-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TaANsh/WuJUYkbAsWirBiu4IHZBELwAoOcrgeldoKs9Pl709r3IIDrTgvKEJVilf I/mbOXOH09E6beBTjktckg== 0000950142-02-000050.txt : 20020413 0000950142-02-000050.hdr.sgml : 20020413 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950142-02-000050 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 425 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20020110 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: P&O PRINCESS CRUISES PLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001125259 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400] FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-15136 FILM NUMBER: 2506995 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 77 NEW OXFORD ST CITY: LONDON WC1A 1PP ENGL STATE: X0 ZIP: 00000 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CARNIVAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000815097 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WATER TRANSPORTATION [4400] IRS NUMBER: 591562976 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1130 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 425 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3655 N W 87TH AVE STREET 2: PO BOX 1347 CITY: MIAMI STATE: FL ZIP: 33178-2428 BUSINESS PHONE: 3055992600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3655 N W 87TH AVE STREET 2: PO BOX 1347 CITY: MIAMI STATE: FL ZIP: 33178 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 425 1 form425110.txt FORM 425 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 NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN 10 January 2002 CARNIVAL CORPORATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESPONSE TO P&O PRINCESS CIRCULAR Attached is the text of a letter sent today by Carnival to the board of directors of P&O Princess: "10 January 2002 For the attention of Lord Sterling of Plaistow Dear Jeffrey, We are encouraged that your latest shareholder circular has attempted to clarify various aspects of the joint venture with Royal Caribbean, and we read with interest your observations as to the relative merits of the two proposals currently before your shareholders. One specific area which unfortunately you have not clarified is the basis on which you say you have the unilateral ability to terminate the joint venture. While we understand that you do have the unilateral right to terminate the joint venture agreement on or after 1 January 2003 if the January commercial benchmark has not been met and there has been no change of control, you have not told your shareholders whether you are deliberately able to try and ensure that this benchmark is not achieved, in order that you can then terminate the joint venture agreement. It strikes us that clarity on this point is absolutely essential if your shareholders are to understand exactly what you can and cannot do to influence the non-achievement of this commercial benchmark. We would also ask you to confirm whether Royal Caribbean agrees with your interpretation of this provision. In addition to the outstanding questions from my last letter, which remain unanswered, there are also likely to be a number of other issues in your circular which we may seek further clarification on or take issue with. However, an early response to this specific question would, we believe, help all interested parties to understand your position in this critically important area. Yours sincerely M. Arison Chairman and CEO" ENQUIRIES: CARNIVAL Telephone: +1 305 599 2600 Micky Arison Howard Frank MERRILL LYNCH Telephone: +44 20 7628 1000 Philip Yates James Agnew Stuart Faulkner UBS WARBURG Telephone: +44 20 7567 8000 Tom Cooper Alistair Defriez FINANCIAL DYNAMICS Telephone: +44 7979 536 619 (10 January 2002) Nic Bennett +44 20 7831 3113 (11 January 2002) Scott Fulton Terms used in this announcement have the same meaning as in the Announcement dated 16 December 2001. The directors of Carnival accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Carnival (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained herein for which they accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Merrill Lynch International and UBS Warburg Ltd., a subsidiary of UBS AG, are acting as joint financial advisors and joint corporate brokers exclusively to Carnival and no-one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than Carnival for providing the protections afforded to clients respectively of Merrill Lynch International and UBS Warburg Ltd. as the case may be or for providing advice in relation to the Offer. SHAREHOLDER DISCLOSURE OBLIGATIONS Any person who, alone or acting together with any other person(s) pursuant to an agreement or understanding (whether formal or informal) to acquire or control securities of P&O Princess or Carnival, owns or controls, or become the owner or controller, directly or indirectly of one per cent. or more of any class of securities of P&O Princess or Carnival is generally required under the provision of Rule 8 of the City Code to notify the London Stock Exchange and the Panel of every dealing in such securities during the period from the date of this Announcement until the first closing date of the Offer or, if later, the date on which the Offer becomes, or is declared, unconditional as to acceptances or lapses. Disclosure should be made on an appropriate form before 12 noon (London time) on the business day following the date of the dealing transaction. These disclosures should be sent to the Company Announcements Office of the London Stock Exchange (fax number: +44 20 7588 6057) and to the Panel (fax number: +44 20 7256 9386). SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this announcement constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Carnival has tried, wherever possible, to identify such statements by using words such as "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "expect," "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, price, 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, the availability of air service and adverse media publicity; increases in cruise industry and vacation industry capacity; continued availability of attractive port destinations; changes in tax laws and regulations; Carnival's ability to implement its shipbuilding program and to continue to expand its business outside the North American market; 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; unscheduled ship repairs and dry-docking; incidents involving cruise ships; impact of pending or threatened litigation; and changes in laws and regulations applicable to Carnival. Carnival cautions the reader that 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 to publicly 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 US SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER. THE FORM S-4 WILL CONTAIN A PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE 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 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 OFFER CAREFULLY BEFORE THEY MAKE ANY DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. THE FORM S-4, THE PROSPECTUS, THE SCHEDULE TO AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE 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 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, US. IN ADDITION TO THE FORM S-4, PROSPECTUS, THE SCHEDULE TO AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER, CARNIVAL IS OBLIGATED TO FILE ANNUAL, QUARTERLY AND SPECIAL 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-SEC-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. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----