Carnival (CCL) outlines dual-listing unification and Bermuda redomiciliation
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc have signed a unification agreement to combine their current dual listed company structure into a single company under Carnival Corporation, with Carnival plc becoming its wholly owned UK subsidiary. They also plan to migrate Carnival Corporation’s domicile from the Republic of Panama to Bermuda under the new name “Carnival Corporation Ltd.”.
These DLC unification and redomiciliation transactions are subject to multiple conditions, including regulatory clearances and a scheme of arrangement becoming effective. Certain German regulatory approvals and early termination of the U.S. antitrust waiting period have already been obtained. If all conditions are not met or waived by December 31, 2026, the transactions may not proceed.
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Insights
Carnival moves to unify its dual listed structure and change domicile, subject to extensive conditions.
The disclosure describes a planned unification of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc into a single parent company, with Carnival plc as a wholly owned UK subsidiary. It also outlines a redomiciliation of Carnival Corporation from Panama to Bermuda under the name “Carnival Corporation Ltd.”.
The plan depends on several conditions, including antitrust and foreign investment approvals and a scheme of arrangement becoming effective. Some clearances have already been received in the U.S. and Germany, but overall completion remains contingent and can be terminated if conditions are not met by
The agreement also addresses operational steps such as issuing new Carnival Corporation shares, listing Carnival Corporation Ltd. on the NYSE, delisting Carnival plc ADSs, terminating the ADS facility, and handling existing employee share awards. Actual impact will turn on whether and how these steps are implemented by the stated deadline.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)
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| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | |
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| (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
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| (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) | (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrants under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Special Voting Share, GBP 1.00 par value and Trust Shares of beneficial interest in the P&O Princess Special Voting Trust | , Inc. | |||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are emerging growth companies as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2) of this chapter).
Emerging growth companies
If emerging growth companies, indicate by check mark if the registrants have elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Unification Agreement
On February 20, 2026, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc entered into a unification agreement (the “Unification Agreement”). Pursuant to the Unification Agreement, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc agreed to cooperate and use reasonable endeavors to implement the unification of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc’s dual listed company structure under a single company, Carnival Corporation, with Carnival plc as its wholly-owned UK subsidiary (the “DLC Unification”), and the migration of Carnival Corporation from the Republic of Panama, where Carnival Corporation is currently domiciled, to Bermuda under the name “Carnival Corporation Ltd.” (the “Redomiciliation” and, together with the DLC Unification, the “DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions”), in each case, in accordance with the terms set out in the Unification Agreement.
The implementation of the DLC Unification is subject to the satisfaction or (where capable of waiver) waiver of a number of conditions set out in full in the Unification Agreement, including:
| · | the approval of the scheme of arrangement and other proposals to be presented at the shareholder meetings and the court meeting called for the purpose of considering the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions, in each case, by the requisite majorities; |
| · | the scheme of arrangement having been sanctioned (without modification or with modification on terms agreed by Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc) by the UK court and a copy of the relevant court order having been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales; |
| · | confirmation having been received by Carnival Corporation that the shares of Carnival Corporation to be issued in the scheme of arrangement (such shares, the “New CCL Shares”) have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”); |
| · | the Registration Statement on Form S-4 related to the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions having become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and not being the subject of any stop order or proceeding seeking a stop order immediately prior to the effective date of the scheme of arrangement; |
| · | there being no fact, matter or circumstance which, in the sole opinion of Carnival Corporation, would or would be reasonably likely to result in the Bermuda Registrar of Companies refusing to grant formal approval of the Redomiciliation; and |
| · | the receipt of competition and antitrust clearances in the U.S. and Germany and foreign direct investment clearances in Germany and Italy, or, in each case, the expiration or termination of all applicable waiting periods, are necessary to complete the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions. |
Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc each received early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 on January 29, 2026. Foreign direct investment clearance for the DLC Unification was received from the relevant regulator in Germany (the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie)) on February 4, 2026. The Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) in Germany granted clearance for the DLC Unification on February 18, 2026.
The DLC Unification is also conditional on there being no other fact, matter or circumstances which Carnival Corporation considers may, or may be reasonably likely to, prevent, delay, hinder or otherwise adversely affect the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions or the willingness of Carnival Corporation to pursue the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions as contemplated.
The Redomiciliation is conditional on the scheme of arrangement having become effective in accordance with its terms. Carnival Corporation is required to implement and complete the Redomiciliation without undue delay once the scheme of arrangement becomes effective.
Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc have agreed to cooperate and use reasonable endeavors to procure the satisfaction of the conditions to the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions as promptly as reasonably practicable. Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc have also agreed to assist each other in communicating with any regulatory authority for the purposes of satisfying the conditions to the DLC Unification and to make as promptly as reasonably practicable such regulatory filings as are necessary or expedient for the implementation of the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions.
If any of the conditions to the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions are not satisfied or waived in accordance with their terms by December 31, 2026, then the Unification Agreement may be terminated and the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions will not proceed. In such circumstances, Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc will make such announcements as necessary in accordance with their respective regulatory obligations.
The Unification Agreement sets out certain other obligations on each of Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc relating to the implementation of the DLC Unification and Redomiciliation Transactions, including in relation to: (i) the issue of the New CCL Shares in accordance with the terms of the scheme of arrangement; (ii) the listing of the common shares of Carnival Corporation Ltd. on the NYSE; (iii) the delisting of the Carnival plc ADSs from NYSE on or as soon as reasonably practicable after the scheme of arrangement becoming effective and the termination of the ADS facility; and (iv) the treatment of outstanding awards under Carnival plc’s employee share schemes.
A copy of the Unification Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |
| 2.1 | Unification Agreement, dated February 20, 2026, between Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CARNIVAL CORPORATION | CARNIVAL PLC | |||
| By: | /s/ Enrique Miguez | By: | /s/ Enrique Miguez | |
| Name: | Enrique Miguez | Name: | Enrique Miguez | |
| Title: | General Counsel | Title: | General Counsel | |
Date: February 20, 2026 |
Date: February 20, 2026 | |||
FAQ
What structural change did Carnival Corporation (CCL) and Carnival plc announce?
What is the planned redomiciliation for Carnival Corporation (CCL)?
What conditions must be satisfied for Carnival’s DLC Unification to proceed?
What regulatory approvals related to Carnival’s unification have already been received?
What happens if Carnival’s unification conditions are not met by December 31, 2026?
How will Carnival’s stock exchange listings be affected by the unification?
Does the unification agreement address Carnival plc employee share schemes?
Filing Exhibits & Attachments
5 documents