Exhibit 12(a)

 

MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(dollars in millions)

 

    

Year Ended Last Friday in December


    

2002


  

2001


  

2000


  

1999


  

1998


    

(52 weeks)

  

(52 weeks)

  

(53 weeks)

  

(53 weeks)

  

(52 weeks)

Pre-tax earnings from continuing operations

  

$

3,757

  

$

1,377

  

$

5,717

  

$

4,206

  

$

2,120

Add: Fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest and preferred security dividend requirements of subsidiaries)

  

 

9,818

  

 

17,097

  

 

18,307

  

 

13,235

  

 

17,237

    

  

  

  

  

Pre-tax earnings before fixed charges

  

 

13,575

  

 

18,474

  

 

24,024

  

 

17,441

  

 

19,357

Fixed charges:

                                  

Interest

  

 

9,613

  

 

16,843

  

 

18,052

  

 

12,987

  

 

17,014

Other (a)

  

 

396

  

 

451

  

 

465

  

 

451

  

 

354

    

  

  

  

  

Total fixed charges

  

$

10,009

  

$

17,294

  

$

18,517

  

$

13,438

  

$

17,368

    

  

  

  

  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

  

 

1.36

  

 

1.07

  

 

1.30

  

 

1.30

  

 

1.11


(a) Other fixed charges consists of the interest factor in rentals, amortization of debt issuance costs, preferred security dividend requirements of subsidiaries and capitalized interest.

 

Note: Prior period amounts have been restated to reflect the merger with Herzog, Heine, Geduld, Inc. as required under pooling-of-interests accounting.