Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-115090
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated May 23, 2005)
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$900,000,000
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. |
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$550,000,000 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013
$350,000,000 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will issue $550,000,000 principal
amount of its 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013 and $350,000,000
principal amount of its 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016. The
7.00% Senior Notes due 2013 will mature on June 15, 2013
and the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016 will mature on June 15,
2016. Interest on the Senior Notes will be payable semi-annually
on December 15 and June 15 of each year, commencing
December 15, 2006. The Senior Notes are not redeemable
prior to maturity and do not provide for any sinking fund. The
Senior Notes will be separately represented by one or more
global securities registered in the name of the nominee of The
Depository Trust Company (DTC). Beneficial interests
in the global securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its
participants. Except as described herein, Senior Notes in
definitive form will not be issued. The Senior Notes will be
issued only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof. The Senior Notes will constitute unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and
will rank on parity with our other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness. See Description of Senior Notes.
Investing in the Senior Notes involves risks that are
described in Risk Factors beginning on page S-7
of this prospectus supplement.
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Per | |
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Per | |
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7.00% Senior | |
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7.25% Senior | |
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Note due | |
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Note due | |
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2013 | |
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Total | |
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2016 | |
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Total | |
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Public offering price(1)
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99.509 |
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$ |
547,299,500 |
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99.690 |
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$ |
348,915,000 |
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Underwriting discount
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0.625 |
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$ |
3,437,500 |
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0.650 |
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$ |
2,275,000 |
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Proceeds, before expenses, to Royal
Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
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98.884 |
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$ |
543,862,000 |
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99.040 |
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$ |
346,640,000 |
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(1) |
Plus accrued interest from June 12, 2006, if settlement
occurs after that date. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Senior Notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form
only through The Depository Trust Company on or about
June 12, 2006.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Co-Managers
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DnB NOR Markets |
JPMorgan |
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. |
Scotia Capital |
June 7, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Supplement |
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Prospectus
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have
not, authorized any other person to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not,
and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in
this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their
respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are
part of a registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission utilizing a shelf
registration process. This prospectus supplement describes the
specific details regarding this offering of Senior Notes. The
accompanying prospectus provides more general information. To
the extent information in this prospectus supplement is
inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus or any of the
earlier-dated documents incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you
should rely on this prospectus supplement. You should read both
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus
together with the additional information about us described
under Incorporation of Documents by Reference and
Where You Can Find More Information.
S-i
THE COMPANY
As used in this prospectus supplement, the terms Royal
Caribbean, we, our and
us refer to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the term
Celebrity refers to Celebrity Cruise Lines Inc. and
the terms Royal Caribbean International and
Celebrity Cruises refer to our two cruise brands. In
accordance with cruise industry practice, the term
berths represents double occupancy capacity per
cabin even though many cabins can accommodate three or more
passengers. Except as otherwise indicated, the source of all
industry data is the trade group Cruise Lines International
Association.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is the worlds second largest
cruise company. We operate 29 cruise ships and more than 63,000
berths as of May 31, 2006 under two brands, Royal Caribbean
International and Celebrity Cruises. Our ships operate
worldwide, calling on approximately 200 destinations.
We earned income before cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle of $663.5 million in 2005 on
$4.9 billion in revenues, compared to 2004 income of
$474.7 million on $4.6 billion in revenues. We
generated operating cash flow of $1.1 billion in each of
2005 and 2004.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International operates 20 cruise ships with
approximately 48,000 berths as of May 31, 2006, offering
various cruise itineraries that range from two to 18 nights. In
May 2006, Royal Caribbean International inaugurated the largest
cruise ship in the world, Freedom of the Seas, with more
than 3,600 berths.
Royal Caribbean International serves the contemporary and
premium segments of the cruise vacation industry. The
contemporary segment is served by cruises that are generally
seven nights or shorter and feature a casual ambiance. The
premium segment is served by cruises that are generally seven to
14 nights and appeal to the more experienced passenger who is
usually more affluent.
Royal Caribbean Internationals strategy is to attract an
array of vacationing consumers in the contemporary segment by
providing a wide variety of itineraries and cruise lengths with
multiple innovative options for onboard dining, entertainment
and other onboard activities. Royal Caribbean International
offers a wide array of onboard activities, services and
amenities, including swimming pools, sun decks, beauty salons,
exercise and spa facilities, ice skating rinks, in-line skating,
basketball courts, rock climbing walls, bungee jumping
trampolines, miniature golf courses, gaming facilities, lounges,
bars, Las Vegas-style entertainment, cinemas and Royal
Promenades which are boulevards with shopping, dining and
entertainment venues. Additionally, Royal Caribbean
International offers a variety of shore excursions at each port
of call.
We believe that the variety and quality of Royal Caribbean
Internationals product offerings represent excellent value
to consumers, especially to couples and families traveling with
children. Because of the brands extensive product
offerings, we believe Royal Caribbean International is well
positioned to attract new consumers to the cruise vacation
industry and to continue to bring past passengers back for their
next vacation. While the brand is positioned at the upper end of
the contemporary segment, we believe that Royal Caribbean
Internationals quality enables it to attract consumers
from the premium segment as well, thereby achieving one of the
broadest market coverage of any of the major brands in the
cruise vacation industry.
S-1
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises operates nine cruise ships with approximately
15,100 berths as of May 31, 2006, and charters one ship to
Island Cruises, our joint venture with First Choice Holidays
PLC. The brand offers various cruise itineraries that range from
two to 16 nights.
Celebrity Cruises primarily serves the premium segment of the
cruise vacation industry. Celebrity Cruises attracts experienced
cruise passengers who appreciate and want the unique experience
the brand offers. Celebrity Cruises delivers a high quality
experience and good value with ships that offer extensive and
luxurious spa facilities, fine dining, personalized service,
unique entertainment and a high
staff-to-passenger
ratio. These are the hallmarks of the premium cruise vacation
segment. Celebrity Cruises provides a variety of itineraries and
cruise lengths and has a high proportion of its fleet deployment
in seasonal markets (such as Alaska, Bermuda, Europe, Hawaii,
the Panama Canal and South America). Celebrity Cruises includes
in its breadth of product offerings itineraries to the Galapagos
Islands, and recently inaugurated excursions to Machu Picchu in
Peru. To further enhance our passengers experiences,
Celebrity Cruises offers a variety of shore excursions at each
port of call.
Strategy
The key elements of our strategy are as follows:
Improve the awareness and market penetration of both our
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises
brands.
We continue to broaden the recognition of both the Royal
Caribbean International brand and the Celebrity Cruises brand
among consumers. Royal Caribbean International is an established
brand in the contemporary and premium segments of the cruise
vacation industry. We believe we are positioning Celebrity
Cruises brand as the best choice in the premium segment of the
cruise vacation industry. Each of our brands has a distinct
identity and marketing focus but utilizes shared infrastructure
resources.
Continue to expand our fleet with
state-of-the-art cruise
ships.
Based on the ships currently on order, our capacity is expected
to increase to approximately 81,500 berths by December 31,
2009. Since our first fleet expansion program beginning in 1988,
we have continued to increase our average ship size and number
of available berths, which has enabled us to achieve certain
economies of scale. Larger ships allow us to carry more
passengers without a corresponding increase in certain operating
expenses.
Royal Caribbean International. Founded in 1968,
Royal Caribbean International was the first cruise line to
design cruise ships especially for warm water year-round
cruising. Royal Caribbean International operated a modern fleet
in the 1970s and early 1980s, establishing a reputation for high
quality. Between 1988 and 1992, the brand tripled its capacity
by embarking on its first major capital expansion program and
taking delivery of three Sovereign-class ships. From 1995
through 1998, Royal Caribbean International completed its second
capital expansion program by taking delivery of six Vision-class
ships, ranging in size from approximately 1,800 to 2,000 berths.
During this same period, Royal Caribbean International sold four
of its older ships because their age and design were no longer
consistent with its image and marketing strategy.
Royal Caribbean International began its third capital expansion
program with orders for five Voyager-class ships and four
Radiance-class ships. The Voyager-class ships were placed in
service from 1999 through 2003. Each ship is approximately
140,000 gross tons with approximately 3,100 berths. This
class of ships is designed to provide more diverse vacation
options for families and for those seeking active sports and
entertainment alternatives during their vacation experience.
Each Voyager-class ship has a variety of unique features,
including the cruise vacation industrys first
S-2
horizontal atrium, the Royal Promenade (which is
four decks tall, longer than a football field and provides
entertainment, shopping and dining experiences), recreational
activities such as ice skating, in-line skating, rock climbing,
miniature golf and full court basketball, enhanced staterooms,
expanded dining venues and a variety of intimate spaces.
The brand introduced its four Radiance-class ships from 2001
through 2004. The Radiance-class ships (approximately
90,000 gross tons each) are a progression from the
brands Vision-class ships and have approximately 2,100
berths each. The Radiance-class ships incorporate many of the
dining and entertainment options of the Voyager-class ships, as
well as offer a wide array of unique features. These features
include alternative dining venues, panoramic glass elevators
facing outward to the sea, floor to ceiling glass windows
offering spectacular sea views and a billiards club featuring
gyroscopic billiard tables.
Royal Caribbean International launched the 3,600 berth
Freedom of the Seas in May 2006, the first of three
planned Freedom-class ships, and the largest cruise ship in the
world. Freedom of the Seas offers several new experiences
to cruising including a surf machine, an interactive water park
called the
H2O
Zonetm
and a dedicated sports pool. Building upon the innovations of
the Voyager-class and Freedom-class of ships, Royal Caribbean
International will introduce a new class of ship in 2009. This
class of ship will have capacity for approximately 5,400 guests,
which is 50% larger than the capacity on the Freedom class
ships. At 1,180 feet long, 154 feet wide and
240 feet high, this new class of ship will give Royal
Caribbean ample room to create memorable new icons and amenities
to heighten guests cruise experience. We have an option to
purchase an additional ship in this class, exercisable through
March 2007.
Celebrity Cruises. Celebrity Cruises was founded
in 1990 and operated three ships between 1992 and 1995. Between
1995 and 1997, Celebrity Cruises undertook its first capital
expansion program, adding three Century-class ships which range
in size from approximately 1,750 to 1,850 berths and disposing
of one of its original three ships. Celebrity Cruises completed
its second capital expansion program with the delivery of four
Millennium-class ships from 2000 through 2002. Each
Millennium-class ship has approximately 2,050 berths and is
approximately 90,000 gross tons.
The Millennium-class ships elevated the brands position in
the premium segment of the marketplace. This class of ships,
which is a progression from the Century-class ships, builds on
the brands primary strengths, including gourmet dining,
luxurious spa facilities, and spacious staterooms and suites
complete with balconies. On the Millennium-class ships, an
entire deck is dedicated to health, fitness and the rejuvenating
powers of water. Celebrity Cruises spas are among the most
luxurious facilities afloat and offer a variety of features,
including a large hydropool with neck massage and body jets and
luxurious services including acupuncture at sea. To
further enhance the onboard experience, Celebrity Cruises offers
a more intimate setting in its piano, champagne, and martini
bars and lounges.
In 2004, Celebrity Cruises introduced Celebrity
Xpedition, a 100-berth ship that offers a more intimate,
smaller ship experience with sailings to the Galapagos Islands.
To continue its product evolution, Celebrity Cruises entered
into contracts with a shipyard to build two Solstice-class
ships, Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox.
The Solstice-class ships will be approximately
118,000 gross tons each with approximately 2,850 berths,
incorporating many features typically associated with luxury
cruising. Approximately 85% of the ships staterooms will
be outside and veranda staterooms. Celebrity Solstice and
Celebrity Equinox are scheduled for delivery in the
fourth quarter of 2008 and the third quarter of 2009,
respectively.
Continue to improve and expand the quality and innovation
of our fleet.
We place a strong focus on product innovation, not only for
stimulating repeat business, but also for driving new demand for
our products. For example, in 2005, Enchantment of the Seas
underwent a lengthening with a new 73-foot midsection, which
features 151 additional staterooms,
S-3
suspension bridges, an overhanging bar offering spectacular
panoramic views and bungee trampolines. For the increasing
number of young cruise passengers, Enchantment of the Seas
introduced a new interactive splash pad with water jets on
the floor, which transforms into a fiber-optic and water show at
night.
As described above, Royal Caribbean International launched
Freedom of the Seas in May 2006, the first of three
planned Freedom-class ships. Freedom of the Seas is the
largest cruise ship in the world with a wide range of new
innovations and amenities within the cruise industry. Building
upon the innovations of the Voyager-class and Freedom-class of
ships, Royal Caribbean International will similarly introduce a
new class of ships in 2009 in order to continue to improve and
expand our fleet.
In 2006, Celebrity Cruises revitalized Century,
incorporating many of the Millennium-class standards while
adding 314 new verandas, 18 additional suites and staterooms, a
new specialty restaurant and a series of the tastes of
luxury. In 2008, Celebrity Cruises will introduce the
Solstice-class, a new wide-body construction class of ships,
with large staterooms averaging 215 square feet.
