Source - LSE Regulatory
RNS Number : 7363U
Carnival PLC
07 April 2021
 

April 7, 2021

 

RELEASE OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2021

 

Carnival Corporation & plc is hereby announcing that today it has released its first quarter results of operations in its earnings release and filed its joint Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Form 10-Q") with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") containing the Carnival Corporation & plc 2021 first quarter unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

The information included in the attached Schedules A and B is extracted from the Form 10-Q and has been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. The Carnival Corporation & plc unaudited consolidated financial statements contained in the Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

 

•      Schedule A contains the Carnival Corporation & plc unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended February 28, 2021

•      Schedule B contains management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") of financial conditions and results of operations

 

The Directors consider that within the Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc dual listed company arrangement, the most appropriate presentation of Carnival plc's results and financial position is by reference to the Carnival Corporation & plc U.S. GAAP unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                               INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT

Roger Frizzell                                                                                           Beth Roberts

001 305 406 7862                                                                                     001 305 406 4832

 

The Form 10-Q, including the portions extracted for this announcement, is available for viewing on the SEC website at www.sec.gov under Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc or the Carnival Corporation & plc website at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com. A copy of the Form 10-Q has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. Additional information can be obtained via Carnival Corporation & plc's website listed above or by writing to Carnival plc at Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton, SO15 1ST, United Kingdom.

 

Carnival Corporation & plc is one of the world's largest leisure travel companies with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features - Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

 

Additional information can be found on www.carnivalcorp.com, www.carnivalsustainability.com, www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.seabourn.com, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com.

 

SCHEDULE A

 

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)

(UNAUDITED)

(in millions, except per share data)

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

2021

 

2020

Revenues

 

 

 

Passenger ticket

$

 

 

$

3,234 

 

Onboard and other

23 

 

 

1,556 

 

 

26 

 

 

4,789 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

 

 

Commissions, transportation and other

15 

 

 

766 

 

Onboard and other

 

 

471 

 

Payroll and related

218 

 

 

610 

 

Fuel

103 

 

 

396 

 

Food

11 

 

 

277 

 

Ship and other impairments

 

 

330 

 

Other operating

181 

 

 

671 

 

 

535 

 

 

3,523 

 

Selling and administrative

462 

 

 

678 

 

Depreciation and amortization

552 

 

 

570 

 

Goodwill impairments

 

 

731 

 

 

1,549 

 

 

5,502 

 

Operating Income (Loss)

(1,524)

 

 

(713)

 

Nonoperating Income (Expense)

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

(398)

 

 

(55)

 

Other income (expense), net

(61)

 

 

(7)

 

 

(455)

 

 

(57)

 

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes

(1,979)

 

 

(770)

 

Income Tax Benefit (Expense), Net

 

 

(11)

 

Net Income (Loss)

$

(1,973)

 

 

$

(781)

 

Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

Basic

$

(1.80)

 

 

$

(1.14)

 

Diluted

$

(1.80)

 

 

$

(1.14)

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

  CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(UNAUDITED)

(in millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

2021

 

2020

Net Income (Loss)

$

(1,973)

 

 

$

 

Items Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

199 

 

 

25 

 

Other

 

 

13 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

203 

 

 

38 

 

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$

(1,770)

 

 

$

(743)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

(in millions, except par values)

 

 

February 28,
2021

 

November 30, 2020

ASSETS

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

9,674 

 

 

$

9,513 

 

Short-term investments

1,840 

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables, net

250 

 

 

273 

 

Inventories

312 

 

 

335 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

382 

 

 

443 

 

  Total current assets

12,459 

 

 

10,563 

 

Property and Equipment, Net

39,583 

 

 

38,073 

 

Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets

1,354 

 

 

1,370 

 

Goodwill

814 

 

 

807 

 

Other Intangibles

1,195 

 

 

1,186 

 

Other Assets

1,821 

 

 

1,594 

 

 

$

57,226 

 

 

$

53,593 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

$

3,083 

 

 

$

3,084 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

1,726 

 

 

1,742 

 

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

142 

 

 

151 

 

Accounts payable

505 

 

 

624 

 

Accrued liabilities and other

1,336 

 

 

1,144 

 

Customer deposits

1,826 

 

 

1,940 

 

  Total current liabilities

8,619 

 

 

8,686 

 

Long-Term Debt

26,522 

 

 

22,130 

 

Long-Term Operating Lease Liabilities

1,256 

 

 

1,273 

 

Other Long-Term Liabilities

1,017 

 

 

949 

 

Contingencies and Commitments

 

 

 

Shareholders' Equity

 

 

 

Common stock of Carnival Corporation, $0.01 par value; 1,960 shares authorized; 1,104 shares at 2021 and 1,060 shares at 2020 issued

11 

 

 

11 

 

Ordinary shares of Carnival plc, $1.66 par value; 217 shares at 2021 and 2020 issued

361 

 

 

361 

 

Additional paid-in capital

14,977 

 

 

13,948 

 

Retained earnings

14,102 

 

 

16,075 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI")

(1,233)

 

 

(1,436)

 

Treasury stock, 130 shares at 2021 and 2020 of Carnival Corporation and 59 shares at 2021 and 60 shares at 2020 of Carnival plc, at cost

(8,404)

 

 

(8,404)

 

  Total shareholders' equity

19,813 

 

 

20,555 

 

 

$

57,226 

 

 

$

53,593 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(in millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

2021

 

2020

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

(1,973)

 

 

$

(781)

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

552 

 

 

570 

 

Impairments

17 

 

 

1,062 

 

Share-based compensation

40 

 

 

20 

 

Amortization of discounts and debt issue costs

42 

 

 

 

Noncash lease expense

36 

 

 

42 

 

(Gain) loss on ship sales and other, net

50 

 

 

(121)

 

 

(1,236)

 

 

798 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

 

Receivables

 

 

21 

 

Inventories

(1)

 

 

(15)

 

Prepaid expenses and other

(263)

 

 

(120)

 

Accounts payable

(128)

 

 

148 

 

Accrued liabilities and other

167 

 

 

120 

 

Customer deposits

(49)

 

 

(36)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

(1,503)

 

 

916 

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

(1,774)

 

 

(1,326)

 

Proceeds from sales of ships

 

 

226 

 

Purchase of minority interest

 

 

(81)

 

Purchase of short-term investments

(1,840)

 

 

 

Derivative settlements and other, net

17 

 

 

20 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(3,589)

 

 

(1,161)

 

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings, net

 

 

779 

 

Principal repayments of long-term debt

(668)

 

 

(132)

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

4,980 

 

 

823 

 

Dividends paid

 

 

(344)

 

Purchases of treasury stock

 

 

(12)

 

Issuance of common stock, net

997 

 

 

 

Debt issue costs and other, net

(93)

 

 

(26)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

5,216 

 

 

1,089 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

14 

 

 

(7)

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

138 

 

 

838 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

9,692 

 

 

530 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

9,829 

 

 

$

1,368 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(in millions)

 

 

Common

stock

 

Ordinary

shares

 

Additional

paid-in

capital

 

Retained

earnings

 

AOCI

 

Treasury

stock

 

Total shareholders' equity

At November 30, 2019

$

 

 

$

358 

 

 

$

8,807 

 

 

$

26,653 

 

 

$

(2,066)

 

 

$

(8,394)

 

 

$

25,365 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(781)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(781)

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38 

 

 

 

 

38 

 

Cash dividends declared ($0.50 per share)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(344)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(344)

 

Purchases of treasury stock under the Repurchase Program and other

 

 

 

 

22 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(10)

 

 

12 

 

At February 29, 2020

$

 

 

$

359 

 

 

$

8,829 

 

 

$

25,527 

 

 

$

(2,028)

 

 

$

(8,404)

 

 

$

24,290 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At November 30, 2020

$

11 

 

 

$

361 

 

 

$

13,948 

 

 

$

16,075 

 

 

$

(1,436)

 

 

$

(8,404)

 

 

$

20,555 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,973)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,973)

 

Other comprehensive income (loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

203 

 

 

 

 

203 

 

Issuance of common stock, net

 

 

 

 

996 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

997 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

32 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

32 

 

At February 28, 2021

$

11 

 

 

$

361 

 

 

$

14,977 

 

 

$

14,102 

 

 

$

(1,233)

 

 

$

(8,404)

 

 

$

19,813 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

  

CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

 

NOTE 1 - General

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and their respective subsidiaries. Together with their consolidated subsidiaries, they are referred to collectively in these consolidated financial statements and elsewhere in this joint Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as "Carnival Corporation & plc," "our," "us" and "we."

 

     Liquidity and Management's Plans

 

In the face of the global impact of COVID-19, we paused our guest cruise operations in mid-March 2020. In September 2020 we began the resumption of limited guest cruise operations as part of our phased-in return to service. As of February 28, 2021, none of our ships were operating with guests onboard. Significant events affecting travel, including COVID-19 and our pause in guest cruise operations, have had and continue to have an impact on booking patterns. The full extent of the impact will be determined by our gradual return to service and the length of time COVID-19 influences travel decisions. We believe that the ongoing effects of COVID-19 on our operations and global bookings have had, and will continue to have, a material negative impact on our financial results and liquidity.

 

The estimation of our future liquidity requirements includes numerous assumptions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The principal assumptions used to estimate our future liquidity requirements consist of:

 

•      Expected continued gradual resumption of guest cruise operations

•      Expected lower than comparable historical occupancy levels during the resumption of guest cruise operations

•      Expected incremental spend for the resumption of guest cruise operations, for bringing our ships out of pause status, returning crew members to our ships and implementing the enhanced health and safety protocols

 

In addition, we make certain assumptions about new ship deliveries, improvements and disposals, and consider the future export credit financings that are associated with the ship deliveries.

 

We are complying with the current various heightened governmental regulations required to return to guest cruise operations. We are working with a number of world-leading public health, epidemiological and policy experts to support our ongoing efforts with enhanced health and safety protocols for the return of cruise vacations. These advisors will continue to provide guidance based on the latest scientific evidence and best practices for protection and mitigation. We also believe that there have been positive developments around the availability and widespread distribution of effective COVID-19 vaccines, which we believe will be important to achieving historical occupancy levels over time.

