CORRESP
June 28, 2011
VIA EDGAR AND HAND DELIVERY
Mr. Daniel L. Gordon
Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Re:
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Melco Crown Entertainment Limited
Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010
Filed April 1, 2011
File No. 1-33178 |
Dear Mr. Gordon:
We refer to your letter, dated June 14, 2011 (the Comment Letter), to Melco Crown
Entertainment Limited (the Company) containing comments of the Staff of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the Commission) relating to the Companys annual report on Form
20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Commission on April 1, 2011 (File
No. 1-33178). The comments of the Staff of the Commission are set forth in bold and italics and
the responses of the Company are set forth in plain text immediately following each comment.
Item 4. Information on the Company
B. Business Overview, page 34
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In future Exchange Act periodic reports, please discuss your arrangements with junket
operators in greater detail, including more information on your specific commissions as well
as credit risks arising from the extension of credit to junkets. Please also supplement your
disclosure in the MD&A to discuss the percentage of your VIP customer revenues which are
derived from these arrangements. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company confirms that in its future Exchange Act
periodic reports it will discuss its arrangements with junket operators, also known as gaming
promoters, in greater detail. The Company confirms that it will also supplement its disclosure in
the MD&A to discuss the percentage of its VIP customer revenues which are derived from these
arrangements.
In response to the Staffs comment, and as set forth in detail below, the Company intends to
include additional disclosure in future periodic reports regarding the agreements it enters into
with its gaming promoters, the compensation structure offered to gaming promoters and the credit
arrangements and consequential credit risks associated with gaming promoters. In addition, the
Company intends to disclose the percentage of its gross gaming revenues from VIP customers
attributed to gaming promoters in its MD&A, and to separately disclose the total dollar amount of
gaming promoter commissions included in its income statement within its MD&A. The Company believes
this enhanced disclosure will provide investors with a clearer picture of the impact of gaming
promoters and gaming promoter commissions on the Companys results of operations and profitability.
The Company considers the disclosure of the specific commission package it has arranged with any
particular gaming promoter or group of promoters to be commercially sensitive information that, if
disclosed, would adversely impact its relationships with existing gaming promoters, hamper its
ability to enter into new gaming promoter relationships and hinder its ability to grow its
business.
The discussion of the Companys arrangements with gaming promoters would include the following
details in Item 4. Information on the Company B. Business Overview in its future annual
reports on Form 20-F:
The Company engages gaming promoters to promote its VIP gaming rooms primarily due to the
importance of the rolling chip segment in the overall Macau gaming market, the gaming promoters
knowledge of and experience within the Macau gaming market, in particular with sourcing and
attracting rolling chip patrons and arranging for their transportation and accommodation, and the
gaming promoters expanded rolling chip patron network beyond the Companys own marketing network.
Gaming promoters are responsible for a significant portion of the Companys gaming revenues. Under
standard arrangements utilized in Macau, the Company provides gaming promoters with exclusive or
casual access to one or more of its VIP gaming rooms and support from its dealers and other casino
or gaming staff, while the gaming promoter supplies the Companys casino or gaming area with
rolling chip patrons to contribute to an expected minimum amount of rolling chip turnover volume
per month.
The Company typically enters into gaming promoter agreements for periods of up to one year and
for those on a more permanent basis, for a one year term that is automatically renewed for periods
of up to one year unless otherwise terminated. The gaming promoter agreements may be terminated (i)
by either party without cause upon 15 days advance written notice, (ii) upon advice from the DICJ
or any other gaming regulator to cease having dealings with the gaming promoter or if DICJ cancels
or fails to renew the gaming promoters license, (iii) if the gaming promoter fails to meet the
minimum rolling chip turnover volume it agreed to with the Company, (iv) if the gaming promoter has
certain financial difficulties as defined in the agreement or (v) if any party to the agreement is
in material breach of any of the terms of the agreement and fails to remedy such breach within the
timeframe outlined in the agreement.
The Companys gaming promoters are compensated through commission arrangements that are
calculated on a monthly or a per trip basis. The Company generally offers its gaming promoters
commission payment structures that are calculated by reference to a revenue share or monthly
rolling chip turnover volume. Under the revenue share-based arrangements, the gaming promoter
participates in the Companys gaming wins or losses from the rolling chip patrons brought in by the
gaming promoter. The share of wins and losses are defined in each gaming promoter agreement and are amended from time to time to take
current market factors into consideration. Under the monthly rolling chip turnover volume-based
arrangements, commission rates on monthly rolling chip turnover volumes vary and will not exceed
the 1.25% regulatory cap on gaming promoter commissions.
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To encourage gaming promoters to use the Companys resort facilities for their rolling chip
patrons in order to induce their rolling chip patrons to play in the Companys VIP gaming rooms,
the Companys gaming promoters may receive complimentary allowances for food and beverage, hotel
accommodation and transportation rather than cash payments. Under the arrangement to cap
commissions and Administrative Regulation 29/2009, these allowances must be included in the 1.25%
regulatory cap on gaming promoter commissions.