Expand into new markets and itineraries.
Our ships operate worldwide with a selection of itineraries that
call on approximately 200 ports. New ships allow us to expand
into new destinations, itineraries and markets. Both brands have
expanded their mix of itineraries in Europe. The brands are now
offering a wide variety of cruise tours from Alaska, the
Canadian Rockies and Europe in order to provide vacationers with
a broad range of product options.
Further expand our international passenger
sourcing.
We sell and market the Royal Caribbean International and
Celebrity Cruises brands to passengers outside of North America
through our offices in the United States, United Kingdom,
Germany, Norway, Italy and Spain. We further extend our reach
with a network of 42 independent international representatives
located throughout the world. We market our product in these
countries by focusing on innovation and by responding to
cultural characteristics of our global passengers. International
passengers have grown from approximately 213,000 in 1998 to
approximately 573,000 in 2005.
During the summer of 2005, Royal Caribbean International
dedicated Legend of the Seas to the United Kingdom
passenger market, offering itineraries to the Mediterranean
sailing directly from Southampton, United Kingdom and offering
onboard products designed to appeal to passengers from the
United Kingdom. In 2006, Royal Caribbean International
introduced the first Voyager-class ship, Voyager of the
Seas, to Europe, offering Mediterranean sailings from
Barcelona, Spain.
Utilize sophisticated revenue management systems.
We believe we have one of the most advanced revenue management
systems in the industry, which enables us to make more
advantageous decisions about pricing, inventory and marketing
actions. We are continuously working to improve these systems
and tools through increased forecasting capabilities, ongoing
improvements to our understanding of price/demand relationships,
and greater automation of the decision process.
Further improve our technological capabilities.
We continue to invest in information technology to support and
improve our corporate infrastructure and passenger and travel
trade relations. In 2005, we launched a new workforce management
system to schedule and manage contracts for our shipboard
employees worldwide and automated the transmission of passenger
and crew information to all relevant government agencies.
S-4
To serve the needs of the travel agency community, we operate
the website cruisingpower.com, which enables fast access
to online tools and is the ultimate shared resource center for
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises information.
These online tools include
CruiseMatch®
Online, an Internet browser-based booking system,
CruisePaysm,
an online payment service, Insight, a booking summary report and
Cruise
Writersm,
which provides the capability to customize brochures and flyers.
Maintain strong relationships with travel agencies, the
principal industry distribution channel, while offering direct
access for consumers.
Travel agencies generate the majority of the bookings for our
ships and we are committed to further developing and
strengthening this very important distribution channel. Royal
Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises each have a
brand-dedicated sales force for the United States. Each sales
team focuses on the unique qualities of each brand and provides
support to the travel agency community.
Corporate Information
Royal Caribbean International was founded in 1968. The current
parent corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., was
incorporated on July 23, 1985 in the Republic of Liberia
under the Business Corporation Act of Liberia. Our headquarters
are located at 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida 33132. Our
telephone number at that address is (305) 539-6000. We
maintain internet websites at www.royalcaribbean.com and
www.celebrity.com. Information for our investors is
available at www.rclinvestor.com. The information on our
websites is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement.
S-5
THE OFFERING
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Maturity |
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The 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013 will mature on
June 15, 2013. The 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016 will
mature on June 15, 2016. |
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Interest rate |
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The 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013 will bear interest at the
rate of 7.00% per annum. The 7.25% Senior Notes due
2016 will bear interest at the rate of 7.25% per annum. |
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Redemption |
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The Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity except as
described under Description of Debt Securities
Tax Related Considerations in the accompanying prospectus. |
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Sinking fund |
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None. |
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Ranking |
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The Senior Notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and will rank on a
parity with our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
The Senior Notes will not be guaranteed by any of our
subsidiaries and, accordingly, the Senior Notes will be
effectively subordinated to the claims of our subsidiaries
creditors, including trade creditors. The Senior Notes do not
limit the ability of our subsidiaries to incur indebtedness
other than Secured Debt as described under Description of
Senior Notes Restrictions on Secured Debt. As
of March 31, 2006, our subsidiaries had indebtedness of
$291.1 million (excluding operating leases and intercompany
indebtedness). |
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DTC eligibility |
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The Senior Notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be
represented by permanent global certificates deposited with a
custodian for and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC in
New York, New York. Beneficial interests in any such securities
will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through,
records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect
participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for
certificated securities, except in limited circumstances. See
Description of Senior Notes Book-Entry System
for the Senior Notes. |
S-6
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the specific risk factors set
forth below as well as the other information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus before deciding to invest in the Senior
Notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus contain or incorporate statements that constitute
forward-looking statements regarding, among other matters, our
intent, belief or current expectations about our business. These
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties
and assumptions. See Forward-Looking Statements.
We may lose business to competitors throughout the
vacation market.
We operate in the vacation market and cruising is one of many
alternatives for people choosing a vacation. We therefore risk
losing business not only to other cruise lines, but also to
other vacation operators which provide other leisure options
including hotels, resorts and package holidays and tours.
We face significant competition from other cruise lines, both on
the basis of cruise pricing and also in terms of the nature of
ships and services we offer to cruise passengers. Our principal
competitors within the cruise vacation industry include Carnival
Corporation & plc, which owns, among others, Carnival
Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Costa
Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Cunard Line; Star Cruises, which
owns, among others, Star Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line;
Mediterranean Shipping Company, which owns MSC Cruises; and
Disney Cruise Line.
In the event that we do not compete effectively with other
vacation alternatives and cruise companies, our results of
operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
Overcapacity within the cruise vacation industry, a
reduction in demand or geo-political and economic uncertainties
could have a negative impact on revenues, result in impairment
of assets and may adversely affect our profitability.
Cruising capacity has grown in recent years and we expect it to
increase further as the major cruise vacation companies
introduce new ships. Demand for cruises has been and is expected
to continue to be dependent on the strength of the economies in
the countries in which we market our products, the publics
attitude towards the safety of travel and the geo-political
climate. Economic or political changes may reduce demand for
cruise vacations and may lead to reduced occupancy and/or price
discounting which, in turn, could adversely affect our results
of operations and financial condition and could result in
impairment of our asset values.
Fears of terrorist attacks, war and other hostilities and
the spread of contagious diseases could have a negative impact
on our profitability.
Events such as terrorist attacks, war and other hostilities, the
spread of contagious diseases and the resulting political
instability, travel restrictions and concerns over safety,
health and security aspects of traveling have had, and could
have in the future, a significant adverse impact on demand and
pricing in the travel and vacation industry. These events could
also impact our ability to source qualified crew from throughout
the world at competitive costs and, therefore, increase our
shipboard employee costs.
Incidents or adverse publicity concerning the cruise
vacation industry or unusual weather conditions could affect our
reputation and harm our future sales and profitability.
The operation of cruise ships involves the risk of accidents,
illnesses and other incidents which may bring into question
passenger safety, health, security and vacation satisfaction and
thereby adversely affect future industry performance. Incidents
involving cruise ships, adverse media publicity concerning the
cruise vacation industry or unusual weather patterns or natural
disasters, such as
S-7
hurricanes and earthquakes, could impact demand and consequently
have an adverse impact on our profitability.
Environmental, health and safety, financial responsibility
and other maritime regulations could affect operations and
increase operating costs.
The United States and various state and foreign government or
regulatory agencies have enacted or are considering new
environmental regulations or policies that could adversely
impact the cruise vacation industry. Some environmental groups
have lobbied for more stringent regulation of cruise ships and
have generated negative publicity about the cruise vacation
industry and its environmental impact. In addition, we are
subject to various international, national, state and local
laws, regulations and treaties that govern, among other things,
safety standards applicable to our ships, health and sanitary
standards applicable to our passengers, security standards on
board our ships and at the ship/port interface areas, and
financial responsibilities to our passengers. These issues are,
and we believe will continue to be, an area of focus by the
relevant authorities throughout the world. This could result in
the enactment of more stringent regulation of cruise ships that
would subject us to increasing compliance costs in the future.
In 2005, the United States issued a proposed Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative which would require United States citizens to
have a passport or other accepted identity document to travel to
or from certain countries or areas that were previously exempt,
such as Canada, Mexico, Central and South America and the
Caribbean. The proposal is currently expected to be implemented
as of December 31, 2006 for all United States citizens
traveling to or from these destinations by air and sea and as of
December 31, 2007 for all travel by land border crossings.
Many of our United States cruise passengers visiting these
destinations currently do not have passports, and it is
therefore likely that these regulations will have a negative
impact on our bookings when they are implemented.
We may not be able to obtain financing on terms that are
favorable or consistent with our expectations.
To fund our capital expenditures and scheduled debt payments, we
rely on a combination of cash flows provided by operations,
drawdowns under our available credit facility, the incurrence of
additional indebtedness and the sales of equity or debt
securities in private or public securities markets. Our credit
ratings impact our ability to obtain financing in financial
markets and the terms of the financing. Any lowering of our
credit ratings may have adverse consequences on our ability to
access the financial markets and/or on our cost of financings.
In addition, interest rates and our ability to obtain financing
are dependent on many economic and political factors beyond our
control. Accordingly, we cannot be sure that our cash flows from
operations and additional financings will be available in
accordance with our expectations.
Conducting business internationally may result in
increased costs and other risks.
We operate our business internationally and plan to continue to
develop our international presence. Operating internationally
exposes us to a number of risks. Examples include political
risks and risk of increases in duties and taxes as well as
changes in laws and policies affecting cruising, vacation or
maritime businesses, or governing the operations of
foreign-based companies. Additional risks include currency
fluctuations, interest rate movements, imposition of trade
barriers and restrictions on repatriation of earnings. If we are
unable to address these risks adequately, our results of
operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We have ship construction contracts which are denominated in
euros. While we have entered into euro denominated forward
contracts to manage a portion of the currency risk associated
with these ship construction contracts, we are exposed to
fluctuations in the euro exchange rate for the portion of the
ship construction contracts that has not been hedged. If the
shipyard is unable to perform under the related ship
construction contract, any foreign currency hedges that were
entered
S-8
into to manage the currency risk would need to be terminated.
Termination of these contracts could result in a significant
loss.
Ship construction delays or mechanical faults may result
in cancellation of cruises and unscheduled drydocks and
repairs.
We depend on shipyards to construct and deliver our cruise ships
on a timely basis and in good working order. The sophisticated
nature of building a ship involves risks. Delays or mechanical
faults in ship construction have in the past and may in the
future result in delays or cancellation of cruises or
necessitate unscheduled drydocks and repairs of ships. Shipyard
insolvency and other industrial actions could also delay or
indefinitely postpone the timely delivery of new ships. We have
experienced mechanical problems with the pod propulsion units on
certain ships and there can be no assurance that we will not
experience such problems in the future. These events together
with any related adverse publicity could, to the extent they are
not covered by contractual provisions or insurances, adversely
affect our financial results.
Our operating costs and taxes could increase due to market
forces and economic or political factors beyond our
control.
Our operating costs, including fuel, food, payroll, insurance
and security costs, are subject to increases due to market
forces and economic or political instability or other factors
beyond our control. Increases in these operating costs could
adversely affect our profitability. In addition, United States
state and local authorities as well as foreign authorities
periodically consider increases in taxes. For instance,
initiatives are currently pending in Alaska, which, if adopted,
would impose taxes and other costs on us and our cruise
passengers. The implementation of these and other taxes could
also cause an increase in our costs.
Unavailability of ports of call may adversely affect our
profits.
We believe that port destinations are a major reason why
passengers choose to go on a particular cruise or on a cruise
vacation. The availability of ports is affected by a number of
factors, including, but not limited to, existing capacity
constraints, security concerns, adverse weather conditions and
natural disasters, financial limitations on port development,
local governmental regulations and local community concerns
about port development and other adverse impacts on their
communities from additional tourists. Any limitations on the
availability of our ports of call could adversely affect our
profits.
A change in our tax status under the United States
Internal Revenue Code may have adverse effects on our
income.
We and a number of our subsidiaries are foreign corporations
that derive income from a United States trade or business and/or
from sources within the United States. Drinker Biddle &
Reath LLP, our United States tax counsel, has delivered to us an
opinion, based on certain representations and assumptions set
forth in it, to the effect that this income, to the extent
derived from or incidental to the international operation of a
ship or ships, is exempt from United States income tax pursuant
to Section 883 of the Internal Revenue Code. We believe
that most of our income (including that of our subsidiaries) is
derived from or incidental to the international operation of a
ship or ships.
In 2005, final regulations under Section 883 became
effective, which narrowed somewhat the scope of activities that
are considered by the Internal Revenue Service to be incidental
to the international operation of ships. To the extent the
income from non-incidental activities is earned from sources
within the United States, that income will be subject to United
States taxation; but the determination of the precise amount of
such United States source income involves some uncertainties.