 

We cannot make assurances that our assumptions used to estimate our liquidity requirements may not change because we have never previously experienced a complete cessation of our guest cruise operations, and as a consequence, our ability to be predictive is uncertain. In addition, the magnitude and duration of the global pandemic are uncertain. We have made reasonable estimates and judgments of the impact of COVID-19 within our consolidated financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods. We continue to expect a net loss on both a U.S. GAAP and adjusted basis for the second quarter of 2021 and the full year ending November 30, 2021. We have taken and continue to take actions to improve our liquidity, including completing various capital market transactions, capital expenditure and operating expense reductions, accelerating the removal of certain ships from our fleet and we will be pursuing refinancing opportunities to reduce interest expense and extend maturities.

 

Based on these actions and assumptions regarding the impact of COVID-19, and considering our $11.5 billion of cash and short-term investments at February 28, 2021, we have concluded that we have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our obligations for at least the next twelve months.

 

     Basis of Presentation

The Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the three months ended February 28/29, 2021 and 2020, and the Consolidated Balance Sheet at February 28, 2021 are unaudited and, in the opinion of our management, contain all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement. Our interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in the Carnival Corporation & plc 2020 joint Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K") filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 26, 2021. 

 

     COVID-19 and the Use of Estimates and Risks and Uncertainty

 

The preparation of our interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed. The full extent to which the effects of COVID-19 will directly or indirectly impact our business, operations, results of operations and financial condition, including our valuation of goodwill and trademarks, impairment of ships, collectability of trade and notes receivables as well as provisions for pending litigation, will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain. We have made reasonable estimates and judgments of the impact of COVID-19 within our financial statements and there may be changes to those estimates in future periods.

 

     Accounting Pronouncements

 

The FASB issued guidance, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options and Derivative and Hedging - Contracts in Entity's Own Equity, which simplifies the accounting for convertible instruments. This guidance eliminates certain models that require separate accounting for embedded conversion features, in certain cases. Additionally, among other changes, the guidance eliminates certain of the conditions for equity classification for contracts in an entity's own equity. The guidance also requires entities to use the if-converted method for all convertible instruments in the diluted earnings per share calculation and include the effect of share settlement for instruments that may be settled in cash or shares, except for certain liability-classified share-based payment awards. This guidance is required to be adopted by us in the first quarter of 2023 and must be applied using either a modified or full retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE 2 - Revenue and Expense Recognition

 

Guest cruise deposits are initially included in customer deposit liabilities when received. Customer deposits are subsequently recognized as cruise revenues, together with revenues from onboard and other activities, and all associated direct costs and expenses of a voyage are recognized as cruise costs and expenses, upon completion of voyages with durations of ten nights or less and on a pro rata basis for voyages in excess of ten nights. The impact of recognizing these shorter duration cruise revenues and costs and expenses on a completed voyage basis versus on a pro rata basis is not material. Certain of our product offerings are bundled and we allocate the value of the bundled services and goods between passenger ticket revenues and onboard and other revenues based upon the estimated standalone selling prices of those goods and services. Guest cancellation fees, when applicable, are recognized in passenger ticket revenues at the time of cancellation. 

 

Our sales to guests of air and other transportation to and from airports near the home ports of our ships are included in passenger ticket revenues, and the related costs of purchasing these services are included in transportation costs. The proceeds that we collect from the sales of third-party shore excursions are included in onboard and other revenues and the related costs are included in onboard and other costs. The amounts collected on behalf of our onboard concessionaires, net of the amounts remitted to them, are included in onboard and other revenues as concession revenues. All of these amounts are recognized on a completed voyage or pro rata basis as discussed above.

 

Passenger ticket revenues include fees, taxes and charges collected by us from our guests. A portion of these fees, taxes and charges vary with guest head counts and are directly imposed on a revenue-producing arrangement. This portion of the fees, taxes and charges is expensed in commissions, transportation and other costs when the corresponding revenues are recognized. For the three months ended February 28/29, fees, taxes, and charges included in commissions, transportation and other costs were not significant in 2021 and $174 million in 2020. The remaining portion of fees, taxes and charges are expensed in other operating expenses when the corresponding revenues are recognized.

 

Revenues and expenses from our hotel and transportation operations, which are included in our Tour and Other segment, are recognized at the time the services are performed. Revenues from the long-term leasing of ships, which are also included in our Tour and Other segment, are recognized ratably over the term of the agreement.

 

     Customer Deposits

 

Our payment terms generally require an initial deposit to confirm a reservation, with the balance due prior to the voyage. Cash received from guests in advance of the cruise is recorded in customer deposits and in other long-term liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts include refundable deposits. We are providing flexibility to guests with bookings

on sailings cancelled due to the pause in cruise operations by allowing guests to receive enhanced future cruise credits ("FCC")

or elect to receive refunds in cash. We have paid and expect to continue to pay cash refunds of customer deposits with respect to a portion of these cancelled cruises. The amount of cash refunds to be paid may depend on the level of guest acceptance of FCCs and future cruise cancellations. We record a liability for FCCs to the extent we have received cash from guests with bookings on cancelled sailings. Total customer deposits as of February 28, 2021 and November 30, 2020 were $2.2 billion, the majority of which are FCCs. As of February 28, 2021, the current portion of customer deposits was $1.8 billion. This amount includes deposits related to cancelled cruises prior to the election of a cash refund by guests. Refunds payable to guests who have elected cash refunds are recorded in accounts payable. Due to the uncertainty associated with the duration and extent of COVID-19, we are unable to estimate the amount of the February 28, 2021 customer deposits that will be recognized in earnings compared to amounts that will be refunded to customers or issued as a credit for future travel. During the three months ended February 28/29, 2021 and 2020, we recognized revenues of an immaterial amount and $3.0 billion, respectively, related to our customer deposits as of November 30, 2020 and 2019. Historically, our customer deposits balance changes due to the seasonal nature of cash collections, the recognition of revenue, refund of customer deposits and foreign currency translation.

 

     Contract Receivables

 

Although we generally require full payment from our customers prior to or concurrently with their cruise, we grant credit terms to a relatively small portion of our revenue source. We also have receivables from credit card merchants for cruise ticket purchases and onboard revenue. These receivables are included within trade and other receivables, net.

 

     Contract Assets

 

Contract assets are amounts paid prior to the start of a voyage, which we record as an asset within prepaid expenses and other and which are subsequently recognized as commissions, transportation and other at the time of revenue recognition or at the time of voyage cancellation. We have contract assets of an immaterial amount as of February 28, 2021 and November 30, 2020.

 

NOTE 3 - Debt 

 

Export Credit Facility Borrowings

 

In December 2020, we borrowed $1.5 billion under export credit facilities due in semi-annual installments through 2033.

 

     2027 Senior Unsecured Notes

 

In February 2021, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $3.5 billion senior unsecured notes that mature on March 1, 2027 (the "2027 Senior Unsecured Notes"). The 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.8% per year. The 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes are guaranteed by Carnival plc and the same subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation & plc that guarantee the 2023 Secured Notes, 2026 Secured Notes, 2027 Senior Secured Notes and 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes, and are unsecured. The indenture governing the 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes contains covenants that are substantially similar to the covenants in the indentures governing the 2026 Senior Unsecured Notes and, except for the unsecured nature of the 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes, the indentures governing the 2023 Secured Notes, 2026 Secured Notes and 2027 Secured Notes and the credit agreement governing the 2025 Secured Term Loan. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions.

 

Covenant Compliance

 

Our export credit facilities contain one or more covenants that require us to:

 

•      Maintain minimum interest coverage (EBITDA to consolidated net interest charges for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters) (the "Interest Coverage Covenant") of not less than 3.0 to 1.0 at the end of each fiscal quarter

•      Maintain minimum shareholders' equity of $5.0 billion

•      Limit our debt to capital percentage (the "Debt to Capital Covenant") to 65% at the end of each fiscal quarter

•      Limit the amounts of our secured assets as well as secured and other indebtedness

 

As of February 28, 2021, we entered into supplemental agreements to waive compliance with the Interest Coverage Covenant and the Debt to Capital Covenant under our export credit facilities through August 31, 2022 or November 30, 2022, as applicable. We will be required to comply beginning with the next testing date of November 30, 2022 or February 28, 2023, as applicable.

 

During the first quarter of 2021 we entered into supplemental agreements with respect to our $3.1 billion ($1.7 billion, €1.0 billion and £150 million) multi-currency revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility") and many of our bank loans. These agreements now contain one or more covenants that require us to:

 

•      Maintain the Interest Coverage Covenant at the end of each fiscal quarter from February 28, 2023, at a ratio of not less than 2.0 to 1.0 for the February 28, 2023 and May 31, 2023 testing dates, 2.5 to 1.0 for the August 31, 2023 and November 30, 2023 testing dates, and 3.0 to 1.0 for the February 28, 2024 testing date onwards, or through their respective maturity dates.

•      Maintain minimum shareholders' equity of $5.0 billion.

•      Maintain the Debt to Capital Covenant at the end of each fiscal quarter before the November 30, 2021 testing date at a percentage not to exceed 65%. From the November 30, 2021 testing date until the May 31, 2023 testing date, the Debt to Capital Covenant is not to exceed 75%, following which it will be tested at levels which decline ratably to 65% from the May 31, 2024 testing date onwards.

•      Maintain minimum liquidity of $1.0 billion through November 30, 2022.

•      Adhere to certain restrictive covenants through November 30, 2024.

•      Restrict the granting of guarantees and security interests for certain of our outstanding debt through November 30, 2024.

 

At February 28, 2021, we were in compliance with the applicable covenants under our debt agreements.

 

Generally, if an event of default under any debt agreement occurs, then, pursuant to cross default acceleration clauses, substantially all of our outstanding debt and derivative contract payables could become due, and all debt and derivative contracts could be terminated. Any financial covenant amendment may lead to increased costs, increased interest rates, additional restrictive covenants and other available lender protections that would be applicable.

