American Tower (AMT) 10-K 2013 FY Annual report

Exhibit 12

STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

American Tower Corporation

The following table reflects the computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented (in thousands):

	2009		2010		2011		2012		2013
Computation of Earnings:
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income on equity method investments	$	421,487	$	556,025	$	506,895	$	701,294	$	541,749
Add:
Interest expense (1)		251,291		247,504		313,328		403,150		459,779
Operating leases		82,522		90,001		109,817		125,706		148,573
Amortization of interest capitalized		2,751		2,819		2,218		2,315		2,406
Earnings as adjusted		758,051		896,349		932,258		1,232,465		1,152,507
Computation of fixed charges:
Interest expense (1)		251,291		247,504		313,328		403,150		459,779
Interest capitalized		495		1,011		2,096		1,926		1,817
Operating leases		82,522		90,001		109,817		125,706		148,573
Fixed charges		334,308		338,516		425,241		530,782		610,169
Excess in earnings required to cover fixed charges	$	423,743	$	557,833	$	507,017	$	701,683	$	542,338
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)		2.27		2.65		2.19		2.32		1.89

(1) Interest expense includes amortization of deferred financing costs. Interest expense also includes an amount related to our capital lease with TV Azteca.

(2) For the purposes of this calculation, “earnings” consists of income from continuing operations before income taxes, income on equity method investments, fixed charges (excluding interest capitalized and amortization of interest capitalized). “Fixed charges” consists of interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt discounts and premiums and related issuance costs and the component of rental expense associated with operating leases believed by management to be representative of the interest factor thereon.