The tax impact of these new regulations reduced our net income
for the year ended
S-9
December 31, 2005 by approximately $14 million and we
anticipate tax impacts in subsequent years on an ongoing basis.
It should also be noted that the provisions of Section 883
are subject to change at any time by legislation. Moreover,
changes could occur in the future with respect to the identity,
residence or holdings of our direct or indirect shareholders
that could affect our eligibility for the Section 883
exemption. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will
continue to be exempt from United States income tax on United
States source shipping income in the future. If we were not
entitled to the benefit of Section 883, we and our
subsidiaries would be subject to United States taxation on a
portion of the income derived from or incidental to the
international operation of our ships, which would reduce our net
income.
S-10
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated herein by reference include
forward-looking statements under the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as expect,
anticipate, goal, project,
plan, believe, seek and
similar expressions are intended to identify these
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not
guarantee future performance and may involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors which could cause our actual
results, performance or achievements to differ materially from
the future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied in those forward-looking statements. Examples of these
risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not
limited to those discussed under Risk Factors, as
well as the following:
|
|
|
|
|
general economic and business conditions, |
|
|
|
vacation industry competition, including cruise vacation
industry competition, |
|
|
|
changes in vacation industry capacity, including overcapacity in
the cruise vacation industry, |
|
|
|
the impact of tax laws and regulations affecting our business or
our principal shareholders, |
|
|
|
the impact of changes in other laws and regulations affecting
our business, |
|
|
|
the impact of pending or threatened litigation, |
|
|
|
the delivery of scheduled new ships, |
|
|
|
emergency ship repairs, |
|
|
|
negative incidents involving cruise ships including those
involving the health and safety of passengers, |
|
|
|
reduced consumer demand for cruises as a result of any number of
reasons, including geo-political and economic uncertainties and
the unavailability of air service, |
|
|
|
fears of terrorists attacks, armed conflict and the spread of
contagious diseases and the resulting concerns over safety and
security aspects of traveling, |
|
|
|
our ability to obtain financing on terms that are favorable or
consistent with our expectations, |
|
|
|
changes in our stock price or principal shareholders, |
|
|
|
our current intention to redeem our zero coupon convertible
notes due 2021, |
|
|
|
the impact of changes in operating and financing costs,
including changes in foreign currency, interest rates, fuel,
food, payroll, insurance and security costs, |
|
|
|
the implementation of regulations in the United States requiring
United States citizens to obtain passports for travel to
additional foreign destinations, and |
|
|
|
weather. |
The above examples are not exhaustive and new risks emerge from
time to time. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
S-11
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes offered
hereby are estimated to be $889.9 million. We intend to use
the net proceeds for general corporate purposes, including:
|
|
|
|
|
funding the redemption of our Liquid Yield
Optiontm
Notes (LYONs) due 2021, which have a yield to maturity of 4.875%
and will have an accreted principal amount outstanding of
approximately $544.0 million on June 19, 2006, the
anticipated redemption date, and |
|
|
|
funding the repurchase of our common stock in order to offset
the dilutive impact of the anticipated issuance of shares upon
conversion of our outstanding zero coupon convertible notes
(Zeros) due 2021, which have a yield to maturity of 4.75% and
which had an accreted principal amount outstanding of
approximately $129.1 million as of June 5, 2006, and
which we intend to call for redemption prior to the end of 2006. |
Although we currently intend to call our outstanding Zeros, our
decision to do so will be affected by market conditions at the
time and we cannot assure you that we will do so. See
Forward-Looking Statements and
Capitalization.
S-12
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for each of the periods presented. In calculating this
ratio, we take earnings to include net income plus fixed charges
and exclude capitalized interest. Fixed charges include gross
interest expense, amortization of deferred financing expenses
and an amount equivalent to interest included in rental charges.
We have included actual interest charges for the Brilliance
of the Seas operating lease and, for all other rentals, we
have assumed that one-third of rental expense is representative
of the interest factor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
|
|
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
|
|
|
1.9 |
|
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
1.8 |
|
Giving effect to this offering of $900.0 million of Senior
Notes and the application of $544.0 million of the net
proceeds thereof to fund the redemption of our outstanding
LYONs, as described under Use of Proceeds and
Capitalization, if such transactions had occurred on
January 1, 2006, our pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the three months ended March 31, 2006 would
have been 2.2.
S-13
CAPITALIZATION
We have called the redemption of all of our Liquid Yield
Optiontm
Notes (LYONs) due 2021 and expect to settle the redemption on
June 19, 2006. In addition, we have previously announced
that, prior to the end of 2006, and subject to market
conditions, we expect to redeem all of our zero coupon
convertible notes (Zeros) due 2021. Finally, we have also
previously announced that we have initiated a
$165.0 million stock buyback program in order to offset the
dilutive impact of the anticipated issuance of shares upon
conversion of the Zeros.
Holders of our LYONs currently have the ability to convert their
LYONs into shares of our common stock at a conversion price
approximately equal to $42. As of June 7, 2006, the last
reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock
Exchange was $37.43. Based on current trading prices for our
common stock, we expect that holders of LYONs will tender their
LYONs for redemption, and not elect to convert their LYONs into
shares of common stock. However, the decision whether to convert
outstanding LYONs into shares of common stock will be made by
individual holders of LYONs, and we cannot predict what
decisions will ultimately be made by individual holders.
Holders of our Zeros currently have the ability to convert their
Zeros into shares of our common stock at a conversion price
approximately equal to $32. Based on current trading prices for
our common stock, we expect that upon calling the redemption of
the Zeros, holders of Zeros would elect to convert their Zeros
into shares of common stock. Our decision to call the Zeros is
subject to our ongoing assessment of market conditions and we
cannot assure you that we will execute this transaction in the
timeframe currently contemplated, or at all. In addition, the
decision whether to convert outstanding Zeros into shares of
common stock would be made by individual holders of Zeros, and
we cannot predict what decisions will ultimately be made by
individual holders.
Because we expect to settle the LYONs redemption on
June 19, 2006, after the closing of this offering, until
the LYONs redemption settlement date we will have debt
outstanding under both the Senior Notes and the LYONs. In
addition, because we have not yet called the Zeros for
redemption, we will have debt outstanding under both the Senior
Notes and the Zeros until the settlement date, if any, for the
redemption of the Zeros.
The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization:
|
|
|
(1) as of March 31, 2006, |
|
|
(2) as adjusted to give effect to: |
|
|
|
|
|
the issuance of the Senior Notes in this offering; |
|
|
|
the application of $544.0 million of the net proceeds of
this offering to fund the redemption of the outstanding LYONs
(which assumes that no holder of LYONs elects to convert LYONs
into shares of common stock); and |
|
|
|
the application of $165.0 million of the net proceeds of
this offering to fund the repurchase of an assumed
4.1 million shares of our common stock pursuant to the
buyback program described above; and |
|
|
|
(3) as further adjusted to give effect to: |
|
|
|
|
|
our expected call to redeem the outstanding Zeros, and the
expected conversion of the Zeros, prior to redemption, into
approximately 4.1 million shares of common stock (which
assumes that all holders of Zeros elect to convert Zeros into
shares of common stock). |
See Forward-Looking Statements and Use of
Proceeds.
S-14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2006 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
As adjusted for | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
this offering of | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Notes, the | |
|
As further adjusted | |
|
|
|
|
redemption of the | |
|
for the call to redeem | |
|
|
|
|
LYONs and the | |
|
the Zeros and the | |
|
|
|
|
execution of the | |
|
conversion of the | |
|
|
|
|
stock buyback | |
|
Zeros into common | |
|
|
Actual | |
|
program | |
|
stock(1) | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
|
|
(Unaudited) | |
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
271,977 |
|
|
$ |
452,879 |
|
|
$ |
452,879 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt
|
|
$ |
595,653 |
|
|
$ |
595,653 |
|
|
$ |
595,653 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquid Yield
Optiontm
Notes (LYONs)
due 2021
|
|
$ |
538,312 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
Zero coupon convertible notes due
2021(1)
|
|
|
127,987 |
|
|
|
127,987 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other long-term debt(2)
|
|
|
2,926,473 |
|
|
|
2,926,473 |
|
|
|
2,926,473 |
|
|
Senior Notes offered hereby:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.00% Senior Notes due 2013
offered hereby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
547,300 |
|
|
|
547,300 |
|
|
|
7.25% Senior Notes due 2016
offered hereby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
348,915 |
|
|
|
348,915 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Senior Notes offered hereby
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
896,215 |
|
|
|
896,215 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt
|
|
$ |
3,592,772 |
|
|
$ |
3,950,675 |
|
|
$ |
3,822,688 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock ($0.01 par value,
500,000,000 shares authorized; 217,601,358 shares
issued actual and as adjusted; 221,701,358 shares as further
adjusted)
|
|
$ |
2,176 |
|
|
$ |
2,176 |
|
|
$ |
2,217 |
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
|
|
2,736,520 |
|
|
|
2,736,520 |
|
|
|
2,864,466 |
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
3,220,034 |
|
|
|
3,220,034 |
|
|
|
3,219,611 |
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(5,922 |
) |
|
|
(5,922 |
) |
|
|
(5,922 |
) |
|
Treasury stock
(6,371,567 shares at cost actual; 10,471,567 shares at
cost as adjusted and as further adjusted)(1)
|
|
|
(258,099 |
) |
|
|
(423,099 |
) |
|
|
(423,099 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
$ |
5,694,709 |
|
|
$ |
5,529,709 |
|
|
$ |
5,657,273 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt and
shareholders equity
|
|
$ |
9,287,481 |
|
|
$ |
9,480,384 |
|
|
$ |
9,479,961 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
If we ultimately do not call the Zeros for redemption, we will
have debt outstanding under both the Senior Notes and the Zeros
indefinitely, although our shareholders equity will
nevertheless be reduced by the cost of the shares of common
stock we repurchase pursuant to the stock buyback program, which
we have already initiated. |
|
(2) |
In April 2006, we entered into and drew in full a
$570.0 million unsecured term loan amortizing through 2013.
The proceeds of this loan were used towards the purchase of
Freedom of the Seas, which was delivered in April 2006. |
S-15
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
The selected financial data set forth below as of and for the
years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 is
derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The
selected financial data set forth below as of and for the three
months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 is derived from our
unaudited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion
of management, includes all adjustments, consisting only of
normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation
of such data. The results for any interim period may not be
indicative of the results to be expected for a full fiscal year.
The passenger data and the other data set forth below is
unaudited.