 

As of February 28, 2021, the scheduled maturities of our debt are as follows:

 

(in millions)

 

 

Year

 

Principal Payments

2Q 2021

 

$

352 

 

3Q 2021 (a)

 

488 

 

4Q 2021

 

327 

 

2022

 

2,851 

 

2023

 

6,393 

 

2024 (b)

 

4,548 

 

2025

 

3,974 

 

Thereafter

 

13,133 

 

Total

 

$

32,065 

 

 

(a)   Includes $231 million of principal that was prepaid in March 2021.

(b)   Includes the $3.1 billion Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit Facility was fully drawn in 2020 for six month terms. The maturities for these borrowings are currently extended through September 2021. We may re-borrow such amounts through August 2024 subject to satisfaction of the conditions in the facility. The Revolving Credit Facility also includes an emissions linked margin adjustment whereby, after the initial applicable margin is set per the margin pricing grid, the margin may be adjusted based on performance in achieving certain agreed annual carbon emissions goals. We are required to pay a commitment fee on any undrawn portion.

  

NOTE 4 - Contingencies and Commitments

Litigation

 

We are routinely involved in legal proceedings, claims, disputes, regulatory matters and governmental inspections or investigations arising in the ordinary course of or incidental to our business, including those noted below. Additionally, as a result of the impact of COVID-19, litigation claims, enforcement actions, regulatory actions and investigations, including, but not limited to, those arising from personal injury and loss of life, have been and may, in the future, be asserted against us. We expect many of these claims and actions, or any settlement of these claims and actions, to be covered by insurance and historically the maximum amount of our liability, net of any insurance recoverables, has been limited to our self-insurance retention levels.

 

We record provisions in the consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when we determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.

 

Legal proceedings and government investigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings or other events could occur. Unfavorable resolutions could involve substantial monetary damages. In addition, in matters for which conduct remedies are sought, unfavorable resolutions could include an injunction or other order prohibiting us from selling one or more products at all or in particular ways, precluding particular business practices or requiring other remedies. An unfavorable outcome might result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

 

As previously disclosed, on May 2, 2019, two lawsuits were filed against Carnival Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act, alleging that Carnival "trafficked" in confiscated Cuban property when certain ships docked at certain ports in Cuba, and that this alleged "trafficking" entitles the plaintiffs to treble damages. On January 21, 2021, the court continued the trial date in the Havana Docks matter to October 25, 2021. We continue to believe we have a meritorious defense to these actions and we believe that any liability which may arise as a result of these actions will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Contingent Obligations - Indemnifications

Some of the debt contracts we enter into include indemnification provisions obligating us to make payments to the counterparty if certain events occur. These contingencies generally relate to changes in taxes or changes in laws which increase the lender's costs. There are no stated or notional amounts included in the indemnification clauses, and we are not able to estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments, if any, under these indemnification clauses.

Other Contingencies

We have agreements with a number of credit card processors that transact customer deposits related to our cruise vacations. Certain of these agreements allow the credit card processors to request under certain circumstances that we provide a reserve fund in cash. Although the agreements vary, these requirements may generally be satisfied either through a withheld percentage of customer payments or providing cash funds directly to the card processor. As of February 28, 2021, we had $629 million in reserve funds relating to our customer deposits to satisfy these requirements which are included within other assets. We expect a portion of new customer deposits to be withheld under these agreements. Additionally, as of February 28, 2021, we placed $172 million of cash collateral in escrow, of which $142 million is included within prepaid expenses and other.

 

We detected ransomware attacks in August 2020 and December 2020, which resulted in unauthorized access to our information technology systems. We engaged a major cybersecurity firm to investigate these matters and notified law enforcement and applicable regulators of these incidents. For the August 2020 event, the investigation phase is complete, as are the communication and reporting phases. We determined that the unauthorized third-party gained access to certain personal information relating to some guests, employees and crew for some of our operations. For the December 2020 event, the investigation and remediation phases are in process and regulators have been notified. There is currently no indication of any misuse of information potentially accessed or acquired and we continue to work with regulators to bring these matters and other reportable incidents to conclusion. We have incurred legal and other costs in connection with these and other cyber incidents, and while at this time we do not believe that these incidents will have a material adverse effect on our business, operations or financial results, no assurances can be given and we may be subject to future attacks or incidents that could have such a material adverse effect.

 

COVID-19 Actions

 

Private Actions

 

We have been named in a number of individual actions related to COVID-19. Private parties have brought approximately 70 lawsuits as of April 1, 2021 in several U.S. federal courts as well as in France, Italy and Brazil. These actions include tort claims based on a variety of theories, including negligence and failure to warn. The plaintiffs in these actions allege a variety of injuries: some plaintiffs allege only emotional distress, while others allege injuries arising from testing positive for COVID-19. A smaller number of actions include wrongful death claims. All individual actions seek monetary and punitive damages but do not specify exact amounts.

 

Additionally, as of April 1, 2021, ten purported class actions have been brought by former guests from Ruby Princess, Diamond Princess, Grand Princess, Coral Princess, Costa Luminosa or Zaandam in several U.S. federal courts and in the Federal Court of Australia. These actions seek compensation based on a variety of tort claims, including, but not limited to, negligence, gross negligence and failure to warn, physical injuries and severe emotional distress associated with being exposed and/or contracting COVID-19 onboard.

 

As previously disclosed, on April 8, 2020, numerous former guests from Grand Princess filed a purported class action against Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and two of our subsidiaries, Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. and Fairline Shipping International Corporation, Ltd. ("Fairline Shipping"). On May 5, 2020, this case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and on June 2, 2020, the plaintiffs removed Fairline Shipping from the case. On October 20, 2020, the court denied the plaintiffs' motion for class certification, and the plaintiffs filed a petition for leave to appeal this ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on November 3, 2020. On February 17, 2021, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied that petition.

 

As previously disclosed, on July 23, 2020, Susan Karpik, a former guest from Ruby Princess filed a purported class action against Carnival plc and Princess Cruises in the Federal Court of Australia. On March 24, 2021 the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint.

 

As previously disclosed, two purported class actions were filed on behalf of certain purchasers of Carnival Corporation securities alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Following the filing of a third purported class action on behalf of certain options investors, alleging the same set of factual theories, the three actions were consolidated with new lead plaintiffs, the New England Carpenters Pension and Guaranteed Annuity Fund and the Massachusetts Laborers' Pension and Annuity Fund. A consolidated class action complaint was filed on December 15, 2020 on behalf of all purchasers of Carnival Corporation common stock and/or Carnival plc American Depositary Shares, and sellers of put options and purchasers of call options on those securities, between September 16, 2019 and March 31, 2020. The consolidated complaint alleges that defendants Carnival Corporation, Carnival plc, and Arnold W. Donald violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 by making misrepresentations and omissions related to Carnival Corporation's COVID-19 knowledge and response. Plaintiffs seek to recover unspecified damages and equitable relief for the alleged misstatements and omissions. A motion to dismiss was filed on January 18, 2021 and was fully briefed as of March 8, 2021.

 

We continue to take proper actions to defend against the above claims. 

 

Governmental Inquiries and Investigations

 

Federal and non-U.S. governmental agencies and officials are investigating or otherwise seeking information, testimony and/or documents, regarding COVID-19 incidents and related matters. We are investigating these matters internally and are cooperating with all requests. The investigations could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties in the future.

 

Ship Commitments

 

As of February 28, 2021, we expect the timing of our new ship growth capital commitments to be as follows:

 

(in millions)

Year

 

 

Remainder of 2021

 

$

1,449 

 

2022

 

4,734 

 

2023

 

2,328 

 

2024

 

1,874 

 

2025

 

1,073 

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

$

11,459 

 

 

NOTE 5 - Fair Value Measurements, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and Financial Risks

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the amount that would be received for selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date and is measured using inputs in one of the following three categories:

•      Level 1 measurements are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access. Valuation of these items does not entail a significant amount of judgment.

•      Level 2 measurements are based on quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active or market data other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities.

•      Level 3 measurements are based on unobservable data that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

Considerable judgment may be required in interpreting market data used to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, certain estimates of fair value presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current or future market exchange.

 

Financial Instruments that are not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis 

 

February 28, 2021

 

November 30, 2020

 

Carrying

Value

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying

Value

 

Fair Value

(in millions)

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term other assets (a)

$

47 

 

 

$

 

 

$

25 

 

 

$

19 

 

 

$

45 

 

 

$

 

 

$

17 

 

 

$

18 

 

Total

$

47 

 

 

$

 

 

$

25 

 

 

$

19 

 

 

$

45 

 

 

$

 

 

$

17 

 

 

$

18 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed rate debt (b)

$

19,198 

 

 

$

 

 

$

20,313 

 

 

$

 

 

$

15,547 

 

 

$

 

 

$

16,258 

 

 

$

 

Floating rate debt (b)

12,868 

 

 

 

 

12,213 

 

 

 

 

12,034 

 

 

 

 

11,412 

 

 

 

Total

$

32,065 

 

 

$

 

 

$

32,526 

 

 

$

 

 

$

27,581 

 

 

$

 

 

$

27,670 

 

 

$

 

 

(a)         Long-term other assets are comprised of notes receivable. The fair values of our Level 2 notes receivable were based on estimated future cash flows discounted at appropriate market interest rates. The fair values of our Level 3 notes receivable were estimated using risk-adjusted discount rates.

(b)         The debt amounts above do not include the impact of interest rate swaps or debt issuance costs. The fair values of our publicly-traded notes were based on their unadjusted quoted market prices in markets that are not sufficiently active to be Level 1 and, accordingly, are considered Level 2. The fair values of our other debt were estimated based on current market interest rates being applied to this debt.

 

Financial Instruments that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

 

February 28, 2021

 

November 30, 2020

(in millions)

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

9,674 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

9,513 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Restricted cash

155 

 

 

 

 

 

 

179 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term investments (a)

1,840 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

$

11,670 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

9,692 

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative financial instruments

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

10 

 

 

$

 

Total

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

10 

 

 

$

 

 

(a)         Short term investments consist of marketable securities with original maturities of between three and twelve months.

