Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
As previously reported, a lawsuit was filed against us in August 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the "Court") under Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act. The complaint filed by Havana Docks Corporation ("Havana Docks Action") alleges it holds an interest in the Havana Cruise Port Terminal, which was expropriated by the Cuban government. The complaint further alleges that we trafficked in the terminal by embarking and disembarking passengers at these facilities. The plaintiffs seek all available statutory remedies, including the value of the expropriated property, plus interest, treble damages, attorneys’ fees and costs.
The Court entered final judgment in December 2022 in favor of the plaintiff and awarded damages and attorneys' fees to the plaintiff in the aggregate amount of approximately $112 million. We then appealed the judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. On October 22, 2024, the 11th Circuit issued an opinion reversing the lower court’s judgment. The plaintiff's petition for a rehearing by the full 11th Circuit was subsequently denied. The plaintiff has the right to petition the United States Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we recorded a charge of approximately $130 million to Other income (expense) within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) related to the Havana Docks Action, including post-judgment interest and related legal defense costs and bonding fees. Following the 11th Circuit's denial of the rehearing petition, we released approximately $124 million of the previously recorded loss contingency for the year ended December 31, 2024, recognized within Other income (expense) within our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).
In addition, we are routinely involved in claims typical within the cruise vacation industry. The majority of these claims are covered by insurance. We believe the outcome of such claims, net of expected insurance recoveries, will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
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PART II
-Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "RCL."
Holders
As of February 11, 2025, there were approximately 1,075 record holders of our common stock. Since certain of our shares are held by brokers and other institutions on behalf of shareholders, the foregoing number is not representative of the number of beneficial owners.
Dividends
Holders of our common stock have an equal right, pro rata based on number of shares held, to share in our profits in the form of dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock if any. Holders of our common stock have no rights to any sinking fund.
There are no exchange control restrictions on remittances of dividends on our common stock by reason of our incorporation in Liberia because (1) we are and intend to maintain our status as a nonresident Liberian entity under the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000 as amended and the regulations thereunder, and (2) our ship-owning subsidiaries are not now engaged, and are not in the future expected to engage, in any business in Liberia, including voyages exclusively within the territorial waters of the Republic of Liberia. Under current Liberian law, no Liberian taxes or withholding will be imposed on payments to holders of our securities other than to a holder that is a resident Liberian entity or a resident individual or an individual or entity subject to taxation in Liberia as a result of having a permanent establishment within the meaning of the Liberia Revenue Code of 2000 as amended in Liberia.
The declaration of dividends shall at all times be subject to the final determination of our board of directors that a dividend is prudent at that time in consideration of the needs of the business. During the second quarter of 2024, we repaid the principal amounts deferred under our export credit facilities, which eliminated the restriction on dividends. In the second quarter of 2024, our Board of Directors reinstated our quarterly dividend. Since reinstatement, we have paid a dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock in October 2024, and a dividend of $ 0.55 per share of common stock in January 2025. Refer to Note 10 . Shareholders' Equity to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on dividends declared.
In February 2025, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $ 0.75 per share, payable in April 2025.
Share Repurchases
There were no repurchases of common stock during the year ended December 31, 2024.
During the second quarter of 2024, we repaid the principal amounts deferred under our export credit facilities, which eliminated the restriction on share repurchases. Refer to Note 8 . Debt to our consolidated financial statements under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data for further information on the transaction.
In February 2025, our board of directors authorized a 12-month common stock repurchase program for up to $1.0 billion. The timing and number of shares to be repurchased will depend on a variety of factors including price and market conditions. Repurchases under the program may be made at management's discretion from time to time on the open market or through privately negotiated transactions.
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Performance Graph
The following graph compares the total return, assuming reinvestment of dividends, on an investment in the Company, based on performance of the Company's common stock, with the total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index ("S&P 500") and the Dow Jones United States Travel and Leisure Index for a five year period by measuring the changes in common stock prices from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2024.
12/19 12/20 12/21 12/22 12/23 12/24
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd .
100.00 56.61 58.28 37.46 98.14 175.65
S&P 500 100.00 118.40 152.39 124.79 157.59 197.02
Dow Jones U.S. Travel & Leisure 100.00 101.74 113.43 90.45 123.09 143.76
The stock performance graph assumes for comparison that the value of the Company's common stock and of each index was $100 on December 31, 2019 and that all dividends were reinvested. Past performance is not necessarily an indicator of future results.
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Item 6. Reserved
Not applicable.
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