corresp
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GATX Corporation
500 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60661
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Robert C. Lyons
Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
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Tel: 312.621.6633
Fax: 312.621.6644 |
November 1, 2006
Ms. Linda Cvrkel
Branch Chief
Division of Corporation Finance
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 3561
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Re: |
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GATX Financial Corporation
Form 10-K for the Year-Ended December 31, 2005
Form 8-K filed October 4, 2006
File No. 001-08319 |
Dear Ms. Cvrkel:
We are enclosing our response to your letter dated October 19, 2006, which includes comments
and requests for additional information resulting from the SEC’s review of our Form 10-K and
Form 8-K noted above.
We hereby acknowledge that:
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the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the
filing; |
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staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose
the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and |
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the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by
the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
We would be pleased to discuss any of your comments and our responses in further detail, at
your convenience. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate
to call Bill Muckian, Vice President and Controller, at (312) 621-6402 or me at (312) 621-6633.
Sincerely,
/s/ Robert C. Lyons
RCL/mm
enclosure
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cc: |
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D.A. Golden
W.M. Muckian |
GATX Financial Corporation
Securities and Exchange Commission Comment Letter
File No. 001-08319
Our responses correspond to the comment numbers in your letter dated October 19, 2006. Please
note throughout this response letter that “GFC” refers to GATX Financial Corporation.
Comment No. 1
We note from your response to our prior comment 8 and Exhibit 2, that you do not believe any
of your investments require the inclusion of separate financial statements. However, although
Exhibit 2 shows that the pre-tax loss of CL Air of (26.5) is 17.5% of the pre-tax earnings of the
company, based upon pre-tax earnings using 5-year average income, it appears that CL Air’s pre-tax
earnings is actually 21.2% of the company’s pre-tax earnings, using the 5-year average income of
124.7. Please explain to us how you determined or calculated a 17.5% pre-tax earnings percentage
for CL Air, or alternatively revise your filing to include the appropriate financial statements of
CL Air, as set forth in Rule 3-09(b) of Regulation S-X.
Response No. 1
For purposes of calculating CL Air’s pre-tax earnings percentage, we relied on the
computational note included in Rule 1-02(w)(3) of Regulation S-X which provides guidance in the
case where a loss has been incurred by either the registrant or the tested equity investment, but
not both. Specifically, in these circumstances, the income or loss from the tested equity
investment should be excluded from the income (or loss) of the registrant for purposes of this
computation. In accordance with our interpretation of this rule, CL Air’s loss of $26.5 million
was added back to GFC’s 5-year average of consolidated continuing pre-tax income for purposes of
this test, resulting in the 17.5% factor as shown in Exhibit 2 of our prior response. However,
after conducting further research on this point, we noted that the SEC’s Training Manual provides
additional guidance related to this issue as it relates to equity method investments. Specifically,
if the averaging method is used, the equity income (or loss) of the investee should be excluded for
each year averaged, as opposed to just the loss year, which is how we initially computed
the ratio. Additionally, the SEC manual further notes that for purposes of computing the income
significance test, income (or loss) attributable to an equity investment should include any
write-downs for impairments that are not otherwise reflected in the investee’s financial
statements. Incorporating the impact of these interpretations into our analysis resulted in two
equity investments exceeding the significance threshold in 2005: CL Air and Pembroke Group. See
Exhibit 1 for details.
We respectfully request relief from amending our 2005 Form 10-K to include the financial statements
of CL Air and Pembroke in accordance with Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X on the basis of two factors. First of all, the significance test was triggered by material non-recurring impairment charges
taken with respect to both investments. In each case, the impairments charges, both at the
investee and investor level, were related to our decision to sell these investments, or the assets owned by the investee.
1
GATX Financial Corporation
Securities and Exchange Commission Comment Letter
File No. 001-08319
Excluding the impact of these charges, the earnings ratio for purposes of the significance
test in each case would not have exceeded 20%. See Exhibit 1 depicting the “normalized” income
ratio for CL Air and Pembroke. As a result, the computed pre-tax earnings ratios for CL Air and
Pembroke are not necessarily indicative of their relative significance to GFC’s overall business.
You’ll note our investment in each of these investments as a percentage of total assets is 1% for
CL Air and zero for Pembroke at December 31, 2005. Secondly, both CL Air and Pembroke are part of
the Air business that we are in the process of selling. As a result, the operations of both CL Air
and Pembroke will be reported as discontinued operations in all future filings. We completed the
sale of our interest in Pembroke in July 2006 and we expect to sell our interest in CL Air by
November 30, 2006. We will have no continuing interest in either of these investments.
