10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

[X]        QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2013

or

  [  ]        TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Transition Period from              to             

Commission file number 1-7657

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York

   

13-4922250

 

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

    (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)  

World Financial Center, 200 Vesey Street, New York, NY

   

10285

 
(Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)  

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code                                  (212) 640-2000        

 
            None  

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes   X              No             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes   X              No             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer  x

  

Accelerated filer  ¨

Non-accelerated filer  ¨    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Smaller reporting company  ¨                             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes                 No   X        

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

     

Outstanding at April 18, 2013

 
Common Shares (par value $.20 per share)       1,098,638,618 shares  


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

 

Part I.    Financial Information      Page No.   
  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
     

Consolidated Statements of Income – Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012

     1   
     

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012

     2   
     

Consolidated Balance Sheets – March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012

     3   
     

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012

     4   
     

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     5   
  

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     35   
  

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

     68   
  

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

     68   
Part II.    Other Information   
  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

     71   
  

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

     73   
  

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

     74   
  

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

     75   
  

Signatures

     76   
  

Exhibit Index

     E-1   


Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

                                             

 

Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions, except per share amounts)

       2013     

2012

Revenues

       

Non-interest revenues

       

Discount revenue

     $ 4,438      $             4,257

Net card fees

       653      610

Travel commissions and fees

       437      451

Other commissions and fees

       573      583

Other

       537      553
    

 

 

    

 

Total non-interest revenues

       6,638      6,454
    

 

 

    

 

Interest income

       

Interest on loans

       1,683      1,611

Interest and dividends on investment securities

       53      66

Deposits with banks and other

       26      30
    

 

 

    

 

Total interest income

       1,762      1,707
    

 

 

    

 

Interest expense

       

Deposits

       114      129

Long-term debt and other

       405      445
    

 

 

    

 

Total interest expense

       519      574
    

 

 

    

 

Net interest income

       1,243      1,133
    

 

 

    

 

Total revenues net of interest expense

       7,881      7,587
    

 

 

    

 

Provisions for losses

       

Charge card

       195      178

Cardmember loans

       275      212

Other

       27      22
    

 

 

    

 

Total provisions for losses

       497      412
    

 

 

    

 

Total revenues net of interest expense after provisions for losses

       7,384      7,175
    

 

 

    

 

Expenses

       

Marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services

       2,330      2,292

Salaries and employee benefits

       1,615      1,635

Other, net

       1,530      1,475
    

 

 

    

 

Total expenses

       5,475      5,402
    

 

 

    

 

Pretax income

       1,909      1,773

Income tax provision

       629      517
    

 

 

    

 

Net income

     $ 1,280      $             1,256
    

 

 

    

 

Earnings per Common Share (Note 12):(a)

       

Basic

     $ 1.15      $               1.07

Diluted

     $ 1.15      $               1.07
    

 

 

    

 

Average common shares outstanding for earnings per common share:

       

Basic

       1,099      1,160

Diluted

       1,106      1,166

Cash dividends declared per common share

     $ 0.20      $               0.20

 

 

  (a)

Represents net income less earnings allocated to participating share awards of $11 million and $14 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

 

                                             

 

Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions)

       2013    

2012

Net income

     $ 1,280     $       1,256

Other comprehensive (loss) income:

      

Net unrealized securities (losses) gains, net of tax of: 2013, $(18); 2012, $13

       (35   20

Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax of: 2013, $—; 2012, $—

            1

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of: 2013, $(11); 2012, $(122)

       (45   72

Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit gains, net of tax of: 2013, $21; 2012, $2

       27     6

 

    

 

 

   

 

Other comprehensive (loss) income

       (53   99

 

    

 

 

   

 

Comprehensive income

     $ 1,227     $       1,355
    

 

 

   

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

                                             

 

(Millions, except per share data)

      
 
March 31,
2013
  
 
 

December 31, 2012

Assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

      

Cash and due from banks

     $ 3,433     $            2,020 

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks (includes securities purchased under resale agreements: 2013, $118; 2012, $58)

       24,294     19,892 

Short-term investment securities

       237     338 
    

 

 

   

 

Total cash and cash equivalents

       27,964     22,250 

Accounts receivable

      

Cardmember receivables (includes gross receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2013, $6,950; 2012, $8,012), less reserves: 2013, $410; 2012, $428

       42,961     42,338 

Other receivables, less reserves: 2013, $86; 2012, $86

       3,143     3,576 

Loans

      

Cardmember loans (includes gross loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated variable interest entity: 2013, $30,063; 2012, $32,731), less reserves: 2013, $1,367; 2012, $1,471

       60,919     63,758 

Other loans, less reserves: 2013, $18; 2012, $20

       541     551 

Investment securities

       5,793     5,614 

Premises and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization: 2013, $5,649; 2012, $5,429

       3,713     3,635 

Other assets (includes restricted cash of consolidated variable interest entities: 2013, $1,103; 2012, $76)

       11,821     11,418 
    

 

 

   

 

Total assets

     $ 156,855     $        153,140 
    

 

 

   

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

      

Liabilities

      

