Carnival Reports 3Q Earnings

Carnival Corporation & plc reported net income of $734.3 million ($0.90 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $2.52 billion for its third quarter ended August 31, 2003, compared to net income of $500.8 million ($0.85 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $1.44 billion for the same quarter in 2002. Net income for the nine months ended August 31, 2003 was $988.9 million ($1.42 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $4.90 billion, compared to net income of $824.6 million ($1.40 Diluted EPS) on revenues of $3.34 billion for the same period in 2002. Earnings per share for the third quarter and nine months of 2003 were reduced by $0.02 and $0.01, respectively, due to the dilutive impact of the company’s zero-coupon convertible notes, which became convertible for the first time at the end of the third quarter of 2003. In addition, earnings for last year’s third quarter were higher by $14 million resulting from a nonrecurring $34 million income tax benefit from the company’s Costa Cruise operations, net of a $20 million impairment charge. Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess entered into a dual listed company (“DLC”) structure on April 17, 2003, which effectively made Carnival Corporation and P&O Princess a single economic entity (“Carnival Corporation & plc” or the “company”). Also on that date, P&O Princess changed its name to Carnival plc. For reporting purposes, Carnival Corporation has accounted for the DLC transaction as an acquisition of Carnival plc. Consolidated financial results for the company for the third quarter of 2003 include the results of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc for the entire quarter. The nine month results include Carnival Corporation for the entire period and Carnival plc from April 17, 2003. Consolidated revenues for the third quarter of 2003 increased by $1.08 billion compared to the third quarter of 2002 primarily due to the inclusion of $909 million of Carnival plc revenues and a 19.6 percent increase in Carnival Corporation standalone capacity, partially offset by lower cruise ticket prices. Operating costs and selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $706 million compared to the third quarter of 2002. Approximately $584 million of the increase was due to the inclusion of Carnival plc, and the remainder was primarily due to increased capacity.