The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto
contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 and our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarter ending March 31, 2006, both of which have been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are
incorporated herein by reference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | |
Operating data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
1,146,536 |
|
|
$ |
1,168,077 |
|
|
$ |
4,903,174 |
|
|
$ |
4,555,375 |
|
|
$ |
3,784,249 |
|
|
$ |
3,434,347 |
|
|
$ |
3,145,250 |
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
|
730,134 |
|
|
|
705,607 |
|
|
|
2,994,232 |
|
|
|
2,819,383 |
|
|
|
2,381,035 |
|
|
|
2,113,217 |
|
|
|
1,934,391 |
|
|
Marketing, selling and
administrative
|
|
|
173,192 |
|
|
|
161,530 |
|
|
|
635,308 |
|
|
|
588,267 |
|
|
|
514,334 |
|
|
|
431,055 |
|
|
|
454,080 |
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
102,159 |
|
|
|
99,762 |
|
|
|
402,069 |
|
|
|
394,136 |
|
|
|
362,695 |
|
|
|
339,100 |
|
|
|
301,174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
141,051 |
|
|
|
201,178 |
|
|
|
871,565 |
|
|
|
753,589 |
|
|
|
526,185 |
|
|
|
550,975 |
|
|
|
455,605 |
|
Interest income
|
|
|
1,576 |
|
|
|
2,447 |
|
|
|
9,129 |
|
|
|
9,208 |
|
|
|
4,519 |
|
|
|
12,413 |
|
|
|
24,544 |
|
Interest expense(1)
|
|
|
(57,663 |
) |
|
|
(75,289 |
) |
|
|
(269,750 |
) |
|
|
(309,977 |
) |
|
|
(268,398 |
) |
|
|
(266,842 |
) |
|
|
(253,207 |
) |
Other income
(expense)
|
|
|
34,535 |
|
|
|
8,782 |
|
|
|
52,521 |
|
|
|
21,871 |
|
|
|
18,358 |
|
|
|
54,738 |
|
|
|
27,515 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect
of a change in accounting principle
|
|
|
119,499 |
|
|
|
137,118 |
|
|
|
663,465 |
|
|
|
474,691 |
|
|
|
280,664 |
|
|
|
351,284 |
|
|
|
254,457 |
|
Cumulative effect
of a change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,491 |
|
|
|
52,491 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
119,499 |
|
|
$ |
189,609 |
|
|
$ |
715,956 |
|
|
$ |
474,691 |
|
|
$ |
280,664 |
|
|
$ |
351,284 |
|
|
$ |
254,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principle
|
|
$ |
0.57 |
|
|
$ |
0.68 |
|
|
$ |
3.22 |
|
|
$ |
2.39 |
|
|
$ |
1.45 |
|
|
$ |
1.82 |
|
|
$ |
1.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
0.26 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
0.57 |
|
|
$ |
0.94 |
|
|
$ |
3.47 |
|
|
$ |
2.39 |
|
|
$ |
1.45 |
|
|
$ |
1.82 |
|
|
$ |
1.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares
|
|
|
211,372,047 |
|
|
|
201,619,329 |
|
|
|
206,217,065 |
|
|
|
198,945,782 |
|
|
|
194,074,245 |
|
|
|
192,484,999 |
|
|
|
192,231,377 |
|
S-16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data) | |
Diluted earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principle
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
0.64 |
|
|
$ |
3.03 |
|
|
$ |
2.26 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.76 |
|
|
$ |
1.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
0.22 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$ |
0.55 |
|
|
$ |
0.86 |
|
|
$ |
3.26 |
|
|
$ |
2.26 |
|
|
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
1.76 |
|
|
$ |
1.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares and
potentially dilutive shares
|
|
|
230,695,162 |
|
|
|
236,209,394 |
|
|
|
234,714,203 |
|
|
|
234,579,629 |
|
|
|
211,174,932 |
|
|
|
209,565,319 |
|
|
|
202,004,336 |
|
Common stock dividends
|
|
$ |
0.15 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.56 |
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
Passenger data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Passengers carried
|
|
|
875,051 |
|
|
|
860,014 |
|
|
|
3,476,287 |
|
|
|
3,405,227 |
|
|
|
2,990,607 |
|
|
|
2,768,475 |
|
|
|
2,438,849 |
|
Occupancy percentage(2)
|
|
|
105.1 |
% |
|
|
105.7 |
% |
|
|
106.6 |
% |
|
|
105.7 |
% |
|
|
103.2 |
% |
|
|
104.5 |
% |
|
|
101.8 |
% |
Weighted average berths(3)
|
|
|
59,574 |
|
|
|
60,626 |
|
|
|
60,551 |
|
|
|
60,035 |
|
|
|
54,305 |
|
|
|
48,491 |
|
|
|
42,382 |
|
Passenger cruise days(4)
|
|
|
5,574,349 |
|
|
|
5,772,957 |
|
|
|
23,178,560 |
|
|
|
22,661,965 |
|
|
|
20,064,702 |
|
|
|
18,112,782 |
|
|
|
15,341,570 |
|
Available passenger cruise days(5)
|
|
|
5,303,570 |
|
|
|
5,462,012 |
|
|
|
21,733,724 |
|
|
|
21,439,288 |
|
|
|
19,439,238 |
|
|
|
17,334,204 |
|
|
|
15,067,605 |
|
Balance sheet data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
$ |
10,311,058 |
|
|
$ |
10,172,558 |
|
|
$ |
10,276,948 |
|
|
$ |
10,193,443 |
|
|
$ |
9,943,495 |
|
|
$ |
9,276,484 |
|
|
$ |
8,605,448 |
|
Total assets
|
|
|
11,551,727 |
|
|
|
11,600,111 |
|
|
|
11,255,771 |
|
|
|
11,964,084 |
|
|
|
11,322,742 |
|
|
|
10,538,531 |
|
|
|
10,368,782 |
|
Total debt
|
|
|
4,188,425 |
|
|
|
5,124,936 |
|
|
|
4,154,775 |
|
|
|
5,731,944 |
|
|
|
5,835,804 |
|
|
|
5,444,838 |
|
|
|
5,646,112 |
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
5,694,709 |
|
|
|
4,898,490 |
|
|
|
5,554,465 |
|
|
|
4,804,520 |
|
|
|
4,262,897 |
|
|
|
4,034,694 |
|
|
|
3,756,584 |
|
Other data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA(6)
|
|
$ |
278,035 |
|
|
$ |
362,302 |
|
|
$ |
1,394,770 |
|
|
$ |
1,172,406 |
|
|
$ |
909,338 |
|
|
$ |
945,853 |
|
|
$ |
784,294 |
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
|
135,898 |
|
|
|
74,928 |
|
|
|
429,898 |
|
|
|
630,670 |
|
|
|
1,029,530 |
|
|
|
1,009,942 |
|
|
|
2,064,209 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Interest expense is net of capitalized interest of
$7.1 million, $3.0 million, $17.7 million,
$7.2 million, $15.9 million, $23.4 million and
$37.0 million for the three months ended March 31,
2006 and 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2005,
2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. |
|
(2) |
In accordance with cruise industry practice, total capacity is
calculated based on two guests per cabin even though many cabins
accommodate three or more guests. A percentage in excess of 100%
indicates that more than two guests occupied some cabins. |
|
(3) |
Represents double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the ratio of
actual operating days to total days during the period. |
|
(4) |
Represents the number of guests carried multiplied by the number
of days of their respective cruises. |
|
(5) |
Represents double occupancy per cabin multiplied by the number
of cruise days for the period. |
|
(6) |
EBITDA represents net income before interest expense (net of
interest income), taxes and depreciation and amortization.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and should not be considered an
alternative to any other measure of performance under generally
accepted accounting principles. We present EBITDA because
management believes that EBITDA would be useful for investors in
assessing our operating performance and our performance relative
to our financial obligations. |
S-17
|
|
|
Additionally, EBITDA is a measure
commonly used by financial analysts because of its usefulness in
evaluating operating performance. The following table reconciles
EBITDA to net income for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months | |
|
|
|
|
Ended March 31, | |
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2004 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2001 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(Dollars in thousands) | |
Net income(a)
|
|
$ |
119,499 |
|
|
$ |
189,609 |
|
|
$ |
715,956 |
|
|
$ |
474,691 |
|
|
$ |
280,664 |
|
|
$ |
351,284 |
|
|
$ |
254,457 |
|
Interest expense, net(b)
|
|
|
56,087 |
|
|
|
72,842 |
|
|
|
260,621 |
|
|
|
300,769 |
|
|
|
263,879 |
|
|
|
254,429 |
|
|
|
228,663 |
|
Taxes
|
|
|
290 |
|
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
16,124 |
|
|
|
2,810 |
|
|
|
2,100 |
|
|
|
1,040 |
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
102,159 |
|
|
|
99,762 |
|
|
|
402,069 |
|
|
|
394,136 |
|
|
|
362,695 |
|
|
|
339,100 |
|
|
|
301,174 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA(a)
|
|
$ |
278,035 |
|
|
$ |
362,302 |
|
|
$ |
1,394,770 |
|
|
$ |
1,172,406 |
|
|
$ |
909,338 |
|
|
$ |
945,853 |
|
|
$ |
784,294 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Net income and EBITDA include $52.5 million of cumulative
effect of a change in accounting principle for the three months
ended March 31, 2005 and the year ended December 31,
2005. |
|
|
|
(b) |
Interest expense, net is net of capitalized interest of
$7.1 million, $3.0 million, $17.7 million,
$7.2 million, $15.9 million, $23.4 million and
$37.0 million for the three months ended March 31,
2006 and 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2005,
2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Interest expense, net
is also net of interest income of $1.6 million,
$2.4 million, $9.1 million, $9.2 million,
$4.5 million, $12.4 million, and $24.5 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, and for
the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and
2001, respectively. |
|
S-18
DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR NOTES
The following description of the particular terms of the Senior
Notes offered hereby (referred to in the accompanying prospectus
as the Debt Securities) supplements, and to the
extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the description of the
general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities set forth in
the accompanying prospectus, to which description reference is
hereby made. Certain defined terms in the Indenture, as
supplemented by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, are capitalized herein.
Whenever a defined term is referred to and not herein defined,
the definition thereof is contained in the Indenture, as
supplemented by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture. As used in this Section, all
references to the Indenture mean the Indenture as
supplemented by the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the
Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture. As used under this caption
Description of Senior Notes, all references to the
Company refer to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and
not to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and its subsidiaries.
General
Senior Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $900,000,000
will be offered hereby, including $550,000,000 principal amount
of 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013 and $350,000,000 principal
amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016. Additional Senior
Notes of the same classes and series may be issued in one or
more tranches from time to time (the Additional
Notes). All references herein to the Senior
Notes include the Additional Notes. All of the Senior
Notes will be issued under the Indenture. The 7.00% Senior
Notes due 2013 will bear interest at the rate of 7.00% per
annum and will mature on June 15, 2013. The 7.25% Senior
Notes due 2016 will bear interest at the rate of 7.25% per
annum and will mature on June 15, 2016. Interest on the
principal amount of the Senior Notes will be payable
semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year,
commencing December 15, 2006 to the persons in whose names such
Senior Notes are registered at the close of business on December
1 or June 1, as the case may be, preceding such December 15 or
June 15. The first payments of interest will be made in respect
of the period commencing June 12, 2006.
Except in the event of a change in tax law as described in
Description of Debt Securities Tax Related
Considerations Redemption or Assumption of Debt
Securities Under Certain Circumstances in the accompanying
prospectus, the Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to
maturity and do not have the benefit of a sinking fund.
The Senior Notes are subject to defeasance and covenant
defeasance as described under Description of Debt
Securities Defeasance in the accompanying
prospectus.
Ranking
The Senior Notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness and will rank on a parity with our other unsecured
and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes will not be
guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries and, accordingly, the
Senior Notes will be effectively subordinated to the claims of
our subsidiaries creditors, including trade creditors. The
Senior Notes do not limit the ability of our subsidiaries to
incur or guarantee indebtedness other than Secured Debt as
described under Restrictions on Secured Debt. As of
March 31, 2006, our subsidiaries had indebtedness of
$291.1 million (excluding operating leases and intercompany
indebtedness).
The Senior Notes will not be secured by any of our assets. The
Company and its subsidiaries may incur secured debt subject to
the restrictions described under Restrictions on Secured
Debt. As of March 31, 2006, we had outstanding
secured debt of $279.3 million (which does not include
capital leases). Holders of secured debt would have claims on
the assets securing such indebtedness prior to the holder of the
Senior Notes.
S-19
The Senior Notes will be issued only in fully registered
book-entry form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and
any integral multiples thereof. No service charge will be made
for any transfer or exchange of the Senior Notes, but we may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Senior
Notes will be represented by a Global Security registered in the
name of a nominee of DTC. Except as set forth under
Book-Entry System for Senior Notes below, the Senior
Notes will not be issued in certificated form.
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The various restrictive provisions of the Indenture applicable
to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not apply to
Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The assets and liabilities of
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and investments by the Company in any
Unrestricted Subsidiary, are not consolidated with those of the
Company and its Subsidiaries in calculating Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets (as defined below) under the Indenture.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries are those Subsidiaries
which are designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries by the board
of directors from time to time pursuant to the Indenture and
Subsidiaries of Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Restricted
Subsidiary means any Subsidiary which owns or leases a
Principal Property and any other Subsidiary which has not been
designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Principal
Property means any real or personal property owned or
leased by the Company or any Subsidiary the net book value of
which on the date as of which the determination is being made
exceeds 5% of the Companys Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets.
Maintenance of Properties
The Company will cause all material properties owned by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or used or held for use in
the conduct of its business or the business of any Restricted
Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair
and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment
(except for ordinary wear and tear) and will cause to be made
all necessary repairs, renewals and replacements thereof, all as
in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the
business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however,
that nothing in this covenant shall prevent the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary from discontinuing the operation or
maintenance of any properties if such discontinuation is, in the
judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its
business or the business of any Restricted Subsidiary and not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the
Senior Notes.
Restrictions on Secured Debt
Neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary is permitted
to create, issue, incur, assume or guarantee any Secured Debt
(as defined below) without equally and ratably securing the
Senior Notes. This restriction does not apply to certain
permitted encumbrances including indebtedness for money borrowed
secured by (a) Mortgages existing on the date the Senior
Notes are issued; (b) Mortgages on any real or personal
property of any Person existing at the time such Person became a
Restricted Subsidiary and not incurred in contemplation of such
Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary; (c) Mortgages in
favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(d) Mortgages existing on any real or personal property at
the time it is acquired by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary or created within 18 months of the date of such
acquisition, conditional sale and similar agreements;
(e) certain purchase money Mortgages to secure the purchase
price or construction cost of property; and (f) any
extension, renewal or refunding (or successive extensions,
renewals or refundings) of any Mortgage referred to in the
foregoing clauses; provided the principal amount of such
extension, renewal or refunding may not exceed the principal
amount of the Mortgage being extended, renewed or refunded plus
the amount of any premium or other costs paid in connection with
such extension, renewal or refunding. In addition to such
permitted indebtedness,
S-20
the Indenture permits additional Secured Debt not otherwise
specifically permitted, the aggregate principal amount of which,
together with all Attributable Debt in respect of sale and
leaseback transactions (as defined below) involving Principal
Properties entered into (excluding sale and leaseback
transactions permitted by clause (a) below under the
section entitled Restrictions on Sales and
Leasebacks as a result of the permitted encumbrances set
forth above and clause (b) of such section) would not
exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the
Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means (a) the
total amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other
properly deductible items) which under accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States would be included on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom, without duplication, the
sum of (i) all current liabilities except for
(A) notes and loans payable, (B) current maturities of
long term debt, (C) current maturities of obligations under
capital leases and (D) customer deposits and (ii) all
goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt
discount and expense and other like intangibles, which in each
case under generally accepted accounting principles would be
included on such consolidated balance sheet, less (b) the
amount which would be so included on such consolidated balance
sheet for investments (less applicable reserves) (i) in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries or (ii) in corporations while
they were Unrestricted Subsidiaries but which at the time of
computation are not Subsidiaries of the Company.
