Definitive Proxy Statement
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities

Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant    x

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

¨

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

x

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

¨

Definitive Additional Materials

 

¨

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

CARNIVAL CORPORATION

CARNIVAL plc

 

(Name of Registrants as Specified in Its Charter)

 

  

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x

No fee required.

 

¨

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

 

1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

5)

Total fee paid:

 

 

 

¨

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

1)

Amount previously paid:

 

 

 

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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

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Filing Party:

 

 

 

4)

Date Filed:

 

 


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LOGO

February 21, 2012

MICKY ARISON

Chairman of the Boards

Chief Executive Officer

To our Shareholders:

I am pleased to invite you to attend our joint annual meetings of shareholders at the W Hotel South Beach, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, United States of America on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The meetings will commence at 10:00 a.m. (EDT), and although there are technically two separate meetings (the Carnival plc meeting will begin first), shareholders of Carnival Corporation may attend the Carnival plc meeting and vice-versa. Because we have shareholders in both the United Kingdom and the United States, we plan to continue to rotate the location of the annual meetings between the United Kingdom and the United States each year in order to accommodate shareholders on both sides of the Atlantic.

We are also pleased to offer an audio webcast of the annual meetings at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com.

Details regarding the matters to be voted on are contained in the attached notices of annual meetings of shareholders and proxy statement. The Carnival Corporation Notice of Annual Meeting begins on page 1 and the Carnival plc Notice of Annual General Meeting begins on page 4. Because of the DLC arrangement, all voting will take place on a poll (or ballot).

We are also pleased to be furnishing proxy materials to our shareholders primarily over the internet. We believe that this process expedites your receipt of proxy materials, significantly lowers the costs of our annual meetings and conserves the earth’s natural resources. Carnival Corporation shareholders can enroll for electronic delivery at www.InvestorDelivery.com. Carnival plc shareholders can enroll at www.shareview.co.uk.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meetings in person, please vote as soon as possible using one of the voting methods described in the attached materials. Submitting your voting instructions by any of these methods will not affect your right to attend the meetings in person should you so choose.

The boards of directors consider voting in favor of Proposals 1 through 22 to be in the best interests of Carnival Corporation & plc. Accordingly, the boards of directors unanimously recommend that you cast your vote “FOR” Proposals 1 through 22.

The boards of directors do not consider Proposal 23 to be in the best interest of Carnival Corporation & plc, and the shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the boards of directors unanimously recommend that you cast your vote “AGAINST” Proposal 23.

Thank you for your ongoing interest in, and continued support of, Carnival Corporation & plc.

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Micky Arison


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS      1   
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF CARNIVAL PLC SHAREHOLDERS      4   
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETINGS      10   

QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO SHAREHOLDERS OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION

     15   

QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO SHAREHOLDERS OF CARNIVAL PLC

     18   

STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     20   

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     24   

PROPOSALS 1-14 ELECTION OR RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     24   
PROPOSALS 15  & 16 RE-APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR CARNIVAL PLC AND RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR CARNIVAL CORPORATION      28   

PROPOSAL 17 RECEIPT OF ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS OF CARNIVAL PLC

     29   

PROPOSAL 18 AN ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     29   

PROPOSAL 19 APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

     30   
PROPOSALS 20  & 21 APPROVAL OF THE GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO ALLOT NEW CARNIVAL PLC SHARES AND THE DISAPPLICATION OF PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS APPLICABLE TO THE ALLOTMENT OF NEW CARNIVAL PLC SHARES      31   

PROPOSAL 22 GENERAL AUTHORITY TO BUY BACK CARNIVAL PLC ORDINARY SHARES

     33   

PROPOSAL 23 SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL

     34   

BOARD STRUCTURE AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

     37   

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     44   
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS and CARNIVAL PLC DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT—PART I      47   

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEES

     65   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     66   

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

     80   

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEES

     81   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     82   

Annex A Carnival plc Directors’ Report

  

Annex B Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report—Part II

  

Annex C Carnival plc Corporate Governance Report

  


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LOGO

3655 N.W. 87th Avenue

Miami, Florida 33178

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

 

DATE

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

 

TIME

10:00 a.m. (EDT), being 3:00 p.m. (BST)

 

 

The Carnival Corporation annual meeting will start directly following the annual general meeting of Carnival plc.

 

PLACE

W Hotel South Beach

2201 Collins Avenue

Miami Beach, Florida 33139

United States of America

 

WEBCAST

www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com

 

ITEMS OF BUSINESS

1.

To re-elect Micky Arison as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  2.

To re-elect Sir Jonathon Band as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  3.

To re-elect Robert H. Dickinson as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  4.

To re-elect Arnold W. Donald as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  5.

To re-elect Pier Luigi Foschi as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  6.

To re-elect Howard S. Frank as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  7.

To re-elect Richard J. Glasier as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  8.

To elect Debra Kelly-Ennis as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  9.

To re-elect Modesto A. Maidique as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  10.

To re-elect Sir John Parker as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  11.

To re-elect Peter G. Ratcliffe as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.


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  12.

To re-elect Stuart Subotnick as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  13.

To re-elect Laura Weil as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  14.

To re-elect Randall J. Weisenburger as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

  15.

To re-appoint the UK firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors for Carnival plc and to ratify the selection of the U.S. firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered certified public accounting firm for Carnival Corporation;

 

  16.

To authorize the Audit Committee of Carnival plc to agree the remuneration of the independent auditors of Carnival plc;

 

  17.

To receive the UK accounts and reports of the directors and auditors of Carnival plc for the year ended November 30, 2011 (in accordance with legal requirements applicable to UK companies);

 

  18.

To approve the fiscal 2011 compensation of the named executive officers of Carnival Corporation & plc (in accordance with legal requirements applicable to U.S. companies);

 

  19.

To approve the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended November 30, 2011 (in accordance with legal requirements applicable to UK companies);

 

  20.

To approve the giving of authority for the allotment of new shares by Carnival plc (in accordance with customary practice for UK companies);

 

  21.

To approve the disapplication of pre-emption rights in relation to the allotment of new shares by Carnival plc (in accordance with customary practice for UK companies);

 

  22.

To approve a general authority for Carnival plc to buy back Carnival plc ordinary shares in the open market (in accordance with legal requirements applicable to UK companies desiring to implement share buy back programs);

 

  23.

To consider a shareholder proposal; and

 

  24.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

RECORD DATE

You are entitled to vote your Carnival Corporation shares if you were a shareholder at the close of business on February 13, 2012.

 

MEETING ADMISSION

Attendance at the meeting is limited to shareholders. Each Carnival Corporation shareholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport. Shareholders holding shares in brokerage accounts (“under a street name”) will need to bring a copy of a brokerage statement reflecting share

 

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ownership as of the record date. Due to security measures, all bags will be subject to search, and all persons who attend the meeting will be subject to a metal detector and/or a hand wand search. We will be unable to admit anyone who does not comply with these security procedures.

 

VOTING BY PROXY

Please submit a proxy as soon as possible so that your shares can be voted at the meeting in accordance with your instructions. For specific instructions, please refer to the Questions and Answers beginning on page 10 of this proxy statement and the instructions on your proxy card.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

 

LOGO

ARNALDO PEREZ

Senior Vice President,

General Counsel & Secretary

Carnival Corporation is continuing to take advantage of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that allow it to deliver proxy materials over the Internet. Under these rules, Carnival Corporation is sending its shareholders a one-page notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials, unless they previously requested to receive printed copies. If you receive this one-page notice, you will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless you specifically request them. Instead, this notice tells you how to access and review on the Internet all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. This notice also tells you how to submit your proxy card on the Internet and how to request to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials. All Carnival Corporation shareholders are urged to follow the instructions in the notice and submit their proxy promptly. If you receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, the accompanying envelope for return of the proxy card requires no postage. Any shareholder attending the meeting in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America may personally vote on all matters that are considered, in which event the previously submitted proxy will be revoked.

Notice and electronic delivery of this proxy statement and accompanying proxy card are being provided on or about March 1, 2012.

 

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THIS NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO ANY ASPECT OF THE PROPOSALS REFERRED TO IN THIS DOCUMENT OR AS TO THE ACTION YOU SHOULD TAKE, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONSULT YOUR STOCKBROKER, BANK MANAGER, SOLICITOR, ACCOUNTANT OR OTHER INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER AUTHORIZED UNDER THE UK FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000.

IF YOU HAVE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ALL YOUR SHARES IN CARNIVAL PLC, PLEASE SEND THIS DOCUMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS TO THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE OR TO THE STOCKBROKER, BANK OR OTHER AGENT THROUGH WHOM THE SALE OR TRANSFER WAS EFFECTED FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE.

 

LOGO

(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 4039524)

Carnival House

5 Gainsford Street

London SE1 2NE

United Kingdom

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF CARNIVAL PLC SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of Carnival plc will be held at the W Hotel South Beach, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, United States of America on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT), being 3:00 p.m. (BST), for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the resolutions described below:

 

 

Proposals 1 through 20 and 23 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. For ordinary resolutions, the required majority is more than 50% of the combined votes cast at this meeting and Carnival Corporation’s annual meeting.

 

 

Proposals 21 and 22 will be proposed as special resolutions. For special resolutions, the required majority is not less than 75% of the combined votes cast at this meeting and Carnival Corporation’s annual meeting.

Election or re-election of directors

 

1.

To re-elect Micky Arison as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

2.

To re-elect Sir Jonathon Band as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

3.

To re-elect Robert H. Dickinson as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

4.

To re-elect Arnold W. Donald as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

5.

To re-elect Pier Luigi Foschi as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

6.

To re-elect Howard S. Frank as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

7.

To re-elect Richard J. Glasier as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

8.

To elect Debra Kelly-Ennis as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

9.

To re-elect Modesto A. Maidique as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

10.

To re-elect Sir John Parker as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

11.

To re-elect Peter G. Ratcliffe as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

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12.

To re-elect Stuart Subotnick as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

13.

To re-elect Laura Weil as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

 

14.

To re-elect Randall J. Weisenburger as a director of Carnival Corporation and as a director of Carnival plc.

Re-appointment and remuneration of Carnival plc auditors and ratification of Carnival Corporation auditors

 

15.

To re-appoint the UK firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors of Carnival plc and to ratify the selection of the U.S. firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered certified public accounting firm of Carnival Corporation.

 

16.

To authorize the Audit Committee of the board of directors of Carnival plc to agree the remuneration of the independent auditors of Carnival plc.

Accounts and Reports

 

17.

To receive the UK accounts and the reports of the directors and auditors of Carnival plc for the year ended November 30, 2011.

Executive Compensation

 

18.

To approve the fiscal 2011 compensation of the named executive officers of Carnival Corporation & plc (in accordance with legal requirements applicable to U.S. companies).

Directors’ Remuneration Report

 

19.

To approve the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report as set out in the annual report for the year ended November 30, 2011.

Allotment of shares

 

20.

THAT the directors of Carnival plc be and they are hereby authorized to allot shares in Carnival plc and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in Carnival plc:

 

  (a)

up to a nominal amount of $119,000,840 (such amount to be reduced by the nominal amount allotted or granted under paragraph (b) below in excess of such sum); and

 

  (b)

up to a nominal amount of $238,001,781 (such amount to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (a) above) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:

 

  (i)

to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

 

  (ii)

to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or as the directors of Carnival plc otherwise consider necessary,

and so that the directors of Carnival plc may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter, such authorities to apply until the end of next year’s Carnival plc annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on July 10, 2013) but, in each case, during this period Carnival plc may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after the authority ends and the directors of Carnival plc may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.

 

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Disapplication of pre-emption rights

 

21.

THAT, subject to Proposal 20 passing, the directors of Carnival plc be given power to allot equity securities (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by Carnival plc as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such power to be limited:

 

  (a)

to the allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares for cash in connection with an offer of, or invitation to apply for, equity securities (but in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (b) of Proposal 20, by way of a rights issue only):

 

  (i)

to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

 

  (ii)

to holders of other equity securities, as required by the rights of those securities, or as the directors of Carnival plc otherwise consider necessary,

and so that the directors of Carnival plc may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter; and

 

  (b)

in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (a) of Proposal 20 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares for cash, to the allotment (otherwise than under paragraph (a) above) of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of $17,850,134,

such power to apply until the end of next year’s annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on July 10, 2013) but, in each case, during this period Carnival plc may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the directors of Carnival plc may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.

General authority to buy back Carnival plc ordinary shares

 

22.

THAT Carnival plc be and is generally and unconditionally authorized to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the UK Companies Act 2006 (the “Companies Act 2006”)) of ordinary shares of $1.66 each in the capital of Carnival plc provided that:

 

  (a)

the maximum number of ordinary shares authorized to be acquired is 21,506,185;

 

  (b)

the minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share is $1.66;

 

  (c)

the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is an amount (exclusive of expenses) equal to the higher of (1) 105% of the average middle market quotation for an ordinary share, as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List, for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which such ordinary share is contracted to be purchased and (2) the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the London Stock Exchange at the time the purchase is carried out; and

 

  (d)

unless previously revoked or renewed, this authority shall expire on the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the annual general meeting of Carnival plc to be held in 2013 and (ii) 18 months from the date of this resolution (except in relation to the purchase of ordinary shares, the contract of which was entered into before the expiry of such authority).

 

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Carnival Corporation Shareholder Proposal

 

23.

To consider a shareholder proposal.

 

By Order of the Board

  Registered Office:
LOGO   Carnival House
5 Gainsford Street
London SE1 2NE
United Kingdom
Arnaldo Perez
Company Secretary
February 21, 2012
 

Voting Arrangements for Carnival plc Shareholders

Carnival plc shareholders can vote in either of two ways:

 

 

by attending the meeting and voting in person or, in the case of corporate shareholders, by corporate representatives; or

 

 

by appointing a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf, using the proxy form enclosed with this notice of annual general meeting.

Voting in person

If you come to the annual general meeting, please bring the attendance card (attached to the enclosed proxy form) with you. This will mean you can register more quickly.

In order to attend and vote at the annual general meeting, a corporate shareholder may appoint one or more individuals to act as its representative. The appointment must comply with the requirements of Section 323 of the Companies Act 2006. Each representative should bring evidence of their appointment, including any authority under which it is signed, to the meeting. If you are a corporation and are considering appointing a corporate representative to represent you and vote your shareholding in Carnival plc at the annual general meeting you are strongly encouraged to pre-register your corporate representative to make registration on the day of the meeting more efficient. In order to pre-register, please fax your Letter of Representation to Carnival plc’s registrars, Equiniti Limited, on 01903 833168 from within the United Kingdom or +44 1903 833168 from elsewhere. Please note that this fax facility should be used only for pre-registration of corporate representatives and not for any other purpose.

Voting by proxy

A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of their rights to attend, speak and vote in his or her stead. A proxy need not be a shareholder of Carnival plc. A shareholder who appoints more than one proxy must appoint each proxy to exercise the votes attaching to specified shares held by that shareholder. A person who is nominated to enjoy information rights in accordance with Section 146 of the Companies Act 2006, but is not a shareholder, is not entitled to appoint a proxy.

If you are a person nominated to enjoy information rights in accordance with Section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 you may have a right under an agreement between you and the member by whom you were nominated to be appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting. If you have no such right, or you have such a right but do not wish to exercise it, you may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the member as to the exercise of voting rights.

 

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To be effective, a duly completed proxy form and the authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a notarially certified copy of such authority, must be deposited (whether delivered personally or by post) at the offices of Carnival plc’s registrars, Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6GL, United Kingdom as soon as possible and in any event no later than 3:00 p.m. (BST) on April 9, 2012. Alternatively, a proxy vote may be submitted via the internet in accordance with the instructions set out on the proxy form.

In the case of joint registered holders, the signature of one holder on a proxy card will be accepted and the vote of the senior holder who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. For this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which names stand on the register of shareholders of Carnival plc in respect of the relevant joint holding.

In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear’s specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual, which can be viewed at www.euroclear.com/CREST. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA19) by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in the notice of meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

Carnival plc may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

Shareholders who are entitled to vote

Carnival plc, pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, specifies that only those shareholders registered in the register of members of Carnival plc at 11:00 p.m. (BST) on April 9, 2012 shall be entitled to attend or vote at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to the entries on the register of members after 11:00 p.m. (BST) on April 9, 2012 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting.

Any shareholder attending the meeting has the right to ask questions. Carnival plc must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of Carnival plc or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

 

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Documents available for inspection

Copies of all service agreements (including letters of appointment) between each director and Carnival plc will be available for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (public holidays excluded) at the registered office of Carnival plc from the date of this notice until and including the date of the meeting and at the place of the meeting for at least 15 minutes prior to and during the meeting.

*    *    *

There are 23 Proposals that require shareholder approval at the annual meeting this year. The directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favor of Proposals 1 through 22 (inclusive), and that you vote against Proposal 23, and encourage you to submit your vote using one of the voting methods described herein. Submitting your voting instructions by any of these methods will not affect your right to attend the meeting in person should you so choose.

Website materials

This proxy statement and other information required by Section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 have been posted on our website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com.

Under Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, shareholders meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require Carnival plc to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) the audit of Carnival plc’s accounts (including the auditor’s report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the annual general meeting; or (ii) any circumstance connected with an auditor of Carnival plc ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with Section 437 of the Companies Act 2006. Carnival plc may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with Sections 527 or 528 of the Companies Act 2006. Where Carnival plc is required to place a statement on a website under Section 527 of the Companies Act, it must forward the statement to Carnival plc’s auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the annual general meeting includes any statement that Carnival plc has been required under Section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETINGS

 

Q:

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

A:

The board of directors of each of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc (together, “Carnival Corporation & plc,” “we” or “us”) is providing these proxy materials to you in connection with our joint annual meetings of shareholders on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. The annual meetings will be held at the W Hotel South Beach, 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, United States of America. The meetings will commence at 10:00 a.m. (EDT), and although technically two separate meetings (the Carnival plc meeting will begin first), shareholders of Carnival Corporation may attend the Carnival plc meeting and vice-versa.

 

Q:

What information is contained in these materials?

 

A:

The information included in this proxy statement relates to the proposals to be voted on at the meetings, the voting process, the compensation of directors and certain executive officers and certain other information required by SEC rules applicable to both companies. We have attached as Annexes A, B and C to this proxy statement information that Carnival plc is required to provide to its shareholders under applicable UK rules.

 

Q:

What proposals will be voted on at each of the meetings?

 

A:

The proposals to be voted on at each of the meetings are set out in the notices of meetings starting on pages 1 and 4 of this proxy statement.

 

Q:

What is the voting recommendation of the boards of directors?

 

A:

Your boards of directors recommend that you vote your shares as follows:

 

   

“FOR” Proposals 1 through 22; and

 

   

“AGAINST” Proposal 23.

Q:

How does the dual listed company (“DLC”) arrangement affect my voting rights?

 

A:

On most matters that affect all of the shareholders of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, the shareholders of both companies effectively vote together as a single decision-making body. These matters are called “joint electorate actions.” Combined voting is accomplished through the special voting shares that have been issued by each company. Certain matters specified in the organizational documents of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc where the interests of the two shareholder bodies may diverge are called “class rights actions.” These class rights actions are voted on separately by the shareholders of each company. If either group of shareholders does not approve a class rights action, that action generally cannot be taken by either company. All of the proposals to be voted on at these annual meetings are joint electorate actions, and there are no class rights actions.

 

Q:

Generally, what actions are joint electorate actions?

 

A:

Any resolution to approve an action other than a class rights action or a procedural resolution (described below) is designated as a joint electorate action. The actions designated as joint electorate actions include:

 

   

the appointment, removal, election or re-election of any director of either or both companies;

 

   

if required by law, the receipt or adoption of the annual accounts of both companies;

 

   

the appointment or removal of the independent auditors of either company;

 

   

a change of name by either or both companies; or

 

 

 

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the implementation of a mandatory exchange of Carnival plc shares for Carnival Corporation shares based on a change in tax laws, rules or regulations.

The relative voting rights of Carnival plc shares and Carnival Corporation shares are equalized based on a ratio which we refer to as the “equalization ratio.” Based on the current equalization ratio of 1:1, each Carnival Corporation share has the same voting rights as one Carnival plc share on joint electorate actions.

 

Q:

How are joint electorate actions voted on?

 

A:

Joint electorate actions are voted on as follows:

 

   

Carnival plc shareholders vote at the annual general meeting of Carnival plc (whether in person or by proxy). Voting is on a poll (or ballot), which remains open for sufficient time to allow the vote at the Carnival Corporation meeting to be held and reflected in the Carnival plc meeting through the mechanism of the special voting share. An equivalent vote is cast at the subsequent Carnival Corporation meeting on each of the corresponding resolutions through a special voting share issued by Carnival Corporation; and

 

   

Carnival Corporation shareholders vote at the Carnival Corporation annual meeting (whether in person or by proxy). Voting is by ballot (or on a poll), which remains open for sufficient time to allow the vote at the Carnival plc meeting to be held and reflected in the Carnival Corporation meeting through the mechanism of the special voting share. An equivalent vote is cast on the corresponding resolutions at the Carnival plc meeting through a special voting share issued by Carnival plc.

A joint electorate action is approved if it is approved by:

 

   

a simple majority of the votes cast in the case of an ordinary resolution (or not less than 75% of the votes cast in the case of a special resolution, if required by applicable law and regulations or Carnival plc’s articles) by the holders of Carnival plc’s shares and the holder of the Carnival plc special voting share as a single class at a meeting at which a quorum was present and acting;

 

   

a simple majority of the votes cast (or other majority if required by applicable law and regulations or the Carnival Corporation articles and by-laws) by the holders of Carnival Corporation shares and the holder of the Carnival Corporation special voting share, voting as a single class at a meeting which a quorum was present and acting; and

 

   

a minimum of one-third of the total votes available to be voted by the combined shareholders must be cast on each resolution for it to be effective. Formal abstentions (or votes withheld) by a shareholder on a resolution will be counted as having been “cast” for this purpose.

 

Q:

How are the directors of each company elected or re-elected?

 

A:

Resolutions relating to the election or re-election of directors are considered as joint electorate actions. No person may be a member of the board of directors of Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc without also being a member of the board of directors of the other company. There are 14 nominees for election or re-election to the board of directors of each company this year. Other than Debra Kelly-Ennis, each nominee currently serves as a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc. All nominees for director are to be elected or re-elected to serve until the next annual meetings and until their successors are elected.

 

 

 

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Q:

What votes are required to approve the proposals?

 

A:

Carnival Corporation Proposals 21 and 22 are required to be approved by 75% of the combined votes cast at both meetings. Each of the other proposals, including the election or re-election of directors, requires the approval of a majority of the combined votes cast at both meetings. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not deemed votes cast for purposes of calculating the vote, but do count for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present.

If you are a beneficial owner of Carnival Corporation shares and do not provide the shareholder of record with a signed voting instruction card, your shares may constitute broker non-votes, as described in “How is the quorum determined?” In tabulating the voting result for any particular proposal, shares which constitute broker non-votes are not deemed cast for purposes of calculating the vote.

 

Q:

Generally, what are procedural resolutions?

 

A:

Procedural resolutions are resolutions of a procedural or technical nature that do not adversely affect the shareholders of the other company in any material respect and are put to the shareholders at a meeting. The special voting shares do not represent any votes on “procedural resolutions.” The chairman of each of the meetings will determine whether a resolution is a procedural resolution.

To the extent that such matters require the approval of the shareholders of either company, any of the following will be procedural resolutions:

 

   

that certain people be allowed to attend or be excluded from attending the meeting;

 

   

that discussion be closed and the question put to the vote (provided no amendments have been raised);

 

   

that the question under discussion not be put to the vote (where a shareholder feels the original motion should not be put to the

   

meeting at all, if such original motion was brought during the course of that meeting);

 

   

to proceed with matters in an order other than that set out in the notice of the meeting;

 

   

to adjourn the debate (for example, to a subsequent meeting); and

 

   

to adjourn the meeting.

 

Q:

Where can I find the voting results of the meeting?

 

A:

The voting results will be announced to the media and the relevant stock exchanges and posted on our website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com, after both shareholder meetings have closed. The results will also be published in a joint current report on Form 8-K within 4 business days after the date the shareholders meetings have closed.

 

Q:

What is the quorum requirement for the meetings?

 

A:

The quorum requirement for holding the meetings and transacting business as joint electorate actions at the meetings is one-third of the total votes capable of being cast by all shareholders of both companies. Shareholders may be present in person or represented by proxy or corporate representative at the meetings.

 

Q:

How is the quorum determined?

 

A:

For purposes of determining a quorum with respect to joint electorate actions, the special voting shares have the maximum number of votes attached to them as were cast on such joint electorate actions, either for, against or abstained, at the parallel shareholder meeting of the other company, and such maximum number of votes (including abstentions) constitutes shares entitled to vote and present for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists at such meeting.

 

 

 

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In order for a quorum to be validly constituted with respect to meetings of shareholders convened to consider a joint electorate action or class rights action, the special voting entities must be present.

Abstentions (including votes withheld) and broker non-votes are counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. Generally, broker non-votes occur when shares held by a broker for a beneficial owner are not voted with respect to a particular proposal because (1) the broker has not received voting instructions from the beneficial owner and (2) the broker lacks discretionary voting power to vote such shares.

