EX-12 2 exh12.txt EXHIBIT 12 - RATIO OF EARNINGS EXHIBIT 12 AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in millions)
Three Months Ended March 31, Years Ended December 31, 2004 ---------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 ----------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Earnings: Pretax income from continuing operations $ 1,248 $ 4,247 $ 3,727 $ 1,596 $ 3,908 $ 3,438 Interest expense 384 1,617 1,846 2,888 2,952 2,178 Other adjustments 38 157 174 175 163 151 ----------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total earnings(a) $ 1,670 $ 6,021 $ 5,747 $ 4,659 $ 7,023 $ 5,767 ----------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Fixed Charges: Interest expense $ 384 $ 1,617 $ 1,846 $ 2,888 $ 2,952 $ 2,178 Other adjustments 35 140 151 170 165 152 ----------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total fixed charges(b) $ 419 $ 1,757 $ 1,997 $ 3,058 $ 3,117 $ 2,330 ----------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a/b) 3.98 3.43 2.88 1.52 2.25 2.48
Included in interest expense in the above computation is interest expense related to the international banking operations of American Express Company (the Company) and Travel Related Services' Cardmember lending activities, which is netted against net investment income and Cardmember lending net finance charge revenue, respectively, in the Consolidated Statements of Income. For purposes of the "earnings" computation, other adjustments include adding the amortization of capitalized interest, the net loss of affiliates accounted for under the equity method whose debt is not guaranteed by the Company, the minority interest in the earnings of majority-owned subsidiaries with fixed charges, and the interest component of rental expense and subtracting undistributed net income of affiliates accounted for under the equity method. For purposes of the "fixed charges" computation, other adjustments include capitalized interest costs and the interest component of rental expense.