Nonfinancial Instruments that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Valuation of Goodwill and Trademarks 

 

 

Goodwill

(in millions)

NAA

Segment

 

EA

Segment

 

Total

November 30, 2020

$

579 

 

 

$

228 

 

 

$

807 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

February 28, 2021

$

579 

 

 

$

235 

 

 

$

814 

 

 

 

Trademarks

(in millions)

NAA

Segment

 

EA

Segment

 

Total

November 30, 2020

$

927 

 

 

$

253 

 

 

$

1,180 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment

 

 

 

 

 

February 28, 2021

$

927 

 

 

$

261 

 

 

$

1,188 

 

 

The determination of the fair value of our reporting units' and trademarks includes numerous assumptions that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The effect of COVID-19, the pause in guest cruise operations and the possibility of further extensions have created some uncertainty in forecasting the operating results and future cash flows used in our impairment analyses. For the three months ended February 29, 2020, we recognized goodwill impairment charges of $731 million. We believe that we have made reasonable estimates and judgments. A change in the principal assumptions, which influences the determination of fair value, may result in a need to recognize an additional impairment charge. The principal assumptions, all of which are considered Level 3 inputs, used in our cash flow analyses for the three months ended February 29, 2020 consisted of:

 

•      The timing of our return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions

•      Forecasted revenues net of our most significant variable costs, which are travel agent commissions, costs of air and other transportation, and certain other costs that are directly associated with onboard and other revenues including credit and debit card fees

•      The allocation of new ships and the timing of the transfer or sale of ships amongst brands, as well as the estimated proceeds from ship sales

•      Weighted-average cost of capital of market participants, adjusted for the risk attributable to the geographic regions in which these cruise brands operate

 

Refer to Note 1 - "General, COVID-19 and the Use of Estimates and Risks and Uncertainty" for additional discussion.

 

Impairments of Ships 

 

We review our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate potential impairment. In 2020, as a result of the effect of COVID-19 on our expected future operating cash flows and our decisions to dispose of certain ships, we determined certain impairment triggers had occurred. Accordingly, we performed undiscounted cash flow analyses on certain ships in our fleet throughout 2020. Based on these undiscounted cash flow analyses, we determined that certain ships, specifically those being disposed of, had net carrying values that exceeded their estimated undiscounted future cash flows. We determined the fair values of these ships based on their estimated selling value. We believe that we have made reasonable estimates and judgments. A change in the principal assumptions, which influences the determination of fair value, may result in a need to perform additional impairment reviews. The principal assumptions, all of which are considered Level 3 inputs, used in our cash flow analyses consisted of:

 

•      Timing of the respective ship's return to service, changes in market conditions and port or other restrictions

•      Forecasted ship revenues net of our most significant variable costs, which are travel agent commissions, costs of air and other transportation and certain other costs that are directly associated with onboard and other revenues, including credit and debit card fees

•      Timing of the sale of ships and estimated proceeds

 

For the three months ended February 29, 2020, we recognized $172 million and $158 million of ship impairment charges in the North America & Australia ("NAA") and Europe & Asia ("EA") segments, respectively, included in other operating expenses of our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).

 

Refer to Note 1 - "General, COVID-19 and the Use of Estimates and Risks and Uncertainty" for additional discussion.

 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

(in millions)

Balance Sheet Location

 

February 28, 2021

 

November 30, 2020

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps (a)

Accrued liabilities and other

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 

 

Total derivative liabilities

 

 

$

 

 

$

10 

 

 

(a)         We have interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges whereby we receive floating interest rate payments in exchange for making fixed interest rate payments. These interest rate swap agreements effectively changed $237 million at February 28, 2021 and $248 million at November 30, 2020 of EURIBOR-based floating rate euro debt to fixed rate euro debt. At February 28, 2021, these interest rate swaps settle through 2025.

 

Our derivative contracts include rights of offset with our counterparties. We have elected to net certain of our derivative assets and liabilities within counterparties.

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Gross Amounts 

 

Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

Total Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheet

 

Gross Amounts not Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts

Assets

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Liabilities

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

Gross Amounts

 

Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

Total Net Amounts Presented in the Balance Sheet

 

Gross Amounts not Offset in the Balance Sheet

 

Net Amounts

Assets

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Liabilities

 

$

10 

 

 

$

 

 

$

10 

 

 

$

 

 

$

10 

 

The effect of our derivatives qualifying and designated as hedging instruments recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and in net income (loss) was as follows:

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

(in millions)

2021

 

2020

Gains (losses) recognized in AOCI:

 

 

 

Cross currency swaps - net investment hedges - included component

$

 

 

$

(2)

 

Cross currency swaps - net investment hedges - excluded component

$

 

 

$

42 

 

Foreign currency zero cost collars - cash flow hedges

$

 

 

$

(1)

 

Foreign currency forwards - cash flow hedges

$

 

 

$

14 

 

Interest rate swaps - cash flow hedges

$

 

 

$

 

Gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI - cash flow hedges:

 

 

 

Interest rate swaps - Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

$

(1)

 

 

$

(2)

 

Foreign currency zero cost collars - Depreciation and amortization

$

 

 

$

 

Gains (losses) recognized on derivative instruments (amount excluded from effectiveness testing - net investment hedges)

 

 

 

Cross currency swaps - Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

$

 

 

$

10 

 

 

The amount of estimated cash flow hedges' unrealized gains and losses that are expected to be reclassified to earnings in the next twelve months is not material.

 

Financial Risks

Fuel Price Risks

We manage our exposure to fuel price risk by managing our consumption of fuel. Substantially all of our exposure to market risk for changes in fuel prices relates to the consumption of fuel on our ships. We manage fuel consumption through ship maintenance practices, modifying our itineraries and implementing innovative technologies.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risks

Overall Strategy

We manage our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates through our normal operating and financing activities, including netting certain exposures to take advantage of any natural offsets and, when considered appropriate, through the use of derivative and non-derivative financial instruments. Our primary focus is to monitor our exposure to, and manage, the economic foreign currency exchange risks faced by our operations and realized if we exchange one currency for another. We currently only hedge certain of our ship commitments and net investments in foreign operations. The financial impacts of the hedging instruments we do employ generally offset the changes in the underlying exposures being hedged.

Operational Currency Risks

Our operations primarily utilize the U.S. dollar, Australian dollar, euro or sterling as their functional currencies. Our operations also have revenue and expenses denominated in non-functional currencies. Movements in foreign currency exchange rates affect our financial statements.

Investment Currency Risks

We consider our investments in foreign operations to be denominated in stable currencies and of a long-term nature. We partially mitigate the currency exposure of our investments in foreign operations by designating a portion of our foreign currency debt and derivatives as hedges of these investments. As of February 28, 2021, we have designated $718 million of our sterling-denominated debt as non-derivative hedges of our net investments in foreign operations. For the three months ended February 28, 2021, we recognized $42 million of losses on these non-derivative net investment hedges in the cumulative translation adjustment section of other comprehensive income (loss). We also have $9.6 billion of euro-denominated debt, which provides an economic offset for our operations with euro functional currency.

Newbuild Currency Risks

 

Our shipbuilding contracts are typically denominated in euros. Our decision to hedge a non-functional currency ship commitment for our cruise brands is made on a case-by-case basis, considering the amount and duration of the exposure, market volatility, economic trends, our overall expected net cash flows by currency and other offsetting risks. We use foreign currency derivative contracts to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk for some of our ship construction payments.

At February 28, 2021, our remaining newbuild currency exchange rate risk primarily relates to euro-denominated newbuild contract payments to non-euro functional currency brands, which represent a total unhedged commitment of $7.0 billion for newbuilds scheduled to be delivered through 2025.

The cost of shipbuilding orders that we may place in the future that is denominated in a different currency than our cruise brands' will be affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. These foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations may affect our decision to order new cruise ships.

Interest Rate Risks

We manage our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates through our debt portfolio management and investment strategies. We evaluate our debt portfolio to determine whether to make periodic adjustments to the mix of fixed and floating rate debt through the use of interest rate swaps and the issuance of new debt.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk

 

As part of our ongoing control procedures, we monitor concentrations of credit risk associated with financial and other institutions with which we conduct significant business. We seek to manage these credit risk exposures, including counterparty nonperformance primarily associated with our cash equivalents, investments, notes receivables, future financing facilities, contingent obligations, derivative instruments, insurance contracts, long-term ship charters and new ship progress payment guarantees, by: 

 

•      Conducting business with well-established financial institutions, insurance companies and export credit agencies

•      Diversifying our counterparties 

•      Having guidelines regarding credit ratings and investment maturities that we follow to help safeguard liquidity and minimize risk

•      Generally requiring collateral and/or guarantees to support notes receivable on significant asset sales, long-term ship charters and new ship progress payments to shipyards 

 

At February 28, 2021, our exposures under derivative instruments were not material. We also monitor the creditworthiness of travel agencies and tour operators in Asia, Australia and Europe, which includes charter-hire agreements in Asia and credit and debit card providers to which we extend credit in the normal course of our business. Concentrations of credit risk associated with trade receivables and other receivables, charter-hire agreements and contingent obligations are not considered to be material, principally due to the large number of unrelated accounts, the nature of these contingent obligations and their short maturities. Normally, we have not required collateral or other security to support normal credit sales. Historically, we have not experienced significant credit losses, including counterparty nonperformance, however, because of the impact COVID-19 is having on economies, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, an increase in credit losses.

 

Our credit exposure also includes contingent obligations related to cash payments received directly by travel agents and tour operators for cash collected by them on cruise sales in Australia and most of Europe where we are obligated to honor our guests' cruise payments made by them to their travel agents and tour operators regardless of whether we have received these payments.

 

NOTE 6 - Segment Information

 

Our operating segments are reported on the same basis as the internally reported information that is provided to our chief operating decision maker ("CODM"), who is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc. The CODM assesses performance and makes decisions to allocate resources for Carnival Corporation & plc based upon review of the results across all of our segments. Our four reportable segments are comprised of (1) NAA cruise operations, (2) EA cruise operations, (3) Cruise Support and (4) Tour and Other.