Mortgage means and includes any mortgage, pledge,
lien, security interest, conditional sale or other title
retention agreement or other similar encumbrance.
Secured Debt means indebtedness for money borrowed
which is secured by a Mortgage on a Principal Property of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary.
Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks
Neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into
any sale and leaseback transaction involving any Principal
Property (a sale and leaseback transaction), unless
(a) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be
entitled under Restrictions on Secured Debt to incur
Secured Debt on the Principal Property in a principal amount
equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and
leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the
Senior Notes under the Indenture or (b)(i) the gross proceeds of
the sale or transfer of the Principal Property leased equals or
exceeds the fair market value of such Principal Property and
(ii) within one year after such sale or transfer of such
Principal Property shall have been made by the Company or by a
Restricted Subsidiary, the Company applies all of the net
proceeds to (A) the voluntary retirement of Funded Debt of
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (B) the
acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of one or
more properties which on an aggregate basis have a purchase
price in excess of 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (other
than the Principal Property involved in such sale). A sale and
leaseback transaction shall not include any sale and leaseback
transactions (x) between the Company and a Restricted
Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries or
(y) involving the temporary taking back of a lease for a
period, including renewals, of less than three years in the case
where it is intended that at the end of the lease the use of
such property by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary will
be discontinued.
Funded Debt means any indebtedness for money
borrowed, created, issued, incurred, assumed or guaranteed,
whether secured or unsecured, maturing more than one year after
the date of determination thereof and any indebtedness,
regardless of its terms, renewable pursuant to the terms thereof
or of a revolving credit or similar agreement effective for more
than 360 days after the date of the creation of
indebtedness.
S-21
Book-Entry System for the Senior Notes
Upon issuance, the Senior Notes will each be represented by a
global security or securities (each a Global
Security). Each Global Security will be deposited with, or
on behalf of, DTC (the Depositary). Upon the
issuance of any such Global Security, the Depositary or its
nominee will credit the accounts of persons held with it with
the respective principal or face amounts of the Senior Notes
represented by any such Global Security. Ownership of beneficial
interests in any such Global Security will be limited to persons
that have accounts with the Depositary
(participants) or persons that may hold interests
through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by
participants in any such Global Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary. Ownership of beneficial
interests in any such Global Security by persons that hold
through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of that
ownership interest within such participant will be effected only
through, records maintained by such participant. The laws of
some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form.
Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to acquire or
transfer beneficial interests in any such Global Security.
Payment of principal of and interest on the Senior Notes will be
made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the sole registered owner and holder of any Global Security for
such series for all purposes under the Indenture. Neither the
Company, the trustee nor any agent of the Company or the trustee
will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
Depositarys records relating to or payments made on
account of beneficial ownership interests in any such Global
Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of the
Depositarys records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
The Company has been advised by the Depositary that upon receipt
of any payment of principal of or interest on any Global
Security, the Depositary will immediately credit, on its
book-entry registration and transfer system, the accounts of
participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal or face amount
of such Global Security as shown on the records of the
Depositary. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Security held through such participants
will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices as is now the case with securities held for customer
accounts registered in street name and will be the
sole responsibility of such participants.
No Global Security may be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary. Each Global Security
is exchangeable for certificated Senior Notes only if
(x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global
Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the
Company fails within 90 days thereafter to appoint a
successor, (y) the Company in its sole discretion
determines that such Global Security shall be exchangeable or
(z) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default (as defined in the Indenture) or an event which with the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an
Event of Default with respect to the Senior Notes represented by
such Global Security. In such event, the Company will issue
Senior Notes in certificated form in exchange for such Global
Security. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial
interest in either Global Security will be entitled to physical
delivery in certificated form of Senior Notes equal in principal
amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Senior Notes
registered in its name. Senior Notes so issued in certificated
form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any larger
amount that is an integral multiple thereof, and will be issued
in registered form only, without coupons. Subject to the
foregoing, no Global Security is exchangeable, except for a
Global Security for the same series of Senior Notes of like
denomination to be registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee.
So long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered
owner of a Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Senior Notes represented by such Global Security for the
purposes of receiving payment on such
S-22
Senior Notes, receiving notices and for all other purposes under
the Indenture and such Senior Notes. Beneficial interests in the
Senior Notes will be evidenced only by, and transfer thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depositary and its participants. Except as provided herein,
owners of beneficial interests in any Global Security will not
be entitled to and will not be considered the holders thereof
for any purposes under the Indenture. Accordingly, each person
owning a beneficial interest in such Global Security must rely
on the procedures of the Depositary, and, if such person is not
a participant, on the procedures of the participant through
which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a
Holder under the Indenture. The Depositary will not consent or
vote with respect to the Global Security representing the Senior
Notes. Under its usual procedures, the Depositary mails an
Omnibus Proxy to the Company as soon as possible after the
applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns
Cede & Co.s (the Depositarys partnership
nominee) consenting or voting rights to those participants to
whose accounts the Senior Notes are credited on the applicable
record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
The Depositary has advised the Company that the Depositary is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under New York Banking
Law, a banking organization within the meaning of
the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, a clearing corporation within the meaning of
the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a clearing
agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. The Depositary was created to hold the securities of its
participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions among its participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. The Depositarys participants include
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations, and certain other organizations some of whom
(and/or their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the
Depositarys book-entry system is also available to others,
such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant,
either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the
Depositary and its participants are on file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment for Senior Notes
Settlement for the Senior Notes will be made by the underwriters
in immediately available funds. All cash payments of principal
and interest will be made by the Company in immediately
available funds.
The Senior Notes will trade in the Depositarys same-day
funds settlement system until maturity or until such Senior
Notes are issued in definitive form, and secondary market
trading activity in such Senior Notes will therefore be required
by the Depositary to settle in immediately available funds. No
assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement
in immediately available funds on trading activity in such
Senior Notes.
EXCHANGE CONTROLS
There are now no exchange control restrictions on remittances of
dividends on our common stock, payment of principal or interest
on any indebtedness, or on the conduct of our operations in
Liberia by reason of our incorporation in Liberia.
S-23
UNDERWRITING
We intend to offer the Senior Notes through the underwriters
named below. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement between us and the underwriters, we have
agreed to sell to the underwriters and the underwriters
severally have agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount
of the Senior Notes listed opposite their names below.
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Principal Amount of | |
|
Principal Amount of | |
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|
7.00% Senior Notes | |
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7.25% Senior Notes | |
Underwriter |
|
Due 2013 | |
|
Due 2016 | |
|
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| |
|
| |
Goldman, Sachs &
Co.
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$ |
275,000,000 |
|
|
$ |
175,000,000 |
|
Barclays Capital Inc.
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
|
35,000,000 |
|
BNP Paribas Securities
Corp.
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
|
35,000,000 |
|
Greenwich Capital Markets,
Inc.
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
|
35,000,000 |
|
Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated
|
|
|
55,000,000 |
|
|
|
35,000,000 |
|
DnB NOR Markets, Inc.
|
|
|
13,750,000 |
|
|
|
8,750,000 |
|
J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc.
|
|
|
13,750,000 |
|
|
|
8,750,000 |
|
Morgan Keegan & Company,
Inc.
|
|
|
13,750,000 |
|
|
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8,750,000 |
|
Scotia Capital (USA)
Inc.
|
|
|
13,750,000 |
|
|
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8,750,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total
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$ |
550,000,000 |
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$ |
350,000,000 |
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The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to
offer the Senior Notes to the public at the respective public
offering prices on the cover page of this prospectus, and to
dealers at those prices less a concession not in excess of
0.375% of the principal amount, with respect to the 7.00% Senior
Notes due 2013, and 0.400% of the principal amount, with respect
to the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016. The underwriters may allow,
and the dealers may reallow, a discount to other dealers not in
excess of 0.25% of the principal amount, with respect to the
7.00% Senior Notes due 2013, and 0.25% of the principal amount,
with respect to the 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016. After the
initial public offering, the public offering prices, concessions
and discounts may be changed.
General
The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the Senior Notes
sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of these
Senior Notes are purchased.
If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides
that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters
may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or
to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to
make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the Senior Notes subject to prior
sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to
approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the
validity of the Senior Notes and other conditions contained in
the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the
underwriters of officers certificates and legal opinions.
The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify
offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting
discounts, are estimated to be $0.6 million and are payable
by us.
New Issue of Senior Notes
The Senior Notes are new issues of securities with no
established trading market. We do not intend to apply for
listing of the Senior Notes on any national securities exchange
or for quotation of the Senior Notes on any automated dealer
quotation system. We have been advised by the
S-24
underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the
Senior Notes after completion of the offering. However, they are
under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any
market-making activities at any time without any notice. We
cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the Senior
Notes or that an active public market for the Senior Notes will
develop. If an active public trading market for the Senior Notes
does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Senior
Notes may be adversely affected.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted
to engage in transactions that stabilize the market price of the
Senior Notes. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases to
peg, fix or maintain the price of the Senior Notes. If the
underwriters create a short position in the Senior Notes in
connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more Senior
Notes than are on the cover page of this prospectus, the
underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing Senior
Notes in the open market. In general, purchases of a security to
stabilize the price or to reduce a short position could cause
the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the
absence of such purchases.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when
a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of
the underwriting discount received by it because the
representatives have repurchased Senior Notes sold by or for the
account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering
transactions.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation
or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect
that the transactions described above may have on the price of
the Senior Notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the
underwriters makes any representation that such persons will
engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once
commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
European Economic Area
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant
Member State), each Manager has represented and agreed that with
effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus
Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the
Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make
an offer of Senior Notes to the public in that Relevant Member
State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to
the Senior Notes which has been approved by the competent
authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate,
approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the
competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in
accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may,
with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date,
make an offer of Senior Notes to the public in that Relevant
Member State at any time:
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(a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to
operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or
regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in
securities; |
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(b) to any legal entity which has two or more of
(1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last
financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and
(3) an annual net turnover of more than
50,000,000, as shown
in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or |
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|
(c) in any other circumstances which do not require the
publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an
offer of Senior Notes to the public in relation to
any Senior Notes in any Relevant Member State means the
communication in any form and by any means of sufficient
information on the terms of the offer and the Senior Notes to be
offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or
subscribe the Senior Notes, as the
S-25
same may be varied in that Member State by any measure
implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and
the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/ EC
and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant
Member State.
Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that:
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(i) it is a person whose ordinary activities involve it in
acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as
principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and
(ii) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell
the Senior Notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities
involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their
businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold,
manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the
purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Senior Notes
would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA)
by the Issuer; |
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|
(ii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated
and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an
invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by
it in connection with the issue or sale of the Senior Notes in
circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not
apply to the Issuer; and |
|
|
(iii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable
provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in
relation to the Senior Notes in, from or otherwise involving the
United Kingdom. |
The Senior Notes may not be offered or sold by means of any
document other than to persons whose ordinary business is to buy
or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent, or
in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public
within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of
Hong Kong, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating
to the Senior Notes may be issued, whether in Hong Kong or
elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are
likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong
(except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong
Kong) other than with respect to Notes which are or are intended
to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to
professional investors within the meaning of the
Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any
rules made thereunder.
The securities have not been and will not be registered under
the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan (the Securities and
Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not
offer or sell any securities, directly or indirectly, in Japan
or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term
as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any
corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan),
or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly,
in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise
in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law and any
other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of
Japan.
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the
Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus
and any other document or material in connection with the offer
or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the
Senior Notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the
Senior Notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an
invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or
indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an
institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities
and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the
SFA), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person
pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the
conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or
(iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the
conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
S-26
Where the Senior Notes are subscribed or purchased under
Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a
corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole
business of which is to hold investments and the entire share
capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of
whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the
trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to
hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor,
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that
corporation or the beneficiaries rights and interest in
that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after
that corporation or that trust has acquired the Senior Notes
under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional
investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant
person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in
accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of
the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the
transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
Other
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in,
and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other
commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us.
They have received customary fees and commissions for these
transactions.