Comment No. 2
We note that you have several pro forma adjustments which are not explained in
footnotes 2(a) or 2(b). Please revise your disclosures to clearly explain how each pro forma
adjustment, such as the adjustments to receivables, investments in affiliated companies, current
and deferred income taxes, and other liabilities, was calculated or determined. Please note that
each adjustment should give effect only to events that are directly attributable to the disposition
transactions and factually supportable. See Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
Response No. 2
As reported in our Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2006, GFC entered into a definitive agreement
to sell the majority of its aircraft leasing business (“Air”) to Macquarie Aircraft Leasing Limited
(“MALL”). Pro forma financial information was furnished in the filing to provide users of our
financial statements useful and timely information regarding the impact of the Air disposition on
our historical financial position and results of operations.
You note that adequate explanation was not provided in the footnotes for the pro forma adjustments.
We believe the disclosures accompanying the pro forma financial statements, while general in
nature, adequately described the adjustments made to the historical amounts reported in all
material respects. In the explanatory note accompanying the pro forma information as well as the
notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements we explain in detail the basis upon
which these statements were prepared. Specifically, in Note 1 we explain that the pro forma
financial statements give effect to the sale of substantially all of the assets and liabilities
of our Air business. This assumption is also referenced Note 2 and additional analysis and
discussion is included in support of the adjustments shown for cash, taxes and equity.
2
GATX Financial Corporation
Securities and Exchange Commission Comment Letter
File No. 001-08319
We expect to complete the sale of Air to MALL on or about November 30, 2006. At that time we
will file a Form 8-K reporting this event and will include pro forma financial information as
required. This information will be updated to reflect any changes to the transaction since our
October 4th filing, if applicable. In connection with the preparation of those pro forma
financial statements, we will provide more direct support and explanation for all pro forma
adjustments in the footnotes as well as a clear indication that all such adjustments reflect only
events that are directly attributable to the disposition transactions noted and are factually
supportable. As a result, we don’t believe amending our prior Form 8-K for the sole purpose of
revising the footnotes just prior to filing updated information will benefit users. Accordingly,
we respectfully request relief from this request to revise the footnote disclosures in our prior
Form 8-K filing.
Comment No. 3
We note that the pro forma statements of income include several pro forma
adjustments to revenue and expenses. Please revise your disclosures to clearly explain how each
pro forma adjustment was calculated or determined. Please note that each adjustment should give
effect only to events that are directly attributable to the transaction, factually supportable, and
expected to have a continuing impact. For adjustments to line items such as income taxes, your
disclosure should include the applicable income tax rate used in the calculation. Your disclosures
should address the pro-forma adjustments for each of the three years ended December 31, 2005 and
for the six months ended June 30, 2006. See Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
Response No. 3
Consistent with our response to Comment No 2, we believe the disclosures accompanying the pro
forma financial statements are adequate in all material respects. In Note 3 we describe the basis
for preparation of the pro forma statements of income as excluding the operations of all Air assets
sold or to be sold, including the impact of debt anticipated to be repaid as part of the
disposition transactions. We also noted that the pro forma adjustment for income taxes was based
on an estimate on Air’s relative contribution to GATX’s consolidated tax position.
As noted above, in connection with the preparation of the pro forma financial statements to be
included with the Form 8-K we expect to file when the Air sale to MALL is completed, we will
provide more direct support and explanation for all pro forma adjustments in the footnotes as well
as a clear indication that all such adjustments reflect only events that are directly attributable
to the disposition transactions noted and are factually supportable. As a result, we don’t believe
amending our prior Form 8-K for the sole purpose of revising the footnotes just prior to filing
updated information will benefit users. Accordingly, we respectfully request relief from this
request to revise the footnote disclosures in our prior Form 8-K filing.
