EX-12 9 y30921exv12.htm EX-12: COMPUTATI0N IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES EX-12
 

EXHIBIT 12
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
COMPUTATION IN SUPPORT OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollars in millions)
                                         
    Years Ended December 31,  
    2006     2005     2004     2003     2002  
Earnings:
                                       
Pretax income from continuing operations
  $ 5,328     $ 4,248     $ 3,831     $ 3,415     $ 3,021  
Interest expense
    2,880       2,168       1,659       1,606       1,832  
Other adjustments
    139       150       151       154       174  
 
                             
Total earnings (a)
  $ 8,347     $ 6,566     $ 5,641     $ 5,175     $ 5,027  
 
                             
 
                                       
Fixed charges:
                                       
Interest expense
  $ 2,880     $ 2,168     $ 1,659     $ 1,606     $ 1,832  
Other adjustments
    106       151       145       139       151  
 
                             
Total fixed charges (b)
  $ 2,986     $ 2,319     $ 1,804     $ 1,745     $ 1,983  
 
                             
 
                                       
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a/b)
    2.80       2.83       3.13       2.97       2.54  
Included in interest expense in the above computation is interest expense related to the international banking operations and the cardmember lending activities, which is netted against other investment income, net of interest and cardmember lending finance charge revenue, net of interest, 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.