 

Q:

Is my vote confidential?

 

A:

Proxy instructions, ballots and voting tabulations that identify individual shareholders are handled in a manner that protects your voting privacy. Your vote will not be disclosed to third parties except (1) as necessary to meet applicable legal requirements, (2) to allow for the tabulation of votes and certification of the vote or (3) to facilitate a successful proxy solicitation by our boards of directors. Occasionally, shareholders provide written comments on their proxy card which are then forwarded to management.

 

Q:

Who will bear the cost of soliciting votes for the meetings?

 

A:

We will pay the entire cost of preparing, assembling, printing, mailing and distributing these proxy materials and soliciting votes for the meetings. We will also reimburse brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses for forwarding proxy materials to shareholders.

Q:

Can I view the proxy materials electronically?

 

A:

Yes. This  proxy  statement  and  any  other  proxy  materials  have  been  posted  on  our  website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com. Carnival Corporation shareholders can also access proxy-related materials at www.investoreconnect.com as described under “Questions Specific to Shareholders of Carnival Corporation” beginning on page 15.

 

Q:

What reports are filed by Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc with the SEC and how can I obtain copies?

 

A:

We file this proxy statement, joint annual reports on Form 10-K, joint quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and joint current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC. Copies of this proxy statement, the Carnival Corporation & plc joint annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2011, as well as any joint quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or joint current reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC can be viewed or obtained without charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov (under Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc) or at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com. Copies will also be provided to shareholders without charge upon written request to Investor Relations, Carnival Corporation, 3655 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178 or Carnival plc, Carnival House, 5 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NE, United Kingdom. We encourage you to take advantage of the convenience of accessing these materials through the internet as it is simple and fast to use, saves time and money, and is environmentally friendly.

 

 

 

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Q:

May I propose actions for consideration at next year’s annual meetings?

 

A:

Carnival Corporation shareholders and Carnival plc shareholders (to the extent permitted under Carnival plc’s governing documents and UK law) may submit proposals for consideration at future shareholder meetings, including director nominations. In order for shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for next year’s annual meetings, the written proposals must be received by our Secretary no later than November 4, 2012. Such proposals also will need to comply with SEC regulations and UK corporate law requirements regarding the inclusion of shareholder proposals in company sponsored proxy materials. Any proposal of shareholders to be considered at next year’s meetings, but not included in our proxy statement, must be submitted no later than six weeks prior to the annual shareholders meeting or, if later, the time at which the notice of such meeting is publicly disclosed.

Q:

May I nominate individuals to serve as directors?

 

A:

You may propose director candidates for consideration by our board’s Nominating & Governance Committees. In order to have a nominee considered by the Nominating & Governance Committees for election at the 2013 annual meetings you must submit your recommendation in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our headquarters not later than November 4, 2012. Any such recommendation must include:

 

   

the name and address of the candidate;

 

   

a brief biographical description, including his or her occupation and service on boards of any public company or registered investment company for at least the last five years;

 

   

a statement of the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of the candidate, taking into account the factors referred to below in “Board Structure and Committee MeetingsNominations of Directors”; and

 

   

the candidate’s signed consent to serve as a director if elected and to be named in the proxy statement.

 

 

 

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QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO SHAREHOLDERS OF CARNIVAL CORPORATION

Carnival plc shareholders should refer to the “Questions Specific to Shareholders of Carnival plc” beginning on page 18.

 

Q:

What Carnival Corporation shares owned by me can be voted?

 

A:

All Carnival Corporation shares owned by you as of February 13, 2012, the record date, may be voted by you. These shares include those (1) held directly in your name as the shareholder of record, including shares purchased through Carnival Corporation’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan and its Employee Stock Purchase Plan and (2) held for you as the beneficial owner through a stockbroker, bank or other nominee.

 

Q:

Will I be asked to vote at the Carnival plc annual meeting?

 

A:

No. Your vote at the Carnival Corporation annual meeting, for purposes of determining the outcome of combined voting, is automatically reflected as appropriate at the parallel annual meeting of Carnival plc through the mechanism of the special voting share issued by Carnival plc.

 

Q:

Why did I receive a one-page notice in the mail regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials?

 

A:

Carnival Corporation is taking advantage of SEC rules that allow it to deliver proxy materials over the Internet. Under these rules, Carnival Corporation is sending its shareholders a one-page notice regarding the Internet availability of proxy materials instead of a full set of proxy materials unless they previously requested to receive printed copies. You will not receive printed copies of the proxy materials unless you specifically request them. Instead, this notice tells you how to access and review on the Internet all of the important information contained in the proxy materials. This notice also tells you how to submit your proxy card on the Internet and how to request to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials.

Q:

What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

 

A:

Most of the shareholders of Carnival Corporation hold their shares through a stockbroker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between shares held of record and those owned beneficially.

Shareholder of Record

If your shares are registered directly in your name with Carnival Corporation’s transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record, and the notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or set of printed proxy materials, as applicable, is being sent directly to you by us. As the shareholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the persons named in the proxy or to vote in person at the meeting. If you request a paper copy of the proxy materials as indicated in the notice, Carnival Corporation will provide a proxy card for you to use.

Beneficial Owner

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and the notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or set of printed proxy materials, as applicable, is being forwarded to you by your broker or nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker on how to vote and are also invited to attend the meeting. However, since you are not the shareholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the meeting. If you request a paper copy of the proxy materials as indicated in the notice, your broker or nominee will provide a voting instruction card for you to use.

 

 

 

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Q:

How can I vote my Carnival Corporation shares in person at the meeting?

 

A:

Shares held directly in your name as the shareholder of record may be voted in person at the annual meeting in Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America. If you choose to do so, please bring your proxy card and proof of identification.

Even if you plan to attend the annual meeting, we recommend that you also submit your proxy as described below so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the meeting. Shares held in street name may be voted in person by you only if you obtain a signed proxy from the record holder giving you the right to vote the shares. Please refer to the voting instructions provided by your broker or nominee.

 

Q:

How can I vote my Carnival Corporation shares without attending the meeting?

 

A:

Whether you hold shares directly as the shareholder of record or beneficially in street name, you may direct your vote without attending the meeting. You may vote by granting a proxy or, for shares held in street name, by submitting voting instructions to your broker or nominee. For shareholders of record, you may do this by voting on the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions in the notice you received in the mail. If you received a full printed set of proxy materials in the mail, you can also vote by signing your proxy card and mailing it in the enclosed envelope. If you provided specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted as you instruct. If you submit a proxy but do not provide instructions, your shares will be voted as described below in “How are votes counted?” Where your shares are held in street name, in most instances you will be able to do this over the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions in the notice you received in the mail. If you received a full printed set of proxy materials in the mail, you can also vote by mail. Please refer to the voting instruction card included by your broker or nominee.

Q:

Can I change my vote?

 

A:

Yes. You may change your proxy instruction at any time prior to the vote at the annual meeting. For shares held directly in your name, you may accomplish this by granting a new proxy bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) or by attending the annual meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting will not cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked unless you specifically so request. For shares owned beneficially by you, you may accomplish this by submitting new voting instructions to your broker or nominee.

 

Q:

What does it mean if I receive more than one notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or set of printed proxy materials, as applicable?

 

A:

It means your shares are registered differently or are in more than one account. Please follow the instructions in each notice to ensure all of your shares are voted.

 

Q:

Only one notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or set of printed proxy materials was delivered to my address, but there are two or more shareholders at this address. How do I request additional copies of the proxy materials?

 

A:

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., the entity we have retained to mail the notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or printed proxy materials to Carnival Corporation’s registered owners and the entity retained by the brokerage community to mail the notice of Internet availability of proxy materials or printed proxy materials to Carnival Corporation’s beneficial owners, has been instructed to deliver only one notice or set of printed proxy materials to multiple security holders sharing an address unless we have received contrary instructions from you or one of the other shareholders. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of the notice or set of printed proxy materials for this year’s annual meeting or for any future meetings to any shareholder upon written or oral request. To make such request, please contact Broadridge Financial Solutions at 1-800-542-1061, or write to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Attention: Householding

 

 

 

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Department, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717. Similarly, you may contact us through any of these methods if you receive multiple notices or sets of printed proxy materials and would prefer to receive a single copy in the future.

 

Q:

Who can attend the Carnival Corporation meeting?

 

A:

All Carnival Corporation shareholders of record as of February 13, 2012, or their duly appointed proxies, may attend and vote at the meeting. Each shareholder may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

If you hold your shares through a stockbroker or other nominee, you will need to provide proof of ownership by bringing either a copy of the voting instruction card provided by your broker or a copy of a brokerage statement showing your share ownership as of February 13, 2012 together with proof of identification. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.

We are also offering an audio webcast of the annual meetings. If you choose to listen to the webcast, go to our website at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com shortly before the start of the meetings and follow the instructions provided.

 

Q:

What class of shares are entitled to be voted at the Carnival Corporation meeting?

 

A:

Carnival Corporation has only one class of common stock outstanding. Each share of Carnival Corporation common stock outstanding as of the close of business on February 13, 2012, the record date, is entitled to one vote at the annual meeting. As of January 13, 2012, Carnival Corporation had 595,963,860 shares of

 

common stock issued and outstanding. The trust shares of beneficial interest in the P&O Princess Special Voting Trust that are paired with your shares of common stock do not give you separate voting rights.

 

Q:

How are votes counted?

 

A:

You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” for each of the proposals. If you “ABSTAIN,” it has no effect on the outcome of the votes, although abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present for joint electorate actions. If you submit a proxy or broker voting instruction card with no further instructions, your shares will be voted in accordance with the recommendations of the boards of directors.

 

Q:

What happens if additional proposals are presented at the meeting?

 

A:

Other than the proposals described in this proxy statement, Carnival Corporation does not expect any matters to be presented for a vote at the annual meeting. If you grant a proxy, the persons named as proxy holders, Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, and Arnaldo Perez, Carnival Corporation’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the meeting. If for any unforeseen reason any of our nominees is unable to accept nomination or election (which is not anticipated), the persons named as proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the boards of directors.

 

Q:

Who will count the vote?

 

A:

A representative of Computershare Investor Services LLC, our transfer agent, will tabulate the votes and act as the inspector of elections.

 

 

 

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QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO SHAREHOLDERS OF CARNIVAL PLC

Carnival Corporation shareholders should refer to “Questions Specific to Shareholders of Carnival Corporation” beginning on page 15.

 

Q: Who is entitled to attend and vote at the annual general meeting of Carnival plc?

 

A:

If you are a Carnival plc shareholder registered in the register of members of Carnival plc at 11:00 p.m. (BST) on April 9, 2012, you will be entitled to attend in person and vote at the annual general meeting to be held in the United States in respect of the number of Carnival plc shares registered in your name at that time. You may also appoint one or more proxies to attend, speak and vote instead of you. If you are a corporation you may appoint one or more corporate representatives to represent you and vote your shareholding in Carnival plc at the annual general meeting to be held in the United States. For further details regarding appointing a proxy or corporate representative please see below.

We are also offering an audio webcast of the annual meetings. If you choose to listen to the webcast, go to our website at www.carnivalcorp.com or www.carnivalplc.com shortly before the start of the meetings and follow the instructions provided.

 

Q: Will I be asked to vote at the Carnival Corporation annual meeting?

 

A:

No. Your vote at the Carnival plc annual general meeting, for purposes of determining the outcome of combined voting, will automatically be reflected as appropriate at the parallel annual meeting of Carnival Corporation through the mechanism of a special voting share issued by Carnival Corporation.

Q: How do I vote my Carnival plc shares without attending the annual general meeting?

 

A:

You may vote your Carnival plc shares at the annual general meeting by completing and signing the enclosed form of proxy in accordance with the instructions set out on the form and returning it as soon as possible, but in any event so as to be received by Carnival plc’s registrars, Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6GL, by not later than 3:00 p.m. (BST) on April 9, 2012. Alternatively, a proxy vote may be submitted via the internet in accordance with the instructions set out in the proxy form. It is also possible to appoint a proxy via the CREST system, please see the Carnival plc Notice of Annual General Meeting for further details. Voting by proxy does not preclude you from attending the annual general meeting and voting in person should you wish to do so.

If you are a corporation you can vote your Carnival plc shares at the annual general meeting by appointing one or more corporate representatives. You are strongly encouraged to pre-register your corporate representative to make registration on the day of the annual general meeting more efficient. In order to pre-register you would need to fax your Letter of Representation to Carnival plc’s registrars, Equiniti Limited, on 01903 833168 from within the United Kingdom or +44 1903 833168 from elsewhere.

Corporate representatives themselves are urged to arrive at least two hours before commencement of the annual general meeting to assist Carnival plc’s registrars with the appropriate registration formalities. Whether or not you intend to appoint a corporate representative, you are strongly encouraged to return the enclosed form of proxy to Carnival plc’s registrars.

 

 

 

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Q: Can I change my vote given by proxy or by my corporate representative?

 

A:

Yes. You may change your proxy vote by either (1) completing, signing and dating a new form of proxy in accordance with its instructions and returning it to Carnival plc’s registrars by no later than the start of the annual general meeting, or (2) by attending and voting in person at the annual general meeting. If you do not attend and vote in person at the annual general meeting and wish to revoke the appointment of your proxy or corporate representative you must do so by delivering a notice of such revocation to Carnival plc’s registrars at least three hours before the start of the annual general meeting.

Q: What class of shares are entitled to be voted at the Carnival plc meeting?

 

A:

Carnival plc has only one class of ordinary shares in issue. Each Carnival plc ordinary share in issue as of the close of business on April 9, 2012, is entitled to one vote at the annual general meeting. As of January 13, 2012, Carnival plc had 215,061,850 ordinary shares in issue. However, the 33,944,634 Carnival plc ordinary shares directly or indirectly held by Carnival Corporation have no voting rights (in accordance with the Articles of Association of Carnival plc).

 

Q: How are votes counted?

 

A:

You may vote “FOR,” “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” your vote for each of the resolutions. If you “ABSTAIN,” it has no effect on the outcome of the votes, although abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present for joint electorate actions.

 

 

 

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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

Set forth below is information concerning the share ownership of (1) all persons known by us to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the 595,963,860 shares of Carnival Corporation common stock and trust shares of beneficial interest in the P&O Princess Special Voting Trust outstanding as of January 13, 2012, (2) all persons known by us to be the beneficial owners of 5% or more of the 215,061,850 ordinary shares of Carnival plc outstanding as of January 13, 2012, 33,944,634 of which are directly or indirectly owned by Carnival Corporation and have no voting rights, (3) each of our executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” which appears elsewhere in this proxy statement, (4) each of our directors and (5) all directors and executive officers as a group.

Micky Arison, Chairman of the board and Chief Executive Officer of each of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, certain other members of the Arison family and trusts for their benefit (collectively, the “Principal Shareholders”), beneficially own shares representing approximately 35.6% of the voting power of Carnival Corporation and approximately 27.3% of the combined voting power of Carnival Corporation & plc and have informed us that they intend to cause all such shares to be voted in favor of Proposals 1 through 22 and against Proposal 23. The table below begins with ownership of the Principal Shareholders.

The number of shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, director, nominee or executive officer is determined under SEC rules, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has the sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual would have the right to acquire as of March 13, 2012 (being 60 days after January 13, 2012) through the exercise of any stock option (“Vested Options”) and the vesting of restricted share units (“RSUs”).

Beneficial Ownership Table

 

Name and Address Beneficial
Owners or Identity of Group(1)

  Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership of
Carnival Corporation
Shares and Trust Shares*
    Percentage of
Carnival
Corporation
Common Stock
    Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
     Percentage of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage of
Combined
Voting
Power**
 

Micky Arison

    180,428,756 (2)(3)(4)      30.2     0         * **      23.1

MA 1994 B Shares, L.P.

    103,638,843 (2)(5)      17.3     0         * **      13.3

MA 1994 B Shares, Inc.

    103,638,843 (2)(5)      17.3     0         * **      13.3

Nickel 2003 Revocable Trust

    2,247,295 (2)(6)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2

    37,580,930 (2)(7)(13)      6.3     0         * **      4.8

c/o SunTrust Delaware Trust Company

1011 Centre Road, Suite 108

Wilmington, DE 19805

          

J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware

    574,504 (2)(8)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

JMNJ Protector, LLC

    37,580,930 (2)(7)      6.3     0         * **      4.8

Richard Skor

    37,581,955 (2)(9)      6.3     0         * **      4.8

Eternity Two Trust

    574,504 (2)(8)(15)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

MBA I, L.P.

    932,439 (2)(3)(10)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

Artsfare 2003 Trust

    932,439 (2)(3)(10)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

TAMMS Management Corporation

    32,439 (2)(3)      * **      0         * **      * ** 

James M. Dubin

    68,590,485 (2)(3)(11)      11.5     0         * **      8.8

c/o Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

          

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Address Beneficial
Owners or Identity of Group(1)

   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership of
Carnival Corporation
Shares and Trust Shares*
    Percentage of
Carnival
Corporation
Common Stock
    Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage of
Combined
Voting
Power**
 

John J. O’Neil.

     62,795,208 (2)(12)(15)      10.5     0        * **      8.0

c/o Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

          

SunTrust Delaware Trust Company

     38,330,930 (2)(13)      6.3     0        * **      4.8

1011 Centre Road, Suite 108

Wilmington, DE 19805

          

JMD Delaware, Inc.

     6,368,781 (2)(5)(6)(14)      1.0     0        * **      * ** 

Knight Protector, Inc.

     62,220,704 (2)(15)      10.4     0        * **      8.0

Citibank, N.A.

     61,704,353 (16)      10.3     0        * **      7.9

399 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10043

          

Citicorp

     61,704,353 (16)      10.3     0        * **      7.9

399 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10043

          

Citicorp Trust, National Association

     61,699,199 (16)      10.3     0        * **      7.9

222 Delaware Avenue, 14th Floor

Wilmington, DE 19801

          

Citigroup Inc.

     62,891,278 (16)      10.5     0        * **      8.0

399 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10043

          

David Bernstein

     63,490 (17)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

Gerald R. Cahill

     262,712 (18)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

Pier Luigi Foschi

     0        * **      300,372 (19)      * **      * ** 

c/o Costa Crociere S.p.A.

Via XII Ottobre, 2

16121 Genoa

Italy

          

Howard S. Frank

     509,261 (20)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

Sir Jonathon Band

     6,276        * **      0        * **      * ** 

33 Auckland Road East

Southsea, Hampshire PO5 2HB

United Kingdom

          

Robert H. Dickinson

     432,905 (21)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

Arnold W. Donald

     48,326 (22)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

1 North Brentwood Blvd.,

Suite 510

Clayton, MO 63105

          

Richard J. Glasier

     48,574 (23)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

122 Crystal Canyon Drive

Carbondale, CO 81623

          

Debra Kelly-Ennis

     0        * **      0        * **      * ** 

6231 PGA Blvd, Suite 104-389

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

          

Modesto A. Maidique

     54,574 (24)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

c/o Florida International University

11200 SW 8th Street, CBC 317

Miami, FL 33199

          

Sir John Parker

     18,423        * **      10,004 (25)      * **      * ** 

c/o Anglo American plc

20 Carlton House Terrace

London SW1Y 5AN

United Kingdom

          

 

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Table of Contents

Name and Address Beneficial
Owners or Identity of Group(1)

   Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership of
Carnival Corporation
Shares and Trust Shares*
    Percentage of
Carnival
Corporation
Common Stock
    Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage of
Carnival plc
Ordinary
Shares
    Percentage of
Combined
Voting
Power**
 

Peter G. Ratcliffe

     212,629 (26)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

c/o Princess Cruise Lines

24305 Town Center Drive

Santa Clarita, CA 91355

          

Stuart Subotnick

     28,023 (27)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

c/o Metromedia Company

810 7th Avenue, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10019

          

Laura Weil

     18,203        * **      0        * **      * ** 

220 East 73rd Street

New York, NY 10021

          

Randall J. Weisenburger

     30,923        * **      0        * **      * ** 

354 Stanwich Road

Greenwich, CT 06830

          

Uzi Zucker

     111,823 (28)      * **      0        * **      * ** 

870 5th Avenue

New York, NY 10021

          

Capital Research Global Investor

     22,275,000 (29)      3.7     0        * **      2.8

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, CA 90071

          

AXA S.A.

     0        * **      10,627,443 (30)      5.8     1.3

25 Avenue Matignon

75008 Paris

France

          

BlackRock, Inc.

     0        * **      17,365,502 (30)      9.5     2.2

33 King William Street

London EC4R 9AS

United Kingdom

          

Schroders plc

     0        * **      9,758,601 (30)      5.3     1.2

c/o Schroders Investment Management Ltd.

31 Gresham Street

London EC2V 7QA

United Kingdom

          

Thornburg Investment Management, Inc.

     0        * **      20,098,905 (30)      11.0     2.5

2300 North Ridgetop Road

Santa Fe, NM 87506

          

All directors and executive officers as a group (22 persons)

     182,849,240 (31)      30.6     327,027 (32)      * **      23.5

 

*

As part of the establishment of the DLC arrangement, Carnival plc issued a special voting share to Carnival Corporation, which transferred such share to the trustee of the P&O Princess Special Voting Trust (the “Trust”), a trust established under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Trust shares of beneficial interest in the Trust were transferred to Carnival Corporation. The trust shares represent a beneficial interest in the Carnival plc special voting share. Immediately following the transfer, Carnival Corporation distributed such trust shares by way of a dividend to holders of shares of Carnival Corporation common stock. Under a pairing agreement, the trust shares of beneficial interest in the Trust are paired with, and evidenced by, certificates representing shares of Carnival Corporation common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, under the pairing agreement, when a share of Carnival Corporation common stock is issued to a person after the implementation of the DLC arrangement, a paired trust share will be issued at the same time to such person. Each share of Carnival Corporation common stock and the paired trust share may not be transferred separately. The Carnival Corporation common stock and the trust shares (including the beneficial interest in the Carnival plc special voting share) are listed and trade together on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “CCL.” Accordingly, each holder of Carnival Corporation common stock is also deemed to be the beneficial owner of an equivalent number of trust shares.

**

As a result of the DLC arrangement, on most matters that affect all of the shareholders of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, the shareholders of both companies effectively vote together as a single decision-making body. Combined voting is accomplished through the special voting shares that have been issued by each company.

 

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***

Less than one percent.

(1)

The address of each natural person named, unless otherwise noted, is 3655 N.W. 87 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178. The address of all entities, unless otherwise noted, is 1201 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19899.

(2)

The Principal Shareholders and others have filed a joint statement on Schedule 13D with respect to the shares of Carnival Corporation common stock held by such persons.

(3)

TAMMS Management Corporation holds 32,439 shares of common stock (“TAMMS Corp.”). TAMMS Corp. is wholly-owned by MBA I, L.P. (“MBA I”).

(4)

Includes (i) 600,000 Vested Options, (ii) 219,934 shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2008 GRAT, (iii) 2,023,761 shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2008-2 GRAT, (iv) 876,929 shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2009 GRAT, (v) 1,000,862 shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2010 GRAT, (vi) 2,247,295 shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2003 Revocable Trust, (vii) 103,638,843 shares of common stock held by MA 1994 B Shares, L.P. and (viii) 69,821,132 shares of common stock held by the Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2, Eternity Four Trust and the Nickel 97-07 Irrevocable Trust by virtue of the authority granted to Mr. Arison under the last will of Ted Arison. Of these shares, Eternity Four Trust has pledged approximately 30.7 million shares. Mr. Arison does not have an economic interest in the shares of common stock held by Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2, Artsfare 2003 Trust and Eternity Four Trust.

(5)

MA 1994 B Shares, L.P. (“MA 1994, L.P.”) owns 103,638,843 shares of common stock. The general partner of MA 1994, L.P. is MA 1994 B Shares, Inc. (“MA 1994, Inc.”), which is wholly-owned by the Nickel 1994 “B” Trust, a trust established for the benefit of Mr. Arison and his heirs (the “B Trust”). The sole limited partner of MA 1994, L.P. is the B Trust. Under the terms of the instrument governing the B Trust, Mr. Arison has the sole right to vote and direct the sale of the common stock indirectly held by the B Trust. By virtue of the limited partnership agreement of MA 1994, L.P., MA 1994, Inc. may be deemed to beneficially own all such 103,638,843 shares of common stock. By virtue of Mr. Arison’s interest in the B Trust and the B Trust’s interest in MA 1994, L.P., Mr. Arison may be deemed to beneficially own all such 103,638,843 shares of common stock. The trustee of the B Trust is JMD Delaware, Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by James M. Dubin.

(6)

Nickel 2003 Revocable Trust, a trust established for the benefit of Mr. Arison and his heirs (the “Nickel 2003 Trust”) owns 2,247,295 shares of common stock. Under the terms of the instrument governing the Nickel 2003 Trust, Mr. Arison has the sole right to vote and direct the sale of the common stock held by the Nickel 2003 Trust. The trustee of the Nickel 2003 Trust is JMD Delaware, Inc., a corporation wholly-owned by James M. Dubin.

(7)

JMNJ Protector, LLC is the protector of Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2. JMNJ Protector, LLC has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares of common stock held by Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2.

(8)

J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware acts as trustee of Eternity Two Trust. As trustee of Eternity Two Trust, J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 574,504 shares of common stock held by Eternity Two Trust. J.P. Morgan Trust Company of Delaware disclaims beneficial ownership of the common stock held by Eternity Two Trust.

