that satisfy certain requirements specified by PRC tax authorities, for example, will be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate. Earnings per share In accordance with "Computation of Earnings Per Share", basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Dilutive ordinary equivalent shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding share options (using the treasury stock method). If the number of common shares outstanding increases as a result of a stock dividend or stock split or decreases as a result of a reverse stock split, the computations of basic and diluted EPS shall be adjusted retroactively for all periods presented to reflect that change in capital structure. If changes in common stock resulting from stock dividends, stock splits, or reverse stock splits occur after the close of the period but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued, the per-share computations for those and any prior-period financial statements presented are be based on the new number of shares. Treasury stock On July 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008 our board of directors and shareholders respectively approved a US$15 million share repurchase plan. On September 29, 2011, our board of directors approved another US$100 million share repurchase plan. On June 13, 2012, our board of directors approved a US$300 million share repurchase plan. And on April 3, 2014, our board of directors approved a US$600 million share repurchase plan. The share-repurchase programs do not require the Company to acquire a specific number of shares and may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Treasury stock consists of ADS repurchased by the Group under these three plans. In October 2013, US$45.5 million convertible senior notes issued in 2012 was early converted and 588,219 shares of repurchased treasury stock were delivered to bond holders. In 2014, US$65.5 million convertible senior notes issued in 2012 was converted and 846,131 shares of repurchased treasury stock were delivered to bond holders. In the nine-month period ended September, 30, 2015, US$4.3 million convertible senior notes issued in 2012 was converted and 55,590 shares of repurchased treasury stock were delivered to bond holders. As of September 30, 2015, the Company had 3,742,219 shares treasury stock at total cost of US$380 million. Treasury stock is accounted for under the cost method. Segment reporting The Company operates and manages its business as a single segment. Resources are allocated and performance is assessed by the CEO, whom is determined to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). Since the Company operates in one reportable segment, all financial segment and product information required by this statement can be found in the Consolidated Statements. The Company primarily generates its revenues from customers in Great China Area, and assets of the Company are also located in Great China Area. Accordingly, no geographical segments are presented. Recent accounting pronouncements In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity". This update changed the threshold for reporting discontinued operations and added new disclosures for disposals. Under the updated guidance, a discontinued operation is defined as a component or group of components that is disposed of or is classified as held for sale and represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity's operations and financial results. This ASU is effective prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2014. This ASU is not reasonably expected in the future to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, because the Company does not have discontinued operations or disposals of components of an Entity. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"). ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will require the Company to separate performance obligations within a contract, determine total transaction costs, and ultimately allocate the transaction costs across the established performance obligations. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which delays the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. As a result, ASU 2014-09 will become effective for the Company beginning in fiscal 2018 under either full or modified retrospective adoption, with early adoption permitted as of the original effective date of ASU 2014-09. The Company is currently assessing the potential effects of these changes on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In February 2015, the FASB issued the ASU 2015-02, "Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis". The objective of issuing the amendments in this Update is to change the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. The amendments in this Update are an improvement to current US GAAP because they simplify the Codification and reduce the number of consolidation models through the elimination of the indefinite deferral of Statement 167 and because they place more emphasis on risk of loss when determining a controlling financial interest. The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. A reporting entity may apply the amendments in this Update using a modified retrospective approach by recording a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued the ASU 2015-05, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement". The Board issued the amendments in this Update as part of its Simplification Initiative. The objective of the Simplification Initiative is to identify, evaluate, and improve areas of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of the financial statements. Existing GAAP does not include explicit guidance about a customer's accounting for fees paid in a cloud computing arrangement. The amendments in this Update provide guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software license, then the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The guidance will not change GAAP for a customer's accounting for service contracts. In addition, the guidance in this Update supersedes paragraph 350-40-25-16. Consequently, all software licenses within the scope of Subtopic 350-40 will be accounted for consistent with other licenses of intangible assets. For public business entities, the Board decided that the amendments will be effective for annual periods, including interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2015. For all other entities, the amendments will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for all entities. An entity can elect to adopt the amendments either (1) prospectively to all arrangements entered into or materially modified after the effective date or (2) retrospectively. For prospective transition, the only disclosure requirements at transition are the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, and a qualitative description of the financial statement line items affected by the change. For retrospective transition, the disclosure requirements at transition include the requirements for prospective transition and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued the ASU No. 2015-03—Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs ("ASU 2015-03"), which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. Under ASU 2015-03, an entity will present such costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs will continue to be reported as interest expense. In August 2015, the FASB issued the ASU No. 2015-15—Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements ("ASU 2015-15"), which incorporates the SEC staff's announcement that clarifies the exclusion of line-of-credit arrangements from the scope of ASU 2015-03. The ASU clarifies that debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements can be deferred and presented as an asset that is subsequently amortized over the time of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. ASU 2015-03 is effective retrospectively for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. In September 2015, the FASB issued the ASU No. 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments, which eliminates the requirement for acquirers in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively. Instead, acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts that would have been recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. This update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2015, with early adoption permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued the ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes. The amendments in this Update require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments in this Update apply to all entities that present a classified statement of financial position. The current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets of a tax-paying component of an entity be offset and presented as a single amount is not affected by the amendments in this Update. For public business entities, the amendments in this Update are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this Update may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. If an entity applies the guidance prospectively, the entity should disclose in the first interim and first annual period of change, the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and a statement that prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. If an entity applies the guidance retrospectively, the entity should disclose in the first interim and first annual period of change the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change on prior periods. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the standard on its consolidated financial statements. Certain risks and concentration Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investment, accounts receivable, amounts due from related parties, prepayments and other current assets. As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, substantially all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investment were held in major financial institutions located in the PRC and in Hong Kong, which management considers to be of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are generally unsecured and denominated in RMB, and are derived from revenues earned from operations arising primarily in the PRC. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of net revenues for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 and 2015. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015.

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