 

The operating segments within each of our NAA and EA reportable segments have been aggregated based on the similarity of their economic and other characteristics, including geographic guest sourcing. Our Cruise Support segment includes our portfolio of leading port destinations and other services, all of which are operated for the benefit of our cruise brands. Our Tour and Other segment represents the hotel and transportation operations of Holland America Princess Alaska Tours and other operations. 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

(in millions)

Revenues

 

Operating costs and

expenses

 

Selling

and

administrative

 

Depreciation

and

amortization

 

Operating

income (loss)

 

2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAA

$

10 

 

 

$

316 

 

 

$

220 

 

 

$

334 

 

 

$

(859)

 

 

EA

 

 

198 

 

 

108 

 

 

184 

 

 

(482)

 

 

Cruise Support

 

 

 

 

129 

 

 

28 

 

 

(164)

 

 

Tour and Other

 

 

13 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(18)

 

 

 

$

26 

 

 

$

535 

 

 

$

462 

 

 

$

552 

 

 

$

(1,524)

 

 

2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAA

$

3,140 

 

 

$

2,274 

 

 

$

400 

 

 

$

364 

 

 

$

(197)

 

(a)

EA

1,552 

 

 

1,317 

 

 

207 

 

 

166 

 

 

(569)

 

(b)

Cruise Support

44 

 

 

(87)

 

 

65 

 

 

32 

 

 

35 

 

 

Tour and Other

52 

 

 

19 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 

 

 

 

$

4,789 

 

 

$

3,523 

 

 

$

678 

 

 

$

570 

 

 

$

(713)

 

 

 

(a)           Includes $300 million of goodwill impairment charges.

(b)           Includes $431 million of goodwill impairment charges.

 

Revenue by geographic areas, which are based on where our guests are sourced, were as follows:

(in millions)

Three Months Ended
February 29, 2020

North America

$

2,647 

 

Europe

1,367 

 

Australia and Asia

615 

 

Other

161 

 

 

$

4,789 

 

 

As a result of the pause in our guest cruise operations, we have experienced essentially no revenue for the three months ended February 28, 2021 and as a result current year data is not meaningful and is not included in the table.

 

NOTE 7 - Earnings Per Share 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

(in millions, except per share data)

2021

 

2020

Net income (loss) for basic and diluted earnings per share

$

(1,973)

 

 

$

(781)

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

1,095 

 

 

684 

 

Dilutive effect of equity plans

 

 

 

Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding

1,095 

 

 

684 

 

Basic earnings per share

$

(1.80)

 

 

$

(1.14)

 

Diluted earnings per share

$

(1.80)

 

 

$

(1.14)

 

 

Antidilutive shares excluded from diluted earnings per share computations were as follows:

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

(in millions)

2021

 

2020

Equity awards

 

 

 

Convertible Notes

54 

 

 

 

Total antidilutive securities

56 

 

 

 

 

Equity Offering

 

In February 2021, we completed a public offering of 40.5 million shares of Carnival Corporation's common stock at a price per share of $25.10, resulting in net proceeds of $996 million.

 

NOTE 8 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information

(in millions)

February 28, 2021

 

November 30, 2020

Cash and cash equivalents (Consolidated Balance Sheets)

$

9,674 

 

 

$

9,513 

 

Restricted cash included in prepaid expenses and other and other assets

155 

 

 

179 

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows)

$

9,829 

 

 

$

9,692 

 

 

NOTE 9 - Other Assets

 

We have a minority interest in the White Pass & Yukon Route ("White Pass") that includes port, railroad and retail operations

in Skagway, Alaska. As a result of the effects of COVID-19 on the 2021 Alaska season, we evaluated whether our investment in White Pass was other than temporarily impaired and performed an impairment assessment during the quarter ended February 28, 2021. As a result of our assessment, we recognized an impairment charge of $17 million for our investment in White Pass in other income (expense), net. As of February 28, 2021, our investment in White Pass was $76 million, consisting of $57 million in equity and a loan of $19 million. As of November 30, 2020, our investment in White Pass was $94 million, consisting of $75 million in equity and a loan of $19 million.

 

We have a minority interest in CSSC Carnival Cruise Shipping Limited ("CSSC-Carnival"), a China-based cruise company which will operate its own fleet designed to serve the Chinese market. Our investment in CSSC-Carnival was $139 million as of February 28, 2021 and $140 million as of November 30, 2020. In December 2019, we sold to CSSC-Carnival a controlling interest in an entity with full ownership of two EA segment ships and recognized a related gain of $107 million, included in other operating expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). As of February 28, 2021 and November 30, 2020, our investment in the minority interest of this entity was $283 million.

 

NOTE 10 - Property and Equipment

 

Ship Sales

 

Since the pause in guest cruise operations, we have accelerated the removal of ships which were previously expected to be sold over the ensuing years. During the first quarter of 2021, we completed the sale of one NAA segment ship, which represents a passenger-capacity reduction of 670 for our NAA segment.

 

SCHEDULE B

 

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Cautionary Note Concerning Factors That May Affect Future Results

 

Some of the statements, estimates or projections contained in this document are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions with respect to us, including some statements concerning future results, operations, outlooks, plans, goals, reputation, cash flows, liquidity and other events which have not yet occurred. These statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed forward-looking. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. We have tried, whenever possible, to identify these statements by using words like "will," "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "depends," "expect," "goal," "anticipate," "forecast," "project," "future," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "target," "indicate," "outlook," and similar expressions of future intent or the negative of such terms.

 

Forward-looking statements include those statements that relate to our outlook and financial position including, but not limited to, statements regarding:

•      Pricing

•      Estimates of ship depreciable lives and residual values

•      Booking levels

•      Goodwill, ship and trademark fair values

•      Occupancy

•      Liquidity and credit ratings

•      Interest, tax and fuel expenses

•      Adjusted earnings per share

•      Currency exchange rates

•      Impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic on our financial condition and results of operations

 

Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are many factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. This note contains important cautionary statements of the known factors that we consider could materially affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial position. Additionally, many of these risks and uncertainties are currently amplified by and will continue to be amplified by, or in the future may be amplified by, the COVID-19 outbreak. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:

•      COVID-19 has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant impact on our financial condition and operations, which impacts our ability to obtain acceptable financing to fund resulting reductions in cash from operations. The current, and uncertain future, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, including its effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises), is expected to continue to impact our results, operations, outlooks, plans, goals, reputation, litigation, cash flows, liquidity, and stock price.

•      As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, we may be out of compliance with one or more maintenance covenants in certain of our debt facilities, with the next testing date of November 30, 2022.

•      World events impacting the ability or desire of people to travel have and may continue to lead to a decline in demand for cruises. 

•      Incidents concerning our ships, guests or the cruise vacation industry as well as adverse weather conditions and other natural disasters have in the past and may, in the future, impact the satisfaction of our guests and crew and lead to reputational damage.

•      Changes in and non-compliance with laws and regulations under which we operate, such as those relating to health, environment, safety and security, data privacy and protection, anti-corruption, economic sanctions, trade protection and tax have in the past and may, in the future, lead to litigation, enforcement actions, fines, penalties and reputational damage.

•      Breaches in data security and lapses in data privacy as well as disruptions and other damages to our principal offices, information technology operations and system networks, including the recent ransomware incidents, and failure to keep pace with developments in technology may adversely impact our business operations, the satisfaction of our guests and crew and may lead to reputational damage.

•      Ability to recruit, develop and retain qualified shipboard personnel who live away from home for extended periods of time may adversely impact our business operations, guest services and satisfaction.

•      Increases in fuel prices, changes in the types of fuel consumed and availability of fuel supply may adversely impact our scheduled itineraries and costs. 

•      Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may adversely impact our financial results.

•      Overcapacity and competition in the cruise and land-based vacation industry may lead to a decline in our cruise sales, pricing and destination options. 

•      Inability to implement our shipbuilding programs and ship repairs, maintenance and refurbishments may adversely impact our business operations and the satisfaction of our guests.

 

The ordering of the risk factors set forth above is not intended to reflect our indication of priority or likelihood.

Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant stock exchange rules, we expressly disclaim any obligation to disseminate, after the date of this document, any updates or revisions to any such forward-looking statements to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

 

Recent Developments

 

Resumption of Guest Operations

 

The company is uniquely positioned for a phased resumption in cruise travel given its multiple brands which can each be restarted independently and tailored to the environment of their respective source market. AIDA Cruises ("AIDA") resumed guest cruise operations in late March sailing in the Canary Islands. Costa Cruises ("Costa") expects to resume operations in May sailing to Italian ports. P&O Cruises (UK), Cunard and Princess Cruises will each offer a series of cruises this summer sailing around UK coastal waters with P&O Cruises (UK) kicking off the season in June followed by Cunard and Princess Cruises in July. Seabourn also expects to resume guest cruise operations this summer sailing from Greece. In addition, this summer Holland America Line and Princess Cruises expect to offer land-based vacation options for travelers to experience Alaska through a combination of tours, lodging and sightseeing.

 

Health and Safety Protocols

 

Initial cruises are taking place with adjusted passenger capacity and enhanced health protocols developed with government and health authorities, and guidance from the company's roster of medical and scientific experts. The company has been working with a number of world-leading public health, epidemiological and policy experts to support its ongoing efforts with enhanced health and safety protocols to help protect against and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 during cruise vacations. The company's brands have a comprehensive set of health and hygiene protocols that facilitate a safe and healthy return to cruise vacations. These enhanced protocols are modeled after shoreside health and mitigation guidelines as provided by each brand's respective country, and approved by all relevant regulatory authorities. Protocols will be updated based on evolving scientific and medical knowledge related to mitigation strategies. In addition to the jurisdictions associated with the restart plans noted above, the company continues to work closely with governments and health authorities in other parts of the world to ensure that its health and safety protocols will also comply with the requirements of each location.

 

Update on Liquidity

 

Refer to "Liquidity, Financial Condition and Capital Resources."

