Filing under Rule 425 under
the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed under Rule 14d-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filing by: Carnival Corporation
Subject Company: P&O Princess Cruises plc.
SEC File No. of Princess: 001-15136
CONTACT: Tim Gallagher FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CARNIVAL CORPORATION REPORTS SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS
MIAMI (06/20/02) -- Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) reported net income
of $194.2 million ($0.33 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $989.2 million for its
second quarter ended May 31, 2002, compared to net income of $187.0 million
($0.32 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $1.08 billion for the same quarter in 2001.
Net income for the six months ended May 31, 2002 was $323.8 million
($0.55 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $1.89 billion, compared to net income of
$314.9 million ($0.54 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $2.09 billion for the same
period in 2001.
Earnings for the second quarter of 2002 were reduced by a $9 million
loss, including related expenses, on the sale of Holland America Line's Nieuw
Amsterdam and by $12 million from cancelled cruises.
Revenues for the second quarter of 2002 were 8.3 percent lower than
last year primarily because of lower cruise ticket prices, largely attributed to
the events of September 11, and a significant decline in the number of guests
purchasing air transportation from the company. This was partially offset by an
increase in cruise capacity of 2.1 percent. Net revenue yield (net revenue per
available berth day after deducting the cost of air transportation and travel
agent commissions) was down 5.3 percent, compared to the previous year's second
quarter.
Partially offsetting the lower revenues was a 5.7 percent reduction in
the company's cost per available berth day (excluding the cost of air
transportation and travel agent commissions) due in part to the timing of
advertising expenditures. Second quarter 2002 results also did not include any
losses from the company's investment in Airtours plc, which was sold in June
2001.
Commenting on the second quarter results, Carnival Corporation Chairman
and CEO Micky Arison said he was pleased that the company has continued to
improve its performance since the events of September 11, noting that net
revenue yields in the second quarter improved significantly
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Second Quarter Earnings - 2
from the 7.5 percent decline experienced in the first quarter of 2002. "Our
results in the second quarter clearly demonstrate the continuing recovery of our
cruise business, in spite of the current economic uncertainty and political
unrest," he said. In addition, Arison noted that the results from the company's
"cost containment initiatives continue to mitigate the pressure on net revenue
yields."
Booking levels during the 2002 second quarter were substantially ahead
of last year. During the last few weeks, booking levels have been approximately
equal to last year's levels. Arison added that cruise pricing has largely
recovered from the significantly discounted levels last fall, now running only
slightly below the comparable period last year. On a cumulative basis, advance
bookings and average prices for the balance of 2002 remain below last year's
levels, primarily as a result of the dramatic slowdown in 2002 bookings last
fall and the shift toward closer-to-sailing booking patterns.
"Based on bookings to date, we expect the trend in sequential yield
improvement to continue through the remainder of the year, with net revenue
yields expected to be down 3 percent to 5 percent in the third quarter and up
slightly in the fourth quarter," Arison noted.
During the second quarter of 2002, Holland America announced that it
had exercised its option for the construction of a fifth 1,848-passenger
Vista-class ship, which is scheduled for delivery in spring 2006. Looking to the
remainder of 2002, Carnival Cruise Lines plans to introduce the 2,124-passenger
Carnival Legend in August 2002, offering the brand's first-ever cruises from
Europe. Following its European program, the Carnival Legend will operate a
series of voyages from various North American ports and then reposition to Fort
Lauderdale, Fla., to operate eight-day Caribbean sailings beginning Nov. 10.
Carnival Cruise Lines is also scheduled to launch its largest passenger ship
ever, the 2,974-passenger Carnival Conquest, from New Orleans in mid-November
2002, and Holland America's 1,848-passenger Zuiderdam is scheduled to enter
service in December 2002 from Fort Lauderdale.
The company has scheduled a conference call with analysts at 11 a.m.
EDT today to discuss its 2002 second quarter earnings. This call can be listened
to live, and additional information can be obtained at Carnival Corporation's
Web site at WWW.CARNIVALCORP.COM.
Carnival Corporation is a global vacation and leisure travel provider
that operates Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise line based on
passengers carried, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Seabourn
Cruise Line, Windstar Cruises and Holland America Tours.
