EX-2.31 5 d837105dex231.htm EX-2.31 EX-2.31

Exhibit 2.31

Description of rights of each class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)

American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing three ordinary shares of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (“we,” “our,” “our company,” or “us”), are listed and traded on Nasdaq and, in connection therewith, the ordinary shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). This exhibit contains a description of the rights of (i) the holders of ordinary shares and (ii) the holders of the ADSs. Ordinary shares underlying the ADSs are held in Hong Kong by the custodian, Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, on behalf of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as depositary, and holders of ADSs will not be treated as holders of ordinary shares.

Description of Ordinary Shares

The following is a summary of material provisions of our currently effective amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”), as well as the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands (the “Companies Law”), insofar as they relate to the material terms of the ordinary shares. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entire Memorandum and Articles of Association, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as an exhibit to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (File No. 001-33178) filed with the SEC on April 11, 2017.

Type and Class of Securities

Each ordinary share has US$0.01 par value. The number of ordinary shares that have been issued as of the last day of the financial year ended December 31, 2019 is provided on the cover of our annual report on Form 20-F filed on March 31, 2020 (the “2019 Form 20-F”).

Rights of Ordinary Shares

General

All of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Some of the ordinary shares are issued in registered form only with no share certificates. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares. Under article 3 of our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the objects for which we were established are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by any law as provided by Section 7(4) of the Companies Law.

Dividends

The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide a time limit after which a shareholder’s entitlement to an unclaimed dividend lapses.

Voting Rights

Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by our chairman or one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote and who together hold not less than 10 % of the paid up voting share capital of our company.


A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders who hold at least one-third of our ordinary shares at the meeting present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative. Shareholders’ meetings are held annually and may be convened by our board on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least ten percent of our ordinary shares. Advance notice of at least seven days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders meetings.

An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the ordinary shares. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as changing our name or making changes to our Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

Subject to the restrictions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board.

Our board may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:

 

   

the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates, and such other evidence as our board may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;

 

   

the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;

 

   

the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; or

 

   

in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four.

If our directors refuse to register a transfer they must, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 14 days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers may not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year.

Liquidation

On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares will be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately.

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

Our board may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture. Shareholders are not liable for any capital calls by the company except to the extent there is an amount unpaid on their shares.


Redemption of Ordinary Shares

Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as the directors may determine.

Prohibitions on the Receipt of Dividends, the Exercise of Voting or Other Rights or the Receipt of Other Remuneration

Our Memorandum and Articles of Association prohibit anyone who is an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person from:

 

   

receiving dividends or interest with regard to our shares;

 

   

exercising voting or other rights conferred by our shares; and

 

   

receiving any remuneration in any form from us or an affiliated company for services rendered or otherwise.

Such unsuitable person or its affiliate must sell all of the shares, or allow us to redeem or repurchase the shares on such terms and manner as the directors may determine and agree with the shareholders, within such period of time as specified by a gaming authority.

These prohibitions commence on the date that a gaming authority serves notice of a determination of unsuitability or our board determines that a person or its affiliate is unsuitable and continue until the securities are owned or controlled by persons found suitable by a gaming authority or our board, as applicable, to own them. An “unsuitable person” is any person who is determined by a gaming authority to be unsuitable to own or control any of our shares or who causes us or any affiliated company to lose or to be threatened with the loss of any gaming license, or who, in the sole discretion of our board, is deemed likely to jeopardize our or any of our affiliates’ application for, receipt of approval for right to the use of, or entitlement to, any gaming license.

The terms “affiliated companies,” “gaming authority” and “person” have the meanings set forth in our Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Redemption of Securities Owned or Controlled by an Unsuitable Person or an Affiliate

Our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that shares owned or controlled by an unsuitable person or an affiliate of an unsuitable person are redeemable by us, out of funds legally available for that redemption, by appropriate action of our board to the extent required by the gaming authorities making the determination of unsuitability or to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by our board having regard to relevant gaming laws. From and after the redemption date, the securities will not be considered outstanding and all rights of the unsuitable person or affiliate will cease, other than the right to receive the redemption price and the right to receive any dividends declared prior to any receipt of any written notice from a gaming authority declaring the suitable person to be an unsuitable person but not yet paid. The redemption price will be the price, if any, required to be paid by the gaming authority making the finding of unsuitability or, if the gaming authority does not require a price to be paid, the sum deemed to be the fair value of the securities by our board. The price for the shares will not exceed the closing price per share of the shares on the principal national securities exchange on which the shares are then listed on the trading date on the day before the redemption notice is given. If the shares are not then listed, the redemption price will not exceed the closing sales price of the shares as quoted on an automated quotation system, or if the closing price is not then reported, the mean between the bid and asked prices, as quoted by any other generally recognized reporting system. Our right of redemption is not exclusive of any other rights that we may have or later acquire under any agreement, its bylaws or otherwise. The redemption price may be paid in cash, by promissory note, or both, as required by the applicable gaming authority and, if not, as we elect.