3
Exhibit 1
GATX Financial Corporation
2005 Test — Significant Subsidiary (Revised)
(in millions)
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Pre-Tax |
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Normalized |
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Earnings |
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Inv. |
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Earnings |
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Pre-Tax |
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as % of Adj. |
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Inv. In |
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% of Total |
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Impairment |
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Normalized |
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as % of Adj. |
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Entity Name |
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Earnings |
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Avg. Inc. (1) |
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Affiliate |
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Assets |
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Charges (4) |
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Earnings |
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Avg. Inc. (1) |
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AAE Cargo |
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10.6 |
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8.5 |
% |
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71.9 |
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1.3 |
% |
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Bonafacio |
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(3 |
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(3.2 |
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-2.6 |
% |
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— |
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0.0 |
% |
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Southern Capital Corp |
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6.9 |
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5.5 |
% |
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25.7 |
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0.5 |
% |
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GATX/NLC Rail Partners |
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(0.6 |
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-0.5 |
% |
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2.1 |
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0.0 |
% |
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CL Air |
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(28.8 |
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-22.4 |
% |
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62.8 |
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1.1 |
% |
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(32.3 |
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3.5 |
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2.8 |
% |
GATX A321 Partners |
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0.3 |
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0.2 |
% |
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12.1 |
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0.2 |
% |
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GATX 737-800 Partners |
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4.0 |
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3.2 |
% |
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60.9 |
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1.1 |
% |
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GATX 737NG Partners |
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1.5 |
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1.2 |
% |
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30.5 |
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0.6 |
% |
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GATX 737-800 Partners III |
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1.5 |
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1.2 |
% |
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34.0 |
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0.6 |
% |
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Blue Dragon |
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4.6 |
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3.7 |
% |
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38.5 |
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0.7 |
% |
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CALJET LLC |
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1.9 |
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1.5 |
% |
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13.2 |
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0.2 |
% |
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GMR Aviation |
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0.1 |
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0.1 |
% |
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3.0 |
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0.1 |
% |
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Rolls Royce Group |
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16.7 |
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13.4 |
% |
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25.5 |
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0.5 |
% |
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757 Partners |
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0.5 |
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0.4 |
% |
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16.0 |
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0.3 |
% |
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GATX Flightlease |
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(2.8 |
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-2.2 |
% |
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6.0 |
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0.1 |
% |
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Pembroke Group |
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(3 |
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(63.3 |
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-45.5 |
% |
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— |
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0.0 |
% |
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(56.0 |
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(7.3 |
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-5.7 |
% |
Javelin Leasing Ltd |
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(3 |
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(23.0 |
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-18.0 |
% |
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42.6 |
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0.8 |
% |
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ATP Ltd |
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3.3 |
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2.6 |
% |
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60.3 |
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1.1 |
% |
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Buckingham Partners |
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(3 |
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(2.3 |
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-1.8 |
% |
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3.6 |
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0.1 |
% |
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Cardinal Marine |
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13.8 |
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11.1 |
% |
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42.9 |
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0.8 |
% |
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PBG Capital Partners |
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(4.4 |
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-3.5 |
% |
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28.9 |
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0.5 |
% |
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GARM PLC |
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6.1 |
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4.9 |
% |
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10.1 |
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0.2 |
% |
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Somergas Ltd. |
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10.9 |
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8.7 |
% |
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27.0 |
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0.5 |
% |
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BP/Amoco/AIG |
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5.1 |
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4.1 |
% |
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1.3 |
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0.0 |
% |
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Clipper Group |
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11.1 |
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8.9 |
% |
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46.0 |
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0.8 |
% |
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CL Powers |
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0.7 |
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0.6 |
% |
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2.4 |
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0.0 |
% |
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(28.8 |
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667.3 |
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Income from continuing operations befores taxes & cumulative effect of accounting change:
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GFC |
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CL Air |
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Pembroke |
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2005 |
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66.8 |
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(28.8 |
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(63.3 |
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2004 |
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319.9 |
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(0.5 |
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(2.1 |
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2003 |
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141.2 |
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0.4 |
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3.5 |
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2002 |
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87.6 |
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3.6 |
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(15.2 |
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2001 |
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8.1 |
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6.5 |
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4.6 |
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5-Year Average (2) |
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124.7 |
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(3.8 |
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(14.5 |
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Total Assets as of 12/31/05 |
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5,525.8 |
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1) |
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In the case of a current year loss for the equity earnings of a tested entity, such tested entity’s income or loss was excluded from total
income from continuing operations for each year averaged. |
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2) |
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Average income for GFC is used for purposes of the computation since 2005 actual income was lower than 10% of the average of the
income for the last five years |
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3) |
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Includes impairment charges recorded in accordance with APB 18. |
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4) |
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FAS 144 charges at the investee level and/or APB 18 charges at the investor level, as applicable. |