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Second Quarter Earnings - 3
Carnival Corporation's six cruise brands operate 43 ships in the Caribbean,
Alaska, Europe, Mexican Riviera, South America and other worldwide destinations,
and have 15 new ships scheduled for delivery during the next four years.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Carnival Corporation has tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements
by using words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "expect," "forecast,"
"future," "intend," "plan" and words and terms of similar substance in
connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance.
These forward-looking statements, including those which may impact the
forecasting of Carnival's net revenue yields, booking levels, pricing, occupancy
or business prospects, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors, which may cause Carnival's actual results, performances or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
among others, the following: general economic and business conditions which may
impact levels of disposable income of consumers and the net revenue yields for
Carnival's cruise products; consumer demand for cruises and other vacation
options; other vacation industry competition; effects on consumer demand of
armed conflicts, political instability, terrorism, adverse media publicity and
the availability of air service; shifts in consumer booking patterns; increases
in cruise industry and vacation industry capacity; continued availability of
attractive port destinations; changes in tax laws and regulations; changes and
disruptions in financial and equity markets; Carnival's ability to implement its
brand strategy, Carnival's ability to implement its shipbuilding program and to
continue to expand its business worldwide; Carnival's ability to attract and
retain shipboard crew; changes in foreign currency rates, security expenses,
food, fuel, insurance and commodity prices and interest rates; delivery of new
ships on schedule and at the contracted prices; weather patterns and natural
disasters; unscheduled ship repairs and drydocking incidents involving cruise
ships; impact of pending or threatened litigation; Carnival's ability to
successfully implement cost improvement plans; the continuing financial
viability of Carnival's travel agent distribution system; and changes in laws
and regulations applicable to Carnival.
These risks may not be exhaustive. Carnival operates in a continually changing
business environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. Carnival cannot
predict such risks nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such risks on its
business or the extent to which any risk, or combination of risks may cause
actual results to differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.
Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a
prediction of actual results. Carnival undertakes no obligation publicly to
update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
Carnival plans to file a registration statement on Form S-4 and a statement on
Schedule TO with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
commencement of its pre-conditional offer to acquire P&O Princess Cruises plc.
The Form S-4 will contain a prospectus and other documents relating to the
pre-conditional offer. Carnival plans to mail the prospectus contained in the
Form S-4 to shareholders of P&O Princess when the Form S-4 is filed with the
SEC. The Form S-4, the prospectus and the Schedule TO will contain important
information about Carnival, P&O Princess, the pre-conditional offer and related
matters. Investors and stockholders should read the Form S-4, the prospectus,
the Schedule TO and the other documents filed with the SEC in connection with
the pre-conditional offer carefully before they make any decision with respect
to the pre-conditional offer. The Form S-4, the prospectus, the Schedule TO and
all other documents filed with the SEC in connection with the pre-conditional
offer will be available when filed free of charge at the SEC's web site, at
WWW.SEC.GOV. In addition, the prospectus and all other documents filed with the
SEC in connection with the pre-conditional offer will be made available to
investors free of charge by writing to Tim Gallagher at Carnival Corporation,
Carnival Place, 3655 N.W. 87 Avenue, Miami, Florida, 33178-2428.
In addition to the Form S-4, the prospectus, the Schedule TO and the other
documents filed with the SEC in connection with the pre-conditional offer,
Carnival is obligated to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC. Persons may read and copy any
reports, statements and other information filed with the SEC at the SEC's public
reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call
the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the public reference room.
Filings with the SEC also are available to the public from commercial
document-retrieval services and at the web site maintained by the SEC at
WWW.SEC.GOV.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For investor relations, please contact Beth Roberts, Tel: 1-305-599-2600, ext.
19066, and for media inquiries, please contact Tim Gallagher, Tel:
1-305-599-2600, ext. 16000, Carnival Corporation, Carnival Place, 3655 N.W. 87
Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178-2428.
