EX-12.1 6 a05-14890_1ex12d1.htm EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

 

TRIBUNE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(In thousands, except ratios)

 

 

 

First Half

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

 

 

6/26/2005

 

2004

 

2003

 

2002

 

2001

 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations, before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

376,237

 

$

573,324

 

$

891,379

 

$

608,579

 

$

111,136

 

$

310,401

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

221,329

 

367,787

 

523,857

 

331,376

 

157,815

 

270,351

 

(Income) loss on equity investments

 

(12,368

)

(17,931

)

(5,590

)

40,875

 

60,813

 

79,374

 

Distributed income from equity investees

 

13,718

 

14,439

 

16,810

 

12,567

 

21,784

 

9,693

 

Minority interest expense, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

16,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subtotal

 

598,916

 

937,619

 

1,426,456

 

993,397

 

351,548

 

686,154

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charge adjustments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

70,458

 

153,118

 

198,123

 

213,309

 

254,521

 

240,708

 

Amortization of capitalized interest

 

1,579

 

3,070

 

3,224

 

3,269

 

2,989

 

4,012

 

Interest component of rental
expense (1)

 

9,955

 

18,801

 

20,720

 

22,503

 

22,853

 

18,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings, as adjusted

 

$

680,908

 

$

1,112,608

 

$

1,648,523

 

$

1,232,478

 

$

631,911

 

$

949,494

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

$

70,458

 

$

153,118

 

$

198,123

 

$

213,309

 

$

254,521

 

$

240,708

 

Interest capitalized

 

2,240

 

2,511

 

383

 

2,383

 

3,184

 

1,950

 

Interest component of rental
expense (1)

 

9,955

 

18,801

 

20,720

 

22,503

 

22,853

 

18,620

 

Interest related to guaranteed ESOP debt (2)

 

 

 

2,836

 

5,565

 

8,191

 

10,718

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

 

$

82,653

 

$

174,430

 

$

222,062

 

$

243,760

 

$

288,749

 

$

271,996

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

 

8.2

 

6.4

 

7.4

 

5.1

 

2.2

 

3.5

 

 


(1)          Represents a reasonable approximation of the interest cost component of rental expense incurred by the Company.

 

(2)          Tribune Company guarantees the debt of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”).  The notes issued by the Company’s ESOP matured on Dec. 16, 2003 and were fully repaid.