 

Refer to "Risk Factors" - "COVID-19 has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant impact on our financial condition and operations, which impacts our ability to obtain acceptable financing to fund resulting reductions in cash from operations. The current, and uncertain future, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, including its effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises), is expected to continue to impact our results, operations, outlooks, plans, goals, reputation, litigation, cash flows, liquidity, and stock price."

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Refer to Note 1 - "General, Accounting Pronouncements" of the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding accounting pronouncements.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

For a discussion of our critical accounting estimates, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" that is included in the Form 10-K.

 

Seasonality

 

Our passenger ticket revenues are seasonal. Historically, demand for cruises has been greatest during our third quarter, which includes the Northern Hemisphere summer months, although 2021 will continue to be adversely impacted by COVID-19. This higher demand during the third quarter results in higher ticket prices and occupancy levels and, accordingly, the largest share of our operating income is earned during this period. This historical trend has been disrupted by the pause in global cruise operations. In addition, substantially all of Holland America Princess Alaska Tours' revenue and net income (loss) is generated from May through September in conjunction with Alaska's cruise season. During 2021, the Alaska cruise season will continue to be adversely impacted by the effects of COVID-19.

 

Statistical Information

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

2021

 

2020

Fuel consumption in metric tons (in thousands)

262 

 

 

831 

 

Fuel cost per metric ton consumed

$

392 

 

 

$

477 

 

 

 

 

 

Currencies (USD to 1)

 

 

 

AUD

$

0.77 

 

 

$

0.68 

 

CAD

$

0.78 

 

 

$

0.76 

 

EUR

$

1.21 

 

 

$

1.10 

 

GBP

$

1.36 

 

 

$

1.31 

 

RMB

$

0.15 

 

 

$

0.14 

 

 

We paused our guest cruise operations in mid-March 2020 and have been in a pause for a majority of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. The pause in guest cruise operations is continuing to have material negative impacts on all aspects of our business, including the above statistical information. 

 

Results of Operations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

 

 

% increase (decrease)

(in millions)

2021

 

2020

 

Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Passenger ticket

$

 

 

$

3,234 

 

 

$

(3,231)

 

 

(100)

%

    Onboard and other

23 

 

 

1,556 

 

 

(1,533)

 

 

(99)

%

 

26 

 

 

4,789 

 

 

(4,764)

 

 

(99)

%

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Commissions, transportation and other

15 

 

 

766 

 

 

(752)

 

 

(98)

%

    Onboard and other

 

 

471 

 

 

(464)

 

 

(99)

%

    Payroll and related

218 

 

 

610 

 

 

(392)

 

 

(64)

%

    Fuel

103 

 

 

396 

 

 

(294)

 

 

(74)

%

    Food

11 

 

 

277 

 

 

(266)

 

 

(96)

%

    Ship and other impairments

 

 

330 

 

 

(330)

 

 

(100)

%

    Other operating

181 

 

 

671 

 

 

(490)

 

 

(73)

%

 

535 

 

 

3,523 

 

 

(2,988)

 

 

(85)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Selling and administrative

462 

 

 

678 

 

 

(216)

 

 

(32)

%

    Depreciation and amortization

552 

 

 

570 

 

 

(18)

 

 

(3)

%

    Goodwill impairment

 

 

731 

 

 

(731)

 

 

(100)

%

 

1,549 

 

 

5,502 

 

 

(3,953)

 

 

(72)

%

Operating Income (Loss)

$

(1,524)

 

 

$

(713)

 

 

$

(810)

 

 

114 

%

 

NAA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

 

 

% increase (decrease)

(in millions)

2021

 

2020

 

Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Passenger ticket

$

 

 

$

2,052 

 

 

$

(2,053)

 

 

(100)

%

    Onboard and other

11 

 

 

1,088 

 

 

(1,078)

 

 

(99)

%

 

10 

 

 

3,140 

 

 

(3,130)

 

 

(100)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

316 

 

 

2,274 

 

 

(1,958)

 

 

(86)

%

Selling and administrative

220 

 

 

400 

 

 

(180)

 

 

(45)

%

Depreciation and amortization

334 

 

 

364 

 

 

(30)

 

 

(8)

%

Goodwill impairment

 

 

300 

 

 

(300)

 

 

(100)

%

 

870 

 

 

3,337 

 

 

(2,468)

 

 

(74)

%

Operating Income (Loss)

$

(859)

 

 

$

(197)

 

 

$

(663)

 

 

337 

%

 

EA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

 

 

 

% increase (decrease)

(in millions)

2021

 

2020

 

Change

 

Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Passenger ticket

$

 

 

$

1,213 

 

 

$

(1,210)

 

 

(100)

%

    Onboard and other

 

 

339 

 

 

(334)

 

 

(99)

%

 

 

 

1,552 

 

 

(1,544)

 

 

(99)

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

198 

 

 

1,317 

 

 

(1,119)

 

 

(85)

%

Selling and administrative

108 

 

 

207 

 

 

(99)

 

 

(48)

%

Depreciation and amortization

184 

 

 

166 

 

 

18 

 

 

11 

%

Goodwill impairment

 

 

431 

 

 

(431)

 

 

(100)

%

 

490 

 

 

2,121 

 

 

(1,631)

 

 

(77)

%

Operating Income (Loss)

$

(482)

 

 

$

(569)

 

 

$

87 

 

 

(15)

%

 

We paused our guest cruise operations in mid-March 2020. We resumed limited guest cruise operations in September 2020 as part of our phased return to service. As of February 28, 2021, none of our ships were operating with guests onboard. The pause in guest cruise operations is continuing to have material negative impacts on all aspects of our business. The longer the pause in guest operations continues, the greater the impact on our liquidity and financial position.

 

As a result of the pause in our guest cruise operations, we have experienced essentially no revenue for the three months ended February 28, 2021. This has resulted in an operating loss for the current period. The pause in guest cruise operations continues to have a material negative impact on all aspects of our business, including our liquidity, financial position and results of operations. We continue to expect a net loss on both a U.S. GAAP and adjusted basis for the second quarter of 2021 and the full year ending November 30, 2021.

 

While maintaining compliance, environmental protection and safety, we significantly reduced ship operating expenses, including cruise payroll and related expenses, food, fuel, insurance and port charges by transitioning ships into paused status, either at anchor or in port and staffed at a safe manning level. We continue to identify and implement actions to optimize our ongoing ship operating expenses.

 

As we continue to resume guest cruise operations, we expect to incur incremental spend relating to bringing our ships out of pause status, returning crew members to our ships and implementing the enhanced health and safety protocols.

 

There were no goodwill or ship impairment charges for the three months ended February 28, 2021. As a result of the effects of COVID-19 on our expected future operating cash flows, we recognized goodwill impairment charges of $731 million and ship impairment charges of $330 million for the three months ended February 29, 2020.

 

Nonoperating Income (Expense)

 

Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, increased by $343 million to $398 million in 2021 from $55 million in 2020. The increase was caused by additional debt borrowings with higher interest rates since the pause in guest cruise operations.

  

Key Performance Non-GAAP Financial Indicators

 

The table below reconciles Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted EBITDA to Net income (loss) and Adjusted earnings per share to Earnings per share for the periods presented:

 

 

Three Months Ended February 28/29,

(in millions, except per share data)

2021

 

2020

Net income (loss)

 

 

 

     U.S. GAAP net income (loss)

$

(1,973)

 

 

$

(781)

 

     (Gains) losses on ship sales and impairments

 

 

928 

 

     Restructuring expenses

 

 

 

     Other

15 

 

 

 

     Adjusted net income (loss)

$

(1,954)

 

 

$

150 

 

     Interest expense, net of capitalized interest

398 

 

 

55 

 

     Interest income

(3)

 

 

(5)

 

     Income tax expense, net

(6)

 

 

11 

 

     Depreciation and amortization

552 

 

 

570 

 

     Adjusted EBITDA

$

(1,014)

 

 

$

782 

 

Weighted-average shares outstanding

1,095 

 

 

684 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per share

 

 

 

     U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share

$

(1.80)

 

 

$

(1.14)

 

     (Gains) losses on ship sales and impairments

 

 

1.36 

 

     Restructuring expenses

 

 

 

     Other

0.01 

 

 

0.01 

 

     Adjusted earnings per share

$

(1.79)

 

 

$

0.22 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures 

 

We use adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted earnings per share as non-GAAP financial measures of our cruise segments' and the company's financial performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided along with U.S. GAAP net income (loss) and U.S. GAAP diluted earnings per share.   

 

We believe that gains and losses on ship sales, impairment charges, restructuring costs and other gains and losses are not part of our core operating business and are not an indication of our future earnings performance. Therefore, we believe it is more meaningful for these items to be excluded from our net income (loss) and earnings per share and, accordingly, we present adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted earnings per share excluding these items.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, and we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information to investors about our operating profitability adjusted for certain non-cash items and other gains and expenses that we believe are not part of our core operating business and are not an indication of our future earnings performance. Further, we believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information to investors about our ability to operate our business in compliance with the restrictions set forth in our debt agreements. We define Adjusted EBITDA as adjusted net income (loss) adjusted for (i) interest, (ii) taxes and (iii) depreciation and amortization. There are material limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain significant items that directly affect our net income (loss). These limitations are best addressed by considering the economic effects of the excluded items independently, and by considering Adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with net income (loss) as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

The presentation of our non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as substitute for, or superior to the financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. It is possible that our non-GAAP financial measures may not be exactly comparable to the like-kind information presented by other companies, which is a potential risk associated with using these measures to compare us to other companies.

 

Liquidity, Financial Condition and Capital Resources

 

We have taken, and continue to take, significant actions to preserve cash and obtain additional financing to increase our liquidity. Since the start of the pause in guest cruise operations in March 2020, we have raised $23.6 billion through a series of transactions. Since December 2020, we have raised $6.0 billion including completing the following:

 

•      In December 2020, we borrowed $1.5 billion under export credit facilities due in semi-annual installments through 2033.

•      In February 2021, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $3.5 billion under the 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes that mature on March 1, 2027. The 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.8% per year.

•      In February 2021, we completed a public offering of 40.5 million shares of Carnival Corporation's common stock at a price per share of $25.10, resulting in net proceeds of $996 million.