(9)

By virtue of being the sole member of JMNJ Protector, LLC, Mr. Richard Skor may be deemed to own the aggregate of 37,580,930 shares of common stock beneficially owned by such entity, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Skor owns 1,025 shares of common stock directly.

(10)

MBA I owns 900,000 shares of common stock and is the sole shareholder of TAMMS Corp. (See Note 3 above). MBA I may be deemed to own 32,439 shares of common stock held by TAMMS Corp. The Artsfare 2003 Trust owns a controlling interest in MBA I; therefore, the Artsfare 2003 Trust is deemed to beneficially own all such 932,439 shares of common stock.

(11)

By virtue of being the sole shareholder of JMD Delaware, Inc. and a 50% shareholder of Knight Protector, Inc., Mr. Dubin may be deemed to own the aggregate of 68,589,485 shares of common stock beneficially owned by such entities, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Mr. Dubin beneficially owns 1,000 shares of common stock held directly.

(12)

By virtue of being a 50% shareholder of Knight Protector, Inc., Mr. O’Neil may be deemed to own the aggregate of 62,220,704 shares of common stock beneficially owned by such entity, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership.

(13)

SunTrust Delaware Trust Company acts as trustee for the Artsfare 2005 Trust No. 2 and the Dozer Trust.

(14)

JMD Delaware, Inc. is a Delaware corporation wholly owned by Mr. James Dubin. JMD Delaware, Inc. acts as trustee of, the Nickel 2003 Irrevocable Trust, the Nickel 2008 GRAT, the Nickel 2008-2 GRAT, the Nickel 2009 GRAT and the Nickel 2010 GRAT. JMD Delaware, Inc. has shared dispositive power over the shares of common stock held by the Nickel 2008 GRAT, the Nickel 2008-2 GRAT, the Nickel 2009 GRAT and the Nickel 2010 GRAT.

(15)

Knight Protector, Inc. acts as protector of the Eternity Four Trust, and has shared dispositive power with respect to all 61,646,200 shares of common stock held by Eternity Four Trust, shared voting power with respect to 31,701,809 shares of common stock held by Eternity Four Trust and sole voting power with respect to 29,944,391 shares of common stock held by Eternity Four Trust. Knight Protector, Inc. acts as protector of the Eternity Two Trust, and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 574,504 shares of common stock held by Eternity Two Trust.

(16)

Citicorp Trust, National Association acts as trustee for the Eternity Four Trust. Citigroup Trust-Delaware, N.A. (former trustee of the Eternity Four Trust) has shared dispositive power of 61,699,199 shares of common stock (61,646,200 shares of which are shares held by the Eternity Four Trust), Citibank, N.A. has shared voting power of 1,959 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power of 61,704,353 shares of common stock (61,646,200 shares of which are shares held by the Eternity Four Trust), Citicorp has shared voting power of 1,959 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power of 61,704,353 shares of common stock (61,646,200 shares of which are shares held by the Eternity Four Trust) and Citigroup Inc. has shared voting power of 1,188,883 shares of common stock and shared dispositive power of 62,891,278 shares of common stock (61,646,200 shares of which are shares held by the Eternity Four Trust).

(17)

Includes 36,000 Vested Options.

(18)

Includes 180,000 Vested Options.

 

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Table of Contents
(19)

Includes 248,264 Vested Options.

(20)

Includes (i) 300,000 Vested Options, (ii) 907 shares held in Howard S. Frank GRAT #4 and (iii) 8,592 shares held in Howard S. Frank GRAT #5.

(21)

Includes 344,000 Vested Options.

(22)

Includes (i) 32,000 Vested Options and (ii) 1,807 shares held by The Arnold W. Donald Revocable Trust UAD 5/26/98.

(23)

Includes 30,000 Vested Options.

(24)

Includes 36,000 Vested Options.

(25)

Includes 7,000 shares held by Whitefoord Limited on behalf of GHM Trustees Limited, the trustee for Sir John Parker’s Fixed Unapproved Restricted Retirement Scheme.

(26)

Includes 200,000 Vested Options.

(27)

Includes 9,600 Vested Options.

(28)

Includes 38,400 Vested Options.

(29)

As reflected in separate Schedules 13G/A, filed on December 31, 2010 with the SEC. Capital Research Global Investors reported sole voting power over 22,275,000 shares of common stock and sole dispositive power over 22,275,000 shares of common stock as a result of acting as an investment advisor to various investment companies. The company disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

(30)

Based on notifications to Carnival plc of interests of 3% or more in the voting rights of Carnival plc as required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

(31)

Includes 2,197,659 Vested Options.

(32)

Includes 263,736 Vested Options.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Based upon a review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc during and with respect to their most recent fiscal year and upon written representations from persons known to us to be subject to Section 16 of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (a “reporting person”), all reporting persons filed on a timely basis reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during and with respect to the year ended November  30, 2011.

PROPOSALS 1-14

ELECTION OR RE-ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The DLC arrangement requires the boards of Carnival plc and Carnival Corporation to be identical. Shareholders are required to approve the election or re-election of directors to each board. There are 14 nominees for election or re-election to each board of directors. Other than Debra Kelly-Ennis, each nominee currently serves as a director of both companies. All nominees for director are to be elected or re-elected to serve until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected.

With respect to each nominee set forth below, the information presented includes such person’s age, the month and year in which such person first became a director, any other position held with Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, such person’s principal occupations during at least the past five years, any directorships held by such nominee in public or certain other companies over the past five years and the nominees’ qualifications, including particular areas of expertise, to serve as a director.

The Nominating & Governance Committees conducted performance evaluations on the members of our boards of directors serving during fiscal 2011 and reported the results to the boards. The boards determined that each of those directors was an effective and committed member of the boards. Each of the current directors were proposed for re-election, with the exception of Uzi Zucker who has reached the age of 75, and was not nominated for re-election in accordance with the Carnival Corporation & plc Corporate Governance Guidelines.

The Nominating & Governance Committees were requested by the boards to identify a nominee to add to the existing membership of the boards. Based on an assessment of the skills, experience and qualifications of the existing members of the boards, the Nominating & Governance Committees determined that a director with extensive experience in marketing would be of most value to the boards.

 

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The boards expect that additional vacancies will arise due to the retirement of a number of directors. Our aim will be to seek to fill these director positions with female candidates, where skill set and relevant experience for the particular vacancy can be met, to achieve a target of 25% female representation by 2015. This target is consistent with the aspirational target for FTSE 100 boards recommended in the Lord Davies report published in the UK in February 2011, entitled “Women on Boards.”

The Nominating & Governance Committees conducted a search for a suitable nominee and interviewed several candidates. The search concluded with the selection of Debra Kelly-Ennis. Ms. Kelly-Ennis’s 30 years of experience and leadership with consumer brand corporations has provided her with extensive experience in marketing matters.

Following interviews with Ms. Kelly-Ennis, the Nominating & Governance Committees unanimously agreed that her credentials and qualifications in the field of marketing, combined with her practical managerial experience, were an ideal match for the requirements of the boards.

Accordingly, the boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the election or re-election of each of the following nominees:

 

1.

Micky Arison, age 62 has been Chairman of the board of directors of Carnival Corporation since 1990 and a director since 1987. He became a director and Chairman of the board of directors of Carnival plc in 2003. He has been Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation (formerly known as Carnival Cruise Lines) since 1979 and became Chief Executive Officer of Carnival plc in 2003.

Mr. Arison’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his decades of leadership experience with our company, as well as in-depth knowledge of our company, its history and the cruise industry, all gained through more than 30 years of service on the board.

 

2.

Sir Jonathon Band, age 62, has been a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc since 2010. He served in the British Navy from 1967 until his retirement in 2009, having served as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, the most senior officer position in the British Navy, until 2009. He has been a non-executive director of Lockheed Martin UK Limited since May 2010.

Sir Jonathon’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his extensive experience in maritime and security matters gained through his 42 years of service with the British Navy. He also brings an international perspective of company and industry matters.

 

3.

Robert H. Dickinson, age 69, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 1987 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Dickinson served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Carnival Cruise Lines division of Carnival Corporation. From 1993 through 2003, Mr. Dickinson was President and Chief Operating Officer of Carnival Cruise Lines. He was a member of the board of Watsco Inc. from January 2006 to May 2006.

Mr. Dickinson’s qualifications to serve on the boards include over 35 years of leadership experience at Carnival Cruise Lines, as well as notable marketing expertise. He has twice been named “Travel Executive of the Year” by Travel Trade Readers and his marketing honors include The Association of Travel Marketing Executives Atlas Award and the Travel Industry Association Hall of Leaders designation. Mr. Dickinson is also former Chairman of the Cruise Line International Association.

 

4.

Arnold W. Donald, age 57, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 2001 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003. Mr. Donald has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Executive Leadership Council, a professional network of African-American executives of major U.S. companies, since 2010. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International from 2006 to 2008. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. Donald was the Chairman of the Board of Merisant Company, a manufacturer and marketer of tabletop sweetener products, including the

 

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Table of Contents
 

Equal® and Canderel® brands. From 2000 to 2003, he was also the Chief Executive Officer of Merisant Company. From 1998 to 2000 he was Senior Vice-President of Monsanto Company, a company which develops agricultural products and consumer goods, and President of its nutrition and consumer sector. Prior to that he was President of Monsanto Company’s agricultural sector. He has been a member of the boards of directors of Crown Holdings, Inc. since July 1999, The Laclede Group, Inc. since January 2003 and Oil-Dri Corporation of America since December 1997. He was a member of the board of The Scotts Company from March 2000 to January 2009.

Mr. Donald’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his broad leadership and other executive skills gained through his prior executive leadership experience with a Fortune-100 science-based research and development, manufacturing and marketing company, a privately-held company with global operations, and as head of a large international research-based not-for-profit corporation. He also has broad experience in corporate governance, having served as a director, past and present, of a number of other publicly-traded companies.

 

5.

Pier Luigi Foschi, age 65, has been a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc since 2003. He has been Chief Executive Officer of Costa Crociere S.p.A. (“Costa”), a subsidiary of Carnival plc, and chairman of its board since 2000.

Mr. Foschi’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his extensive international managerial and operational expertise obtained over almost 15 years in the cruise industry. In 2007, Mr. Foschi was listed in the ‘Club 33’ – the 33 most important and influential people in global travel industry as published by the American Travel Weekly Magazine.

 

6.

Howard S. Frank, age 70, has been Vice Chairman of the board of directors of Carnival Corporation since 1993 and a director since 1992. He has been a director, Vice Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Operating Officer of Carnival plc since 2003. He has served as Chief Operating Officer of Carnival Corporation since 1998. Mr. Frank has been a director of The Fairholme Funds, Inc. since May 2007 and The St. Joe Company since March 2011.

Mr. Frank’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his broad managerial, financial, and operational expertise, as well as his deep institutional knowledge. The boards also took into consideration Mr. Frank’s established track record of achievement and sound judgment demonstrated throughout his career with Carnival Corporation & plc.

 

7.

Richard J. Glasier, age 66, has been a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc since 2004. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. Glasier was President of Argosy Gaming Company, an owner and operator of casinos, and its Chief Executive Officer from 2003 until 2005. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Glasier was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Mr. Glasier’s qualifications to serve on the boards include significant cruise industry experience as a senior financial officer of a major cruise line, as well as his managerial and corporate governance expertise acquired as the chief executive officer of a NYSE-listed operator of hotels and casinos, as well as a director of other public companies.

 

8.

Debra Kelly-Ennis, age 55, was nominated by the Nominating & Governance Committees for election as a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc in January 2012. She has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Diageo Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Diageo plc, a global spirits, wine and beer company, since 2008. From 2005 to 2008, she was Chief Marketing Officer for Diageo North America Inc., another subsidiary of Diageo plc. Ms. Kelly-Ennis has also held marketing, sales and general management positions with leading companies such as RJR/Nabisco, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, General Motors Corporation and Grand Metropolitan PLC. She has been honored as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada in 2011, 2010 and 2009 and was named Leading Chief Executive Officer in 2010 by the Toronto Human Resources Professional Association. She has been a director of Pulte Group, Inc. since September 1997.

 

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Ms. Kelly-Ennis’s qualifications to serve on the boards include her extensive marketing and practical managerial experience gained through 30 years working with consumer brand corporations, as well as over 14 years of public company board experience.

 

9.

Modesto A. Maidique, age 71, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 1994 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003. He is a professor of management of Florida International University (“FIU”) and Executive Director of FIU’s Center for Leadership. He served as President of FIU from 1986 to 2009. Prior to assuming the presidency of FIU, Dr. Maidique taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Stanford University. Dr. Maidique has also served as Vice President and General Manager of the Semiconductor Division of Analog Devices, Inc. which he co-founded in 1969, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Genome Therapeutics Corporation (formerly known as Collaborative Research, Inc.), a genetics engineering firm, and as General Partner of Hambrecht & Quist, a venture capital firm. Dr. Maidique served as director of National Semiconductor Corporation from October 1993 to September 2010.

Dr. Maidique’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his internationally recognized expertise in corporate management and leadership, and his experience as chief executive officer of a biotech firm, a semiconductor company and a public research university for 30 years. He is currently Visiting Professor of Leadership at the Harvard Business School and the Alvah H. Chapman, Jr., Eminent Scholar Chair in Leadership at FIU.

 

10.

Sir John Parker, age 69, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 2003 and a director of Carnival plc since 2000, having served as Deputy Chairman of Carnival plc from 2002 to 2003. He was the non-executive Chairman of National Grid plc from October 2002 until January 2012. He has been Vice Chairman of DP World Limited since May 2007 and a director of Anglo American plc since July 2009, serving as its Chairman since August 2009. He has also been a non-executive director of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V. since October 2009. From May 2007 to August 2009 he served as non-executive chairman of Mondi plc. He was formerly Senior Non-Executive Director of the Court of the Bank of England, a non-executive director of GKN plc, Brambles Industries plc and BG Group plc, Chairman of Babcock International Group plc, RMC Group plc and P&O Group plc, a President of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, a member of the Prime Minister’s Business Council for Britain and Chancellor of the University of Southampton. Sir John Parker has been a member of the General Committee of Lloyds Register of Shipping since 1983 and was Chairman of its Technical Committee from 1993 until 2002.

Sir John’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his extensive international background and wealth of corporate experience. His past and present service as a non-executive director of a number of listed UK companies provides the boards with invaluable knowledge and insight with respect to UK corporate governance policies and practices. In addition, Sir John, as a qualified naval architect and former head of a major shipbuilding company, is very experienced in the design, construction and operation of ships.

 

11.

Peter G. Ratcliffe, age 63, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 2003 and a director of Carnival plc since 2000. He was Carnival plc’s Chief Executive Officer until 2003. From 2003 to 2007 he served as Chief Executive Officer of P&O Princess Cruises International comprised of Cunard, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises (UK), P&O Cruises (Australia), Princess Cruises and Princess Tours. He has been a member of the boards of directors of BBA Aviation plc since January 2009 and Mead Johnson Nutrition Company since February 2009.

Mr. Ratcliffe’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his more than 24 years of leadership positions within the cruise industry, and his significant experience both as an executive officer and a director of UK and U.S. public companies. The boards also benefit from his financial and accounting expertise, noting that he is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

 

12.

Stuart Subotnick, age 70, has been a director of Carnival Corporation since 1987 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003. Mr. Subotnick has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Metromedia Company, a

 

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privately held diversified Delaware general partnership, since 2010, having previously served as its general partner and Executive Vice President since 1986. He has been a member of the board of directors of Abovenet Inc. since July 1997.

Mr. Subotnick’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his significant experience in financing, investing and general business matters, as well as his past experience with us, which are important to the boards when reviewing our investor relations, assessing potential financings and strategies, and otherwise evaluating our business decisions.

 

13.

Laura Weil, age 55, has been a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc since 2007. Ms. Weil was the Chief Executive Officer of Ashley Stewart LLC, a privately held retailer, from 2010 to 2011. Ms. Weil was the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Brands, Inc., a privately held apparel retailer, from 2009 to 2010. Urban Brands, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in September 2010. Ashley Stewart LLC, the retail chain operated by Urban Brands, Inc., emerged from bankruptcy in October 2010. Ms. Weil was the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Executive Vice President of AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, a women’s apparel company, from 2005 to 2006. From 1995 to 2005, she was the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., a clothing retailer.

Ms. Weil’s qualifications to serve on the boards include her extensive financial, information technology and operating skills developed over 30 years as an investment banker and senior financial operating executive. Ms. Weil also brings significant experience in global e-commerce and consumer strategies from her leadership experience with a multi-billion dollar NYSE listed retailer.

 

14.

Randall J. Weisenburger, age 53, has been a director of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc since 2009. Mr. Weisenburger has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Omnicom Group Inc., a Fortune-250 global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company, since 1998. Mr. Weisenburger has been a director of Valero Energy Corporation since January 2011.

Mr. Weisenburger’s qualifications to serve on the boards include his broad leadership and operational skills gained as a senior executive of a large multi-national corporation and his extensive financial and accounting skills acquired as an investment banker and senior financial operating executive.

PROPOSALS 15 & 16

RE-APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS FOR CARNIVAL PLC AND RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR CARNIVAL CORPORATION

The Audit Committee of the board of directors of Carnival plc has selected the UK firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Carnival plc’s independent auditors for the year ending November 30, 2012, subject to approval of our shareholders. The Audit Committee of the board of directors of Carnival Corporation has selected the U.S. firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Carnival Corporation’s independent registered certified public accounting firm for the year ending November 30, 2012. Representatives of both the U.S. and UK firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the annual meetings and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

This resolution would re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditors of Carnival plc until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid. It is a requirement of Section 489(2) of the Companies Act 2006 that Carnival plc appoint its independent auditors at a general meeting at which accounts are laid. You are also being asked to authorize the Audit Committee of Carnival plc to determine the remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors of Carnival plc.

 

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Although ratification by our shareholders of the appointment of an independent certified public accounting firm for Carnival Corporation is not legally required, our boards of directors believe that such action is desirable. If our shareholders do not approve Proposal 16, the Audit Committees will consider the selection of another accounting firm for 2012 and future years.

The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the re-appointment of the UK firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Carnival plc’s independent auditors for the 2012 fiscal year, the authorization of the Audit Committee of Carnival plc to agree the remuneration of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the ratification of the selection of the U.S. firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Carnival Corporation’s independent registered certified public accounting firm for the 2012 fiscal year.

PROPOSAL 17

RECEIPT OF ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS OF CARNIVAL PLC

The directors of Carnival plc are required by the Companies Act 2006 to present the financial statements, the UK statutory Directors’ Report and the auditors’ report relating to those accounts to the Carnival plc shareholders. Accordingly, the directors of Carnival plc lay before the annual meetings the Carnival plc accounts and the reports of the directors and auditors for the year ended November 30, 2011, which have been approved by and signed on behalf of Carnival plc’s board of directors and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies in the UK following the annual meetings. Shareholders are voting to approve receipt of these documents, as UK law does not require shareholder approval of the substance and content of these documents. The UK statutory Directors’ Report is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A. The full accounts and reports of Carnival plc will be available for inspection prior to and during the annual meetings.

The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the receipt of the accounts and reports of Carnival plc for the year ended November 30, 2011.

PROPOSAL 18

AN ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act, our shareholders are being provided with an advisory (non-binding) vote on our executive compensation. Although the vote is advisory and is not binding on the boards, the Compensation Committees will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation decisions. We refer to this non-binding advisory vote as the “say-on-pay” vote.

The “say-on-pay” vote is required to be offered to our shareholders at least once every three years. Last year our shareholders recommended that we provide them with the opportunity to provide their “say-on-pay” vote each year and our boards have accepted that recommendation.

The boards are committed to corporate governance best practices and recognize the significant interest of shareholders in executive compensation matters. The Compensation Committees seek to balance short-term and longer-term compensation opportunities to ensure that Carnival Corporation & plc meets short-term objectives while continuing to produce value for its shareholders over the long-term. They also promote a compensation program designed to attract, motivate and retain key executives. As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the Compensation Committees believe that our current executive compensation program directly links executive compensation to our performance and aligns the interests of our named executive officers with those of our shareholders. For example:

 

   

Our compensation philosophy places more emphasis on variable elements of compensation (such as annual cash bonuses and equity-based compensation) than fixed remuneration.

 

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In accordance with the Compensation Committees’ focus on long-term shareholder return, they approved performance-based share awards for the named executive officers. The awards are based on earnings per share growth over a three year period, with award opportunity from zero to 200% based on the earnings per share percentage increase achieved at the of the third year.

 

   

To further promote long-term shareholder alignment, we require our named executive officers to meet and maintain stock ownership requirements.

 

   

The Compensation Committees review the position of each element of total direct compensation relative to the competitive market, and use the range of total direct compensation levels in the competitive market to assess the extent to which the compensation provided to the named executive officers is generally consistent with that offered by the competitive market to their named executive officers.

 

   

Carnival Corporation & plc does not enter into employment agreements with its U.S. executives and does not offer them excise tax gross-up protections.

We encourage you to read our Compensation Discussion and Analysis contained within this proxy statement for a more detailed discussion of our compensation policies and procedures.

Our shareholders have the opportunity to vote for or against, or to abstain from voting, on the following resolution:

“Resolved, that the shareholders approve the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure shall include the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement).”

The above referenced disclosures appear at pages 47 to 79 of this proxy statement.

The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote “FOR” approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement).

PROPOSAL 19

APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

In accordance with Sections 439 and 440 of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the “LMCG Regulations”), shareholders are voting to approve adoption of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report, which is in two parts. Part I also constitutes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required by regulations promulgated by the SEC, and includes information that Carnival plc is required to disclose in accordance with the LMCG Regulations. Part II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report is set forth as Annex B to this proxy statement and includes the additional information that Carnival plc is required to disclose in accordance with the LMCG Regulations, including certain information which has been audited for the purposes of the Carnival plc Annual Report. UK law does not require shareholder approval of the substance and content of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report. Accordingly, disapproval of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report will not require us to amend the report although under applicable UK guidelines the boards and Compensation Committees are expected to take into account both the voting result and the views of our shareholders in their application, development and implementation of remuneration policies and plans.

The Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report sets out the boards’ remuneration policy for the next and subsequent fiscal years and other details required by the LMCR Regulations and the UK Corporate Governance Code published by the UK Financial Reporting Council in June 2010 (the “UK Corporate Governance Code”), which was formerly known as the Combined Code.

 

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The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the approval of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report.

PROPOSALS 20 & 21

APPROVAL OF THE GRANT OF AUTHORITY TO ALLOT NEW CARNIVAL PLC SHARES

AND THE DISAPPLICATION OF PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS APPLICABLE TO THE ALLOTMENT OF NEW CARNIVAL PLC SHARES

Summary. Proposal 20 authorizes the directors of Carnival plc to issue, until the next annual general meeting of Carnival plc (or, if earlier, until the close of business on July 10, 2013), a maximum number of Carnival plc ordinary shares (or to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to a maximum aggregate amount) without further shareholder approval. Proposal 21 authorizes the directors of Carnival plc to issue (or sell any ordinary shares which Carnival plc elects to hold in treasury), until the next annual general meeting of Carnival plc (or, if earlier, until the close of business on July 10, 2013), a maximum number of Carnival plc ordinary shares for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in accordance with the pre-emption rights that would otherwise be applicable. As is the case with many UK companies, these resolutions are proposed each year as the directors believe occasions may arise from time to time when it would be beneficial for shares to be allotted without shareholder approval and for shares to be allotted for cash without making a pre-emptive offer. The Carnival plc directors have no current commitments or plans to allot additional shares of Carnival plc.

Discussion. Under Article 30 of the Articles of Association of Carnival plc, the directors have, for a “prescribed period,” unconditional authority to allot ordinary shares in Carnival plc up to an aggregate nominal amount known as the “allotment amount.”

The power to implement the authority provided by Article 30 is sought each year by the proposal of an ordinary resolution to establish the prescribed period and the allotment amount. By passing this ordinary resolution, shareholders are authorizing the board of Carnival plc to issue, during the prescribed period, a maximum number of shares having an aggregate nominal value equal to the allotment amount, without further shareholder approval. In the absence of such approval, the issuance of any additional shares would require shareholder approval.

Under Article 31 of the Articles of Association of Carnival plc, the directors have, for the same “prescribed period” referred to above, power to allot a small number of ordinary shares for cash without making a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount known as the “disapplication amount.”

The power to implement the authority provided by Article 31 is sought each year by the proposal of a special resolution to establish the disapplication amount. By passing this special resolution, shareholders are authorizing the board of Carnival plc to issue, during the prescribed period, an amount of shares having an aggregate nominal value equal to the disapplication amount, for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders of Carnival plc.

The Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Carnival Corporation do not contain equivalent provisions and holders of Carnival Corporation shares do not have pre-emption rights. Accordingly, no action is required in respect of the ability of Carnival Corporation to allot shares or to disapply pre-emption rights.

In common with many UK companies, resolutions to renew the prescribed period and re-establish the allotment amount and the disapplication amount are normally proposed each year as the directors believe occasions may arise from time to time when it would be beneficial for shares to be allotted and for shares to be allotted for cash without making a pre-emptive offer. This is the purpose of Proposal 20 (an ordinary resolution) and Proposal 21 (a special resolution). As usual, the prescribed period is the period from the passing of the resolutions until the next annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on July 10, 2013).

