Abbott Laboratories (ABT) 10-Q 2014 Q1 Quarterly report

Exhibit 12

Abbott Laboratories and Subsidiaries

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(Unaudited)

(dollars in millions)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2014
Earnings from Continuing Operations	$	339
Add (deduct):
Taxes on earnings	84
Capitalized interest cost, net of amortization	7
Noncontrolling interests	3
Earnings from Continuing Operations, as adjusted	433
Fixed Charges:
Interest on long-term and short-term debt	39
Capitalized interest cost	3
Rental expense representative of an interest factor	21
Total Fixed Charges	63
Total adjusted earnings available for payment of fixed charges	$	496
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	7.9

NOTE:For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) earnings from continuing operations have been calculated by adjusting earnings for taxes on earnings; interest expense; capitalized interest cost, net of amortization; noncontrolling interests; and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor, (ii) Abbott considers one-third of rental expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii) fixed charges comprise total interest expense, including capitalized interest and such portion of rentals.