•      During the first quarter of 2021, we obtained waivers of compliance with the Interest Coverage Covenant and Debt to Capital Covenant in our export credit facilities through August 31, 2022 (with the next testing date of November 30, 2022) or November 30, 2022 (with the next testing date of February 28, 2023) for our funded export credit facilities with aggregate indebtedness of $8.9 billion as of February 28, 2021 and unfunded export credit facilities with an aggregate principal amount of $6.5 billion as of February 28, 2021.

•      During the first quarter of 2021 we entered into supplemental agreements with respect to our Revolving Credit Facility and many of our bank loans. Under our Revolving Credit Facility and many of our bank loans, we are now required to maintain the Interest Coverage Covenant from February 28, 2023, at a ratio of not less than 2.0 to 1.0 for the February 28, 2023 and May 31, 2023 testing dates, 2.5 to 1.0 for the August 31, 2023 and November 30, 2023 testing dates, and 3.0 to 1.0 from the February 28, 2024 testing date onwards, or through their respective maturity dates, and the Debt to Capital Covenant at the end of each fiscal quarter before the November 30, 2021 testing date at a percentage not to exceed 65%. From the November 30, 2021 testing date until the May 31, 2023 testing date the Debt to Capital Covenant is not to exceed 75%, following which it will be tested at levels which decline ratably to 65% from the May 31, 2024 testing date onwards.

 

As of February 28, 2021, we had $11.5 billion of cash and short-term investments. During the remainder of fiscal 2021, the company expects to refinance debt at lower interest rates and extend maturities. Our access to and cost of financing depend on, among other things, global economic conditions, conditions in the global financing markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, our prospects and our credit ratings. In addition, certain of our debt instruments contain provisions that may limit our ability to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness.

 

Our monthly average cash burn rate for the first quarter of 2021 was $500 million, which was better than expected primarily due to the timing of capital expenditures. We expect our monthly average cash burn rate for the first half of 2021 to be approximately $550 million, which is better than previously expected. This is a result of our efforts to optimize our monthly spend despite higher restart related spend. This monthly average cash burn rate includes ongoing ship operating and administrative expenses, estimated restart spend, working capital changes (excluding changes in customer deposits), interest expense and capital expenditures (net of export credit facilities), and excludes scheduled debt maturities as well as other cash collateral to be provided (which may increase in the future). As we continue to resume guest cruise operations, we expect to incur incremental spend relating to bringing our ships out of pause status, returning crew members to our ships and implementing the enhanced health and safety protocols. We have identified and implemented actions to optimize our monthly cash burn rate and we will continue to do so.

 

We had working capital of $3.8 billion as of February 28, 2021 compared to working capital of $1.9 billion as of November 30, 2020. The increase in working capital was caused by an increase in cash and short-term investments. Historically, during our normal operations, we operate with a substantial working capital deficit. This deficit is mainly attributable to the fact that, under our business model, substantially all of our passenger ticket receipts are collected in advance of the applicable sailing date. These advance passenger receipts generally remain a current liability until the sailing date. The cash generated from these advance receipts is used interchangeably with cash on hand from other sources, such as our borrowings and other cash from operations. The cash received as advanced receipts can be used to fund operating expenses, pay down our debt, make long-term investments or any other use of cash. Included within our working capital are $1.8 billion and $1.9 billion of customer deposits as of February 28, 2021 and November 30, 2020, respectively. We have paid and expect to continue to pay cash refunds of customer deposits with respect to a portion of cancelled cruises. The amount of cash refunds to be paid may depend on the level of guest acceptance of FCCs and future cruise cancellations. We record a liability for FCCs only to the extent we have received cash from guests with bookings on cancelled sailings. In addition, we have a relatively low-level of accounts receivable and limited investment in inventories. We expect that we will have working capital deficits in the future once we return to normal guest cruise operations.

 

Refer to Note 1 - "General, Liquidity and Management's Plans" of the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding our liquidity.

 

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

     Operating Activities

Our business used $1.5 billion of net cash flows in operating activities during the three months ended February 28, 2021, a decrease of $2.4 billion, compared to $916 million of net cash provided for the same period in 2020. 

 

    Investing Activities

During the three months ended February 28, 2021, net cash used in investing activities was $3.6 billion. This was driven by the following:

•      Capital expenditures of $1.7 billion for our ongoing new shipbuilding program

•      Capital expenditures of $81 million for ship improvements and replacements, information technology and buildings and improvements

•      Purchases of short-term investments of $1.8 billion

 

During the three months ended February 29, 2020, net cash used in investing activities was $1.2 billion. This was substantially due to the following:

•      Capital expenditures of $861 million for our ongoing new shipbuilding program

•      Capital expenditures of $399 million for ship improvements and replacements, information technology and buildings and improvements

•      Proceeds from sales of ships of $226 million

•      Purchase of minority interest of $81 million

 

     Financing Activities

During the three months ended February 28, 2021, net cash provided by financing activities of $5.2 billion was caused by the following:

•      Repayments of $668 million of long-term debt

•      Issuances of $5.0 billion of long-term debt, including net proceeds of $3.4 billion from the issuance of the 2027 Senior Unsecured Notes

•      Net proceeds of $996 million from our public equity offering of Carnival Corporation common stock

 

During the three months ended February 29, 2020, net cash provided by financing activities of $1.1 billion was caused by the following:

•      Net proceeds from short-term borrowings of $779 million in connection with our availability of, and needs for, cash at various times throughout the period

•      Repayments of $132 million of long-term debt

•      Issuances of $823 million of long-term debt

•      Payments of cash dividends of $344 million

•      Purchases of $12 million of Carnival plc ordinary shares in open market transactions under our Repurchase Program

 

Funding Sources

 

As of February 28, 2021, we had $11.5 billion of cash and short-term investments. In addition, we had $6.5 billion of export credit facilities to fund ship deliveries planned through 2024.

 

(in billions)

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

Future export credit facilities at February 28, 2021 (a)

 

$

0.5 

 

 

$

3.4 

 

 

$

1.9 

 

 

$

0.6 

 

                                 

 

(a)   Under the terms of these export credit facilities, we are required to comply with the Interest Coverage Covenant and the Debt to Capital Covenant, among others. We entered into supplemental agreements to waive compliance with the Interest Coverage Covenant and the Debt to Capital Covenant for our unfunded export credit facilities through August 31, 2022 or November 30, 2022, as applicable. We will be required to comply beginning with the next testing date of November 30, 2022 or February 28, 2023, as applicable.

 

Many of our debt agreements contain various other financial covenants, including those described in Note 3 - "Debt" and in Note 5 - "Debt" in the annual consolidated financial statements, which are included within our Form 10-K. At February 28, 2021, we were in compliance with the applicable covenants under our debt agreements.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, including guarantee contracts, retained or contingent interests, certain derivative instruments and variable interest entities that either have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or future material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

For a discussion of our hedging strategies and market risks, see the discussion below and Note 10 - "Fair Value Measurements, Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and Financial Risks" in our consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations within our Form 10-K. 

 

     Interest Rate Risks 

 

The composition of our debt, including the effect of interest rate swaps, was as follows:

 

February 28, 2021

Fixed rate

48 

%

EUR fixed rate

13 

%

Floating rate

20 

%

EUR floating rate

17 

%

GBP floating rate

%

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

A. Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures and have concluded, as of February 28, 2021, that they are effective at a reasonable level of assurance, as described above.

 

B. Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended February 28, 2021 that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

  

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

In addition to the proceeding described below, the legal proceedings described in Note 4 - "Contingencies and Commitments" of our consolidated financial statements, including those described under "COVID-19 Actions," are incorporated in this "Legal Proceedings" section by reference. Additionally, SEC rules require disclosure of certain environmental matters when a governmental authority is a party to the proceedings and such proceedings involve potential monetary sanctions that we believe will exceed $1 million for such proceedings.

 

As previously disclosed, on May 19, 2017, Holland America Line and Princess Cruises notified the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding discharges made by certain vessels in the recently expanded area of the National Marine Sanctuary in the Farallones Island. On February 7, 2021, the parties reached a global settlement under which Holland America Line and Princess Cruises will pay $0.8 million on an incremental payment plan through January 2023.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

The risk factors in this Form 10-Q below should be carefully considered, including the risk factors discussed in "Risk Factors" and other risks discussed in our Form 10-K. These risks could materially and adversely affect our results, operations, outlooks, plans, goals, growth, reputation, cash flows, liquidity, and stock price. Our business also could be affected by risks that we are not presently aware of or that we currently consider immaterial to our operations.

 

COVID-19 and Liquidity/Debt Related Risk Factors

 

•     COVID-19 has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant impact on our financial condition and operations, which impacts our ability to obtain acceptable financing to fund resulting reductions in cash from operations. The current, and uncertain future, impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, including its effect on the ability or desire of people to travel (including on cruises), is expected to continue to impact our results, operations, outlooks, plans, goals, reputation, litigation, cash flows, liquidity, and stock price.

 

The COVID-19 global pandemic is having material negative impacts on all aspects of our business. We implemented a pause of our guest cruise operations in mid-March 2020 across all brands. Although we began the resumption of limited guest cruise operations in September 2020 with cruises by Costa and in October 2020 with cruises by AIDA, as of February 28, 2021, none of our ships were operating with guests onboard. The pause with respect to these and other brands and ships may be prolonged. In addition, we have been, and will continue to be negatively impacted by related developments, including heightened governmental regulations, travel bans and travel advisories and restrictions and recommendations by the U.S. Department of State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") and other governmental authorities.

 

We incurred significant costs as we paused our guest cruise operations, provided air transportation to return our passengers to their home destinations, repatriated shipboard team members and assisted some of our crew that were unable to return home with food and housing. We will continue to incur COVID-19 related costs as we implement additional hygiene-related protocols to our ships, as well as prepare for the continued resumption of guest cruise operations. In addition, the industry is subject to and may be further subject to enhanced health and hygiene requirements in attempts to counteract future outbreaks, and these requirements may be costly and take a significant amount of time to implement across our global cruise operations. In October 2020, the CDC announced a framework for a phased resumption of cruise ship passenger operations in U.S. waters that is currently uncertain and will require further evaluation as we seek to resume operations. Implementing these requirements may result in an increase in costs and take time before the resumption of our guest cruise operations.