 

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Guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers, whose member insurance companies are some of the largest institutional investors in UK listed companies, require the allotment amount to be limited to one-third of the issued ordinary share capital (except in the case of a rights issue). By reference to Carnival plc’s issued ordinary share capital on January 13, 2012, the maximum allotment amount is $119,000,890, which is equal to 71,687,283 new Carnival plc ordinary shares, being one third of the amount of the issued ordinary share capital.

In line with guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers, paragraph (b) of Proposal 20 would give the directors of Carnival plc authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favor of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to $238,001,781 (representing 143,374,567 ordinary shares), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under paragraph (a) of Proposal 20. However, if they do exercise the authorities given to them if Proposals 20 and 21 are passed, the directors intend to follow the Association of British Insurers’ recommendations concerning their use (including as regards the directors standing for re-election in certain cases. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) of Carnival plc as at January 13, 2012.

Guidelines issued by the Pre-emption Group, a group comprising representatives of UK listed companies, investment institutions and corporate finance practitioners and formed under the support of the London Stock Exchange to monitor the operation of the Guidelines, recommend that a resolution to disapply the statutory pre-emption rights provided by UK company law should be limited to an amount of equity securities not exceeding 5% of the nominal value of the company’s issued ordinary share capital. By reference to Carnival plc’s issued ordinary share capital on January 13, 2012, the maximum disapplication amount is $17,850,134, which is equal to 10,753,093 new Carnival plc ordinary shares. In respect of this aggregate nominal amount, the directors of Carnival plc confirm their intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-emption Group’s Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities within a rolling three-year period where the Principles provide that usage in excess of 7.5% should not take place without prior consultation with shareholders.

In summary, if Proposals 20 and 21 were passed, the extent of the authority of the directors to allot new Carnival plc ordinary shares for cash on terms which would be dilutive to the existing shareholdings of Carnival plc shareholders, without shareholder approval, would be limited to 10,753,093 new Carnival plc ordinary shares, being 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of Carnival plc at January 13, 2012. The directors have no current commitments or plans to allot additional shares of Carnival plc. Furthermore, the adoption of Proposals 20 and 21 would have no material effect on the ability of Carnival plc to undertake or defend against a takeover attempt.

The boards of directors have authorized the repurchase of up to 19.2 million Carnival plc ordinary shares and up to 31.5 million shares of Carnival Corporation common stock under “Stock Swap” programs. We use the “Stock Swap” programs in situations where we can obtain an economic benefit because either Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ordinary shares are trading at a price that is at a premium or discount to the price of Carnival plc ordinary shares or Carnival Corporation common stock, as the case may be. The economic benefit is used for general corporate purposes.

In the event Carnival Corporation common stock trades at a premium to Carnival plc ordinary shares, we may elect to issue and sell Carnival Corporation common stock through a sales agent and use the sale proceeds to repurchase Carnival plc ordinary shares in the UK market on at least an equivalent basis. Carnival Corporation may issue and sell up to 19.2 million of its common stock in the U.S. market, which shares are to be sold from time to time at prevailing market prices in ordinary brokers’ transactions.

In the event Carnival Corporation common stock trades at a discount to Carnival plc ordinary shares, we may elect to sell existing ordinary shares of Carnival plc, with such sales made by Carnival Corporation or Carnival Investments Limited, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation, through a sales agent from time to time in “at the market” transactions, and use the sale proceeds to repurchase Carnival Corporation common stock in the U.S. market on at least an equivalent basis. Carnival Corporation or Carnival Investments Limited may sell up to 31.5 million Carnival plc ordinary shares in the UK market, which shares are to be sold from time to time at prevailing market prices in ordinary brokers’ transactions.

 

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The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the approval of limits on the authority to allot Carnival plc shares and the disapplication of pre-emption rights for Carnival plc.

PROPOSAL 22

GENERAL AUTHORITY TO BUY BACK CARNIVAL PLC ORDINARY SHARES

The boards of directors previously authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate of $1 billion of Carnival Corporation common stock and Carnival plc ordinary shares subject to certain restrictions (the “Repurchase Program”). The Repurchase Program does not have an expiration date and may be discontinued by our boards of directors at any time.

At January 13, 2012, the remaining availability under the Repurchase Program was $334 million. We may repurchase shares of Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ordinary shares under the Repurchase Program, in addition to repurchases made with net proceeds resulting from the “Stock Swap” programs described above.

Shareholder approval is not required for us to buy back shares of Carnival Corporation, but is required under the Companies Act 2006 for us to buy back shares of Carnival plc. Accordingly, last year Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc sought and obtained shareholder approval to effect market purchases of up to 21,427,608 ordinary shares of Carnival plc (being approximately 10% of Carnival plc’s ordinary shares in issue). During fiscal 2011, 1.3 million ordinary shares have been purchased under the Repurchase Program and the Stock Swap Programs through January 13, 2012. Carnival Corporation & plc treats any such purchases made by Carnival Corporation or Carnival Investments Limited under the Repurchase Program or the Stock Swap Programs as if they were made by Carnival plc under the Carnival plc share buy back authority. That approval expires on the earlier of (i) the conclusion of Carnival plc’s 2012 annual general meeting or (ii) October 12, 2012. Shareholder approval to effect market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of up to 21,506,185 ordinary shares of Carnival plc (being 10% of Carnival plc’s ordinary shares in issue as of January 13, 2012) is being sought.

The boards of directors confirm that the authority to purchase Carnival plc’s shares under the Repurchase Program and the “Stock Swap” program will only be exercised after careful consideration of prevailing market conditions and the position of Carnival plc. In particular, the program will only proceed if we believe that it is in the best interests of Carnival Corporation, Carnival plc and their shareholders generally. The boards of directors are making no recommendation as to whether shareholders should sell any shares in Carnival plc and/or Carnival Corporation.

If the boards of directors exercise the authority conferred by Proposal 22, we would have the option of holding the shares in treasury, or canceling them. Shares held in treasury can be re-sold for cash, used for employee share plans or later cancelled. The boards of directors think it prudent to maintain discretion as to dealing with the purchased shares.

The boards of directors consider that any buy back of Carnival plc shares may include the purchase of its American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing one ordinary share of Carnival plc, with a subsequent cancellation of the underlying ADSs. If the underlying ADSs are so cancelled, Carnival plc will either cancel or hold in treasury the ordinary share represented by such ADSs.

The minimum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for each Carnival plc ordinary share is $1.66, and the maximum price which may be paid is an amount (exclusive of expenses) equal to the higher of (i) 105% of the average middle market quotations for an ordinary share, as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List, for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which such ordinary share is contracted to be purchased; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the London Stock Exchange at the time the purchase is carried out.

 

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As of January 13, 2012, there are options outstanding to subscribe for 1,641,014 ordinary shares and Carnival plc has issued 474,264 RSUs, which represent in the aggregate approximately 0.98% of Carnival plc’s issued share capital. If 21,506,185 ordinary shares of Carnival plc were purchased by Carnival plc and cancelled, these options and RSUs would represent in the aggregate 1.09% of Carnival plc’s issued share capital.

The authority to purchase Carnival plc ordinary shares will expire at the conclusion of the Carnival plc annual general meeting in 2013 or on October 10, 2013, whichever is earlier (except in relation to any purchases of shares the contract for which was entered before the expiry of such authority).

The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote FOR the general authority to buy back Carnival plc ordinary shares.

PROPOSAL 23

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL

Robert L. Kurte, Harold Kurte and Sheila Kurte, 2701 Edgewater Court, Weston, Florida 33332-3403 have notified us that they intend to present a proposal at the annual shareholders meeting. The boards of directors recommend a vote AGAINST the shareholder proposal for the reasons outlined in our opposition statement below.

“Whereas, Carnival Corporation & PLC participates in the political process to help shape public policy and legislation that has a direct impact on the Company.

Whereas, proponents believe Carnival Corporation & PLC should establish policies that minimize risk to the firm’s reputation and brand through possible future missteps in corporate electioneering.

Whereas, proponents believe that the level of disclosure of political spending to shareholders in annual reports required by the 2000 & 2006 Amendments to Companies Act of the United Kingdom is insufficient in today’s climate.

Resolved, that the shareholders of Carnival Corporation & PLC hereby request the Company in compliance with the applicable law take the following actions:

 

  1.

Adoption and disclosure of policies, procedures, and corporate governance structures for political contributions and expenditures both direct and indirect made with corporate funds.

 

  2.

Provide on an annual basis either online on the corporate website or in the annual report a list of specific electioneering expenditures made in the prior fiscal year. This list should include all corporate support for political activities (candidates, campaigns, causes, ballot measures, and the like) through either in-kind or monetary expenditure. For the US and UK institutional environment this should include direct donation as well as donation via vehicles such as political action committees, trade associations, social welfare group, or 527 committees.

Shareholder Supporting Statement

How can corporate secretaries, boards and companies best handle the lightening-rod issue of political contributions?

The United States Supreme Court’s Citizen’s United decision recognized the importance of political spending disclosure for shareholders when it said “[D]isclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.”

 

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Unfortunately relying on publicly available data does not provide a complete picture of the Company’s political expenditures. For example, the Company does not disclose in the annual report the names of the political action committees, trade associations, etc., that it contributes to. In many cases even management does not know how trade associations use the Company’s money. Full transparency is the only way to minimize any possible risk to the Company’s reputation.

The Company’s Board and its shareholders need complete disclosure to be able to evaluate the political use of corporate assets. Thus, we urge our fellow shareholders to support this critical governance reform and vote in favor of this proposal.”

Opposition Statement

The boards of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc recommend you vote “AGAINST” this proposal for the following reasons:

Our business is subject to extensive regulation at the international, federal, state and local levels. We seek to be an effective participant in the political process by making prudent political contributions consistent with international, federal state and local laws governing such contributions. We are fully committed to complying with all laws concerning political contributions, including laws requiring public disclosure, in compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

Federal law currently prohibits corporations from making contributions directly to candidates for federal office and to national party committees. As a result, Carnival Corporation & plc does not make such contributions.

Two of our subsidiaries, Holland American Line Inc. and Princess Cruises & Tours Inc. have formed political action committees (the “HAL/Princess PACs”), but the HAL/Princess PACs are funded by voluntary contributions of company employees – not corporate funds. Some of our employees voluntarily fund industry-related political action committees (“Industry PACs”). The HAL/Princess PACs and Industry PACs (together, the “PACs”) make political contributions to state and federal candidates, political party committees, and other political action committees. The activities of the PACs are subject to comprehensive regulation by the federal government, including detailed disclosure requirements. The PACs are required to file monthly reports of receipts and disbursements with the Federal Election Commission (the “FEC”), as well as pre-election and post-election FEC reports. All political contributions over $200 are shown in public information made available by the FEC at http://www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml.

At the state level, the political contributions of the PACs are also subject to regulation. Although some states have not banned corporate contributions to candidates or political parties, all states require that such contributions be disclosed either by the recipient or by the donor. That information is also publicly available.

In addition, the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995, as amended, requires, subject to certain minimum thresholds, that any Carnival company employing one or more individuals who are substantially engaged in federal lobbying activities must submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing those activities. Any outside firm or individual retained by a Carnival company to engage in such activities must file the same reports. All such reports are available to the public at http://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=choosefields. Any employee or outside individual identified in these reports as engaging in federal lobbying activities must file individual semi-annual reports of their political contributions.

As a result of the disclosures mandated by law, our boards of directors have concluded that ample disclosure already exists regarding our political contributions to alleviate the concerns cited in this proposal. In addition, the boards of directors believe that the disclosure of business rationale behind each political contribution would place our company at a competitive disadvantage by revealing our long-term business strategies and priorities. We are also involved in a number of legislative initiatives, both proactive and defensive, that could dramatically affect our business and operations. Because competitors and other parties with adverse interests also participate in the

 

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political process and are involved in these same initiatives for their own business reasons, any unilaterally expanded disclosure by Carnival Corporation & plc could benefit these parties to the detriment of Carnival Corporation & plc and its shareholders.

The boards of directors unanimously recommend a vote AGAINST the Carnival Corporation shareholder proposal.

 

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BOARD STRUCTURE AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Independence of Board Members

The boards of directors have determined that each of the following directors is an “independent director” in accordance with the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange as a result of having no material relationship with Carnival Corporation & plc other than (1) serving as a director and board committee member, (2) receiving related fees as disclosed in this proxy statement and (3) having beneficial ownership of Carnival Corporation and/or Carnival plc securities as disclosed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”: Sir Jonathon Band, Arnold W. Donald, Richard J. Glasier, Modesto A. Maidique, Sir John Parker, Stuart Subotnick, Laura Weil, Randall J. Weisenburger and Uzi Zucker. The boards of directors have also determined that Debra Kelly-Ennis will, upon her election to the boards, be deemed an “independent director” for these same reasons.

Board Meetings

During the year ended November 30, 2011, the board of directors of each of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc held a total of nine meetings. Each Carnival Corporation director and each Carnival plc director attended either telephonically or in person at least 75% of all Carnival Corporation & plc board of directors and applicable committee meetings.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that our non-executive directors will meet privately in executive session at least quarterly. All of our non-executive directors, acting in executive session, elected Mr. Subotnick as the Presiding Director to preside at these meetings. Mr. Subotnick also acts as the senior independent director under the UK Corporate Governance Code.

All board members are expected to attend our annual meetings of shareholders. At the 2011 annual meetings, all of the board members of each company were in attendance.

Board Committees

The boards delegate various responsibilities and authority to different board committees. The committees regularly report on their activities and actions to the full boards. The board of directors of each of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc has established standing Audit; Compensation; Executive; Health, Environmental, Safety & Security (“HESS”); and Nominating & Governance Committees, which are comprised of the same directors for each company. A majority of the directors of each company and all of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, HESS Committee and Nominating & Governance Committee of each company are independent (as defined by the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, SEC rules and the UK Corporate Governance Code).

The membership and function of each committee is described below. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines and copies of the charters of our Audit, Compensation, HESS and Nominating & Governance Committees are available under the “Corporate Governance” section of our website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com. Each committee periodically reviews its charter in light of new developments in applicable regulations and may make additional recommendations to the boards to reflect evolving best practices. Each committee can engage outside experts, advisers, and counsel to assist the committee in its work.

 

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The current committee members are as follows:

 

Name

   Audit      Compensation      Executive      HESS      Nominating &
Governance
 

Micky Arison

     —           —           Chair         —           —     

Sir Jonathon Band

     —           —           —           X         —     

Robert H. Dickinson

     —           —           —           —           —     

Arnold W. Donald

     —           Chair         —           X         —     

Pier Luigi Foschi

     —           —           —           —           —     

Howard S. Frank

     —           —           X         —           —     

Richard J. Glasier

     Chair         X         —           —           —     

Modesto A. Maidique

     X         —           —           —           —     

Sir John Parker

     —           —           —           Chair         X   

Peter G. Ratcliffe

     —           —           —           —           —     

Stuart Subotnick

     X         —           —           —           X   

Laura Weil

     X         X         —           —           —     

Randall J. Weisenburger

     X         —           —           —           —     

Uzi Zucker(1)

     X         —           X         —           Chair   

Number of committee meetings/consent actions in fiscal 2011

     14         10         6         5         5   

 

(1)

In accordance with the Carnival Corporation & plc Corporate Governance Guidelines, Mr. Zucker has not been nominated for re-election as a director at the April 11, 2012 annual general meeting, having reached the age of 75.

Audit Committees. The Audit Committees assist the boards in their general oversight of our financial reporting, internal controls and audit functions, and are responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent auditors and our independent registered certified public accounting firm. The board of directors of Carnival Corporation has determined that Mr. Glasier is both “independent” and an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by SEC rules. In addition, the board of directors of Carnival plc has determined that Mr. Glasier has “recent and relevant financial experience” for purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code. The boards determined that each member of the Audit Committees has sufficient knowledge in reading and understanding the company’s financial statements to serve on the Audit Committees. The responsibilities and activities of the Audit Committees are described in detail in “Report of the Audit Committees” and the Audit Committees’ charter.

Compensation Committees. The Compensation Committees have authority for reviewing and determining salaries, performance-based incentives, and other matters related to the compensation of our executive officers, and administering our stock incentive plans, including reviewing and granting equity-based awards to our executive officers and other employees. The Compensation Committees also review and determine various other compensation policies and matters, including making recommendations to the boards with respect to the compensation of the non-executive (non-employee) directors, incentive compensation and equity-based plans generally, and administering the employee stock purchase plans. For more information on the responsibilities and activities of the Compensation Committees, including the committees’ processes for determining executive compensation, see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation,” and the Compensation Committees’ charter.

Executive Committees. The Executive Committees may exercise the authority of the full board between board meetings, except to the extent that the board has delegated authority to another committee or to other persons, and except as limited by applicable law.

HESS Committees. The HESS Committees review and recommend policies relative to the protection of the environment and the health, safety and security of employees, contractors, guests and the public. The HESS

 

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Committees also supervise and monitor health, environmental, safety and security policies and programs and review with management significant risks or exposures and actions required to minimize such risks. For more information on the responsibilities and activities of the HESS Committees, see the HESS Committees’ charter.

Nominating & Governance Committees. The Nominating & Governance Committees review and report to the boards on a periodic basis with regard to matters of corporate governance. The Nominating & Governance Committees also review and assess the effectiveness of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, make recommendations to the boards regarding proposed revisions to these guidelines, and make recommendations to the boards regarding the size and composition of the boards and their committees. For more information on the responsibilities and activities of the Nominating & Governance Committees, see “Nominations of Directors,” “Procedures Regarding Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders” and the Nominating & Governance Committees’ charter.

Additional information with respect to Carnival plc’s corporate governance practices during the 2011 fiscal year is included in the Carnival plc Corporate Governance Report attached to this proxy statement as Annex C.

Risk Oversight

The boards of directors have overall responsibility for the Carnival Corporation & plc Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) Program, which assesses, monitors and identifies mitigation enhancement for key risks facing our company. The boards of directors receive both written and oral reports on the ERM Program at least twice each year and provide guidance on the direction and reporting of the ERM Program. In addition, the boards of directors also receive presentations from operating company Chief Executive Officers on key risks facing their brand and the associated risk mitigations.

Our boards use their committees to assist in their risk oversight function as follows:

 

   

Our Audit Committees are responsible for oversight of our financial controls and compliance activities. The Audit Committees also oversee management’s processes to identify and quantify the material risks facing Carnival Corporation & plc. In connection with its risk oversight role, the Audit Committees regularly meet privately with representatives from our independent registered certified public accounting firm, the Chief Audit Executive and the General Counsel.

 

   

Our Compensation Committees are responsible for oversight of risk associated with our compensation plans.

 

   

Our HESS Committees are responsible for oversight of risk associated with the health, environment, safety and security of employees, contractors, guests and the public.

 

   

Our Nominating and Governance Committees are responsible for oversight of risk associated with board processes and corporate governance.

Each committee chairman presents this information to the full boards for review.

Discussions with the boards regarding the Carnival Corporation & plc strategic plan, consolidated business results, capital structure, and other business related activities include a discussion of the risks associated with the particular item under consideration. This oversight includes briefings by management, review of audit results and corrective actions, and results of risk assessment and risk monitoring activities.

The boards believe that the structure and assigned responsibilities provides the appropriate focus, oversight and communication of key risks faced by our company.

Compensation Risk Assessment

In 2011, Carnival’s management, in conjunction with the Compensation Committees’ independent compensation consultant, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., conducted a thorough review of our compensation programs, including

 

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those programs in which our named executive officers participate, to determine if aspects of those programs contribute to excessive risk-taking. Based on the findings from this review, the Compensation Committees believe that our compensation policies and practices do not encourage excessive risk-taking and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Carnival Corporation & plc.

To reach this conclusion, key elements of our compensation programs were assessed to determine if they exhibited excessive risk. These elements included pay mix (cash vs. equity) and pay structure (short- vs. long-term focus), performance metrics, performance goals and ranges, the degree of leverage, incentive maximums, payment timing, incentive adjustments, use of discretion and stock ownership requirements. Our assessment reinforced the Compensation Committees’ belief that our compensation programs are not contributing to excessive risk-taking, but instead contain many features and elements that help to mitigate risk. For example:

 

   

Pay Structure: Our compensation programs emphasize both short- and long-term performance through our annual bonus program (delivered in cash) and though the delivery of long-term incentives (equity) in a balanced approach (approximately 50% through base salary and bonus and 50% in long-term equity awards). The mix of our pay program is intended to motivate management to consider the impact of decisions on shareholders in the short, intermediate and long-terms.

 

   

Incentive Limits: Our annual cash bonus plans do not allow for unlimited payouts. Cash bonus awards cannot exceed 200% of target levels. The performance-based share awards (which were introduced in fiscal 2011 and are described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis) limits the payouts to 200% of target.

 

   

Performance-based Awards: To strengthen the relationship between pay and performance, our annual cash bonus and long-term incentive plans include performance-based awards. The entire annual cash bonus is measured against performance targets. Beginning in 2011 a portion of the long-term equity awards is in the form of performance-based share awards. Performance-based share awards will have no value unless Carnival Corporation & plc achieves pre-determined three-year performance targets. Further, all restricted share and RSU awards vest at the end of three years, rather than vesting ratably on an annual basis.

 

   

Performance Measurement: For corporate officers, the performance measurement used when determining their annual cash bonus is based on the performance of Carnival Corporation & plc. For officers of our operating units, the performance measurements used when determining their bonus is based 75% on the performance of their operating unit, with the remaining balance being based on the performance of Carnival Corporation & plc to ensure a continued focus on the overall success of Carnival Corporation & plc.

 

   

Stock Ownership Guidelines: All of our Section 16 Officers, including our named executive officers, are subject to a Stock Ownership Policy pursuant to which specifies target ownership levels of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc shares for each Section 16 Officer expressed in terms of the value of the equity holdings (including unvested restricted shares and RSUs) as a multiple of each Section 16 Officer’s base salary.

 

   

Clawback Policy: The Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan (that was approved by shareholders in 2011) contains a clawback policy, which authorizes us to recover incentive-based compensation granted under that plan in the event Carnival Corporation & plc is required to restate its financial statements due to fraud or misconduct.

Adjustments and Discretion: There are no predetermined adjustments under the short-term incentive plans, and the Compensation Committees may use their discretion to make such adjustments as they deem appropriate in determining awards, thereby helping to mitigate windfall payments not anticipated or warranted.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines address various governance issues and principles, including director qualifications and responsibilities, access to management personnel, director compensation, director orientation

 

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and continuing education and annual performance evaluations of the boards and directors. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are posted on our website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com.

Combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Under the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Carnival Corporation and the Articles of Association of Carnival plc, the boards select one of their members as Chairman. The boards believe that the interests of all shareholders are best met at the present time through a leadership model with a combined Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and an independent Presiding Director. Micky Arison currently serves as both Chairman of the Boards and Chief Executive Officer. Stuart Subotnick currently serves as Presiding Director.

The boards have no policy with respect to the separation of the offices of Chairman of the Boards and the Chief Executive Officer. The boards believe that this issue is part of the succession planning process and that it is in the best interests of Carnival Corporation & plc for the boards to make a determination when they elect a new Chief Executive Officer. The current Chief Executive Officer possesses an in-depth knowledge of our company, its integrated, multi-national operations, the cruise industry and the array of challenges to be faced, gained through over 30 years of successful experience overseeing the growth of the company. The boards believe these experiences and other insights put Mr. Arison in the best position to provide broad leadership for the boards as they consider strategy and as they fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to our shareholders.

Further, the boards have demonstrated their commitment and ability to provide independent oversight of management. A majority of the members of the boards are independent, and 100% of the members of the Audit, Compensation, HESS and Nominating & Governance Committees are independent. Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the non-executive directors designate one non-executive director to serve as the Presiding Director to preside at executive sessions of the non-executive directors and at meetings of the boards in the absence of the Chairman. In addition, the Presiding Director serves as the principal liaison to the non-executive directors, reviews and approves meeting agendas for the boards and reviews meeting schedules.

The independent non-executive directors meet at least annually under the direction of the Presiding Director to conduct an appraisal of the Chairman’s performance as leader of the boards. The Compensation Committees conduct an annual review of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance in order to ensure that the Chief Executive Officer is providing Carnival Corporation & plc the best leadership for both the short- and long-term.

Our boards believe that planning for the succession of our Chief Executive Officer is an important function. Our decentralized structure enhances our succession planning process. At the corporate level, a highly-skilled management team oversees a collection of separately managed cruise brands. Each of our brands is led by locally-based executives who are driven to grow and optimize their brands, which fosters an ownership-oriented attitude that is not common in an organization of our size. At both the corporate and brand levels, we continually strive to foster the professional development of senior management. As a result, Carnival Corporation & plc has developed a very experienced and strong group of leaders, with their performance subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation, as potential successors to our Chief Executive Officer.

