EX-12.1 5 ex12-1.htm CALCULATION OF RATIO EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES ex12-1.htm
 
 
 

 
 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
CSX’s consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the fiscal periods indicated is as follows:
 
                         
 
  
For the
Nine Months
Ended
  
For the Fiscal Years Ended
 
  
Sept. 26,
2008
  
Dec. 28,
2007
  
Dec. 29,
2006
  
Dec. 30,
2005
  
Dec. 31,
2004
  
Dec. 26,
2003
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(a)(b)
  
5.1x
  
5.1x
  
5.0x
  
3.0x
  
2.0x
  
1.3x
 
(a)
 
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent earnings from operations before income taxes, plus interest expense related to indebtedness and the interest portion of fixed rent expense, less undistributed earnings of affiliates accounted for using the equity method. Fixed charges include interest on indebtedness (whether expensed or capitalized), amortization of debt discount and the interest portion of fixed rent expense.
(b)
 
Pretax earnings for certain periods include the effects of various gains and charges. These items are summarized as follows:
 
 
(1)
 
A pretax gain of $27 million recognized for insurance recoveries from claims related to Hurricane Katrina for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2007. Removing the effect of this gain would reduce the ratio of earnings to fixed charges from 5.1x to 5.0x for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2007.
 
(2)
 
A pretax gain of $168 million recognized for insurance recoveries from claims related to Hurricane Katrina and a $26 million gain on additional Conrail property received for the year ended December 29, 2006. Removing the effect of these gains would reduce the ratio of earnings to fixed charges from 5.0x to 4.6x for the year ended December 29, 2006.
 
(3)
 
A pretax charge of $192 million recognized to repurchase $1.0 billion of outstanding debt for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2005. Adjusting for the effect of this charge would increase the ratio of earnings to fixed charges from 3.0x to 3.4x for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2005.
 
(4)
 
A pretax charge of $71 million recognized for separation expenses related to the management restructuring at Surface Transportation and a $16 million gain on the Conrail spin-off transaction for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Removing the effect of these items would increase the ratio of earnings to fixed charges from 2.0x to 2.1 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
 
(5)
 
The fiscal year ended December 26, 2003 included the following:
 
 
(A)
 
a pretax charge of $232 million recognized in conjunction with the change in estimate of casualty reserves to include an estimate of incurred but not reported claims for asbestos and other occupational injuries to be received over the next seven years;
 
(B)
 
a pretax charge of $108 million recognized to account for CSX’s entrance into two settlement agreements with A.P. Moller-Maersk that resolved all material disputes pending between the companies arising out of the 1999 sale of the international container-shipping assets; and
 
(C)
 
the net pretax restructuring charge of $22 million recognized as the initial charge for separation expenses related to the management restructuring announced in 2003 and revised estimates for railroad retirement taxes and other benefits that will be paid to individuals under the 1991 and 1992 separation plans.
 
Removing the effect of these charges would increase the ratio of earnings to fixed charges from 1.3x to 2.1x for the fiscal year ended December 26, 2003.