 

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 on some of our ships, and the resulting illness and loss of life in certain instances, we have been the subject of negative publicity, which could have a long term impact on the appeal of our brands, which would diminish demand for vacations on our vessels. We cannot predict how long the negative impact of media attention on our brands will last, or the level of investment that will be required to address the concerns of potential travelers through marketing and pricing actions.

 

We have received, and may continue to receive, lawsuits, other governmental investigations and other actions stemming from COVID-19. We cannot predict the quantum or outcome of any such proceedings, some of which could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties in the future, and the impact that they will have on our financial results, but any such impact may be material. We also remain subject to extensive, complex, and closely monitored obligations under the court-ordered environmental compliance plan supervised by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, as a result of the previously disclosed settlement agreement relating to the violation of probation conditions for a plea agreement entered into by Princess Cruises and the U.S. Department of Justice in 2016. We remain fully committed to satisfying those obligations.

 

We have insurance coverage for certain liabilities, costs and expenses related to COVID-19 through our participation in Protection and Indemnity ("P&I") clubs, including coverage for direct and incremental costs including, but not limited to, certain quarantine expenses and for certain liabilities to passengers and crew. P&I clubs are mutual indemnity associations owned by members. There is a $10 million deductible per occurrence (meaning per outbreak on a particular ship). We cannot assure you that we will receive insurance proceeds that will compensate us fully for our liabilities, costs and expenses that exceed the $10 million deductible under these policies. We have no insurance coverage for loss of revenues or earnings from our ships or other operations.

 

In connection with our capacity optimization strategy, we have accelerated the removal of ships from our fleet which were previously expected to be sold over the ensuing years. We have sold, expect to sell or have agreements for the disposal of various vessels. Some of these agreements for the disposal of vessels are for recycling. When we choose to dispose of a ship, there can be no assurance that there will be a viable buyer to purchase it at a price that exceeds our net book value, which could result in ship impairment charges and losses on ship disposals.

 

The effects of COVID-19 on the operations of shipyards where our ships are under construction will result in a delay in ship deliveries.

 

We cannot predict the timing of our complete return to service and when various ports will reopen to our ships. If we are delayed in recommencing guest cruise operations or there is a further pause in the resumption of limited guest cruise operations, it could further negatively impact our liquidity. As our business is seasonal, the impact of a delay or further pause in the resumption of guest cruise operations will be heightened if such delay or pause occurs during the Northern Hemisphere summer months. Moreover, even as travel advisories and restrictions are lifted, demand for cruises may remain weak for a significant length of time and we cannot predict if and when each brand will return to pre-outbreak demand or fare pricing. In particular, our bookings may be negatively impacted by the adverse changes in the perceived or actual economic climate, including higher unemployment rates, declines in income levels and loss of personal wealth resulting from the impact of COVID-19. In addition, we cannot predict the impact COVID-19 will have on our partners, such as travel agencies, suppliers and other vendors, counterparties and joint ventures. We may be adversely impacted as a result of the adverse impact our partners, counterparties and joint ventures suffer. 

 

We have never previously experienced a complete cessation of our guest cruise operations, and as a consequence, our ability to be predictive regarding the impact of such a cessation on our brands and future prospects is uncertain. In particular, we cannot predict the impact on our financial performance and cash flows (including as required for cash refunds of deposits) as a result of the current pause in our guest cruise operations, which may be prolonged, and the public's concern regarding the health and safety of travel, especially by cruise ship, and related decreases in demand for travel and cruising. Moreover, our ability to attract and retain guests and our ability to hire and the amounts we must pay our crew depends, in part, upon the perception and reputation of our company and our brands and the public's concerns regarding the health and safety of travel generally, as well as regarding the cruising industry and our ships specifically.

 

Our access to and cost of financing depends on, among other things, global economic conditions, conditions in the global financing markets, the availability of sufficient amounts of financing, our prospects and our credit ratings. As a result of COVID-19's effects on our operations, Moody's and S&P Global have downgraded our credit ratings to be non-investment grade. If we are delayed in recommencing guest cruise operations or there is a further pause in the resumption of limited guest cruise operations, our credit ratings were to be further downgraded, or general market conditions were to ascribe higher risk to our rating levels, our industry, or us, our access to capital and the cost of any debt or equity financing will be further negatively impacted. In addition, the terms of future debt agreements could include more restrictive covenants, or require incremental collateral, which may further restrict our business operations or be unavailable due to our covenant restrictions then in effect. There is no guarantee that debt or equity financings will be available in the future to fund our obligations, or that they will be available on terms consistent with our expectations. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 on the financial markets may adversely impact our ability to raise funds. 

 

In addition, the COVID-19 outbreak has significantly increased economic and demand uncertainty. The current outbreak and continued spread of COVID-19 has caused a global recession, which could have a further adverse impact on our financial condition and operations. In past recessions, demand for our cruise vacations has been significantly negatively impacted which has resulted in lower occupancy rates and adverse pricing, with a corresponding increase in the use of credits and other means to attract travelers. Significant increases in unemployment in the U.S. and other regions due to the adoption of physical distancing and other policies to slow the spread of the virus have had, and are likely to continue to have, a negative impact on booking demand for our guest cruise operations, and these impacts could exist for an extensive period of time.

 

The extent of the effects of the outbreak on our business and the cruising industry at large is highly uncertain and will ultimately depend on future developments, including, but not limited to, the duration and severity of the outbreak, the length of time it takes for demand and pricing to return and normal economic and operating conditions to resume. To the extent COVID-19 adversely affects our business, operations, financial condition and operating results, it may also have the effect of heightening many other risks.

 

•     As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, we may be out of compliance with one or more maintenance covenants in certain of our debt facilities, with the next testing date of November 30, 2022.

 

Under the terms of certain of our export credit facilities, we are required to comply with the Interest Coverage Covenant of not less than 3.0 to 1.0, and ensure that our Debt to Capital Covenant does not exceed 65% at the end of each fiscal quarter. As of February 28, 2021 (and while being in compliance with the Debt to Capital Covenant as of such date), we obtained waivers of compliance with the Interest Coverage Covenant and Debt to Capital Covenant in our export credit facilities through August 31, 2022 (with the next testing date of November 30, 2022) or November 30, 2022 (with the next testing date of February 28, 2023) for our funded export credit facilities with aggregate indebtedness of $8.9 billion as of February 28, 2021 and unfunded export credit facilities with an aggregate principal amount of $6.5 billion as of February 28, 2021.

 

During the first quarter of 2021 we entered into supplemental agreements with respect to our Revolving Credit Facility and many of our bank loans. Under our Revolving Credit Facility and many of our bank loans, we are now required to maintain the Interest Coverage Covenant from February 28, 2023, at a ratio of not less than 2.0 to 1.0 for the February 28, 2023 and May 31, 2023 testing dates, 2.5 to 1.0 for the August 31, 2023 and November 30, 2023 testing dates, and 3.0 to 1.0 from the February 28, 2024 testing date onwards, or through their respective maturity dates, and the Debt to Capital Covenant at the end of each fiscal quarter before the November 30, 2021 testing date at a percentage not to exceed 65%. From the November 30, 2021 testing date until the May 31, 2023 testing date the Debt to Capital Covenant is not to exceed 75%, following which it will be tested at levels which decline ratably to 65% from the May 31, 2024 testing date onwards.

 

Even though we expect to obtain further amendments under our debt facilities with respect to the Interest Coverage Covenant or the Debt to Capital Covenant, if such amendments are not obtained we may be required to take certain actions, which in the case of the Debt to Capital Covenant could include issuing additional equity and/or reducing our indebtedness, failing which we may not be in compliance with the Interest Coverage Covenant or the Debt to Capital Covenant following August 31, 2022 with the next testing date of November 30, 2022 for such debt facilities, or as of future testing dates for certain agreements, because of the pause and limited resumptions of our guest cruise operations.

 

Amendments and waivers of the Interest Coverage Covenant and Debt to Capital Covenant have led and may continue to lead to increased costs, increased interest rates, additional restrictive covenants and other lender protections that are, or may become, applicable to us under these debt facilities, and such increased costs, restrictions and modifications may vary among debt facilities. For example, in connection with the amendments to the Revolving Credit Facility and certain agreements governing our bank loans described above, we have made certain changes to more closely align the financial covenants among the various facilities and agreements. In addition, we have agreed to additional restrictive covenants in such facilities and agreements with respect to debt incurrence, lien incurrence, restricted payments and investments that are substantially consistent with those contained in the indentures governing our recent unsecured notes issuances. Our ability to provide additional lender protections under these facilities, including the granting of security interests in certain collateral and the granting of guarantees with respect to certain outstanding debt, will be limited by the terms of such agreements as amended, and our other debt facilities. 

 

There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain amendments in a timely manner, on acceptable terms or at all. If we were not able to obtain the financial covenant amendments described above under any one or more of these debt facilities, we would be in default of any such agreement. As a consequence, we would need to refinance or repay the applicable debt facility or facilities, and would be required to raise additional debt or equity capital, or divest assets, to refinance or repay such facility or facilities. If we were to be unable to obtain financial covenant amendments as may be required under any one or more of these debt facilities, there can be no assurance that we would be able to raise sufficient debt or equity capital, or divest assets, to refinance or repay such facility or facilities. With respect to each of the unfunded debt facilities, if we were unable to obtain amendments under such debt facilities, the relevant lender under such facility could terminate that facility. With respect to each of our funded debt facilities, if we were unable to obtain amendments or refinance or repay such debt facilities, it would lead to an event of default under such facilities, which could lead to an acceleration of the indebtedness under such debt facilities. In turn, this would lead to an event of default and potential acceleration of amounts due under all of our outstanding debt and derivative contract payables. As a result, the failure to obtain the financial covenant amendments described above would have a material adverse effect.

 

 

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