EXHIBIT 12 Form 10-K for 1997 File No. 1-11237 AT&T CAPITAL CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in Thousands) Year Ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings from continuing operations: Income before income taxes and extraordinary loss $ 32,036 $278,602 $208,239 $173,614 $138,040 Deduct undistributed earnings on equity investments, net of losses - - - - Add fixed charges included in income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change 460,221 465,121 418,624 277,913 242,100 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total earnings from continuing operations, as adjusted $492,257 $743,723 $626,863 $451,527 $380,140 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total fixed charges* $460,221 $465,121 $418,624 $277,913 $242,100 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 1.07 1.60 1.50 1.62 1.57 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Fixed charges include interest on indebtedness and the portion of rentals representative of the interest factor. Fixed charges do not include distributions on Company-obligated preferred securities of the Company's subsidiaries.