AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES EXHIBIT 12 - COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in Thousands) Year Ended December 31, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- EXCLUDING INTEREST ON ANNUITIES - ------------------------------- Pretax income (loss) $149,330 $ 13,002 ($ 46,462) $231,447 $209,563 Minority interest in subsidiaries having fixed charges(*) 32,096 31,917 24,491 44,790 45,120 Less undistributed equity in losses of investees 13,830 25,462 142,230 32,156 17,997 Fixed charges: Interest expense 47,513 60,605 67,471 65,858 73,868 Debt discount (premium) and expense 414 599 318 (449) (631) One-third of rentals 16,483 16,900 13,963 12,226 11,883 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EARNINGS $259,666 $148,485 $202,011 $386,028 $357,800 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges: Interest expense $ 47,513 $ 60,605 $ 67,471 $ 65,858 $ 73,868 Debt discount (premium) and expense 414 599 318 (449) (631) One-third of rentals 16,483 16,900 13,963 12,226 11,883 Pretax preferred dividend requirements of subsidiaries 12,960 17,038 18,399 18,575 19,031 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- FIXED CHARGES $ 77,370 $ 95,142 $100,151 $ 96,210 $104,151 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges and preferred dividends: Fixed charges - per above $ 77,370 $ 95,142 $100,151 $ 96,210 $104,151 Preferred dividends 6,552 7,615 7,961 8,991 9,403 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS $ 83,922 $102,757 $108,112 $105,201 $113,554 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 3.36 1.56 2.02 4.01 3.44 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 3.09 1.45 1.87 3.67 3.15 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== INCLUDING INTEREST ON ANNUITIES - ------------------------------- Earnings - per above $259,666 $148,485 $202,011 $386,028 $357,800 Interest on annuities 300,966 294,654 293,171 262,632 261,666 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- EARNINGS $560,632 $443,139 $495,182 $648,660 $619,466 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges - per above $ 77,370 $ 95,142 $100,151 $ 96,210 $104,151 Interest on annuities 300,966 294,654 293,171 262,632 261,666 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- FIXED CHARGES $378,336 $389,796 $393,322 $358,842 $365,817 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges and preferred dividends: Fixed charges - per above $378,336 $389,796 $393,322 $358,842 $365,817 Preferred dividends 6,552 7,615 7,961 8,991 9,403 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS $384,888 $397,411 $401,283 $367,833 $375,220 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 1.48 1.14 1.26 1.81 1.69 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 1.46 1.12 1.23 1.76 1.65 ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== Earnings in Excess of Fixed Charges $182,296 $ 53,343 $101,860 $289,818 $253,649 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Earnings in Excess of Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends $175,744 $ 45,728 $ 93,899 $280,827 $244,246 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== (*) Amounts include accrued distributions on trust preferred securities. E-2