EXHIBIT 12.1
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED OP UNIT DISTRIBUTIONS
(in millions, except ratio amounts)
| | | | | | | | |
| | Year-to-Date ended | |
| | September 7, 2007 | | | September 8, 2006 | |
Income from continuing operations before income taxes | | $ | 303 | | | $ | 170 | |
Add (deduct): | | | | | | | | |
Fixed charges | | | 359 | | | | 350 | |
Capitalized interest | | | (6 | ) | | | (2 | ) |
Amortization of capitalized interest | | | 4 | | | | 4 | |
Minority interest in consolidated affiliates | | | 5 | | | | 7 | |
Equity in (earnings) losses related to certain 50% or less owned affiliates | | | (5 | ) | | | 8 | |
Distributions from equity investments | | | 4 | | | | 3 | |
Distributions on preferred OP units | | | (6 | ) | | | (12 | ) |
Issuance costs of redeemed preferred units | | | — | | | | (6 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjusted earnings | | $ | 658 | | | $ | 522 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Fixed charges: | | | | | | | | |
Interest on indebtedness and amortization of deferred financing costs | | $ | 312 | | | $ | 298 | |
Capitalized interest | | | 6 | | | | 2 | |
Distributions on preferred OP units | | | 6 | | | | 12 | |
Portion of rents representative of the interest factor | | | 35 | | | | 32 | |
Issuance costs of redeemed preferred units | | | — | | | | 6 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total fixed charges and preferred OP unit distributions | | $ | 359 | | | $ | 350 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Ratio of earning to fixed charges and preferred OP unit distributions | | | 1.8 | | | | 1.5 | |