Our Memorandum and Articles of Association require any unsuitable person and any affiliate of an unsuitable person to indemnify us and our affiliated companies for any and all losses, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by us and our subsidiaries as a result of the unsuitable person’s or affiliate’s ownership or control of shares, the neglect, refusal or other failure to comply with the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association relating to unsuitable persons, or failure to promptly divest itself of any shares in us.

Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Ordinary Shares

Variations of Rights of Shares. All or any of the rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied or abrogated either with the unanimous written consent of the holders of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

Changes in Capital

We may from time to time by ordinary resolution:

 

   

increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution may prescribe;

 

   

consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares;

 

   

convert all or any of our paid-up shares into stock and reconvert that stock into paid up shares of any denomination;

 

   

sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them, into shares of a smaller amount provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share will be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; or

 

   

cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.

We may by special resolution reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by law.

Exempted Company

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law. The Companies Law distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

 

   

annual reporting requirements are minimal and consist mainly of a statement that the company has conducted its operations mainly outside of the Cayman Islands and has complied with the provisions of the Companies Law;

 

   

an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

 

   

an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

   

an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;


   

an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

 

   

an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

 

   

an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

 

   

an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

Differences in Corporate Law

The Companies Law is modeled after that of England and Wales but does not follow recent statutory enactments in England. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders.

Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (i) a “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and (ii) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (i) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and (ii) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association

A merger between a parent company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and its subsidiary or subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders of the constituent companies provided a copy of the plan of merger is given to every shareholder of each subsidiary company to be merged unless that shareholder agrees otherwise. For this purpose, a subsidiary is a company of which at least ninety percent (90%) of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.

The plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a declaration as to the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger and consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. The fair value of the shares will be determined by the Cayman Islands court if it cannot be agreed among the parties. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:

 

   

the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met;


   

the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class;

 

   

the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in respect of his interest; and

 

   

the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law.

When a take-over offer is made and accepted by holders of not less than 90% of the shares within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.

If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

Shareholders’ Suits. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts. In most cases, the company will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to it, and a claim against (for example) the company’s officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

 

   

a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;

 

   

the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

 

   

those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

A shareholder may have a direct right of action against the company where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties. Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components, the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director must act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. A director must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interests of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company, and therefore it is considered that he or she owes the following duties to the company: a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit out of his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so), a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interests or his or her duty to a third party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, there are indications that the courts are moving towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care.


Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors who are in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or proposed contract with our company must declare the nature of their interest at a meeting of the board of directors. Following such declaration, a director may vote in respect of any contract or proposed contract notwithstanding his or her interest.

Shareholder Action by Written Resolution. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may eliminate the right of stockholders to act by written consent. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association allow shareholders to act by written resolutions.

Cumulative Voting. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled for a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting interest with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting.

Removal of Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation may be removed with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors can be removed by special resolution of the shareholders.

Transactions with Interested Shareholders. The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date on which such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is one which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions entered into must be bona fide in the best interests of the company, for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of perpetrating a fraud on the minority shareholders.

Dissolution and Winding Up. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting interest of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. The Delaware General Corporation Law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board of directors.

Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, a resolution that our company be wound up by the court or be wound up voluntarily shall be a special resolution, except where the company is to be wound up voluntarily because it is unable to pay its debts as they may fall due in which event the resolution shall be an ordinary resolution.


Variation of Rights of Shares. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class with the unanimous consent in writing of the holders of the issued shares of the relevant class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of such class by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast at such a meeting.

Amendment of Governing Documents. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association may be amended by a special resolution of shareholders.

Inspection of Books and Records. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder of a corporation may for any proper purpose inspect or make copies of the corporation’s stock ledger, list of shareholders and other books and records. Holders of our shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law, nor any right under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records. However, we intend to provide our shareholders with annual reports containing audited financial statements.

Anti-Takeover Provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Some provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including a provision that authorizes our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders. Such shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue these preference shares, the price of our ordinary shares may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares may be materially and adversely affected. However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our Memorandum and Articles of Association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

Description of American Depositary Shares

For information regarding our ADSs, please refer to the Description of American Depositary Shares (incorporated by reference to our registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-215100), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on December 14, 2016).