The Company also extends interest-free credit to a significant portion of its gaming promoters
for short-term, renewable periods, as stipulated in the Companys credit agreements with its gaming
promoters. These credit agreements set forth the credit terms and are separate from the gaming
promoter agreements between the Company and the gaming promoters. Credit lines are generally
subject to monthly review and settlement procedures. These procedures allow the Company to
calculate the commissions payable owed to the gaming promoter and to determine the amounts which
can be offset, together with any other items of value held by the Company from the gaming promoter,
from the remaining amount of credit owed by the gaming promoter. Credit is granted based on the
performance and financial background of the relevant gaming promoter and, if applicable, that of
the gaming promoters guarantor. When there is support that the gaming promoter has a good credit
history and a track record of large business volumes, credit may exceed one month of commissions
payable. This credit is typically unsecured and although the amount of such credit may exceed
accrued commissions payable to, and other amounts of value held by the Company from, the gaming
promoters, the Company generally obtains personal cheques from guarantors or other forms of
collateral or credit enhancements, such as bank guarantees or letters of credit from the gaming
promoter to the Company. The Company has in place internal controls and credit policies and
procedures to manage this credit risk. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk Credit Risk for a discussion of the Companys credit risk management.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
A. Operating Results
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates, page 61
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In future filings, please include a critical accounting policy and a significant accounting
policy that clearly describes your capitalization policy as it relates to
construction/development costs including interest, salaries and G&A, real estate taxes and any
other significant amounts that are capitalized during the pre-acquisition phase and the
construction phase. For the development phase, discuss the periods of capitalization
including a discussion of when the capitalization period ends. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company confirms that in its future filings it
will revise its critical accounting policy with respect to Property and equipment and other
long-lived assets, and its significant accounting policy to include disclosure similar to note
2(h) (Property and Equipment) of its consolidated financial statements, to ensure that
additional information clearly describes its capitalization policy relating to construction and
development costs including interest, salaries and G&A, real estate taxes and any other significant
amounts that are capitalized during the pre-acquisition phase and the construction phase. Such
revisions will also include disclosure similar to the Companys significant accounting policies in
notes 2(r) (Pre-opening Costs) and 2(i) (Capitalization of Interest and Amortization of Deferred
Financing Costs) of its consolidated financial statements. The Company confirms that for the
development phase, it will discuss the periods of capitalization including a discussion of when the
capitalization period ends.
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In future periodic filings, please revise to include an analysis of your capital expenditures
by disclosing total capital expenditures for new development, redevelopment/renovations, and
other capital expenditures by year. In addition, please provide a narrative discussion of
significant changes in capital expenditures from year to year and of expectations for the
future. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company confirms that it will revise its future
periodic filings to include an analysis of its capital expenditures by disclosing, to the extent
material, total capital expenditures for new development, redevelopment/renovations, and other
capital expenditures by year. In addition, the Company confirms that it will provide a narrative
discussion of significant changes in capital expenditures from year-to-year and of expectations for
the future. Such revisions will be disclosed in the Companys critical accounting policy with
respect to Property and equipment and other long-lived assets, and such narrative discussion will
include disclosure similar to note 20 (Segment Information) to its consolidated financial
statements, which includes the capital expenditure for each segment from year-to-year, and to
significant changes in investing cashflows within Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.
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Clarify to us the amount of soft costs such as payroll and other G&A costs capitalized during
2010. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company clarifies that the amount of soft costs
such as payroll and other G&A costs capitalized during 2010 was US$4.2 million, which accounted for
less than 1% of total payroll and other G&A costs and approximately 3.5% of total costs capitalized
during such period.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Description of our Indebtedness
Sources and Uses, page 73
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In future Exchange Act periodic reports, please supplement your discussion of sources of cash
with a discussion of anticipated cash uses for the next fiscal year, including debt payments,
interest payments, capital expenditures and anticipated development costs. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company confirms that in its future Exchange Act
periodic reports it will supplement its discussion of sources of cash with a discussion of
anticipated cash uses for the next fiscal year, including debt payments, interest payments, capital
expenditures and anticipated development costs.
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D. Trend Information, page 74
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In future Exchange Act periodic reports, please revise your narrative under this subheading
to provide more detailed disclosure regarding the prospective impact of the proposed smoking
ban legislation. Please also supplement your disclosure to discuss the potential of tightened
liquidity in China and cooling measures being implemented by the banking system in Chinese
markets, to the extent material. |
The Company notes the Staffs comment. The Company confirms that in its future Exchange Act
periodic reports it will revise its narrative under this subheading to provide more detailed
disclosure regarding the prospective impact of the proposed smoking ban legislation. The Company
confirms that it will also supplement its disclosure to discuss the potential of tightened
liquidity in China and cooling measures being implemented by the banking system in Chinese markets,
to the extent material.
* * * *
We have attached hereto a letter from Mr. Geoffrey Davis, Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, containing the acknowledgements requested in the Comment Letter.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to call Thomas M.
Britt III at +852 2160 9830 or Danielle de Zorzi at +852 2160 9868.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Thomas M. Britt III
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Thomas M. Britt III |
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cc:
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Mr. Geoffrey Davis
Melco Crown Entertainment Limited |
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June 28, 2011
VIA EDGAR AND HAND DELIVERY
Mr. Daniel L. Gordon
Branch Chief
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
100 F Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Re:
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Melco Crown Entertainment LTD
Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2010
Filed April 1, 2011
File No. 1-33178 |
Dear Mr. Gordon:
We refer to your letter, dated June 14, 2011, to Melco Crown Entertainment Limited (the
Company) containing comments of the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission) relating to the Companys annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Commission on April 1, 2011 (File No. 1-33178).
We acknowledge that:
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we are responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; |
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(ii) |
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Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not
foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and |
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we may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
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[This page is for signature only.]
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Very truly yours,
MELCO CROWN ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED
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By: |
/s/ Geoffrey Davis
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Name: |
Geoffrey Davis |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
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