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EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - Lazard Group LLCFinancial_Report.xls
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10-Q - FORM 10-Q - Lazard Group LLCd909062d10q.htm
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EX-32.1 - EX-32.1 - Lazard Group LLCd909062dex321.htm

Exhibit 12.1

LAZARD GROUP LLC

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (a)

The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Lazard Group LLC and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

    Three  Months
Ended
March 31, 2015
    Year Ended December 31,  
      2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  
         

(dollars in thousands)

 

Operating income (loss)

  $ 80,611      $ 540,975      $ 219,009      $ 121,593      $ 241,791      $ 246,809   

Add—Fixed charges

    23,274        91,691        111,317        116,255        114,998        121,656   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss) before
fixed charges

  $ 103,885      $ 632,666      $ 330,326      $ 237,848      $ 356,789      $ 368,465   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

           

Interest (b)

  $ 17,141      $ 68,205      $ 87,039      $ 91,359      $ 94,211      $ 102,249   

Other (c)

    6,133        23,486        24,278        24,896        20,787        19,407   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total fixed charges

  $ 23,274      $ 91,691      $ 111,317      $ 116,255      $ 114,998      $ 121,656   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

    4.46 (d)      6.90        2.97 (e)      2.05 (f)      3.10        3.03 (g) 
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Notes (dollars in thousands):

(a) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges:

 

   

earnings for the periods presented represent income before income taxes and fixed charges, and

 

   

fixed charges represent the interest expense and the portion of rental expense which represents an appropriate interest factor.

 

(b) The Company’s policy is to include interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. Accordingly, such interest expense is not included in the computations of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

(c) Other fixed charges consist of the interest factor in rentals.

 

(d) Operating income for the three month period ended March 31, 2015 is presented after giving effect to a charge of (i) $60,219 associated with the redemption of $450 million of the 2017 Notes and (ii) $2,655 excess interest expense due to the delay between the issuance of the 2025 Notes and the settlement of the redemption of the 2017 Notes. Excluding the impact of such items, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 7.96.

 

(e) Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2013 is presented after giving effect to a charge of (i) $64,703 associated with the cost saving initiatives announced by the Company in October 2012, (ii) $54,087 pertaining to the refinancing of the 2015 Notes and the issuance of the 2020 Notes and (iii) $12,203 relating to private equity incentive compensation. Excluding the impact of such charge, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 4.14.

 

(f) Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2012 is presented after giving effect to (i) a charge in the first quarter of $24,659 relating to severance costs and benefit payments associated with staff reductions, including the acceleration of unrecognized amortization expense of deferred incentive compensation previously granted to individuals being terminated, (ii) a charge in the fourth quarter of $102,576 associated with the cost saving initiatives announced by the Company in October 2012. Excluding the impact of such items, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 3.14.

 

(g) Operating income for the year ended December 31, 2010 is presented after giving effect to (i) a restructuring charge of $87,108 and (ii) a charge of $24,860 relating to the amendment of Lazard’s retirement policy with respect to RSU awards. Excluding the impact of such items, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have been 3.95.