We executed the stock buyback program referred to under
Use of Proceeds and Capitalization
pursuant to an accelerated share repurchase agreement with
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Under that agreement, we agreed to
purchase approximately $165.0 million of our outstanding
common stock from Goldman, Sachs & Co. Some of the
underwriters or their affiliates may receive part of the
proceeds of the offering by reason of the redemption of LYONs
held by them. In addition, Goldman, Sachs & Co. will receive
part of the proceeds of the offering in connection with the
accelerated stock purchase program. Because more than ten
percent of the net proceeds of the offering may be paid to
members or affiliates of members of the NASD participating in
the offering, the offering will be conducted in accordance with
NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Senior Notes will be passed upon for us by
Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York. Certain
legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed
upon for the underwriters by Fried, Frank, Harris,
Shriver & Jacobson LLP, New York, New York. Watson,
Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, New York, New York
will pass upon certain matters of Liberian law for the
underwriters. Davis Polk & Wardwell and Fried, Frank,
Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP will rely upon Watson,
Farley & Williams (New York) LLP regarding matters of
Liberian law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting)
incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the
Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005, have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an
independent registered certified public accounting firm, given
on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You can read and copy these reports and other
information at the Securities and Exchange Commissions
Public Reference Room at Station Place, 100 F
Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call
the Securities and Exchange Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the Public Reference Room. You can access
this material at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on
S-27
which our common stock is listed and through the Securities and
Exchange Commissions web site at www.sec.gov.
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to
incorporate by reference the information that we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This allows us
to disclose important information to you by referring to those
filed documents. Any information referred to in this way is
considered part of this prospectus, and any information that we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the date
of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede this
information.
We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below,
and all documents that we file after the date of this prospectus
supplement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the termination of the offering of
the Senior Notes covered by this prospectus supplement:
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Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005; |
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Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2006; |
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Our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2006; and |
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Our Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 10,
2006, April 19, 2006, April 24, 2006 (2 reports) and
May 31, 2006 (but only the report filed on that date
pursuant to item 5.02 of
Form 8-K). |
Unless we specifically state otherwise, none of the information
furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 in our Current
Reports on
Form 8-K is, or
will be, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner,
to whom a prospectus has been delivered, free of charge, upon
oral or written request copies of any documents that we have
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than
exhibits that are incorporated by reference into those
documents. You can obtain copies through our Investor Relations
website at www.rclinvestor.com or by contacting our
Investor Relations department at 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami,
Florida 33132; telephone (305) 539-6153.
S-28
PROSPECTUS
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$1,000,000,000
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Debt Securities, Preferred Stock
and Common Stock |
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Through this prospectus, we may periodically offer:
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shares of our common stock |
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shares of our preferred stock and |
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our debt securities, |
and one or more of our shareholders may periodically offer
shares of our common stock.
The prices and other terms of the securities that we or our
shareholders will offer will be determined at the time of their
offering and will be described in a supplement to this
prospectus.
The aggregate offering price of all securities issued under this
prospectus may not exceed $1,000,000,000.
Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange and on
the Oslo Stock Exchange under the symbol RCL. We
will list any shares of our common stock sold under this
prospectus on the New York Stock Exchange, the Oslo Stock
Exchange or both.
We or our shareholders will sell the securities issued under
this prospectus directly and/or through agents, underwriters or
dealers.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See Risk
Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and in the accompanying
prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved these
securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 23, 2005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page | |
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Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
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2 |
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Where You Can Find More Information
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2 |
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The Company
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3 |
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Use of Proceeds
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3 |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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3 |
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Description of Debt Securities
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4 |
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Description of Capital Stock
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12 |
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Selling Shareholders
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15 |
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Plan of Distribution
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15 |
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Legal Matters
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17 |
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Experts
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17 |
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1
As used in this prospectus, and any accompanying prospectus
supplement, the terms Royal Caribbean,
Company, we, our and
us refer to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and its
subsidiaries.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a Liberian corporation and our selling shareholders are
foreign corporations or partnerships. The selling shareholders
and certain of our directors and controlling persons are
residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and all
or a substantial portion of their assets and a significant
portion of our assets are located outside the United States. As
a result, it may be difficult for investors to serve process
within the United States upon us or those persons or to enforce
against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts
based upon civil liability provisions of the federal securities
laws of the United States. We have been advised by the law firm
of Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP (as to
Liberian law), that, both in original actions and in actions for
the enforcement of judgments of United States courts, there is
doubt as to whether civil liabilities based solely upon the
United States federal securities laws are enforceable in Liberia.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You can read and copy these reports and other
information at the Securities and Exchange Commissions
Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You can call the Securities and
Exchange Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330 for
further information on the Public Reference Room. You can access
this material at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our
securities are listed and through the Securities and Exchange
Commissions web site at http://www.sec.gov.
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to
incorporate by reference the information that we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This allows us
to disclose important information to you by referring to those
filed documents. Any information referred to in this way is
considered part of this prospectus, and any information that we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the date
of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede this
information.
We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below,
all filings pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act), after the date of the initial
registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the
registration statement, and all documents subsequently filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior
to the termination of the offering under this prospectus:
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Our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004; |
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Our Current Reports on
Form 8-K dated
February 16, 2005 and March 21, 2005; and |
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Our Report on
Form 8-A dated
April 16, 1993. |
Unless we specifically state otherwise, none of the information
furnished under Item 9 or Item 12 in our Current
Reports on
Form 8-K filed
before August 23, 2004 or under Item 2.02 or
Item 7.01 in our Current Reports filed on or after
August 23, 2004 is, or will be, incorporated by reference
in this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner,
to whom a prospectus has been delivered, free of charge, upon
oral or written request copies of any documents that we have
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than
exhibits that are incorporated by reference into those
documents. You can obtain copies through our Investor Relations
website at
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www.rclinvestor.com or by contacting our Investor Relations
department at 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida 33132;
Attention: Dan Mathewes, telephone
(305) 539-6153.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any
accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not, and any
underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information. If anyone provides you with
different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on
it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to
sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or
sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information
appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus
supplement as well as information we previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated by
reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of
those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects may have changed since those
dates.
THE COMPANY
With our subsidiaries, we are the worlds second largest
cruise company with 29 cruise ships and a total of
60,590 berths as of March 31, 2005. Our ships operate
worldwide with a selection of different itineraries that call on
approximately 160 destinations.
We are a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of
Liberia. Our registered office in Liberia is located at
80 Broad Street, Monrovia, Liberia. Our principal executive
office is located at 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, Florida
33132, and our telephone number at that address is
(305) 539-6000.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus
supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the
securities offered by this prospectus for capital expenditures,
the repayment of indebtedness, working capital and general
corporate purposes. We will not receive any proceeds from any
sales of our common stock by our selling shareholders.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the year ended December 31, 2004 and for each
of the preceding four fiscal years. In calculating this ratio,
we take earnings to include net income plus fixed charges and
exclude capitalized interest. Fixed charges include gross
interest expense, amortization of deferred financing expenses
and an amount equivalent to interest included in rental charges.
We have included actual interest charges for the Brilliance
of the Seas operating lease and, for all other rentals, we
have assumed that one-third of rental expense is representative
of the interest factor.
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Fiscal Year | |
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2004 | |
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2003 | |
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2002 | |
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2001 | |
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2000 | |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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2.4 |
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1.9 |
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2.1 |
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1.8 |
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3.0 |
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends(1)
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2.4 |
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1.9 |
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2.1 |
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1.8 |
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3.0 |
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(1) |
We had no preferred stock outstanding during fiscal years 2004,
2003, 2002 and 2001. Therefore, the ratio of earnings to
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends is
identical to the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for those
periods. We redeemed our preferred stock in April 2000. |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following summarizes some of the general terms and
conditions of the debt securities that we may issue under this
prospectus. Each time we issue debt securities, we will file a
prospectus supplement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The prospectus supplement may contain additional
terms of those debt securities. The terms presented here,
together with the terms contained in the prospectus supplement,
will be a description of the material terms of the debt
securities, but if there is any inconsistency between the terms
presented here and those in the prospectus supplement, those in
the prospectus supplement will apply and will replace those
presented here.
We will issue the debt securities under an indenture, dated as
of July 15, 1994, between us and The Bank of New York, as
successor to NationsBank of Georgia, National Association, as
trustee. We will issue each series of debt securities under the
terms of a supplemental indenture or an officers
certificate delivered under the authority of resolutions adopted
by our board of directors and the indenture. The terms of any
debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and
those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939. The debt securities will be subject to
all those terms, and we refer the holders of debt securities to
the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of
those terms.
The following summaries of various provisions of the indenture
and the debt securities are not complete. Unless we indicate
otherwise, capitalized terms have the meanings given to them in
the indenture. All section references below are to sections of
the indenture.
General
The debt securities will be unsecured senior obligations and
will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt. The indenture does not limit the aggregate
principal amount of debt securities that we may issue, and we
may issue debt securities periodically in series. In addition,
the indenture does not limit the ability of our subsidiaries to
incur debt other than secured debt. Any debt incurred by our
subsidiaries ranks structurally senior to any debt incurred by
us with respect to the assets of the subsidiary borrower (unless
that subsidiary issues a subsidiary guarantee). We do not have
to issue all the debt securities of one series at the same time
and, unless we otherwise specify in a prospectus supplement, we
may reopen a series to issue more debt securities of that series
without the consent of any holder of debt securities.
(Sections 301 and 303) The indenture provides that more
than one trustee may be appointed under the indenture to act on
behalf of the holders of the different series of debt securities.
We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to the debt
securities of any particular series for a description of the
terms of those debt securities, including, where applicable:
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(1) the title of those debt securities; |
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(2) the aggregate principal amount of those debt securities
and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of those debt
securities and whether the debt securities are part of a series
of securities previously issued or represent a new series; |
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(3) the person to whom any interest (which includes any
additional amounts, see Tax Related
Considerations Payment of Additional
Amounts) on those debt securities will be payable, if
not the person in whose name a debt security is registered at
the close of business on the regular record date for that
interest; |
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(4) the date or dates on which the principal of those debt
securities is payable, or the method by which that date or those
dates will be determined; |
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(5) the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or
variable, of those debt securities, if there is any interest, or
the method by which that rate or those rates will be determined; |
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(6) the date or dates from which interest will accrue and
the dates on which interest will be payable; |
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(7) the regular record date for any interest payable on any
interest payment date or the method by which that date will be
determined; |
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(8) the basis upon which interest will be calculated if not
based on a 360-day year
of twelve 30-day months; |
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(9) the place or places where the principal of and any
premium and interest on those debt securities will be payable; |
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(10) the times at which, prices at which, currency in which
and the other terms and conditions upon which those debt
securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option; |
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(11) any obligation we have to redeem, repay, or purchase
those debt securities according to any sinking fund or similar
provisions or at a holders option and the times at which,
prices at which, currency in which and the other terms and
conditions upon which those debt securities will be redeemed,
repaid or purchased; |
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(12) our right to defease those debt securities or various
restrictive covenants and events of default applicable to those
debt securities under limited circumstances (see
Defeasance Defeasance and
Discharge Defeasance of Certain
Covenants); |
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(13) if not in United States dollars, the currency in which
we are to pay principal of and any premium and interest on those
debt securities and the equivalent of those amounts in United
States dollars; |
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(14) any index, formula or other method used to determine
the amount of the payments of principal of or any premium and
interest on those debt securities; |
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(15) if those debt securities are to be issued only in the
form of a global security as described under Book-Entry
Debt Securities, the depositary for those debt securities
or its nominee and the circumstances under which the global
security may be registered for transfer or exchange or
authenticated and delivered in the name of a person other than
the depositary or its nominee; |
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(16) if any payment, other than the principal of or any
premium or interest on those debt securities, may be payable, at
our or a holders election, in a currency that is not the
currency in which those debt securities are denominated or
stated to be payable, the terms and conditions upon which that
election may be made; |
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(17) if not the entire principal amount of those debt
securities, the portion of the principal amount of those debt
securities which will be payable upon declaration of
acceleration or, if the debt securities are convertible, the
portion of the principal amount of those debt securities that is
convertible under the provisions of the indenture; |
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(18) any provisions granting special rights to the holders
of those debt securities if specified events occur; |
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(19) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to,
the events of default or our covenants applicable to those debt
securities, whether or not those events of default or covenants
are consistent with the events of default or covenants described
in this prospectus; |
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(20) whether and under what circumstances we will not pay
additional amounts on those debt securities to a holder and
whether or not we may redeem those debt securities rather than
pay those additional amounts and the terms of that option to
redeem; |
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(21) any obligation we have to convert those debt
securities into shares of our common stock or preferred stock
and the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period,
any adjustment of the applicable conversion price, any
requirements regarding the reservation of shares of our capital
stock for the conversion and other terms and conditions of the
conversion and |
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(22) any other terms of those debt securities.