The independent non-executive directors meet with the Chief Executive Officer at least annually to plan for the succession of the Chief Executive Officer (including plans in the event of an emergency). During those sessions, the Chief Executive Officer discusses his recommendations of potential successors, along with an evaluation and review of any development plans for such individuals. As provided in our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Nominating and Governance Committees will, when appropriate, make recommendations to the boards with respect to potential successors to the Chief Executive Officer. All members of the boards will work with the Nominating and Governance Committees to evaluate potential successors to the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Nominations of Directors

Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc are two separate legal entities and, therefore, each has a separate board of directors, each of which in turn has its own Nominating & Governance Committee. As the DLC arrangement requires that there be identical boards of directors, the Nominating & Governance Committees make one set of determinations in relation to both companies.

The Nominating & Governance Committees actively seek individuals qualified to become board members and recommend to the boards the nominees to stand for election as directors at the annual meetings of shareholders or, if applicable, at a special meeting of shareholders.

When evaluating prospective candidates for director, regardless of the source of the nomination, the Nominating & Governance Committees will consider, in accordance with their charter, such factors as they deem appropriate, including, but not limited to:

 

   

the candidate’s judgment;

 

   

the candidate’s skill;

 

   

diversity considerations;

 

   

the candidate’s experience with businesses and other organizations of comparable size;

 

   

the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of other board members; and

 

   

the extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the boards and any committees of the boards.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines dictate that diversity should be considered by the Nominating and Governance Committees in the director identification and nomination process. This means that the Nominating and Governance Committees seek nominees who bring a variety of business backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the boards. The boards believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of the directors, considered as a group, should provide a broad diversity of experience, professions, skills, geographic representations, knowledge and abilities that will allow the boards to fulfill their responsibilities.

The Nominating & Governance Committees will also use their best efforts to seek to ensure that the composition of the boards at all times adheres to the independence requirements applicable to companies listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. The Nominating & Governance Committees may consider candidates proposed by management, but are not required to do so. Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees.

The Nominating & Governance Committees identify nominees by first evaluating the current members of the boards willing to continue in service. Current members of the boards with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination, balancing the value of continuity of service by existing members of the boards with that of obtaining a new perspective. If any member of the boards does not wish to continue in service or if the Nominating & Governance Committees or the boards decide not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Nominating & Governance Committees identify the desired skills and experience of a new nominee in light of the criteria above. Current members of the Nominating & Governance Committees and the boards are polled for suggestions as to individuals meeting the criteria of the Nominating & Governance Committees. The Nominating and Governance Committees may engage a third party search firm to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying potential nominees.

Procedures Regarding Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders

The Nominating & Governance Committees will also consider shareholder recommendations of qualified director nominees when such recommendations are submitted in accordance with the procedures below. In order

 

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to have a nominee considered by the Nominating & Governance Committees for election at the 2012 annual meetings, a shareholder must submit his or her recommendation in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our headquarters no later than November 4, 2012. Any such recommendation must include:

 

   

the name and address of the candidate;

 

   

a brief biographical description, including his or her occupation and service on boards of directors of any public company or registered investment company for at least the last five years;

 

   

a statement of the particular experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of the candidate, taking into account the qualification requirements set forth above; and

 

   

the candidate’s signed consent to serve as a director if elected and to be named in the proxy statement.

Once we receive the recommendation, we will deliver to the candidate a questionnaire that requests additional information about the candidate’s independence, qualifications and other matters that would assist the Nominating & Governance Committees in evaluating the candidate, as well as certain information that must be disclosed about the candidate in our proxy statement or other regulatory filings, if nominated. Candidates must complete and return the questionnaire within the time frame provided to be considered for nomination by the Nominating & Governance Committees.

Communications between Shareholders and the Boards

Shareholders or interested parties who wish to communicate with the boards, the Presiding Director, the non-executive directors as a group or any individual director should address their communications to the attention of the Secretary of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc at 3655 N.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33178. The Secretary will maintain a log of all such communications, promptly forward to the Presiding Director those which the Secretary believes require immediate attention, and also periodically provide the Presiding Director with a summary of all such communications and any responsive actions taken. The Presiding Director will notify the boards or the chairs of the relevant board committees as to those matters that he believes are appropriate for further action or discussion.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applies to all employees and members of the boards of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and provides guiding principles on areas such as identifying and resolving conflicts of interest. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on our website at www.carnivalcorp.com and www.carnivalplc.com. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics may be amended periodically to remain in line with best practices.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

There are no legal proceedings to which any director, executive officer, nominee or principal shareholder, or any affiliate thereof, is a party adverse to Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc, or has a material interest adverse to Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc.

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Our non-executive directors are entitled to receive an annual retainer of $40,000 per year, an attendance fee per board meeting of $5,000 ($2,000 if meeting attended by telephone), equity compensation, as further described below, and reimbursement for travel, meals and accommodation expenses attendant to their board membership. We do not provide retirement benefits or other benefits to our non-executive directors. We reimburse directors for travel expenses incurred for spouses or partners when we request that they attend a special event. Any amount reimbursed for spousal or partner travel is reported below in the “Director Compensation for Fiscal 2011” table. The Presiding Director receives an additional retainer of $20,000 per annum. In addition, non-executive directors receive additional compensation for serving as chairman or a member of a board committee. Board members who are employed by us do not receive additional compensation for their services as a member of the boards of directors.

The retainer and meeting attendance fees currently in effect for the board committees are as follows:

 

     Retainer      Attendance Fee  
     Chair      Member      In Person      By Telephone  

Audit Committees

   $ 23,000       $ 7,500       $ 3,000       $ 1,500   

Compensation Committees

   $ 23,000       $ 3,750       $ 2,500       $ 1,250   

Executive Committees

     —         $ 3,750         —           —     

HESS Committees

   $ 23,000       $ 7,500       $ 3,000       $ 1,500   

Nominating & Governance Committees

   $ 10,000       $ 3,750       $ 2,500       $ 1,250   

For purposes of calculating fees, a board or committee meeting of Carnival Corporation and a concurrent or related board or committee meeting of Carnival plc constitute a single meeting. Non-executive directors receive payment of their earned retainer and meeting fees in quarterly installments. Annual retainers are pro-rated so that adjustments can be made during the year. Unearned portions of cash retainers are forfeited upon termination of service.

Non-executive directors receive annual share awards under the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan. In April 2011 the board approved awards with a dollar value equal to $120,000. As a result, an award of 3,188 Carnival Corporation restricted shares or RSUs was made to each non-executive director re-elected on April 13, 2011 when the closing price of a share was $37.63.

Awards under the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan vest in their entirety on the third anniversary of the grant date. Awards of restricted shares have the same rights with respect to dividends and other distributions as all other outstanding shares of Carnival Corporation common stock. Awards of RSUs do not receive dividends and do not have voting rights. Each RSU awarded is credited with dividend equivalents equal to the value of cash and stock dividends paid on Carnival Corporation common stock. The cash and stock dividend equivalents will be distributed upon the settlement of the RSUs upon vesting. It is anticipated that non-executive directors will receive their annual awards initially upon their election to the boards and subsequently at the time of their annual re-election to the boards.

 

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Director Compensation for Fiscal 2011

The following table details the total compensation earned by our non-executive directors in fiscal 2011. Compensation for our executive directors, being Messrs. Arison, Foschi and Frank is reflected in the section entitled “Summary Compensation Table,” which follows the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Board members who are employed by us do not receive additional compensation for their services as a member of the boards of directors.

 

Name

   Fees Earned or
Paid in
Cash(1)
($)
     Stock
Awards(2)(3)
($)
     All Other
Compensation(4)
($)
     Total
($)
 

Sir Jonathon Band

     89,000         119,964         7,681         216,645   

Robert H. Dickinson

     70,000         119,964         —           189,964   

Arnold W. Donald

     132,750         119,964         2,113         254,827   

Richard J. Glasier

     141,250         119,964         1,435         262,649   

Modesto A. Maidique

     104,500         119,964         1,203         225,667   

Sir John Parker

     121,500         119,964         —           241,464   

Peter G. Ratcliffe

     70,000         119,964         595         190,559   

Stuart Subotnick

     139,500         119,964         —           259,464   

Laura Weil

     124,250         119,964         —           244,214   

Randall J. Weisenburger

     104,500         119,964         —           224,464   

Uzi Zucker

     129,500         119,964         6,392         255,856   

 

(1)

Refer to the table above describing the board committee membership.

(2)

No stock option awards were granted in fiscal 2011. Represents the grant date fair value, assuming no risk of forfeiture of the grants of Carnival Corporation restricted shares and RSUs awarded in fiscal 2011, calculated in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). Each of the non-executive directors received a grant of 3,188 restricted shares or RSUs upon their re-election to the boards on April 13, 2011 when the closing price of a share was $37.63. We calculate the grant date fair value related to a share of restricted stock and an RSU based on the market price of Carnival Corporation common stock on the date of grant. The restricted shares and RSUs granted in 2011 vest on the third anniversary of the grant date. The restricted shares and RSUs granted to non-executive directors also vest in full upon the death or disability of the director, and continue to vest in accordance with the original vesting schedule and are not forfeited if a director ceases to be a director for any other reason after having served as a director for at least one year. All of the above directors have served for all of fiscal 2011.

(3)

The aggregate number of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc restricted shares, RSUs and options (both exercisable and unexercisable) outstanding at November 30, 2011 are as follows:

 

Name

   Unvested  Restricted
Shares
     Unvested RSUs      Unexercised Options  

Sir Jonathon Band

     6,276         0         0   

Robert H. Dickinson

     46,276         4,647         360,000   

Arnold W. Donald

     10,923         0         32,000   

Richard J. Glasier

     10,923         0         30,000   

Modesto A. Maidique

     10,923         0         36,000   

Sir John Parker

     10,923         0         0   

Peter G. Ratcliffe

     0         20,923         200,000   

Stuart Subotnick

     10,923         0         9,600   

Laura Weil

     10,923         500         0   

Randall J. Weisenburger

     10,923         0         0   

Uzi Zucker

     10,923         0         38,400   

 

(4)

Represents reimbursement of expenses associated with spousal or partner travel and the incremental cost of cruise benefits.

The following policies also apply to our non-executive directors:

 

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines. All non-executive directors are required to own at least 5,000 shares (inclusive of unvested restricted shares, RSUs and shares in a trust beneficially owned by the director) of either Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ordinary shares. Each of the non-executive directors elected in 2011 has achieved this board mandated requirement. New directors must achieve this requirement no later than two years from the date of their initial election to the boards by the shareholders.

 

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Product Familiarization. All non-executive directors are encouraged to take a cruise for up to 14 days per year for product familiarization and pay a fare of $35 per day for such cruises. In addition, guests traveling with the non-executive director in the same stateroom are charged a fare of $35 per day. All other charges associated with the cruise (e.g., air fares, fuel supplements, government fees and taxes, gratuities, ground transfers, tours, etc.) are the responsibility of the non-executive director.

Carnival plc

Additional information with respect to Carnival plc’s compensation and reimbursement practices during fiscal 2011 for non-executive directors is included in Part II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report, which is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement.

 

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

and

CARNIVAL PLC DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT – PART I

INTRODUCTION

Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc are separate legal entities (together referred to in this report as “Carnival Corporation & plc”) and each company has its own board of directors and Compensation Committee. However, as is required by the agreements governing the dual listed company (“DLC”) arrangement, the boards of directors and members of the committees of the boards, including the Compensation Committees, are identical and there is a single senior management team.

Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc are subject to disclosure regimes in the U.S. and UK. While some of the disclosure requirements are the same or similar, some are very different. As a result, the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report is in two parts. The information contained in this Part I constitutes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required by regulations promulgated by the SEC, and includes information that Carnival plc is required to disclose in accordance with the Sections 439 and 440 of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the “LMCG Regulations”). Part II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report is set forth as Annex B to this proxy statement and includes the additional information that Carnival plc is required to disclose in accordance with the LMCG Regulations, including certain information which has been audited for the purposes of the Carnival plc Annual Report.

Parts I and II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report are in compliance with the LMCG Regulations, the UK Corporate Governance Code published in June 2010 by the UK Financial Reporting Council (the “UK Corporate Governance Code”), which was formerly known as the Combined Code, the UK Companies Act 2006 and the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority. Both Parts I and II form part of the Annual Report of Carnival plc for the year ended November 30, 2011.

Pursuant to rules promulgated by the SEC and the LMCG Regulations, this Compensation Discussion and Analysis reviews the compensation of the following named executive officers of Carnival Corporation & plc (the “NEOs”):

 

Name    Title

Micky Arison

  

Chairman of the Boards of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

David Bernstein

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Gerald R. Cahill

  

President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Cruise Lines

Pier Luigi Foschi

  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Costa

Howard S. Frank

  

Vice Chairman of the Boards of Directors and Chief Operating Officer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following highlights the Compensation Committees’ key compensation decisions in fiscal 2011, as reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.” These decisions were made with the advice of the Compensation Committees’ independent consultants, Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. (“FWC”) and are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

Carnival Corporation & plc achieved operating income of $2.26 billion, which is 3.9% less than operating income in fiscal 2010. In line with our commitment to link pay to performance, overall cash compensation paid to the NEOs for fiscal 2011 was generally less than cash compensation paid to the NEOs for fiscal 2010. Despite the decline in operating income, the Compensation Committees believe that our fiscal 2011 results were encouraging in light of higher fuel prices, the impact of geo-political events in the Middle East and North Africa, the earthquake and resulting nuclear disaster in Japan, which together resulted in over 300 itinerary changes, the European debt crisis, recessionary fears and stock market volatility. Other notable operating achievements during fiscal 2011 were as follows:

 

   

significant cost reductions,

 

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successful ship initiatives, including the absorption of four new ships into our fleet,

 

   

continued port development,

 

   

continued progress in realizing synergies among the various operating companies,

 

   

securing orders of four new vessels at attractive pricing,

 

   

development of our first corporate-wide sustainability report; and

 

   

maintaining the strength of our brands.

The following key compensation decisions reflected the challenging operating environment in fiscal 2011 and demonstrated the Compensation Committees’ continued desire to strengthen the linkage between long-term pay and performance.

 

   

Base Salaries. The base salary for Mr. Foschi remained unchanged for fiscal 2011. The base salaries for the other NEOs increased 3% for fiscal 2011 based on individual performance appraisals for fiscal 2010. The NEOs’ overall average salary increase was 2.4%. There will be no base salary increases for our NEOs in fiscal 2012.

 

   

Annual Cash Bonuses. The fiscal 2011 cash bonuses were on average 12.8% lower than the fiscal 2010 bonuses.

 

   

Equity Awards.

 

   

PBS Awards. The Compensation Committees approved a new performance-based share (“PBS”) award program for the NEOs and other key executives within Carnival Corporation & plc. The PBS awards are based on Carnival Corporation & plc earnings per share (“EPS”) growth over a three-year period.

 

   

TBS Awards. The Compensation Committees approved annual time-based share (“TBS”) awards to the NEOs based on fiscal 2011 performance, which provided approximately the same value as the TBS awards granted to the NEOs based on fiscal 2010 performance, except for Mr. Arison who elected, in light of his substantial level of share ownership in Carnival Corporation & plc, to have his TBS award granted in February 2012 (based on fiscal 2011 performance) reduced by the grant date fair value of the PBS award granted to him in January 2011.

Even though the actual compensation that the NEOs receive from the PBS awards will not be determined until the end of the three-year performance period, and will depend on our EPS performance over such period, the SEC’s disclosure rules require us to include the fair value of the PBS awards in the “Summary Compensation Table” as compensation for fiscal 2011. As a result, and also due to the fact that fiscal 2011 was the first year for which PBS awards were granted, the total compensation as disclosed in the “Summary Compensation Table” for the NEOs indicates an overall increase from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011. However, if the PBS awards are excluded, the total compensation for the NEOs actually decreased by an average of 4% from fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2011.

OVERALL PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the Compensation Committees with respect to executive compensation are to create competitive compensation packages that provide both short-term rewards and long-term incentives for positive individual and corporate performances and to ensure the alignment of the financial interests of our executive officers and Carnival Corporation & plc’s shareholders. To help strengthen that linkage, the Compensation Committees’ philosophy is to place more emphasis on the variable elements of compensation, such as the annual cash bonus and equity-based compensation, than on base salary. The Compensation Committees seek to provide total direct compensation for each NEO that is competitive for the market (as described below under “Competitive Market (Peer Group) Comparison on an Aggregate Basis”), adjusted as necessary to take into consideration a particular NEO’s individual circumstances, as applicable (including the NEO’s tenure with Carnival Corporation & plc and in his current role, the NEO’s performance as evaluated over sustained periods, and the performance of the NEO’s operating group and/or area of responsibility). The Compensation Committees review the position of each element of total direct compensation relative to the competitive market, and use the range of total direct compensation levels in the competitive market to assess the extent to which the compensation provided to the NEOs is generally consistent with that offered by the competitive market to their named executive officers.

 

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Most of the executive officers of Carnival Corporation & plc are located in the U.S., with others based in Europe. As a global entity, it is challenging to establish consistent compensation practices across geographic and corporate lines that satisfy the particular requirements of all jurisdictions and local market demands. Since the largest presence of executive officers is in the U.S., our compensation policies primarily reflect U.S. market practices. However, the Compensation Committees seek to incorporate UK compensation principles, including those contained in the UK Corporate Governance Code, as far as practicable, unless the application of those principles would not be competitive in the U.S. or other markets, or would restrict Carnival Corporation & plc’s ability to transfer executives between operating units.

It is the policy of the Compensation Committees for executive officers to have notice periods, if any, of not more than 12 months in duration. Following U.S. accepted practice on remuneration, the Compensation Committees have adopted a policy not to enter into service contracts with U.S. executives. The Compensation Committees will continue to regard the individual circumstances of each case taking account of best practice in the UK and the U.S. and the expected cost to Carnival Corporation & plc of any termination of an executive’s employment arrangements.

As required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, at the 2011 annual shareholders meeting, our shareholders provided an advisory (non-binding) vote on the fiscal 2010 compensation of our named executive officers, which we referred to as the “say-on-pay” vote. The compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and any related material disclosed in the proxy statement) was approved, with 93.8% of the shares voting ‘for’ approval of the “say-on-pay” proposal. The Compensation Committees noted the results of this vote, and although the say-on-pay vote is advisory and is not binding on the boards of directors of Carnival Corporation & plc, the Compensation Committees took the approval into consideration in determining that the current compensation philosophy and objectives remain appropriate for use in determining the compensation of our named executive officers.

OVERVIEW OF TOTAL DIRECT COMPENSATION FOR 2011 AND COMPARISON TO 2010

Total Cash Compensation. Annual changes in total cash compensation for Carnival Corporation & plc’s senior management team, including the NEOs, are managed to take into account changes in operating income as measured at the most relevant levels (corporate and/or operating company). Other considerations impacting cash compensation include changes in responsibility, market pay positioning and comparisons to other Carnival Corporation & plc executives with similar responsibility levels.

At the time fiscal 2011 salaries and target bonuses were established, Carnival Corporation & plc’s operating income was forecast to increase from the actual operating income for fiscal 2010 by approximately 18.4%. While the actual operating income for fiscal 2011 decreased by 3.9%, as compared to fiscal 2010 operating income, the Compensation Committees noted that this financial result was encouraging, taking into account higher fuel prices and the other challenges noted above.

The table below shows actual cash compensation for fiscal 2011 compared to actual cash compensation for fiscal 2010. Annual cash bonuses decreased in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010, consistent with operating performance, except in the case of Mr. Cahill, in light of the strong operating performance of the business unit under his management.

 

NEO

   Fiscal 2010
Salary Plus Bonus
   Fiscal 2011
Salary Plus Bonus
   Change from Fiscal 2010
Salary  Plus Bonus

Micky Arison

   $3,341,168    $2,981,318    (10.8%)

David Bernstein

   $1,045,550    $   932,780    (10.8%)

Gerald R. Cahill

   $1,972,298    $2,012,826       2.1%

Pier Luigi Foschi(1)

   €2,185,875    €2,059,500      (5.8%)

Howard S. Frank

   $3,164,256    $2,813,477    (11.1%)

 

(1)

Mr. Foschi’s base salary and bonus is payable in euros. His base salary and bonus is equivalent to $2,883,300 for fiscal 2011 and $2,907,214 for fiscal 2010 when converted into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for fiscal 2011 of $1.40:€1 and fiscal 2010 of $1.33:€1.

 

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Total Direct Compensation. Similar to cash bonuses, TBS awards for the NEOs are granted early in one fiscal year based on overall company and individual performance results from the prior fiscal year. PBS awards, which were initially implemented in early 2011, provide additional compensation only to the extent specified EPS targets are achieved. Unlike the annual cash bonuses, however, individual equity awards are not directly linked to operating income results from the prior year. Equity awards take into account the scope of the NEO’s responsibilities, the NEO’s performance and long-term retention considerations. The changes in total direct compensation in fiscal 2011 from fiscal 2010 reflect primarily the same factors that explain the year-over-year change in NEO cash compensation, but also reflect an increase in the aggregate due to the implementation of the PBS award program for the first time in fiscal 2011, except for Mr. Arison as described in the “Executive Summary.”

The table below compares each NEO’s total direct compensation for fiscal 2011 (salary, annual cash bonus and equity awards) to total direct compensation for fiscal 2010.

 

NEO

   Fiscal 2010
Total Direct
Compensation
     Fiscal 2011
Total Direct
Compensation
(excluding
PBS

Award)
     Change from
Fiscal 2010
Total Direct
Compensation
(excluding
PBS Award)
   Fiscal 2011
PBS  Award
     Change from
Fiscal 2010
Total Direct
Compensation
(including PBS
Award)(2)

Micky Arison

   $ 6,842,264       $ 5,607,129       (18.1%)    $ 875,248        (5.3%)(3)

David Bernstein

   $ 1,585,543       $ 1,472,770         (7.1%)    $ 215,957         6.5%

Gerald R. Cahill

   $ 3,072,268       $ 3,112,807         1.3%    $ 274,976       10.3%

Pier Luigi Foschi(1)

   3,037,652       2,909,149         (4.2%)    212,205         2.8%

Howard S. Frank

   $ 6,081,828       $ 5,731,055         (5.8%)    $ 729,374         6.2%

 

(1)

Mr. Foschi’s base salary and bonus is payable in euros. His total direct compensation is equivalent to $4,082,803 for fiscal 2011 and $4,040,077 for fiscal 2010 when converted into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for fiscal 2011 of $1.40:€1 and fiscal 2010 of $1.33:€1. The Carnival plc shares awarded to Mr. Foschi are denominated in sterling. Because Mr. Foschi is compensated in euros, the value of the Carnival plc shares awarded for fiscal 2011 has been converted from sterling into euros based on the February 15, 2012 grant date exchange rate of €1.19:£1 and the January 28, 2011 grant date exchange rate of €1.16:£1, and the value of the Carnival plc shares awarded for fiscal 2010 has been converted from sterling into euros based on the January 19, 2011 exchange rate of €1.19:£1.

(2)

The PBS award program was first implemented in fiscal 2011 and therefore is not part of fiscal 2010 Total Direct Compensation.

(3)

Mr. Arison’s TBS award based on fiscal 2011 performance (granted in February 2012) was reduced by the amount of his fiscal 2011 PBS award at Mr. Arison’s election.

The fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011 compensation values included in the above table reflect the fair value of TBS awards made in January 2011 (awarded in fiscal 2011 based on performance in fiscal 2010) and February 2012 (awarded in fiscal 2012 based on performance in fiscal 2011), respectively. Under SEC disclosure rules, TBS awards that were not granted until fiscal 2012 do not appear in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” table or the “Summary Compensation Table” for fiscal 2011, even though these grants are based on performance in fiscal 2011. However, the Compensation Committees believe that the TBS awards made in fiscal 2012 are properly considered as part of the NEOs compensation for fiscal 2011 performance (in the same way that bonuses paid in fiscal 2012 are treated as compensation for fiscal 2011 performance). Similarly, the TBS awards made in fiscal 2011 are properly considered as part of the NEOs compensation for fiscal 2010 performance (in the same way that bonuses paid in fiscal 2011 are treated as compensation for fiscal 2010 performance). Because PBS awards depend on future performance, the Compensation Committees believe that the PBS awards (unlike the TBS awards) should be treated as compensation for the fiscal year in which they are awarded.

PROCESS FOR MAKING COMPENSATION DETERMINATIONS

The Compensation Committees determine the compensation policy and the compensation payable to all of our executive officers, including Carnival Corporation & plc’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The Compensation Committees interact with the management of Carnival Corporation & plc on compensation issues primarily through communications, meetings and discussions with Mr. Arison, Mr. Frank and the Senior

 

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Vice President – Global Human Resources, who also attend meetings of the Compensation Committees as requested by the Compensation Committees. As part of the annual compensation determination process, Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank recommend to the Compensation Committees key initiatives and goals for Carnival Corporation & plc at the beginning of each year. After the fiscal year is complete, Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank review with the Compensation Committees the results of those initiatives, progress towards goals and other material items relating to overall Carnival Corporation & plc performance. The compensation for the NEOs is then determined by the Compensation Committees using their discretion to evaluate the individual performance of the NEOs and the overall performance of Carnival Corporation & plc.

The Compensation Committees believe that the incentive structure for senior management does not raise environmental, social or governance risks by inadvertently motivating irresponsible behavior, and that risks arising from Carnival Corporation & plc’s compensation policies and practices for its employees are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Carnival Corporation & plc. Please refer to the section of the proxy statement entitled “Compensation Risk Assessment” for additional information.

Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committees have engaged a consultant from FWC to assist in their annual review of our executive and director compensation programs. The Compensation Committees believe that FWC provided objective advice to the Compensation Committees. The Compensation Committees also determined that FWC and their consultants are independent because they provide no other services for Carnival Corporation & plc.

During fiscal 2011, a consultant from FWC attended meetings of the Compensation Committees and provided FWC’s views on proposed actions by the Compensation Committees.

Peer Group Characteristics

The Compensation Committees perform an annual review of the compensation practices of certain other publicly-listed companies with the assistance of its consultant when determining each element of NEO compensation. This annual market assessment consists of an analysis of top officer pay at a group of publicly-listed peer companies. Based on the recommendations of FWC, the Compensation Committees approved a peer group before the annual assessment commenced. The peer group used when assessing the fiscal 2011 compensation for the NEOs consisted of 13 U.S. publicly-listed companies comparable in size to Carnival Corporation & plc (considering revenue, market capitalization, operating income, total assets and reported full-time employees) and reflect a balanced group of media, entertainment, consumer goods and services and retailing companies. Notwithstanding the use of this peer group, the Compensation Committees believe there are no public companies that are directly comparable to Carnival Corporation & plc in terms of comparing executive officer pay. The only direct peer is Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which is a substantially smaller corporation with significantly less revenue than Carnival Corporation & plc. The other selected companies have some characteristics similar to Carnival Corporation & plc, but they also have some significant differences.

Current Peer Group Companies

 

Colgate-Palmolive Company

 

Starbucks Corporation

Macy’s, Inc.

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

General Mills, Inc.

 

Target Corporation

Marriott International, Inc.

 

The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

McDonald’s Corporation

 

The Walt Disney Company

NIKE, Inc.

 

Yum! Brands, Inc.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

 

 

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Competitive Market (Peer Group) Comparison on an Aggregate Basis

Annually, the Compensation Committees’ independent consultant conducts a competitive market review to assist the Compensation Committees in their assessment of the NEOs’ competitive positioning of total compensation relative to the markets in which we compete for executive talent. FWC conducted a competitive market assessment on behalf of the Compensation Committees for fiscal 2011. The Compensation Committees reviewed our aggregate NEO total compensation in comparison to the competitive market, which consists of our peer group, and, in those cases where there was data for relevant comparable positions, companies contained in third-party surveys that reflect a broad database pool of hundreds of companies. The Compensation Committees were not provided with the identities of the companies in the surveys generally (or of the subsets of companies which had data for relevant comparable positions). As applicable, any utilized survey data was combined with the data for the peer group to produce a consolidated aggregated competitive market range for total direct compensation.

These analyses suggest that, in the aggregate, total direct compensation levels for Carnival Corporation & plc’s NEOs are competitively positioned against other similarly-sized public companies, but are also relatively conservative given Carnival Corporation & plc’s profitability and its market capitalization. Consistent with the approach that the Compensation Committees take in reviewing each element of total direct compensation, the Compensation Committees utilize these analyses to assess the extent to which the compensation provided to the NEOs is generally consistent with (or significantly inconsistent with) that offered by companies with whom we compete for executive level talent. The Compensation Committees do not use these analyses to peg any particular element of compensation (or total compensation) to any specific targeted peer group level.

NEO COMPENSATION DESIGN AND ELEMENTS

The compensation elements for our NEOs consist of base salary, an annual cash bonus, equity-based compensation, retirement benefits, perquisites and other benefits.

The compensation practices for each of our NEOs vary in order to reflect the organizational structure of Carnival Corporation & plc. Three of our NEOs (Messrs. Arison, Bernstein and Frank) had company-wide roles during fiscal 2011 and two of our NEOs (Mr. Cahill and Mr. Foschi) were chief executive officers of one or more operating units during fiscal 2011. As a result, the compensation practices for these two groups are different. For example, the annual cash bonuses for the NEOs with company-wide roles are based primarily on company-wide operating income results. Conversely, and in order to more closely align pay results with their performance, the annual cash bonuses of the NEOs who are chief executive officers of operating units are weighted primarily on the operating unit operating income, with lesser weight given to company-wide performance. Carnival Corporation & plc provides these executives a level of compensation opportunity that is higher than typical market practice for operating unit executives and an annual cash bonus program that places more emphasis on the performance of their respective operating unit. Moreover, the benefits and perquisites and certain elements of the equity-based awards vary among the NEOs to reflect local market practices where an NEO resides.

In determining the amount of any particular element of compensation to award, the Compensation Committees consider the impact of such an element on total compensation (and thus, indirectly each element affects the amount paid in respect of other elements of compensation). For example, the Compensation Committees consider the amount of the base salary and annual bonus that may be earned by an NEO when granting an equity award. However, the annual bonus and equity-based compensation awards are set independently on the basis of dollar values (and are not set or determined as a fixed percentage of base salary).

Mr. Foschi’s base salary and annual target bonus amount is generally set higher than that of the other NEOs, which is due to a combination of factors, including the terms of his previously negotiated service agreement, local labor market pressures, exchange rate differentials and the relative historical collective complexity and performance of the operating units run by Mr. Foschi as compared to the other business unit groups of Carnival Corporation & plc.

 

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Base Salaries

 

  A.

General

Base salaries are intended to provide a baseline level of fixed compensation that reflects each NEO’s level of responsibility. Base salaries for fiscal 2011 of our NEOs are reported in the “Summary Compensation Table.” With the exception of Mr. Foschi, our NEOs do not have agreements that establish a minimum base salary. Mr. Foschi’s service agreement sets forth a minimum base salary of €950,000. The Compensation Committees annually review each NEO’s performance and may increase the base salary of each NEO in their discretion if merited by performance or other market factors in order to attract and retain our executives.

Salaries are established for NEOs after performance results for the prior fiscal year are available. Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank review the annual competitive market analysis provided by the consultant, as well as individual and operating unit performance, and provide the Compensation Committees with recommended salaries for all NEOs, except for their own salaries. The recommendations include a capsule review of each NEO’s individual performance for the prior fiscal year.

Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank also submit a self-assessment regarding the overall performance of Carnival Corporation & plc and summarize their individual activities and results as compared to the goals as presented to the Compensation Committees at the beginning of the year. The Compensation Committees determine the salaries for Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank, and may also request recommendations from the consultant. The base salaries of Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank typically are within $100,000 of each other, reflecting the belief of the Compensation Committees that they have a similar level of job responsibility and both have significant impact on the success of Carnival Corporation & plc.

 

  B.

2011 Base Salaries and Analysis

Carnival Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Vice Chairman and COO recommended to the Compensation Committees that their base salaries increase by 3% for fiscal 2011 (which is consistent with the increase provided to the other NEOs and other members of senior management, other than Mr. Foschi), taking into account that the base salaries for the CEO and COO had not been increased for the past three years. The Compensation Committees accepted the recommendation for the remaining NEOs, which included a proposed 3% salary increase for Messrs. Bernstein and Cahill and no change to Mr. Foschi’s base salary. As a result, the base salaries for fiscal 2011 were approved as follows:

 

NEO

   Fiscal 2010
Base Salary
   Fiscal 2011
Base Salary
   Percentage
Increase
(%)

Micky Arison

   $880,000    $906,400    3.0

David Bernstein

   $500,000    $515,000    3.0

Gerald R. Cahill

   $775,000    $798,250    3.0

Pier Luigi Foschi(1)

   €975,000    €975,000       0

Howard S. Frank

   $780,000    $803,400    3.0

 

(1)

Mr. Foschi’s base salary is payable in euros. His base salary is equivalent to $1,365,000 for fiscal 2011 and $1,296,750 for fiscal 2010 when converted into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for fiscal 2011 of $1.40: €1 and fiscal 2010 of $1.33: €1.

Annual Cash Bonuses

 

  A.

General

The performance-related annual cash bonus is the most significant cash compensation feature of our executive compensation program. In fiscal 2011, each NEO’s bonus comprised the majority of their respective total cash compensation, supporting Carnival Corporation & plc’s objective to pay for performance. Annual cash bonus payments are intended to reward short-term individual and corporate and operating unit performance results and

 

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achievements. The emphasis on the annual cash bonus allows Carnival Corporation & plc greater flexibility in rewarding favorable individual and overall company performance than is possible under a compensation structure where the majority of compensation is a fixed salary.

 

  B.

2011 Annual Cash Bonuses and Analysis

For fiscal 2011, the annual cash bonuses for NEOs were determined in accordance with the annual bonus programs described below.

 

      

The Corporate Plan

Messrs. Arison, Bernstein and Frank, who have company-wide roles, participate in the Carnival Corporation & plc Management Incentive Plan for Executive Officers (the “Corporate Plan”), which was adopted in January 2008. The Corporate Plan is designed to focus the attention of these NEOs on achieving outstanding performance results as reflected by income from the operations of Carnival Corporation & plc as well as other relevant measures.

Under the Corporate Plan, the target bonus for each participant is revised from year-to-year directly in proportion to the percentage change in the Corporation Operating Income Target for the new plan year as compared to the Corporation Operating Income Target of the prior year. The Compensation Committees may, in their discretion, increase or decrease the Corporation Operating Income Target for any reason they deem appropriate. The Compensation Committees also have discretion to modify the target bonus.

 

   

The “Corporation Operating Income Target” for each year will be equal to the projected Corporation Operating Income for the year that corresponds to the midpoint of the diluted earnings per share guidance publicly announced during the first month of the fiscal year by Carnival Corporation & plc.

 

   

“Corporation Operating Income” is defined in the plan to mean the net income of Carnival Corporation & plc before interest income and expense, other nonoperating income and expense and income taxes as reported by Carnival Corporation & plc in its full year earnings report issued following each plan year.

The preliminary bonus amount payable under the Corporate Plan depends upon the amount of Corporation Operating Income achieved as compared to the Corporation Operating Income Target as follows:

 

   

If the amount of Corporation Operating Income does not exceed 72% of the Corporation Operating Income Target (Threshold Performance), then the preliminary bonus amount is equal to 50% of the target bonus.

 

   

If the amount of Corporation Operating Income is between 97% to 103% of the Corporation Operating Income Target (Target Performance), then the preliminary bonus amount is equal to 100% of the target bonus.

 

   

If the amount of Corporation Operating Income equals or exceeds 123% of the Corporation Operating Income Target (Maximum Performance), then the preliminary bonus amount is equal to 150% of the target bonus.

 

   

The preliminary bonus amounts are interpolated for results between Threshold and Target performance, and between Target and Maximum performance.

Following the end of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committees confirm the actual Corporation Operating Income for the year and the preliminary bonus amount for each participant. The Compensation Committees then may consider other factors deemed relevant to the performance of Carnival Corporation & plc, including the impacts of changes in accounting principles, unusual gains and losses and other events outside the control of management. The Compensation Committees also may consider other factors relevant to the performance of each participant, such as successful implementation of strategic initiatives and business transactions, significant business contracts, departmental accomplishments, executive recruitment, new ship orders, and management of

 

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health, environment, safety and security matters. Based on such factors the Compensation Committees may increase or decrease the bonus to determine the final bonus amount. However, the final bonus amount may not exceed 200% of the target bonus of the participant.

In January 2011, the Compensation Committees set the initial fiscal 2011 target bonuses for Messrs. Arison, Bernstein and Frank after consideration of both competitive market analysis and historical bonus payout levels at Carnival Corporation & plc, along with corresponding Carnival Corporation & plc financial performance results (and taking into account a targeted 27% increase in EPS for fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010). They also considered that the Corporation Operating Income Target for fiscal 2011 was approximately 18.4% more than the actual Corporation Operating Income achieved in fiscal 2010. For fiscal 2011, the Compensation Committees established target bonuses of $2,955,723 for Mr. Arison, $2,863,357 for Mr. Frank and $595,128 for Mr. Bernstein. When these target annual cash bonuses are combined with their fiscal 2011 base salary, their target cash compensation opportunity for fiscal 2011 represented increases over their respective target cash compensation opportunity for fiscal 2010 of approximately 20.6% for Mr. Arison, 21.0% for Mr. Frank and 14.7% for Mr. Bernstein.

The Corporation Operating Income, performance levels and resulting actual performance level payouts for fiscal 2011 (in thousands) were as follows:

 

Plan Provisions

Corporation Operating Income

  

Performance Level

(% of Target Achievement)

  

Payout Percentage

$2,001,897

   Threshold (72%)      50%

$2,697,000 - $2,863,825

   Target (97% - 103%)    100%

$3,419,907

   Maximum (123%)    150%

 

Actual Results and Payout

Actual
Fiscal 2011
Corporation Operating Income

  

Actual
Percent of
Target Achieved

  

Actual
Fiscal 2011
Payout Percentage

$2,283,000

   82.1%    70.2%

Following the end of fiscal 2011, the Compensation Committees confirmed funding guideline bonus amounts for the NEO participants based on the actual Corporation Operating Income results achieved during fiscal 2011. Actual Corporation Operating Income for fiscal 2011, as adjusted for the sale of two ships, was $2.28 billion, or 82.1% of the Corporation Operating Income Target, and was 2.8% lower than the actual Corporation Operating Income for fiscal 2010. Based on the formula set forth above, the achievement of 82.1% of the Corporation Operating Income Target resulted in a funding guideline equal to 70.2% of a participant’s target bonus.

Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank made recommendations to the Compensation Committees for all NEO cash bonuses except for their own. The recommendations included a capsule review of the prior fiscal year performance of each NEO. Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank also submitted self-assessments to the Compensation Committees summarizing their own activities and results as compared to their goals, as well as Carnival Corporation & plc’s overall performance. Their bonuses were then determined by the Compensation Committees, which requested input from FWC. In making their determinations, including whether to vary bonuses from the amount determined under the funding guidelines, the Compensation Committees considered the factors summarized in the Executive Summary above, in addition to the competitive market compensation for each NEO and individual NEO performance in fiscal 2011. Based on such factors, the Compensation Committees determined the final bonus amounts, as follows:

 

NEO

   Fiscal 2011
Target Bonus
          Actual 2011
Payout Percentage
        Fiscal 2011
Actual Bonus
     Fiscal 2010
Actual Bonus
     Change from
Fiscal 2010 Actual
Bonus

Micky Arison

   $ 2,955,723       x    70.2%    =    $ 2,074,918       $ 2,461,168       (15.7%)

David Bernstein

   $ 595,128       x    70.2%    =    $ 417,780       $ 545,550       (23.4%)

Howard S. Frank

   $ 2,863,357       x    70.2%    =    $ 2,010,077       $ 2,384,256       (15.7%)

 

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The CCL Plan

Mr. Cahill participates in the Carnival Cruise Lines Management Incentive Plan (the “CCL Plan”). The CCL Plan is designed to focus the attention of the employees of Carnival Cruise Lines on achieving outstanding performance results as reflected in the operating income of Carnival Cruise Lines and the operating income of Carnival Corporation & plc, as well as other relevant measures. The majority of the other operating units also have their own bonus plans that are generally similar to the structure and operation of the CCL Plan, except for the bonus plan for Mr. Foschi described below under “The Costa Plan.”

Bonus funding under the CCL Plan is calculated by reference to a bonus schedule that calibrates the weighted Carnival Cruise Lines Operating Income Target (75%) and Corporation Operating Income Target (25%) for the fiscal 2011 plan year with the target bonus. The performance range in the bonus schedule is from 75% to 120% of the Operating Income Targets with results at 75% or less producing a preliminary bonus amount equal to 50% of the target bonus and at 120% or more producing a preliminary bonus amount equal to 150% of the target bonus. Results from 75% to 120% of the Operating Income Targets will be calculated using interpolation.

 

   

The “CCL Operating Income” means the net income of Carnival Cruise Lines before interest income and expense and other non-operating income and expense and income taxes, as reported by Carnival Cruise Lines for the plan year.

 

   

The “CCL Operating Income Target” for the plan year will be equal to the actual Carnival Cruise Lines Operating Income for the prior plan year adjusted for any change in capacity. The “Corporation Operating Income” and the “Corporation Operating Income Target” are calculated in the same manner as described above for the Corporate Plan.

The Compensation Committees have the discretion to increase or decrease the CCL Operating Income Target and/or the Corporation Operating Income Target or establish an alternative target for any reason they deem appropriate. In addition, in the discretion of the Compensation Committees, certain items, including, but not limited to, gains or losses on ship sales, can be excluded from the CCL and Corporation Operating Income Targets and the actual CCL and Corporation Operating Income for any plan year.

Following the end of each plan year, the Compensation Committees confirm the actual CCL Operating Income, adjusted to reflect the impact of constant (prior year) fuel prices on fuel expense, and the actual Corporation Operating Income for the plan year and the preliminary bonus amount for Mr. Cahill. The Compensation Committees then may consider other factors deemed relevant to the performance of Carnival Cruise Lines and Carnival Corporation & plc, including the impacts of changes in accounting principles, unusual gains and losses and other events outside the control of management. The Compensation Committees also may consider other factors relevant to the performance of Carnival Cruise Lines or Mr. Cahill, including, but not limited to, operating performance metrics (such as return on investment, revenue yield, costs per available lower berth day), successful implementation of strategic initiatives and business transactions, significant business contracts, departmental accomplishments, executive recruitment, new ship orders, and management of health, environment, safety and security matters. Based on such factors the Compensation Committees may increase or decrease the preliminary bonus to determine the final bonus amount. However, the final bonus amount may not exceed 200% of Mr. Cahill’s target bonus.

Both the CCL Operating Income Target and the actual CCL Operating Income achieved for fiscal 2011 were measured using a constant fuel price per ton. The Corporation Operating Income Target and actual Corporation Operating Income for fiscal 2011 are as described above for the Corporate Plan.

For fiscal 2011, the Compensation Committees established Mr. Cahill’s target bonus opportunity at $1,133,000, representing a 33% increase from his fiscal 2010 target bonus opportunity. In light of the target setting provisions of the CCL Plan, the Compensation Committees considered it reasonably likely that the CCL Operating Income Target would be achieved, and that as a result of the increase in his fiscal 2011 target bonus, Mr. Cahill’s preliminary bonus funding for fiscal 2011 was expected to be close to Mr. Cahill’s actual bonus for fiscal 2010.

 

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The actual CCL Operating Income for fiscal 2011 was approximately 108.6% of its target and the actual Corporation Operating Income for fiscal 2011 was 82.1% of its target, resulting in a funding guideline equal to approximately 107.2% of Mr. Cahill’s target bonus.

In making their bonus determination for Mr. Cahill under the CCL Plan, including whether to vary his bonus from the amount determined under the funding guidelines, the Compensation Committees considered the same factors discussed under the Corporate Plan.

Based on the funding guideline for fiscal 2011 the Compensation Committees awarded Mr. Cahill a fiscal 2011 bonus of $1,214,576 or approximately 107.2% of his target bonus of $1,133,000. This final annual bonus for fiscal 2011 represents a 1.4% increase from Mr. Cahill’s fiscal 2010 bonus, which is consistent with the operating performance of the business unit under his management.

 

      

The Costa Plan

Costa entered into a service agreement with Pier Luigi Foschi, dated August 21, 2009, which provides for 12-month terms, and automatically renews unless either party gives 60 days advance written notice. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Foschi’s annual cash bonus is determined pursuant to the Costa Crociere CEO Lines Management Incentive Plan (the “Costa Plan”). The Costa Plan is designed to focus Mr. Foschi’s attention on achieving outstanding performance results as reflected in the operating income of (1) Costa, including its Asia operations, (2) Ibero Cruises, (3) AIDA Cruises, and (4) any other operating company under Mr. Foschi’s management (the entities identified in (1), (2), (3) and (4) are collectively referred to as the “Group” and each of such entities are individually referred to as a “Member”) and the operating income of Carnival Corporation & plc (the “Corporation”), as well as other relevant measures.

Bonus funding is calculated by reference to a bonus schedule that calibrates the weighted Group Operating Income Target Per Berth Day (75%) and the Corporation Operating Income Target (25%) for the plan year with the target bonus. The performance range in the bonus schedule is from 75% to 120% of the Operating Income Targets with results at 75% or less producing a preliminary bonus amount equal to 50% of the target bonus and at 120% or more producing a preliminary bonus amount equal to 150% of the target bonus. Results from 75% to 120% of the Operating Income Targets are calculated using interpolation.

The Compensation Committees may, in their discretion, increase or decrease the Group Operating Income Target Per Berth Day and the Corporation Operating Income Target or establish an alternative target for any reason they deem appropriate. In addition, in the discretion of the Compensation Committees, certain items, including, but not limited to, gains or losses on ship sales can be excluded from the Group Operating Income Target Per Berth Day and the Corporation Operating Income and the actual Group and Corporation Operating Income for any Plan Year.

 

   

“ALBD” means available lower berth day.

 

   

“Group Operating Income Target Per Berth Day” for the plan year is calculated as follows:

Step 1: Add together each Member’s Member Operating Income Per ALBD for the prior Plan Year, multiplied by such Member’s current Plan Year’s budgeted ALBDs;

Step 2: The amount determined in Step 1 shall then be divided by the sum of the current Plan Year’s budgeted ALBDs of all the Members.

 

   

“Group Operating Income” is the sum of the prior Plan Year’s actual Member Operating Income for each Member of the Group.

 

   

“Group Operating Income Per Berth Day” for the Plan Year equals (A) the Group Operating Income; divided by (B) the sum of the ALBDs of each Member.

 

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“Member Operating Income” shall mean the consolidated net income of a Member before interest income and expense and other nonoperating income and expense and income taxes, as reported by such Member for the Plan Year.

 

   

“Member Operating Income Per ALBD” means the consolidated net income of a Member before interest income and expense and other nonoperating income and expense and income taxes, as reported by such Member for the Plan Year, divided by the ALBDs of the Member.

 

   

The “Corporation Operating Income” and the “Corporation Operating Income Target” are calculated in the same manner as described above for the Corporate Plan.

Following the end of each fiscal year, the Compensation Committees confirm the actual Group Operating Income Per Berth Day and the actual Corporation Operating Income for the plan year and the preliminary bonus amount for Mr. Foschi. The Compensation Committees may then consider other factors deemed, in their discretion, relevant to the performance of the Group and the Corporation, including, but not limited to, the impacts of changes in accounting principles, unusual gains and losses and other events outside the control of Mr. Foschi. The Compensation Committees may also consider other factors they deem, in their discretion, relevant to the performance of the Group or Mr. Foschi, including, but not limited to, operating performance metrics (such as return on investment, revenue yield, costs per ALBD), successful implementation of strategic initiatives and business transactions, significant business contracts, departmental accomplishments, executive recruitment, new ship orders, and management of health, environment, safety and security matters. Based on such factors, the Compensation Committees may increase or decrease the preliminary bonus amount to determine the final bonus amount. The final bonus amount shall not exceed 200% of Mr. Foschi’s target bonus.

For fiscal 2011, Mr. Foschi’s target bonus opportunity remained at €1.5 million, which was the same as his fiscal 2010 target bonus opportunity, in accordance with the terms of the Costa Plan and his service agreement. The Compensation Committees determined not to exercise their discretion to adjust this amount, after considering the competitive market analysis, his individual historical bonus levels and the aggregate compensation levels of the other chief executives of the operating companies within Carnival Corporation & plc. In light of the performance in fiscal 2010 of the operating units whose performance is taken into account under the Costa Plan (relative to the performance of the other operating groups of Carnival Corporation & plc in fiscal 2010), the Compensation Committees expected, based on the original forecasts for fiscal 2011, that it would be likely that near-target performance under the Costa Plan would be attained in fiscal 2011 and that his actual fiscal 2011 bonus would approximate the target bonus amount.

The actual Group Operating Income Per Berth Day for fiscal 2011 was approximately 87.5% of its target and the actual Corporation Operating Income for fiscal 2011 was 82.1% of its target, resulting in a funding guideline equal to 72.3% of Mr. Foschi’s target bonus.

In making their bonus determination for Mr. Foschi under the Costa Plan, including whether to vary his bonus from the amount determined under the funding guidelines, the Compensation Committees considered the same factors discussed under the Corporate Plan.

Based on the funding guideline for fiscal 2011, the Compensation Committees awarded Mr. Foschi a fiscal 2011 bonus of €1,084,500 ($1,518,300) or approximately 72.3% of his target. This bonus represents a 10.4% decrease from Mr. Foschi’s fiscal 2010 bonus.

Equity-Based Compensation

 

  A.

General

The Compensation Committees award equity-based compensation to NEOs to provide long-term incentives and align management and shareholder interests. The Compensation Committees believe that a significant percentage of compensation should be equity-based, rather than paid in cash. Awards are granted pursuant to the Carnival

 

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Corporation 2011 Stock Plan or the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan, which have been approved by Carnival Corporation & plc’s shareholders. Messrs. Arison, Bernstein, Cahill and Frank receive equity awards under the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan. Mr. Foschi receives awards under the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan. These awards are in the form of restricted shares or RSUs, which appreciate or depreciate in value based on the trading price of our shares. The equity-based compensation program is designed to recognize scope of responsibilities, reward demonstrated performance and leadership, motivate future superior performance and align the interests of the executive with our shareholders’ long-term interests. Existing ownership levels are not a factor in award determinations, as we do not want to discourage executives from holding significant amounts of Carnival Corporation & plc shares.