Second Quarter Earnings - 4
CARNIVAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
MAY 31, MAY 31,
------- -------
2002 2001 2002 2001
---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands, except earnings per share) (in thousands, except earnings per share)
REVENUES $ 989,157 $ 1,079,125 $ 1,894,933 $ 2,086,731
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Operating 533,455 601,334 1,051,620 1,201,454
Selling and administrative 142,702 154,564 294,747 310,455
Depreciation and amortization 92,589 92,359(1) 182,343 183,950(1)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
768,746 848,257 1,528,710 1,695,859
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE LOSS FROM
AFFILIATED OPERATIONS 220,411 230,868 366,223 390,872
LOSS FROM AFFILIATED OPERATIONS, NET (22,961) (44,024)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
OPERATING INCOME 220,411 207,907 366,223 346,848
NONOPERATING (EXPENSE) INCOME
Interest income 7,752 6,000 14,415 9,778
Interest expense, net of capitalized
interest (28,011) (30,238) (57,467) (62,110)
Other (expense) income, net (12,087)(2) 380(3) (7,129)(2) 12,326(3)
Income tax benefit, net 6,136 2,914 7,799 8,071
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(26,210) (20,944) (42,382) (31,935)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
NET INCOME $ 194,201 $ 186,963 $ 323,841 $ 314,913
=========== =========== =========== ===========
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic $ 0.33 $ 0.32 $ 0.55 $ 0.54
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Diluted $ 0.33 $ 0.32 $ 0.55 $ 0.54
=========== =========== =========== ===========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC 586,520 584,150 586,395 584,001
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED 588,779 586,388 588,194 586,382
(1) ON DECEMBER 1, 2001, THE COMPANY ADOPTED SFAS NO. 142, "GOODWILL AND OTHER
INTANGIBLE ASSETS," WHICH REQUIRED THE COMPANY TO CEASE AMORTIZING ITS
GOODWILL. GOODWILL AMORTIZATION WAS $5 MILLION AND $10 MILLION IN THE THREE
AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2001, RESPECTIVELY.
(2) INCLUDES $9 MILLION OF LOSSES, INCLUDING RELATED EXPENSES, RESULTING FROM
THE SALE OF HOLLAND AMERICA'S FORMER NIEUW AMSTERDAM, AND $4 MILLION OF
DIRECT COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCELLED CRUISES.
(3) OTHER INCOME, NET FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2001 INCLUDES
A $16 MILLION GAIN FROM THE SALE OF THE COMPANY'S INVESTMENT IN CRC
HOLDINGS, INC., PARTIALLY OFFSET BY $9 MILLION OF ASSET WRITE-DOWNS AND $6
MILLION OF ESTIMATED LITIGATION RELATED EXPENSES. IN ADDITION, OTHER
INCOME, NET FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED MAY 31, 2001 INCLUDES A $13 MILLION
GAIN FROM A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE MANUFACTURERS OF SOME OF THE
COMPANY'S SHIP PROPULSION SYSTEMS TO REIMBURSE THE COMPANY FOR LOST
REVENUES AND EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO DISRUPTIONS IN SERVICE DURING 2000.
Second Quarter Earnings - 5
CARNIVAL CORPORATION
SELECTED STATISTICAL AND SEGMENT INFORMATION
THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
MAY 31, MAY 31,
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2002 2001 2002 2001
---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands) (in thousands)
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
Passengers carried 831 816 1,603 1,602
Available lower berth days 5,258 5,151 10,319 10,095
Occupancy percentage 101.9% 102.5% 102.3% 103.9%
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Revenues
Cruise $ 967,354 $ 1,054,200 $ 1,867,861 $ 2,054,591
Tour 27,788 31,070 33,495 38,758
Intersegment elimination (5,985) (6,145) (6,423) (6,618)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 989,157 $ 1,079,125 $ 1,894,933 $ 2,086,731
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Operating expenses
Cruise $ 511,757 $ 578,989 $ 1,022,595 $ 1,169,963
Tour 27,683 28,490 35,448 38,109
Intersegment elimination (5,985) (6,145) (6,423) (6,618)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 533,455 $ 601,334 $ 1,051,620 $ 1,201,454
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Operating income (loss)
Cruise $ 232,477 $ 241,236 $ 392,344 $ 415,592
Tour (9,208) (7,682) (20,379) (18,161)
Affiliated operations (22,961) (44,024)
Corporate (2,858) (2,686) (5,742) (6,559)
----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
$ 220,411 $ 207,907 $ 366,223 $ 346,848
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