(Section 301) |
The debt securities may provide that less than their entire
principal amount will be payable upon acceleration of their
maturity (original issue discount securities). We
will describe any special United States federal income tax,
accounting and other considerations that apply to original issue
discount securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer
Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we will issue the debt securities of any series in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
(Section 302)
Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus
supplement, we will pay the principal of and any premium and
interest on any series of debt securities at the corporate trust
office of the trustee, currently located at 10161 Centurion
Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida 32256. However, we may pay
interest by check mailed to the address in the security register
of the person entitled to that interest or by wire transfer of
funds to that persons United States bank account.
(Sections 301, 305, 306, 307 and 1002)
Any interest on a debt security that we do not punctually pay or
provide for on an interest payment date will after that date not
be payable to the holder on the related regular record date.
Instead, that interest may either be paid to the person in whose
name that debt security is registered at the close of business
on a special record date designated by the trustee or be paid at
any time in any other lawful manner as described in the
indenture. If the trustee establishes a special record date, it
will notify the holder of that date not less than 10 days
prior to that date.
Subject to some limitations imposed on debt securities issued in
book-entry form, a holder may exchange debt securities of any
series for other debt securities of that series as long as the
newly issued debt securities are issued in the same aggregate
principal amount as the debt securities being exchanged and in
an authorized denomination. The holder must surrender the debt
securities to be exchanged at the corporate trust office of the
trustee. In addition, subject to some limitations imposed on
debt securities issued in book-entry form, a holder may
surrender for conversion, if convertible, or register for
transfer the debt securities of any series at the corporate
trust office of the trustee. Every debt security surrendered for
conversion or registration of transfer or exchange must be
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. We
will not impose a service charge for any registration of
transfer or exchange of any debt securities, but we may require
payment of an amount that will cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable as a result of the transfer or
exchange. (Section 305) If we designate a transfer agent
for any series of debt securities, we may rescind that
designation at any time. We may also approve a new location for
that transfer agent to act, provided that we maintain a transfer
agent in each place of payment for that series of debt
securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer
agents for any series of debt securities. (Section 1002)
In the event of any redemption of any series of debt securities
in part, neither we nor the trustee will be required to:
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(1) issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt
securities of that series during the period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the mailing of the
redemption notice for those debt securities and ending at the
close of business on the mailing date of the redemption notice;
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(2) register the transfer of or exchange any debt security
or any portion of a debt security called for redemption, except
the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in
part. (Section 305) |
Covenants
We will describe any particular covenants relating to a series
of debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to that
series. We will also state in that prospectus supplement whether
the covenant defeasance provisions described below
will apply to those covenants.
Restrictions on Consolidation, Merger and Certain Sales of
Assets
Without the consent of the holders, we may consolidate with or
merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease our properties
and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person and may
permit any person to merge with or into, or convey, transfer or
lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
us if:
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(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction,
and treating any indebtedness that becomes our obligation as a
result of the transaction as having been incurred by us at the
time of the transaction, no event of default and no event which
after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of
default shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
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(2) the successor person assumes all our obligations under
the indenture; provided that the successor person is a
corporation, trust or partnership organized under the laws of
the United States, any state of the United States, the District
of Columbia, the Republic of Liberia or any country recognized
by the United States. (Article Eight) |
Events of Default
Except as we may otherwise provide in a prospectus supplement
for any particular series of debt securities, the following
events are events of default for any series of debt
securities:
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(1) our failure to pay interest or any additional amounts
on those debt securities for 30 days after that interest or
those additional amounts become due; |
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(2) our failure to pay the principal or any premium on
those debt securities when due at maturity; |
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(3) our failure to deposit any sinking fund payment for
those debt securities when due; |
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(4) our failure to perform any other covenants in the
indenture for 60 days after written notice has been given
as provided in the indenture; |
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(5) our failure to pay when due any payment on, or the
acceleration of, any of our indebtedness for money borrowed that
exceeds $30 million in the aggregate under any mortgages,
indentures (including the indenture for the debt securities) or
instruments under which we may have issued, or which there may
have been secured or evidenced, any of our indebtedness for
money borrowed, if that indebtedness is not discharged or the
acceleration is not annulled within 30 days after written
notice has been given as provided in the indenture; |
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(6) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization or |
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(7) the occurrence of any other event of default that we
provide for debt securities of that series. (Section 501) |
If an event of default affecting any series of debt securities
occurs and continues, either the trustee or the holders of at
least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities of that series then outstanding may declare the
principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are
original issue discount securities or indexed securities, the
portion of the principal amount specified
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in the terms of that series) of all of the debt securities of
that series to be immediately due and payable. At any time after
a declaration of acceleration affecting debt securities of any
series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on
acceleration has been obtained, the holders of a majority in
principal amount of the debt securities outstanding of that
series may, under limited circumstances, rescind and annul that
acceleration. (Section 502)
The indenture requires that we file annually with the trustee a
certificate of our principal executive, financial or accounting
officer as to his or her knowledge of our compliance with all
conditions and covenants of the indenture. (Section 1005)
We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to each
series of debt securities that are original issue discount
securities for the particular provisions regarding acceleration
of the maturity of a portion of the principal amount of those
original issue discount securities if an event of default occurs
and continues.
Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the
trustees duties, if an event of default occurs and
continues, the indenture provides that the trustee is not
required to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless
those holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity.
(Section 603) Subject to those provisions regarding
indemnification and rights of the trustee, the indenture
provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the debt securities then outstanding have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the trustee. (Section 512)
Defeasance
The obligations that we have under the indenture will not apply
to the debt securities of a series (except for our obligations
to register any transfer or exchange of those debt securities
and provide for additional amounts) when all those debt
securities:
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(1) have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; |
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(2) have become due and payable or |
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(3) will upon their stated maturity or redemption within
one year become due and payable, |
and we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust
funds for that purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge
the entire indebtedness on those debt securities.
The prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities of any
series will state if any additional defeasance provisions will
apply to those debt securities.
Defeasance and Discharge
The indenture allows us to elect to defease and be discharged
from all of our obligations with respect to any series of debt
securities then outstanding (except for those obligations to pay
additional amounts, register the transfer or exchange of the
debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt
securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment
in trust) provided the following conditions have been satisfied:
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(1) We have deposited in trust with the trustee
(a) funds in the currency in which the debt securities are
payable, or (b) if the debt securities are denominated in
United States dollars, (A) United States Government
Obligations or (B) a combination of United States dollars
and United States Government Obligations in each case, in an
amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal, interest,
premium and any mandatory sinking fund payments on the
outstanding debt securities of the series and |
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(2) We have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel
that states that the discharge will not be considered, or result
in, a taxable event to the holders of the debt securities of the
series. (Section 403) |
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Defeasance of Certain Covenants
The indenture states that if the debt securities of a series so
provide, we need not comply with some restrictive covenants
applicable to those debt securities (except for our obligation
to pay additional amounts) and that our failure to comply with
those covenants will not be considered events of default under
the indenture and those debt securities if the following
conditions have been satisfied:
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(1) We have deposited in trust with the trustee
(a) funds in the currency in which the debt securities are
payable, or (b) if those debt securities are denominated in
United States dollars, (A) United States Government
Obligations or (B) a combination of United States dollars
and United States Government Obligations in each case, in an
amount sufficient to pay and discharge the principal, interest,
premium and any mandatory sinking fund payments on the
outstanding debt securities of the series and |
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(2) We have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel
that states that the discharge will not be considered, or result
in, a taxable event to the holders of the debt securities of the
series. |
Modification of the Indenture
We and the trustee may modify or amend the indenture if we
obtain the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each
series affected by the modification or amendment. However, the
indenture may not be modified or amended to:
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(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or any interest on, any debt
security; |
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(2) reduce the principal amount of any debt security; |
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(3) reduce the rate of interest on any debt security; |
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(4) reduce any additional amounts payable on any debt
security; |
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(5) reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any
debt security; |
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(6) reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue
discount security that would be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of its maturity under the terms of
the indenture; |
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(7) change any place of payment where, or the currency in
which any debt security or any premium or interest on that debt
security is payable; |
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(8) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any payment of principal of or premium or any interest on any
debt security on or after its stated maturity, or, in the case
of redemption, on or after the redemption date; |
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(9) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for the supplemental indenture; |
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(10) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain
provisions of the indenture or certain defaults under the
indenture and their consequences or |
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(11) modify any of the provisions relating to supplemental
indentures, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain
covenants, except to increase the percentage in principal amount
of the outstanding debt securities of a series required for the
consent of holders to approve a supplemental indenture or a
waiver of a past default or compliance with certain covenants or
to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot
be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding debt security that would be affected by such a
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without the consent of the holders of each of the debt
securities affected by that modification or amendment.
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We and the trustee may amend the indenture without the consent
of any holder of debt securities for any of the following
purposes:
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(1) to evidence that another person is our successor and
that that person has assumed our covenants in the indenture and
in the debt securities as obligor; |
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(2) to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders
of all or any series of debt securities; |
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(3) to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in
the indenture; |
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(4) to add additional events of default; |
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(5) to add or change any provisions of the indenture to the
extent necessary to permit or facilitate issuing debt securities
in bearer form, whether registrable or not as to principal, and
with or without interest coupons; |
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(6) to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities
in uncertificated form; |
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(7) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of
the indenture affecting one or more series of debt securities,
provided that the addition, change or elimination |
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(X) apply to debt securities of any series created before
the execution of the supplemental indenture and entitled to the
benefit of that provision or |
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(Y) modify the rights of any holder of those outstanding
debt securities with respect to such provision or |
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(b) shall become effective only when there are no such debt
securities of that series outstanding; |
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(8) to establish the form or terms of debt securities of
any series as permitted by the indenture, including any
provisions and procedures relating to debt securities
convertible into our common stock or preferred stock; |
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(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of
appointment of a successor trustee for the debt securities of
one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions
of the indenture necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts under the indenture by more than
one trustee; |
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(10) to secure the debt securities; |
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(11) to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture
to the extent necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance
and discharge of any series of debt securities under the
indenture if doing so does not adversely affect the interests of
the holders of debt securities of that series or any other
series in any material way; |
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(12) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision in the indenture which may be inconsistent with any
other provision in the indenture if doing so does not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of that
series or any other series in any material way or |
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(13) to make any other provisions regarding matters or
questions arising under the indenture if doing so does not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities
of that series or any other series in any material way.
(Section 901) |
Conversion Rights
We will describe any terms and conditions upon which the debt
securities are convertible into our common stock or preferred
stock in the applicable prospectus supplement. Those terms will
include:
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(1) whether those debt securities are convertible into our
common stock or preferred stock; |
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(2) the conversion price or manner of calculating the
conversion price; |
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(3) the conversion period; |
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(4) provisions as to whether conversion will be at our
option or the option of the holders; |
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(5) the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion
price and |
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(6) provisions affecting conversion in the event of the
redemption of those debt securities. |
Book-Entry Debt Securities
We may issue the debt securities of a series, in whole or in
part, in the form of one or more global securities that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary. We will identify
the depositary in the applicable prospectus supplement relating
to that series. If we issue one or more global securities, we
will issue them in a denomination or aggregate denominations
equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by
that global security or those global securities. We may issue
global securities in either registered or bearer form and in
either temporary or permanent form. We will describe the
specific terms of the depositary arrangement for a series of
debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement relating
to that series. (Sections 301 and 305)
Tax Related Considerations
Payment of Additional Amounts
Any amounts that we pay with respect to any series of debt
securities will be paid without deduction or withholding for any
and all present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or
other governmental charges imposed or levied by or on behalf of
the Liberian government or the government of the jurisdiction of
our successor or any authority or agency in that government
having power to tax (Taxes), unless we are required
to withhold or deduct Taxes by law or by the interpretation or
administration of that law. If we are so required to deduct or
withhold any amount for Taxes from any payment made with respect
to any series of debt securities, we will pay any
additional amounts necessary so that the net payment
received by each holder, including additional amounts, after the
withholding or deduction, will not be less than the amount the
holder would have received if those Taxes had not been withheld
or deducted. However, we will pay no additional amounts with
respect to a payment made to a holder which is subject to those
Taxes because that holder is subject to the jurisdiction of the
government of our jurisdiction of organization or any territory
of that jurisdiction other than by merely holding the debt
securities or receiving payments under the debt securities (an
excluded holder). We will also pay no additional
amounts with respect to a payment made to a holder, if we would
not be required to withhold or deduct any amount for Taxes from
any payment made to that holder, if that holder filed a form
with the relevant government with no other consequence to that
holder. We will also deduct or withhold and remit the full
amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority according
to applicable law. We will furnish the holders, within
30 days after the date the payment of any Taxes is due
under applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts
evidencing our payment. We will indemnify and hold harmless each
holder and upon written request reimburse each holder for the
amount of any:
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(1) Taxes levied or imposed on and paid by that holder as a
result of payments with respect to the debt securities (other
than for an excluded holder); |
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(2) liability, including penalties, interest and expense,
arising from those Taxes and |
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(3) Taxes imposed as a result of any reimbursement we make
under this covenant. (Section 1007) |
11
Redemption or Assumption of Debt Securities under Certain
Circumstances
If we determine, based upon an opinion of independent counsel,
that we would be required to pay an additional amount, because
of any change in or amendment to:
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(1) the laws and related regulations of Liberia or any
political subdivision or taxing authority of Liberia; or |
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(2) the laws and related regulations of any jurisdiction in
which we are organized or any political subdivision or taxing
authority of that jurisdiction or |
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(3) any official position regarding the application or
interpretation of the above laws or regulations, |
which is announced or becomes effective after the date of the
indenture, then we may, at our option, on giving not less than
30 days nor more than 60 days notice,
redeem the debt securities in whole, but not in part, at any
time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
of the debt securities plus accrued interest to the redemption
date or, in the case of securities issued at a discount, at a
redemption price equal to the offering price plus accrued
original issue discount to the redemption date. Any notice of
redemption we give will be irrevocable, and we may not give any
notice of redemption more than 90 days before the earliest
date on which we would be obligated to pay additional amounts.