The specific equity awards granted to NEOs reflect the desire of the Compensation Committees to have a substantial portion of compensation be in the form of equity-based compensation. The number and form of equity awards granted annually to our NEOs are determined both in the discretion of the Compensation Committees and pursuant to certain agreements with certain NEOs. In 1998, Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank entered into Long-Term Equity Incentive Compensation Agreements that provide for an annual grant of restricted shares. These grants are subject to the Compensation Committees’ review of their performance, taking into consideration each NEO’s long-term contributions. The terms of these agreements are described below in the narrative disclosure following the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” table.

The number of equity awards granted to the other NEOs is determined by the Compensation Committees after reviewing the recommendation of Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank, the size of the NEO’s prior year award and other elements of an NEO’s current year compensation, and taking into account the position and role of the NEO, his individual performance in the preceding fiscal year and historically, and his perceived future value to Carnival Corporation & plc. The Compensation Committees also review the competitive market assessment for long-term incentive compensation provided by the consultant to confirm that the value of an NEO’s aggregate equity-based compensation and total direct compensation remains generally competitive.

In accordance with the Compensation Committees’ commitment to pay for performance and focus on long-term shareholder return, the Compensation Committees approved PBS awards for the NEOs and other key executives within Carnival Corporation & plc in 2011. These awards are based on Carnival Corporation & plc EPS over a three-year period, with award opportunity, payable in shares, from zero to 200% based on the EPS percentage increase achieved at the end of the third year.

The TBS awards are made in the form of restricted shares or RSUs, which vest three years from the date of grant. Restricted shares and RSUs, as compared to stock options, use a smaller percentage of our shares outstanding for compensation purposes (to deliver equivalent grant-date value) and are regarded by employees as an award with a lower risk than stock options, because at vesting, restricted shares and RSUs will have a value equal to the market price of the underlying shares. Stock options, even if vested, will not have any value unless the market price for our stock at the time of exercise is greater than the exercise price of the option. Accordingly, the Compensation Committees believe that restricted shares and RSUs are a more effective retention and recruiting tool because the value of the awards is perceived as more tangible by our NEOs.

 

  B.

Disclosure and the Timing of Equity-Based Compensation

The Compensation Committees issued both PBS and TBS awards in fiscal 2011.

The Compensation Committee met in January 2011 to determine the PBS awards made as part of the equity-based compensation for key executives in fiscal 2011 as part of the determination to further strengthen the alignment of our senior management team’s compensation with Carnival Corporation & plc’s long-term performance. The TBS awards for the NEOs are determined by the Compensation Committees based on overall company and individual officer performance results for the previous year. Thus, the TBS awards in recognition of fiscal 2011 performance are made early in fiscal 2012 after the public release in December 2011 of earnings results for fiscal 2011. As noted above, these TBS awards will not appear in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in

 

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Fiscal 2011” (but will appear in next year’s proxy for fiscal 2012). Nonetheless, the Compensation Committees believe that discussion of these equity-based compensation awards made after year end is important to an understanding of overall NEO compensation for the preceding fiscal year. As a result, in the next section of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, we first discuss the PBS awards made in fiscal 2011 and then we discuss TBS awards made in fiscal 2012 based on fiscal 2011 performance. Following that discussion, we include a description of the TBS awards that were made in early fiscal 2011 based on fiscal 2010 performance (and which were discussed previously in last year’s proxy statement but first appear in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” table in this year’s proxy statement).

The Compensation Committees determined the number of PBS and TBS awards to grant to the NEOs and all other participants based on the value of the shares rather than based on share numbers. Basing equity awards on value facilitates comparisons to external market references and also to other forms of remuneration such as salaries, bonuses and benefits. Value-based equity awards help Carnival Corporation & plc more effectively manage stock compensation expense.

While the size of the TBS award granted to each NEO at the beginning of each fiscal year is influenced by his experience and long-term prior performance, the vesting of these awards made to the NEOs in fiscal 2011 is not subject to performance criteria.

 

  C.

Performance-Based Share Awards

In order to further align our senior management team’s compensation with Carnival Corporation & plc’s long-term performance, the Compensation Committees introduced three-year PBS awards into the executive compensation program in 2011. The PBS awards will enable the NEOs and other key executives to earn from zero to 200% of the number of target shares underlying the award, depending on the extent to which Carnival Corporation & plc’s EPS increases over the three-year performance period. The Compensation Committees believe that EPS growth is a critical measure of Carnival Corporation & plc’s ability to maintain and grow earnings over time. The awards align a portion of the total compensation of key members of our management team (approximately 80 senior managers worldwide, including NEOs) with the long-term growth of Carnival Corporation & plc. The Compensation Committees believe the introduction of PBS awards into the compensation program for NEOs demonstrates the Compensation Committees’ continued focus on pay for performance and strengthens our commitment to aligning management compensation with shareholder outcomes.

The Compensation Committees approved the PBS awards to the NEOs after an evaluation of current market practice, the aggregate market positioning of total direct compensation, and the Compensation Committees desire to inject additional alignment between our NEO’s pay outcomes and the Carnival Corporation & plc’s long-term performance. The PBS awards program was introduced as an incremental compensation opportunity for the NEOs, except for Mr. Arison, who elected, in light of his substantial level of share ownership in Carnival Corporation & plc, to have his TBS award granted in February 2012 (based on fiscal 2011 performance) reduced by the grant date fair value of the PBS award granted to him in January 2011.

The PBS awards made to the NEOs in January 2011 were as follows:

 

NEO

   Target PBS Awards
(#)
   Grant Date Fair Value
of PBS Awards(1)

Micky Arison

   19,620    $875,248

David Bernstein

     4,841    $215,957

Gerald R. Cahill

     6,164    $274,976

Pier Luigi Foschi

     6,319    €212,205

Howard S. Frank

   16,350    $729,974

 

(1)

The grant date fair value of the PBS awards is calculated by reference to the price of Carnival Corporation common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant.

 

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(2)

The PBS awards granted to Mr. Foschi are based on Carnival plc shares denominated in sterling. Because Mr. Foschi is compensated in euros, the value of the PBS awards granted to Mr. Foschi has been converted from sterling into euros based on the January 28, 2011 exchange rate of €1.16:£1.

 

  D.

TBS Awards Made During Fiscal 2012 Based on Fiscal 2011 Performance

TBS awards made during fiscal 2012 were based on overall company and individual performance during fiscal 2011. All participants in the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan and the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan, including the NEOs, receive restricted shares or RSUs that cliff vest after three years, such vesting being in conformity with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The Compensation Committees approved the equity-based awards to the NEOs (other than Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank) after consideration of recommendations received from Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank and reviewing the NEOs’ long-term and fiscal 2011 performance. The TBS awards approved for the NEOs in February 2012 were as follows:

 

NEO

   TBS Awards
Restricted Shares/RSUs
(#)
   Grant Date Fair Value
of TBS Awards(1)

Micky Arison

   86,775    $2,625,812

David Bernstein

   17,845    $   539,990

Gerald R. Cahill

   36,351    $1,099,981

Pier Luigi Foschi

   37,187        €   849,649 (2)

Howard S. Frank

   96,417    $2,917,578

 

(1)

The grant date fair value of the TBS awards is calculated by reference to the price of Carnival Corporation common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant.

(2)

The TBS awards granted to Mr. Foschi are based on Carnival plc shares denominated in sterling. Because Mr. Foschi is compensated in euros, the value of the TBS awards granted Mr. Foschi has been converted from sterling into euros based on the February 15, 2012 exchange rate of €1.19:£1.

Mr. Arison’s and Mr. Frank’s TBS awards were made under the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock Plan pursuant to their Executive Long-Term Compensation Agreements. These grants were contingent on the Compensation Committees’ determination that their long-term and recent performance was satisfactory.

 

  E.

TBS Awards Made During Fiscal 2011 Based on Fiscal 2010 Performance

TBS awards made during fiscal 2011 were based on overall company and individual performance during fiscal 2010. These awards were previously discussed in detail in our 2011 proxy statement. However, due to SEC disclosure rules, the grant date fair value of the awards detailed below are included in this proxy’s “Summary Compensation Table” and “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” table.

All participants in the Carnival Corporation 2002 Stock Plan and the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan, including the NEOs, received restricted shares or RSUs in January 2011 that cliff vest after three years, such vesting being in conformity with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The Compensation Committees approved the TBS to the other NEOs after consideration of recommendations received from Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank and reviewing the NEOs’ long-term and fiscal 2010 performance. The TBS awards made to the NEOs in January 2011 were as follows:

 

NEO

   TBS Awards
Restricted  Shares/RSUs
(#)
   Grant Date Fair Value of
TBS Awards(1)

Micky Arison

   75,683    $3,501,096

David Bernstein

   11,673    $   539,993

Gerald R. Cahill

   23,778    $1,099,970

Pier Luigi Foschi

   23,717        €   851,777(2)

Howard S. Frank

   63,069    $2,917,572

 

(1)

The value of the TBS awards has been calculated by reference to the price of Carnival Corporation common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of grant.

 

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(2)

The TBS awards granted to Mr. Foschi are based on Carnival plc shares denominated in sterling. Because Mr. Foschi is compensated in euros, the value of the TBS awards granted to Mr. Foschi has been converted from sterling into euros based on the January 19, 2011 exchange rate of €1.19:£1

The value of the TBS compensation awarded in respect of fiscal 2010 performance to Messrs. Cahill, Bernstein and Foschi did not represent an increase over awards in respect of fiscal 2009 performance. This reflected a determination by the Compensation Committees to focus future increases in the value of equity-based compensation through grants of PBS awards to further align a portion of NEO compensation with shareholder outcomes (as described above). In light of Mr. Arison’s and Mr. Frank’s existing holdings and long-term compensation agreements, the Compensation Committees concluded that it was not necessary to increase the value of their annual equity awards. Mr. Arison’s and Mr. Frank’s TBS awards were made under the Carnival Corporation 2002 Stock Plan pursuant to their Executive Long-Term Compensation Agreements. These grants were contingent on the Compensation Committees’ determination that their long-term and recent performance was satisfactory.

The number of TBS awards and RSUs granted to our NEOs during fiscal 2011 are shown in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” table and are included in the “Outstanding Equity Awards at 2011 Fiscal Year-End” table, and the grant date fair value of those shares is reflected in the “Summary Compensation Table.”

Perquisites and Other Compensation

The NEOs are provided various perquisites believed by the Compensation Committees to be representative of common practices for executives in their respective countries. Some of Mr. Foschi’s perquisites and other benefits are provided pursuant to terms of his service agreement and are consistent with the executive compensation practices in Italy where he resides. The Compensation Committees believe these benefits are standard in the hospitality industry. The Compensation Committees, with the assistance of a consultant, review perquisites provided to the NEOs on a periodic basis and taking into account each NEO’s particular circumstances, and believe that perquisites provided by Carnival Corporation & plc continue to be an appropriate element of the overall compensation package used to attract and retain such officers.

The Compensation Committees have approved a policy to establish procedures and controls as to the authorized use of aircraft owned or chartered by Carnival Corporation & plc (the “Aircraft”). According to the policy, the Aircraft can only be used for business purposes, except that Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank (with the authorization of Mr. Arison) are authorized to use the Aircraft for personal travel. Guests may accompany these executives when traveling. The Compensation Committees determined that the aircraft usage policy, and levels of usage and costs (taking into account that the Carnival Corporation & plc program includes usage by not only the Chief Executive Officer but also the Chief Operating Officer), were consistent with those offered by large multinational companies like Carnival Corporation & plc.

The perquisites received by each NEO in fiscal 2011, as well as their incremental cost to Carnival Corporation & plc, are reported in the “Summary Compensation Table” and its accompanying footnotes.

POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION OBLIGATIONS

Carnival Corporation & plc does not have any change of control agreements that provide cash severance to our NEOs upon a change of control of Carnival Corporation & plc. With the exception of Mr. Foschi, we do not have employment agreements with any of our NEOs that provide cash severance benefits in connection with the termination of an executive’s employment. Under his service agreement, Mr. Foschi is generally entitled to an amount equal to one year’s base salary and bonus if his employment is terminated by us. The Compensation Committees believe that the severance benefits provided to Mr. Foschi under his service agreement are reasonable and in accordance with market practice in Italy.

Upon termination of employment for certain circumstances or upon a change of control, our NEOs may be entitled to receive accelerated vesting of equity awards. Under the terms of the Carnival Corporation 2011 Stock

 

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Plan, however, the default provision upon a change in control would provide only for a “double trigger” acceleration of equity awards (such that no acceleration would occur unless the participant’s employment were subsequently terminated by Carnival Corporation & plc (or its successor) without cause). These benefits are provided under the terms of the plans pursuant to which the equity grants were awarded and under individual agreements with certain NEOs. However, none of the NEOs are entitled to receive any tax gross-up payments in respect of their severance benefits or accelerated equity awards. The benefits that our NEOs may be eligible to receive in connection with the termination of their employment or upon a change of control are described in detail in this proxy statement under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.”

The Compensation Committees believe that these arrangements are reasonable and encourage an executive to comply with post-termination non-compete and other restrictive covenants and to cooperate with us both before and after their employment is terminated.

Pensions and Deferred Compensation Plans

As part of the overall compensation program, Carnival Corporation & plc operates various group pension programs for certain of its executives. Under the Carnival Corporation pension programs, base salaries and annual cash bonuses were used to determine pension benefits.

Until January 1, 2009, Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank received retirement benefits under the Carnival Corporation Nonqualified Retirement Plan for Highly Compensated Employees (the “Retirement Plan”) and Mr. Frank also participated in the Carnival Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“Carnival SERP”). In light of the application of Section 457A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (discussed in more detail below), the present value of any annual accruals after fiscal 2008 earned by eligible and participating employees (including participating NEOs) under the Retirement Plan and the Carnival SERP are currently payable. See the information regarding defined benefit retirement plan benefits for each of the NEOs in the “Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2011” table. The benefit formula for these plans is described in the narrative immediately following this table.

In addition, until January 1, 2009, Messrs. Bernstein, Cahill and Frank also participated in the Carnival Corporation Fun Ship Nonqualified Savings Plan (the “Savings Plan”), which is a nonqualified defined contribution plan whereby certain executives may defer salary and/or bonus amounts into the Savings Plan. Because Mr. Bernstein was not a participant in the Retirement Plan, which was closed to participation prior to his commencement of employment, Carnival Corporation matched 50% of every dollar Mr. Bernstein deferred into the Savings Plan up to the lower of (i) 50% of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service qualified plan limitation (which in 2011 was $16,500, or $22,000 with catch-up contributions) or (ii) 6% of his annual base salary (before any pre-tax contributions from his pay and taxes) and bonus. Additional information regarding the Savings Plan is described in the narrative immediately following the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2011” table. Information regarding nonqualified deferred compensation for each of the NEOs is shown in the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2011” table.

Mr. Foschi does not participate in any pensions or defined contribution plans sponsored by Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc.

The Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 added Section 457A to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (“Section 457A”), which applies to foreign corporations, including Carnival Corporation, that maintain nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Under Section 457A, participants in a nonqualified deferred compensation plan are subject to U.S. federal income tax when an amount of compensation becomes vested. Section 457A provides that compensation earned after December 31, 2008 cannot be deferred unless it is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (that is, continued employment is required to earn the benefit). As a result, Carnival Corporation no longer provides future accruals under the Retirement Plan, the Savings Plan or the Carnival SERP to its employees, including the NEOs. Furthermore, all vested funds in these retirement and

 

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deferred compensation plans as of December 31, 2008 will be distributed by December 31, 2017. Employees were given an opportunity to change their form and timing elections under these plans to be in compliance with the Transition Relief under the applicable Section 409A Treasury Regulations.

In an effort to minimize the adverse impact of Section 457A on Carnival Corporation’s ability to provide retirement benefits to the employees who would have been eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan or the Savings Plan, the Compensation Committees approved payment of an additional annual cash bonus directly to these employees in an amount equal to what would have been deposited on behalf of those employees into those plans, less, as described below, any amount Carnival Corporation contributes to the Carnival Corporation Fun Ship Savings Plan, a 401(k) plan (the “401(k) Plan”). These payments are taxable as ordinary income.

The Compensation Committees believe that pension plans would enhance our executive compensation package. The primary objective of pension plans is to attract and retain our executives. The Compensation Committees continue to seek alternative pension arrangements that comply with Section 457A. Beginning with the 2010 calendar year, the 401(k) Plan was amended to allow Messrs. Arison, Bernstein, Cahill and Frank (as well as all other highly compensated employees) to defer a limited amount of compensation into the 401(k) Plan subject to nondiscrimination testing. Similarly, except for Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank, Carnival Corporation shall make a matching contribution to the 401(k) Plan under the plan’s formula, subject to nondiscrimination testing.

STOCK OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Our boards of directors and Compensation Committees believe it is important for executive officers and directors to build and maintain a long-term ownership position in Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc shares in order to align their financial interests with those of our shareholders and to encourage the creation of long-term value. Our compensation structure provides for a significant percentage of compensation to be equity-based, which places a substantial portion of compensation at risk over a long-term period. Accordingly, our senior executives who are designated as reporting officers under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (each a “Section 16 Officer”), including our NEOs, are subject to a stock ownership policy. The policy specifies target ownership levels of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc shares for each participant expressed in terms of the value of the equity holdings (including unvested restricted shares and RSUs) as a multiple of each Section 16 Officer’s base salary as follows:

 

Officers

   Ownership Target
Multiple of Base Salary

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

   5X salary

Vice Chairman & Chief Operating Officer

   4X salary

Other Section 16 Officers

   3X salary

Current Section 16 Officers are expected to be in compliance with the stock ownership policy within five years of the date of the policy’s adoption in January 2010. Individuals who are newly designated as Section 16 Officers are expected to be in compliance with the stock ownership policy within five years of the date of becoming a Section 16 Officer. All of our NEOs have already complied with the stock ownership policy. Our Section 16 Officers are restricted from trading call and put options and entering into any hedging transactions with respect to our shares. Carnival Corporation & plc does not make any commitment to any persons covered by the stock ownership policy that they will receive any particular level of equity-based awards.

IMPACT OF REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS ON COMPENSATION

In making determinations regarding executive compensation, the Compensation Committees consider relevant issues relating to accounting treatment, tax treatment (both company and individual) and regulatory requirements. The global nature of Carnival Corporation & plc’s operations necessarily means that monitoring these technical issues and considering their potential impact on the appropriate design and operation of executive

 

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remuneration programs is an increasingly complex exercise. Technical issues are evaluated in light of Carnival Corporation & plc’s philosophy and objectives for executive compensation and its corporate governance principles, as described earlier in this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

As described above, Section 457A significantly impacted the Compensation Committees ability to provide pension and deferred compensation arrangements to the NEOs.

REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEES

The Compensation Committees have reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed it with the management of Carnival Corporation & plc. Based on its review and discussions with management, the Compensation Committees recommended to our boards of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be incorporated by reference into the Carnival Corporation & plc joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2011 and included in the Carnival Corporation & plc 2012 proxy statement. This report is provided by the following independent directors, who comprise the Compensation Committees:

 

The Compensation Committee

of Carnival Corporation

  

The Compensation Committee

of Carnival plc

Arnold W. Donald, Chairman

  

Arnold W. Donald, Chairman

Richard J. Glasier

  

Richard J. Glasier

Laura Weil

  

Laura Weil

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Although Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc are two separate entities, our business is run by a single management team. The following table sets forth the annual compensation for our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our three other most highly compensated executive officers for the year ended November 30, 2011. Because Mr. Foschi lives in Italy, his compensation is payable in euros. These euro amounts have been converted into U.S. dollars at the average U.S. dollar to euro exchange rate for fiscal 2011 of $1.40:€1.

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

  Fiscal
Year
  Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards(1)
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings(2)

($)
  All Other
Compensation(3)
($)
  Total
($)

Micky Arison

      2011         906,400         —           4,376,344         2,074,918       70,118       180,142         7,607,922  

Chairman of the

Board & CEO

      2010         880,000         —           3,501,091         2,461,168     128,313       127,137         7,097,709  
      2009         880,000         —           3,618,481         2,206,116 (4)   255,581       496,513         7,456,691  

David Bernstein

      2011         515,000         —           755,950         417,780     —         110,816         1,799,546  

Senior Vice
President & CFO

      2010         500,000         50,000 (5)       539,992         495,550     —         114,897 (6)       1,700,439  
      2009         450,000         83,915 (5)       430,760         383,585     —         107,269         1,455,529  

Gerald R. Cahill

      2011         798,250         —           1,374,946         1,214,576     266,443       62,260         3,716,475  

President and CEO
of Carnival Cruise Lines

      2010         775,000         —           1,099,991         1,197,298     442,450       56,854         3,571,593  
      2009         750,000         194,310 (5)       1,076,924         665,441     884,716       58,869         3,630,260  

Pier Luigi Foschi

      2011         1,365,000 (7)       —           1,446,616         1,518,300     —         422,710         4,752,626  

Chairman and CEO
of Costa Crociere S.p.A

      2010         1,296,750         —           1,179,489         1,610,464     —         349,358         4,436,061  
      2009         1,320,500         —           1,033,963         1,794,143     —         340,033         4,488,639  

Howard S. Frank

      2011         803,400         —           3,646,946         2,010,077     —         235,269         6,695,692  

Vice Chairman of the
Board & COO

      2010         780,000         —           2,917,570         2,384,256     —         176,660         6,258,486  
      2009         780,000         —           3,015,393         2,137,175     —         267,303         6,199,871  

 

(1)

No stock option awards were granted in fiscal 2009 through 2011. For the grant date fair value of equity awards granted to the named executive officers based on their performance during 2011, which awards were granted in January 2012, see the “Grants of Equity Awards during Fiscal 2012 based on Fiscal 2011 Performance Table.” Also included are the grant date fair value (100% of target) of the PBS awards granted in January 2011. The amounts included in the “Summary Compensation Table” reflect the grant date fair value, assuming no risk of forfeiture of the grants of Carnival Corporation restricted shares, Carnival Corporation RSUs and Carnival plc RSUs awarded to the named executive officers in fiscal 2011, calculated in accordance with ASC 718. The valuation of share-based awards is discussed in footnotes 2 and 12 in the Carnival Corporation & plc financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2011. For the proceeds actually received by the listed officers upon exercise of options granted in prior years or the vesting of restricted shares or RSUs, see the “Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal 2011” table. The grant date fair value of the PBS awards assuming maximum performance (being 200% of target) is $1,750,496 for Mr. Arison, $431,914 for Mr. Bernstein, $549,952 for Mr. Cahill, $587,561 for Mr. Foschi and $1,458,747 for Mr. Frank.

(2)

Represents the actuarial increase during the applicable fiscal year in the pension value for the plans in which each named executive officer participates. Carnival Corporation & plc does not pay above-market rates under its nonqualified deferred compensation plans. A description of these benefits is set forth in the “Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2011” and “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Benefits in Fiscal 2011” tables. As disclosed in the footnotes and narrative to the “Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2011” table, the value of a portion of Mr. Cahill’s benefits are distributed to him in the fiscal year following their accrual. As a result, this amount in this column already reflects the distribution of the prior year’s accrual.

(3)

See the “All Other Compensation Table” for additional information.

 

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(4)

Pursuant to Mr. Arison’s request, Carnival Corporation donated the entire amount of Mr. Arison’s fiscal 2009 Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation to the following relief organizations: UNICEF, the University of Miami’s Project Medishare, American Red Cross, and Save the Children to aid in the relief efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake in January 2010.

(5)

Represents the discretionary increases in the bonus above the funding guideline set forth in the Corporate Plan or CCL Plan, as applicable.

(6)

As a result of discrimination testing conducted under the Carnival Corporation Fun Ship Savings Plan, a 401(k) plan, $471 was forfeited to Mr. Bernstein in respect of excess employee and company contributions.

(7)

Includes an annual non-competition payment in accordance with his service agreement described below.

The amounts set forth in the column entitled Stock Awards in the “Summary Compensation Table” do not represent the equity-based compensation awarded to the named executive officers based on their performance during fiscal 2011. As required by SEC rules and as described in note 1 to the “Summary Compensation Table,” the amounts reported in this column only reflect the awards granted during fiscal 2011. The amounts reported in this column do not include value associated with grants made in February 2012 based on performance during fiscal 2011 that are described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. The equity awards granted to the named executive officers in February 2012 relating to their performance during fiscal 2011 are as follows:

Grants of Equity Awards During Fiscal 2012 Based on Fiscal 2011 Performance Table

 

Name

   Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock Awards(1)
($)
   Option Awards
($)

Micky Arison

       2,625,812      0

David Bernstein

       539,990      0

Gerald R. Cahill

       1,099,981      0

Pier Luigi Foschi

       1,120,965      0

Howard S. Frank

       2,917,578      0

 

(1)

The amounts are the full value of the stock awards on February 15, 2012, the date the awards were granted. The value for Carnival plc shares has been converted from sterling into U.S. dollars based on the February 15, 2012 exchange rate of $1.57:£1. The full grant date fair value for an award is the amount that Carnival Corporation & plc will expense in its financial statements over the award’s vesting period or until the retirement eligibility date, if such date is earlier than the vesting date, when vesting is not contingent upon any future performance. The full grant date fair value may not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the named executive officers.

