Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau) Limited (NASDAQ: MPEL) (“MPEL”), a developer and owner of casino gaming and entertainment resort facilities, today confirmed that its shareholder, Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (now known as Consolidated Media Holdings Limited) (“PBL”) has demerged its gaming and media businesses into two separate companies, both listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
On 10 December 2007, Crown Limited (“Crown”) completed its acquisition of PBL under the scheme of arrangement between PBL and the holders of fully paid ordinary shares in PBL (“the PBL Scheme”). The demerger was completed on 12 December 2007, when participants in the PBL Scheme received 1 Consolidated Media Holdings Limited share for every Crown Share received under the PBL Scheme.
As such, Crown now owns the gaming businesses, including the 37.9% direct interest in MPEL previously held by PBL. Crown is a top-50 company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and led by Executive Chairman James Packer, who is also a Co-Chairman of MPEL.
About Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau) Limited
Melco PBL Entertainment (Macau) Limited is a developer, owner and through its subsidiary, Melco PBL Gaming (Macau) Limited, an operator of casino gaming and entertainment casino resort facilities. MPBL Gaming is one of six companies granted concessions or sub-concessions to operate casinos in Macau. Its first property, Crown Macau (www.crown-macau.com), opened on May 12, 2007. Other development projects include City of Dreams, an integrated casino resort located in Cotai. MPEL’s business also includes the Mocha Clubs, which feature a total of approximately 1,100 gaming machines in seven locations and comprise the largest non-casino based operations of electronic gaming machines in Macau. MPEL has entered into an agreement, subject to certain conditions, to acquire a third development site on the Macau Peninsula. For more information about MPEL, please visit www.melco-pbl.com.
MPEL has strong support from both of its major shareholders, Melco International Development Limited (“Melco”) and Crown Limited. Melco is a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is substantially owned by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is also a Co-Chairman and the CEO of MPEL.
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,”“will,” “expect,”“anticipate,” “target,”“aim,” “estimate,”“intend,” “plan,”“believe,” “potential,”“continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. MPEL may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about MPEL’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: growth of the gaming market and visitation in Macau; finalization of credit facilities to finance construction of projects; the completion of the construction of our hotel casino resort projects; our acquisition and development of the Macau Peninsula site; increased competition and other planned casino hotel and resort projects in Macau and elsewhere in Asia; the completion of infrastructure projects in Macau; government regulation of the casino industry; our ability to raise additional financing; the formal grant of a land concession for the City of Dreams site on terms that are acceptable to us and obtaining approval from the Macau government for an increase in the developable gross floor area of the City of Dreams site; the formal grant of an occupancy permit for City of Dreams; our anticipated growth strategies; and our future business development, results of operations and financial condition. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our prospectus on Form F-1, filed on November 1, 2007, as amended, and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. MPEL does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this release, and MPEL undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
Contacts:
Geoffrey Davis,
CFA
Senior Vice President –
Corporate Finance
+1 212 671 1936
geoffreydavis@melco-pbl.com
