EX-12.1 82 d639322dex121.htm EX-12.1 EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Nine Months Ended  
(dollars in millions)    2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     September 30, 2013  

Earnings available for fixed charges:

             

Income (loss) before income taxes and earnings from unconsolidated affiliates

    $ 2,982     $ 2,328     $ 2,180     $ (4,919 )   $ (6,991 )   $ 220  

Adjustments:

             

Fixed charges

      1,172       1,562       1,395       1,487       1,474       1,555  

Amortization of capitalized interest

      14       24       27       31       34       26  

Capitalized interest

      (86 )     (56 )     (35 )     (24 )     (9 )     (3 )

Earnings from Non-Controlling Interests

      (6 )     (6 )     (3 )     —         —         —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Earnings available for fixed charges

    $ 4,076     $ 3,852     $ 3,564     $ (3,425 )   $ (5,492 )   $ 1,798  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Fixed charges:

             

Interest expense including capitalized interest

    $ 489     $ 796     $ 591     $ 694     $ 686     $ 899  

Portion of rent expense representative of interest (1)

      683       766       804       793       788       656  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Fixed charges

    $ 1,172     $ 1,562     $ 1,395     $ 1,487     $ 1,474     $ 1,555  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)

      3.48       2.47       2.55       —         —         1.16  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

  

 

  (1) The portion of operating rental expense that management believes is representative of interest is estimated to be 33%.

 

  (2) Due primarily to T-Mobile’s non-cash impairment charges in the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, the ratio coverage was less than 1:1 in each of these periods. The Company would have needed to generate additional earnings of $7.0 billion and $4.9 billion in the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, to achieve a coverage of 1:1 in each of these periods.