At the time we give notice of redemption, the obligation to pay
additional amounts remains in effect. (Section 1108)
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $.01 per share, and
20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$.01 per share. The following summary description of the
terms of our capital stock is not complete and is qualified by
reference to our Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws,
copies of which we have filed as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is part, and the certificate
of designations which we will file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission at the time of any offering of our preferred
stock.
Common Stock
General. Our directors generally have the power to
cause shares of any authorized class of our common stock to be
issued for any corporate purpose.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share
on all matters submitted to our shareholders, and unless the
Business Corporation Act of Liberia otherwise provides, the
presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of
all of our outstanding common stock at any meeting of
shareholders will constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at that meeting. We cannot subject the holders of our
common stock to further calls or assessments. Under our Restated
Articles of Incorporation, holders of our common stock will have
no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.
Neither Liberian law nor our Restated Articles of Incorporation
nor any of our other organizational documents limit the right of
persons who are not citizens or residents of Liberia to hold or
vote our common stock. However, in May 2000, our Restated
Articles of Incorporation were amended to prohibit any person,
other than our two existing largest shareholders, from owning,
as determined for purposes of Section 883(c)(3) of the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder, shares that give such person
in the aggregate more than 4.9% of the relevant class or classes
of our common stock.
Dividends. Holders of our common stock have an
equal right to receive dividends when declared by our board of
directors out of funds legally available for the distribution of
dividends.
12
Other Matters
Sales of Assets, Liquidation and Mergers. Under
the Business Corporation Act of Liberia, the holders of
662/3
% of the outstanding shares of our common stock need to
approve the sale of all or substantially all of our assets and
any decisions by us to liquidate or dissolve. However, holders
of only one-half of the outstanding shares of our common stock
may elect to institute judicial dissolution proceedings on our
behalf under the Business Corporation Act of Liberia. In the
event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our
common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in the net
assets available for distribution to them, after we have paid
amounts owed to all creditors and we have paid holders of our
outstanding preferred stock the liquidation preferences they are
entitled to.
Under the Business Corporation Act of Liberia, the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock need to
approve a merger or consolidation involving us (other than a
merger or consolidation with any of our subsidiaries of which we
own at least 90%).
Call of Meetings. Our By-Laws provide that special
meetings of our shareholders can be called at any time by either
our board of directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or by our
shareholders holding at least 50% of our outstanding common
stock. In addition, our shareholders may call for meetings of
shareholders if there has been a failure to hold an annual
meeting.
Election of Directors. Our directors are elected,
at either any annual meeting or any special meeting, by a
majority of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote, and
cumulative voting is not permitted. Vacancies on our board of
directors are filled by the vote of a majority of the remaining
board members for the unexpired term.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes:
Class I, Class II and Class III, with the
directors in each class to hold office for staggered terms of
three years each.
Amendments to Our Charter and By-Laws. Any
amendment to our Restated Articles of Incorporation or any
shareholder proposal to amend our By-Laws generally requires the
authorization by affirmative vote of the holders of not less
than two-thirds of all outstanding shares entitled to vote. This
requirement does not apply to (1) an amendment to change
our registered agent or registered address; (2) an
amendment to change the authorized number of shares of stock; or
(3) an amendment for establishing and designating the
shares of any class or of any series of any class. In the first
two cases, our Restated Articles of Incorporation can be amended
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all of
our outstanding shares entitled to vote. In the third case, our
board of directors has the power to establish and designate new
classes of preferred stock. In addition, our board of directors
has the power to adopt, amend or repeal our By-Laws.
Dissenters Rights of Appraisal and Payment.
Under Liberian law, our shareholders have the right to dissent
from various corporate actions, including any merger or sale of
all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual
course of our business, and have the right to receive payment of
the fair value of their shares. If we amend our Restated
Articles of Incorporation in a way that alters certain rights of
any of our shareholders, those shareholders have the right to
dissent and receive payment for their shares. The dissenting
shareholders may not receive that payment unless they follow the
procedures set forth in the Business Corporation Act of Liberia.
Those procedures require that proceedings be instituted in the
circuit court in the judicial circuit in Liberia in which our
Liberian office is situated if we cannot agree with our
dissenting shareholders on a price for the shares. The value of
the shares of any dissenting shareholder is fixed by the court
after reference, if the court so elects, to the recommendations
of a court-appointed appraiser.
Shareholders Actions. Under Liberian law,
any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to
procure a judgment in our favor, provided that shareholder is a
holder of our common stock both at the time the action is
commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action
relates.
Limitations Under Indebtedness. Agreements
governing certain of our indebtedness contain covenants that
impose restrictions (subject to some exceptions) on us and our
subsidiaries ability to take certain corporate actions.
13
Certain Corporate Actions. Our Restated Articles
of Incorporation provide that during the period that the
Shareholders Agreement dated as of February 1, 1993 between
A. Wilhelmsen AS. and Cruise Associates remains in effect, our
board of directors may not approve certain corporate actions
unless those actions are approved by one non-independent
director nominated by A. Wilhelmsen AS. and one non-independent
director nominated by Cruise Associates.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent
and registrar for our common stock is Wachovia National Bank.
Preferred Stock
The material terms of any series of preferred stock that we
offer though a prospectus supplement will be described in that
prospectus supplement. Our board of directors is authorized to
provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more
series with designations as may be stated in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred stock. At
the time that any series of our preferred stock is authorized,
our board of directors will fix the dividend rights, any
conversion rights, any voting rights, redemption provisions,
liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions of that series, as well as the
number of shares constituting that series and their designation.
Our board of directors could, without shareholder approval,
cause us to issue preferred stock which has voting, conversion
and other rights that could adversely affect the holders of our
common stock or make it more difficult to effect a change in
control. Our preferred stock could be used to dilute the stock
ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of us and thereby
hinder a possible takeover attempt which, if our shareholders
were offered a premium over the market value of their shares,
might be viewed as being beneficial to our shareholders. In
addition, our preferred stock could be issued with voting,
conversion and other rights and preferences which would
adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of
our common stock.
Liability of Directors and Officers
Our Restated Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws contain
provisions which eliminate the personal liability of our
directors and officers for monetary damages resulting from
breaches of their fiduciary duties other than liability for:
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(1) breaches of the duty of loyalty; |
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(2) acts or omissions not in good faith; |
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(3) acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law or |
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(4) any transactions in which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. |
We believe that these provisions are necessary to attract and
retain qualified persons as our directors and officers.
14
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the
beneficial ownership of our common stock as of February 28,
2005 by certain of our shareholders. To the extent indicated in
the accompanying prospectus supplement, one or both of our
selling shareholders may from time to time offer shares of our
common stock for sale.
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Shares Owned | |
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Beneficially | |
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Name |
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Number | |
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Percent | |
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A. Wilhelmsen AS.(1)
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42,966,472 |
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21.3 |
% |
Cruise Associates(2)
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33,281,900 |
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16.5 |
% |
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(1) |
A. Wilhelmsen AS. is a Norwegian corporation, the indirect
beneficial owners of which are members of the Wilhelmsen family
of Norway. |
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(2) |
Cruise Associates is a Bahamian general partnership, the
indirect beneficial owners of which are various trusts primarily
for the benefit of certain members of the Pritzker family and
various trusts primarily for the benefit of certain members of
the Ofer family. |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell any of the securities to or through underwriters or
dealers and may also sell these securities directly to other
purchasers or through agents.
The sale of the securities offered by this prospectus may be
made from time to time in one or more transactions at fixed
prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at
the time of sale, at prices related to those prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices.
Sales of our common stock may be made from time to time in one
or more transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or the Oslo
Stock Exchange, in negotiated transactions or a combination of
those methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of sale, at prices related to those prevailing market prices or
at other negotiated prices. Sales of other securities may be
listed on a stock exchange to the extent described in a
prospectus supplement.
In connection with the sale of the securities offered by this
prospectus, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from
us, from our selling shareholders or from purchasers of
securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may
sell securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the
purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters,
dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the
securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts
or commissions received by them from us or the selling
shareholders and any profit on the resale of those securities by
them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions
under the Securities Act. Any underwriter or agent will be
identified, and any compensation that we or the selling
shareholders provide will be described, in the prospectus
supplement. We will bear all of the expenses associated with the
shares of our common stock sold by the selling shareholders,
other than underwriters discounts, commissions and
transfer taxes.
Under agreements which we or the selling shareholders may enter
into the underwriters and agents who participate in the
distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be
entitled to indemnification by us or the selling shareholders
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
If the prospectus supplement so indicates, either we or the
selling shareholders will authorize underwriters or other
persons acting as our or their agents to solicit offers by
selected institutions to
15
purchase the securities from us or the selling shareholders
under contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date. Institutions with which those contracts may be made
include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies,
pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions and others, but in all cases we or the selling
shareholders must approve those institutions. The obligations of
any purchaser under such a contract will be subject to the
condition that the purchase of the securities shall not at the
time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the
jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject. The
underwriters and those other agents will not be responsible for
the validity or performance of such contracts.
Until the distribution of the securities offered by this
prospectus is completed, rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission may limit the ability of underwriters and some
selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As
an exception to those rules, underwriters may engage in certain
transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. Those
transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of
pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.
If any underwriters create a short position in the securities in
connection with any offering, that is, if they sell more
securities than are set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus, the underwriters may reduce that short position by
purchasing securities in the open market.
Covered short sales are sales made in an amount not
greater than the underwriters overallotment
option to purchase additional shares in the offering. The
underwriters may close out any covered short position by either
exercising their overallotment option or purchasing shares in
the open market. In determining the source of shares to close
out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider,
among other things, the price of shares available for purchase
in the open market as compared to the price at which they may
purchase shares through the overallotment option.
Naked short sales are sales in excess of the
overallotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked
short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked
short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters
are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price
of the shares in the open market after pricing that could
adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on some selling group
members. This means that if the underwriters purchase securities
in the open market to reduce the underwriters short
position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may
reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the selling
group members who sold those securities as part of the offering.
In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of
stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the
price of the security to be higher than it might be in the
absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might
also have an effect on the price of the securities if it
discourages resales of the securities.
Neither we nor any underwriters make any representation or
prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that
the transactions described above may have on the price of the
securities offered by this prospectus. In addition, neither we
nor any underwriters make any representation that the
underwriters will engage in those transactions or that those
transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without
notice.
Some of the underwriters or agents and their associates may
engage in transactions with and perform services for us or the
selling shareholders in the ordinary course of business.
The securities offered by this prospectus may or may not be
listed on a national securities exchange (other than our common
stock, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange). Any
shares of our common stock sold through a prospectus supplement
will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Oslo Stock
Exchange or both, subject to official notice of issuance. We
cannot assure you that there will be an active trading market
for the securities.
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to our directors,
officers and controlling persons pursuant to the provisions
described in Item 15 of the Registration Statement of which
this prospectus is a part, or otherwise, we have been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore unenforceable. In the event
a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of ours in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against us by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion
of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
LEGAL MATTERS
The law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell will pass upon
the validity of the debt securities and certain legal matters
regarding our common stock and preferred stock. The law firm of
Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP will pass upon
the validity of our common stock. Fried, Frank, Harris,
Shriver & Jacobson LLP will pass upon certain legal
matters for any underwriters or agents. Davis Polk &
Wardwell and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson
LLP will rely on Watson, Farley & Williams (New York)
LLP regarding matters of Liberian law.
Davis Polk & Wardwell represented A. Wilhelmsen AS. in
its acquisition of our common stock and provides legal services
for A. Wilhelmsen AS.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting)
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual
Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004, have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
17
$900,000,000
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
$550,000,000 7.00% Senior Notes due 2013
$350,000,000 7.25% Senior Notes due 2016
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Joint Book-Running Managers
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Co-Managers
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DnB NOR Markets |
JPMorgan |
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. |
Scotia Capital |