All Other Compensation Table

Each component of the All Other Compensation column in the “Summary Compensation Table” is as follows:

 

Item

   Micky Arison
($)
   David Bernstein
($)
   Gerald R. Cahill
($)
   Pier Luigi Foschi
($)
   Howard S. Frank
($)

Compensation in lieu of Savings Plan profit sharing contribution

        31,424         

Private medical/health insurance costs and premiums(1)

     24,378      50,624    24,450         36,937

Automobile lease or allowance

     10,074      11,400    18,000      59,357      22,368

Personal use of Aircraft(2)

   115,949        3,930          109,594

Other personal air travel(3)

           9,480         30,715

Living accommodations and maintenance

            186,191   

Driver and Security

     19,581            99,870   

Honorarium fee to Knights of Labour in Italy

              56,000   

Other(4)

     10,160      13,438    10,330      21,292      35,655
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

   180,142    110,816    62,260    422,710    235,269
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(1)

Certain of our named executive officers are eligible to participate in an executive health insurance program, which includes a fully insured plan and a secondary insured plan. Amounts reported represent the cost of the premiums paid on a named executive officer’s

 

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behalf under these plans plus the additional costs of medical services rendered during the fiscal year. Named executive officers participating in this plan generally have until March 31, 2012 to submit their 2011 claims for reimbursement, and as a result, these amounts may increase. The maximum amount that may be reimbursed in any year under the secondary plan is $20,000.

(2)

Represents the aggregate incremental cost to Carnival Corporation & plc for travel on the Aircraft not related to company business. The aggregate incremental cost for the use of the Aircraft for personal travel is calculated by multiplying the hourly variable cost rate for the Aircraft used by the hours used. The hourly variable cost rate primarily includes fuel, airport handling and other fees, aircraft repairs and maintenance, crew expenses and catering. The variable cost rate is recomputed annually to reflect changes in costs. Fixed costs which do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ salaries, Aircraft depreciation and overhead costs, are excluded.

(3)

Represents the cost of tickets purchased by Carnival Corporation & plc used by the named executive officers or their guests on non-business occasions.

(4)

Includes the total amount of other benefits provided, none of which individually exceeded the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the total amount of these other benefits for the named executive officer. These other benefits include: accidental death or dismemberment insurance premiums, long-term disability insurance premiums, life and auto insurance premiums, automobile repairs and expenses, health or other club membership, Visa services, spousal meals, tax planning and return preparation fees, the opportunity to travel on Carnival Corporation & plc cruise lines for reduced fares, employer contributions to a defined contribution plan, the equivalent of the matching award that would have been payable under the Savings Plan (as described below) and gross-ups for a portion of Mr. Foschi’s income taxes for his living accommodations and maintenance and automobile lease.

Additional information with respect to Carnival plc’s compensation and reimbursement practices during fiscal 2011 for non-executive directors is included in Part II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report, which is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011

Equity awards and non-equity awards granted to the named executive officers during fiscal 2011 are as follows:

 

Name

   Grant Date    Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-
Equity Incentive Plan  Awards(1)
($)
   All Other Stock
Awards: Number of
Shares of Stock or
Units(2)
(#)
   Grant Date Fair Value
of Stock Awards(3)
($)
      Threshold    Target    Maximum      

Micky Arison

            1,477,862          2,955,723          4,433,585            
       1/19/2011                         75,683          3,501,096  
       1/28/2011                         19,620          875,248  

David Bernstein

            297,564          595,128          892,692            
       1/19/2011                         11,673          539,993  
       1/28/2011                         4,841          215,957  

Gerald R. Cahill

            566,500          1,133,000          1,699,500            
       1/19/2011                         23,778          1,099,970  
       1/28/2011                         6,164          274,976  

Pier Luigi Foschi

            1,050,000          2,100,000          3,150,000            
       1/19/2011                         23,717          1,152,836 (4)
       1/28/2011                         6,319          293,780 (5)

Howard S. Frank

            1,431,679          2,863,357          4,295,036            
       1/19/2011                         63,069          2,917,572  
       1/28/2011                         16,350          729,374  

 

(1)

Represents the potential value of the payout of the annual cash bonuses under the management incentive plan applicable for each named executive officer for fiscal 2011 performance. The Non-Equity Incentive Plan awards for Messrs. Arison, Bernstein and Frank were made under the Corporate Plan. The Non-Equity Incentive Plan awards for Mr. Cahill and Mr. Foschi were made under the CCL Plan and Costa Plan, respectively. The actual amount of a named executive officer’s annual cash bonus paid in fiscal 2012 for fiscal 2011 performance is shown in the “Summary Compensation Table” under the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column. For a more detailed description of the potential payout under each plan, see the description in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis under the section “2011 Annual Cash Bonuses.”

(2)

Represents the number of restricted shares of Carnival Corporation common and PBS awards stock granted to the named executive officers in fiscal 2011 granted under the Carnival Corporation 2002 Stock Plan, with the exception of Mr. Foschi who received Carnival plc RSUs and PBS awards under the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan.

(3)

Represents the full grant date values of the stock awards made in fiscal 2011, which were determined based on the assumptions set forth in footnotes 2 and 12 in the Carnival Corporation & plc financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2011 (disregarding estimated forfeitures). The full grant date fair value for an award is the amount that Carnival Corporation & plc will expense in its

 

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financial statements over the award’s vesting schedule or until the retirement eligibility date, if such date is earlier than the vesting date, when vesting is contingent upon future performance. The full grant date fair value may not correspond to the actual value that will be realized by the named executive officers.

(4)

The value for Carnival plc shares has been converted from sterling into U.S. dollars based on the January 19, 2011 exchange rate of $1.60:£1.

(5)

The value for Carnival plc shares has been converted from sterling into U.S. dollars based on the January 28, 2011 exchange rate of $1.59:£1.

Narrative Disclosure to the “Summary Compensation Table” and the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2011” Table

Executive Long-Term Compensation Agreements. In 1998 Carnival Corporation entered into Executive Long-Term Compensation Agreements with Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank. These agreements provide that during the term of such officer’s employment, Carnival Corporation will provide equity-based compensation (in addition to his annual compensation consisting of a base salary and annual cash bonus) in the form of annual restricted share awards, contingent upon a satisfactory review of the performance of the officer. In accordance with these agreements, Mr. Arison is eligible to receive 84,000 restricted shares and Mr. Frank is eligible to receive 70,000 restricted shares. The restricted shares issued to Mr. Arison and Mr. Frank will cliff vest after a period of three years and will be subject to the forfeiture provisions described in the section entitled “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control.” The Compensation Committees have discretion to award more shares outside of the terms of these agreements.

Service Agreement with Pier Luigi Foschi

Mr. Foschi entered into an agreement in August 2009 setting forth the contractual and economic terms of his post as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Costa. The agreement provides for twelve month terms, which automatically renew unless either party gives 60 days advance written notice. Mr. Foschi’s annual base salary compensation for fiscal 2011 is €860,000. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Foschi’s annual performance-based bonus is determined pursuant to the Costa Plan. He also receives €115,000 annually as consideration for a non-competition provision whereby he may not undertake to operate in favor of companies in competition with Costa nor acquire a shareholding in such companies (unless the company is a listed company, in which case his ownership may not exceed 2%), entice away any of Costa’s suppliers of goods or services, nor induce any employee to resign in order to enter into an employment or independent contractor relationship in favor of other cruise vessel operators or owners.

If Mr. Foschi’s agreement is terminated by Costa for reasons other than Mr. Foschi’s breach of his obligations under the agreement or because Mr. Foschi is removed as a director of Costa for cause, or if Mr. Foschi resigns with cause under Italian law or as a result of a change of control of Costa, Mr. Foschi is entitled to a termination payment equal to his annual base salary, the annual non-competition compensation, and a bonus equal to the bonus paid for the year prior to termination (unless in the case of a change of control an alternative contractual arrangement is entered into with the new controlling group).

Annual Cash Bonus Plans

Annual cash bonuses for the named executive officers are determined based on the Corporate Plan, the CCL Plan and the Costa Plan. For more detailed information regarding these plans, please refer to the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the exhibit index to the most recently filed Carnival Corporation & plc joint Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Equity-Based Compensation

In January 2011, the Compensation Committees awarded restricted shares or RSUs to the named executive officers that cliff vest after three years, in conformity with the UK Corporate Governance Code. The closing price of Carnival Corporation common stock and Carnival plc ordinary shares on January 19, 2011, the grant date, was $46.26 and £30.38, respectively.

 

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The restricted shares have the same rights with respect to dividends and other distributions as all other outstanding shares of Carnival Corporation common stock. RSUs do not receive dividends or have voting rights. Each RSU is credited with dividend equivalents equal to the value of cash and stock dividends paid on Carnival Corporation common stock or Carnival plc ordinary shares. The cash and stock dividend equivalents will be distributed to Mr. Foschi upon the settlement of the RSUs upon vesting.

In accordance with the Compensation Committees’ focus on long-term shareholder return, the Compensation Committees also approved new 2011 performance-based share (“PBS”) awards for the named executive officers and other key executives within Carnival Corporation & plc. The awards are based on Carnival Corporation & plc earnings per share (“EPS”) growth over a three year period, with award opportunity from zero to 200% based on the EPS percentage increase achieved at the end of the third year.

For further information regarding forfeiture and treatment upon termination or change of control, refer to the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal 2011 Year-End

Information with respect to outstanding Carnival Corporation options, restricted shares and RSUs granted by Carnival Corporation & plc to and held by the named executive officers as of November 30, 2011, except for the options and RSUs issued to Mr. Foschi, which related to Carnival plc ordinary shares, is as follows:

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

  No. of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
  No. of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price(1)
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  No.
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested(2)
($)
  No. of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
  Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares,
Units or Other
Rights

That Have
Not Vested(3)
($)

Micky Arison

      120,000         0         27.88         12/2/2012         60,000 (4)(5)       1,992,000         19,620         162,846  
      120,000         0         34.45         10/13/2013         149,524 (4)(6)       4,964,197          
      120,000         0         49.09         10/18/2014         102,551 (4)(7)       3,404,693          
      120,000         0         46.61         10/18/2012         75,683 (4)(8)       2,512,676          
      120,000         0         47.83         10/16/2013                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

TOTAL

      600,000         0                 387,758             19,620      
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

David Bernstein

      12,000         0         49.09         10/18/2014         17,800 (6)       590,960         4,841         40,180  
      12,000         0         46.61         10/18/2012         15,817 (7)       525,124          
      12,000         0         47.83         10/16/2013         11,673 (9)       387,544          
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

TOTAL

      36,000         0                 45,290             4,841      
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

Gerald Cahill

      30,000         0         34.45         10/13/2013         10,000 (5)       332,000         3,082         25,581  
      50,000         0         49.09         10/18/2014         22,250 (6)       738,700          
      50,000         0         46.61         10/18/2012         16,110 (7)       534,852          
      50,000         0         47.83         10/16/2013         11,889 (8)       394,715          
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

TOTAL

      180,000         0                 60,249             3,082      
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

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    Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name

  No. of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
  No. of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
  Option
Exercise
Price(1)
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  No.
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
  Market Value
of Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested(2)
($)
  No. of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights
That Have
Not Vested
(#)
  Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares,
Units or Other
Rights

That Have
Not Vested(3)
($)

Pier Luigi Foschi

      40,000         10,000 (7)       40.56         2/19/2014         10,000 (10)       341,952         6,319         54,020  
      50,000         0         49.89         2/20/2013         44,880 (6)       1,534,681          
      40,000         0         44.97         10/17/2013         32,290 (7)       1,104,163          
      21,200         0         45.75         4/13/2015         23,717 (8)       811,008          
      87,064         0         44.46         10/17/2014                  
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

TOTAL

      238,264         10,000                 110,887             6,319      
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

Howard S. Frank

      100,000         0         49.09         10/18/2014         50,000 (5)       1,660,000         9,810         81,423  
      100,000         0         46.61         10/18/2012         124,603 (6)       4,136,820          
      100,000         0         47.83         10/16/2013         42,729 (7)       1,418,603          
                      31,534 (8)       1,046,929          
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

TOTAL

      300,000         0                 248,866             9,810      
   

 

 

     

 

 

             

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

(1)

Options issued to Mr. Foschi are in Carnival plc shares, which are priced in British Pounds Sterling. These options have been converted based on the November 30, 2011 exchange rate of $1.56:£1.

(2)

Market value of the stock awards is based on the closing price of Carnival Corporation common stock on November 30, 2011 of $33.20, except for the Carnival plc RSUs awarded to Mr. Foschi under the Carnival plc 2005 Employee Share Plan, which are based on closing price of Carnival plc shares on November 30, 2011 of £21.92, which has been converted into $34.20 based on the November 30, 2011 exchange rate of $1.56:£1.

(3)

Market value is based on threshold performance assuming 25% payout. Equity incentive awards are subject to certain EPS targets measured over a three-year period ending November 30, 2014. The named executive officers may receive zero to 200% of the stated number of shares depending on whether and to what extent the EPS targets have been met.

(4)

All shares are transferred upon issuance from Mr. Arison to the Nickel 2003 Revocable Trust of which Mr. Arison is a beneficiary.

(5)

Restrictions lapse on January 22, 2012.

(6)

Restrictions lapse on December 19, 2011.

(7)

Restrictions lapse on February 1, 2013.

(8)

Restrictions lapse on January 19, 2014.

(9)

Options granted on February 20, 2007 vest 20% per year on the first through the fifth anniversaries of the grant date.

(10)

Restrictions on the RSUs lapse on February 19, 2012.

 

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested for Fiscal 2011

The following table provides information for the named executive officers on (1) option exercises during fiscal 2011, including the number of shares acquired on exercise and the value realized, and (2) the number of shares acquired upon the vesting of restricted shares and RSUs and the value realized, each before the payment of any applicable withholding tax and broker commissions.

 

     Option Awards    Stock Awards

Name

   Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
   Value Realized
on Exercise(1)
($)
   Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
   Value Realized
on Vesting(1)
($)

Micky Arison

       120,000          1,044,000          144,000          6,293,760  

David Bernstein

       0          0          10,000          420,900  

Gerald R. Cahill

       0          0          78,332          2,995,135  

Pier Luigi Foschi

       200,000          1,723,600          35,000          1,641,329  

Howard S. Frank

       60,000          623,800          158,075          6,995,359  

 

(1)

The value realized on exercise represents the difference between the exercise price of the options and the fair market value of Carnival Corporation shares at exercise. The fair market value of Carnival Corporation shares realized on exercise or vesting has been determined using the average of the highest and lowest sale prices reported as having occurred on the New York Stock Exchange on the date of exercise in the case of options or the vesting date in the case of stock awards.

Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2011

The following table provides information regarding defined benefit retirement plan benefits for each of the named executive officers. Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank participate in the Retirement Plan. Mr. Frank also participates in the Carnival SERP.

 

Name

   Plan Name    Number of Years
Credited Service(1)
(#)
   Present Value of
Accumulated Benefit(2)
($)
   Payments During Last
Fiscal Year(3)
($)

Micky Arison

   Retirement Plan        30          1,618,960          43,506  

David Bernstein

   None                 —            —    

Gerald R. Cahill

   Retirement Plan        17          3,940,308          505,905  

Pier Luigi Foschi

   None                 —            —    

Howard S. Frank

   Retirement Plan

Carnival SERP

      

 

30

25

 

 

      

 

—  

—  

 

 

      

 

—  

—  

 

 

 

(1)

Credited service for benefit calculation purposes under the Retirement Plan and the Carnival SERP is limited to 30 and 25 years, respectively, although actual credited service for Messrs. Arison and Frank exceeds these amounts. In consideration of Mr. Frank’s forfeiture of retirement benefits from his prior employer, in April 1995, the Carnival Corporation Compensation Committee approved an agreement with Mr. Frank whereby Carnival Corporation agreed to compensate Mr. Frank upon his retirement for benefits he would have received if he had been credited with an additional 13 years of service in addition to the actual years of credited service. Mr. Frank has been paid his accrued benefit under both plans and, as a result, there is no longer any effect of the additional 13 years of credited service.

(2)

The present value of benefits was calculated based on the interest assumptions used to calculate the fiscal 2011 year end liabilities for each of the plans as disclosed in note 12 to the financial statements in the Carnival Corporation & plc joint Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2011. Specifically, for the Retirement Plan, benefits are assumed payable as lump sums at the later of age 65 or current age. Lump sums were calculated using an interest rate of 4.25% and the 1994 Group Annuity Reserving Table used to determine lump sum payments in 2011. They were then discounted to the current age using an interest rate of 4.5% and the RP 2000 mortality table with mortality improvements projected seven years beyond the valuation date for annuitants and 15 years beyond the valuation date for participants not yet receiving payments. Due to taxation issues created by the adoption of Section 457A, Retirement Plan benefits will be paid as lump sums at the earlier of retirement or December 31, 2017.

(3)

The benefits accrued after December 31, 2008 are being paid annually as a lump sum pursuant to an amendment to the Retirement Plan adopted in light of Section 457A.

 

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Carnival Corporation & plc operate various group pension programs for its executives in which the named executive officers also participate. Under the Carnival plc pension plans, in line with UK best practice, pension benefits are based solely on base salary and no other elements of compensation are taken into account when determining pension benefits. Under the Carnival Corporation pension programs, base salaries and annual cash bonuses are used to determine pension benefits.

Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank participate in the Retirement Plan. The Retirement Plan is unfunded and is not qualified for U.S. tax purposes. Benefits under the Retirement Plan are calculated based on age, length of service with Carnival Corporation and the average of a participant’s five highest consecutive years of compensation out of the last ten years of service. The benefit formula provides an annual benefit accrual equal to 1% of the participant’s earnings for the year up to “covered compensation” plus 1.6% of earnings for the year in excess of covered compensation then multiplied by the participant’s years of service up to a maximum of 30 years of credited service. “Covered compensation” may vary over the years based in part on changes in the Social Security taxable wage base. Covered compensation in fiscal 2011 for Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank was $71,724, $76,044 and $51,348, respectively. The elements of compensation to determine their benefits are their base salary and annual cash bonus. Each of Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank are vested in their respective benefit in accordance with the terms of the Retirement Plan. As a result of the adoption of Section 457A, benefits under the Retirement Plan will be paid as elected by the participant as a lump sum or monthly payments on or prior to the earlier of separation from employment, retirement or December 31, 2017. Annual accruals are paid in a lump sum each January up through 2017. During fiscal 2011, Messrs. Arison and Cahill received the present value of their 2010 annual accruals of $43,506 and $505,905, respectively, as a lump sum. The normal form of payment is a continuous and certain annuity for five years. Benefits payable in other forms are actuarially equivalent. At December 1, 2011, the accrued annual benefit for fiscal 2011 payable as a five-year certain and continuous annuity under the Retirement Plan to Messrs. Arison and Cahill are $141,504 and $332,135, respectively, for benefits earned before December 31, 2008 and $3,432 and $56,548, respectively, for benefits earned during fiscal 2011. At December 1, 2011, Mr. Frank does not have any unpaid benefits under the Retirement Plan because he previously received the present value of his accrued benefits earned before December 31, 2008 and did not accrue any additional benefit during fiscal 2011.

The Retirement Plan provides a reduced early retirement benefit at age 55 after completion of 15 years of service. The normal retirement age under the Retirement Plan is age 65. Benefits under the Retirement Plan are reduced by 6% for each year ( 1/2% for each month) that the participant retires before age 65. Mr. Arison and Mr. Cahill are currently eligible for early retirement under the Retirement Plan.

Mr. Frank also participates in the Carnival SERP. The Carnival SERP is also unfunded and is not qualified for U.S. tax purposes. The Carnival SERP provides a benefit equal to 50% of Mr. Frank’s highest cash compensation in any 12 month period within the last 60 months offset by any benefit payable under the Retirement Plan and Social Security benefits. As a result of Section 457A, benefits under the Carnival SERP are paid as a lump sum each January following the year of the accrual up through 2017. Mr. Frank received the present value of his accrued benefits earned before December 31, 2007 in 2008 and has not accrued additional SERP benefits since then as his cash compensation continues to be less than his 2007 cash compensation.

Carnival Corporation has a benefit limitation policy for the Retirement Plan that only applies to Mr. Arison. The annual compensation covered by the Retirement Plan for the calendar year 2011 for Mr. Arison has been limited to $356,962. Based on Mr. Arison’s level of compensation and his 30 credited years of service, the annual estimated benefits payable under the Carnival Corporation Retirement Plan to Mr. Arison at age 65 would be a life annuity (five-year certain benefit) $141,504 or a lump sum of $1,800,200. This lump sum is equal to the present value of his December 31, 2008 accrued benefit. The benefits accrued after December 31, 2008 are being paid annually as a lump sum pursuant to an amendment to the Retirement Plan adopted in light of Section 457A. The Retirement Plan does not reduce benefits on account of Social Security (or any other benefit), other than as reflected in the benefit formula that is integrated with Social Security.

 

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Mr. Bernstein and Mr. Foschi do not participate in any defined benefit pension plans sponsored by Carnival Corporation or Carnival plc. Mr. Bernstein is not eligible to participate in the Retirement Plan because it was closed to participation prior to his commencement of employment.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2011

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)
   Registrant
Contributions in Last
FY
($)
   Aggregate
Earnings in Last
FY
($)
   Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
   Aggregate Balance
at Last
FYE
($)

Micky Arison

       0          0          0          0          0  

David Bernstein

       0          0          5,529          0          148,638  

Gerald R. Cahill

       0          0          93,847          0          8,222,389  

Pier Luigi Foschi

       0          0          0          0          0  

Howard S. Frank

       0          0          0          0          0  

Carnival Corporation has established the Savings Plan, which is a nonqualified defined contribution plan for U.S. tax purposes. Until December 31, 2008, Messrs. Arison, Cahill, Bernstein and Frank could defer salary and/or bonus amounts into the Savings Plan. As described in the section of the Compensation Discussion and Analysis entitled “Impact of Regulatory Requirements on Compensation,” effective January 1, 2009, they could no longer defer any salary or bonus amounts into the Savings Plan. No company contributions were made on behalf of Messrs. Arison, Cahill and Frank since they participated in the Retirement Plan. Although the Savings Plan is unfunded, Carnival Corporation has established a “rabbi trust” that holds any executive deferrals and company contributions to the Savings Plan.

Benefits are paid based on the participant’s form and timing elections made in accordance with applicable Section 409A Treasury Regulations. Benefits are based on the participant’s deferrals of cash compensation and associated earnings and losses based on the investment allocation selected by the participant. The investment options available to participants in the Savings Plan are identical to those available to participants in the 401(k) Plan, except for the Standard & Poor’s index fund and money market investment options. A participant may change his or her investment allocation at any time.

Because Mr. Bernstein is not a participant in the Retirement Plan, which was closed to participation prior to his commencement of employment, for every dollar Mr. Bernstein deferred into the Savings Plan, Carnival Corporation matched 50% up to the lower of (ii) 50% of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service qualified plan limitation (which in 2011 was $16,500 or $22,000 with catch-up contributions) or (ii) 6% of his eligible pay. “Eligible pay” includes regular pay (before any pre-tax contributions from his pay and taxes) and bonus. Carnival Corporation may also make profit sharing contributions into the Savings Plan based upon his eligible pay and years of service according to the following schedule:

 

Years of Service

  

Award

(% of Eligible Pay)

Less than 2

     0%

2-5

     1%

6-9

     2%

10-13

     3%

14-16

     5%

17-19

     7%

20-22

     9%

23-25

   12%

26 and over

   15%

As of November 30, 2011, Mr. Bernstein had 14 years of service.

Following the promulgation of Section 457A, salary and bonus deferrals into the Savings Plan are no longer permitted. Beginning in 2010, Mr. Bernstein and all other Savings Plan participants who are deemed highly

 

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compensated employees under IRS regulations are paid the equivalent of their annual matching award (less any amount actually contributed by Carnival Corporation to the 401(k) Plan on their behalf as a matching contribution) and profit sharing contribution as additional cash compensation. The effect of this change will result in no additional benefit for Mr. Bernstein and will not result in a material incremental cost to Carnival Corporation.

Additional information with respect to pension plan arrangements for Carnival plc for the year ended November 30, 2011 is included in Part I of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report included in this proxy statement as the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and Part II of the Carnival plc Directors’ Remuneration Report, which is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

Each of our named executive officers may be eligible to receive certain payments and benefits in connection with termination of employment under various circumstances. The potential benefits payable to our named executive officers in the event of termination of employment under various scenarios on November 30, 2011 are described below.

In addition to benefits described below, the named executive officers will be eligible to receive any benefits accrued under Carnival Corporation & plc broad-based benefit plans, such as distributions under life insurance and disability benefits and accrued vacation pay, in accordance with those plans and policies. These benefits are generally available to all employees. Our named executive officers will also be eligible to receive any account balances at the fiscal 2011 year-end under our nonqualified deferred compensation plans and programs as set forth in the “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation in Fiscal 2011” table in accordance with their payout election. Our named executive officers will also be eligible to receive any vested benefits under our pension programs upon termination of employment in accordance with those plans and policies. These benefits are described in the “Pension Benefits in Fiscal 2011” table and the description that follows that table. There are no special or enhanced executive benefits under our pension and nonqualified deferred compensation plans and programs, and all of our named executive officers are fully vested in those benefits.

Severance Benefits

It is the policy of the Compensation Committees for executive officers to have notice periods, if any, of not more than 12 months in duration. Following U.S. accept