Customer deposits

     $ 41,301     $          39,803 

Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products

       4,232     4,601 

Accounts payable

       14,230     10,006 

Short-term borrowings

       3,359     3,314 

Long-term debt (includes debt issued by consolidated variable interest entities: 2013, $16,833; 2012, $19,277)

       56,366     58,973 

Other liabilities

       18,077     17,557 
    

 

 

   

 

Total liabilities

       137,565     134,254 
    

 

 

   

 

Contingencies (Note 14)

      

Shareholders’ Equity

      

Common shares, $0.20 par value, authorized 3.6 billion shares; issued and outstanding 1,098 million shares as of March 31, 2013 and 1,105 million shares as of December 31, 2012

       220     221 

Additional paid-in capital

       12,220     12,067 

Retained earnings

       7,830     7,525 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

      

Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax of: 2013, $157; 2012, $175

       280     315 

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of: 2013, $(622); 2012, $(611)

       (799   (754)

Net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, net of tax of: 2013, $(212); 2012, $(233)

       (461   (488)
    

 

 

   

 

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

       (980   (927)
    

 

 

   

 

Total shareholders’ equity

       19,290     18,886 
    

 

 

   

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     $ 156,855     $        153,140 
    

 

 

   

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

                                             

 

Three Months Ended March 31 (Millions)

       2013    

2012

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

      

Net income

     $ 1,280      $            1,256 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Provisions for losses

       497      412 

Depreciation and amortization

       245      254 

Deferred taxes and other

       2      48 

Stock-based compensation

       96      92 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and dispositions:

      

Other receivables

       486      807 

Other assets

       330      473 

Accounts payable and other liabilities

       4,946      502 

Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products

       (335   (412)
    

 

 

   

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

       7,547      3,432 
    

 

 

   

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

      

Sale of investments

       80      177 

Maturity and redemption of investments

       187      449 

Purchase of investments

       (472   (58)

Net decrease in cardmember loans/receivables

       1,510      1,724 

Purchase of premises and equipment, net of sales: 2013, $4; 2012, $1

       (204   (266)

Acquisitions/dispositions, net of cash acquired/sold

       (11   (2)

Net increase in restricted cash

       (1,058   (76)
    

 

 

   

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

       32      1,948 
    

 

 

   

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

      

Net increase in customer deposits

       1,141      267 

Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

       166      (540)

Issuance of long-term debt

       598      1,609 

Principal payments on long-term debt

       (3,001   (4,501)

Issuance of American Express common shares

       275      231 

Repurchase of American Express common shares

       (787   (171)

Dividends paid

       (222   (211)
    

 

 

   

 

Net cash used in financing activities

       (1,830   (3,316)
    

 

 

   

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

       (35   125 
    

 

 

   

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

       5,714      2,189 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

       22,250     24,893 
    

 

 

   

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     $ 27,964     $          27,082 
    

 

 

   

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

The Company

American Express Company (the Company) is a global services company that provides customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The Company’s principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. The Company also focuses on generating alternative sources of revenue on a global basis in areas such as online and mobile payments and fee-based services. The Company’s various products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including direct mail, online applications, targeted direct and third-party sales forces and direct response advertising.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the 2012 Form 10-K).

The interim consolidated financial information in this report has not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, which consist of normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the interim period consolidated financial information, have been made. Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expense, and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. These accounting estimates reflect the best judgment of management, but actual results could differ.

Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made to conform to the current period presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This guidance requires an entity to present information about significant items reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) by component and for items reclassified out of AOCI and into net income, an entity must disclose the effect of such items on the affected net income line item. The Company presents this information as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements. Refer to Note 10 for further discussion.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

2. Fair Values

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the Company’s principal or, in the absence of a principal, most advantageous market for the specific asset or liability.

GAAP provides for a three-level hierarchy of inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value, defined as follows:

 

   

Level 1 — Inputs that are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity can access.

 

   

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability, including:

 

  -

Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

 

  -

Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active;

 

  -

Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and

 

  -

Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

 

   

Level 3 — Inputs that are unobservable and reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances (e.g., internally derived assumptions surrounding the timing and amount of expected cash flows). The Company did not measure any financial instruments presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or during the year ended December 31, 2012, although the disclosed fair value of certain assets that are not carried at fair value, as presented later in this Note, are classified within Level 3.

The Company monitors the market conditions and evaluates the fair value hierarchy levels at least quarterly. For any transfers in and out of the levels of the fair value hierarchy, the Company elects to disclose the fair value measurement at the beginning of the reporting period during which the transfer occurred.

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

The following table summarizes the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized by GAAP’s valuation hierarchy (as described in the preceding paragraphs), as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                               

 

       2013       2012

(Millions)

       Total        Level 1        Level 2        Total        Level 1     

Level 2

Assets:

              

Investment securities:(a)

              

Equity securities

     $ 251     $ 251     $      $ 296     $ 296     $           —

Debt securities and other

       5,542       337       5,205       5,318       338     4,980

Derivatives(a)

       958              958       942            942
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total assets

     $ 6,751     $ 588     $ 6,163     $ 6,556     $ 634     $      5,922
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Liabilities:

              

Derivatives(a)

     $ 230     $      $ 230     $ 329     $      $         329
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total liabilities

     $ 230     $      $ 230     $ 329     $      $         329
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Refer to Note 5 for the fair values of investment securities and to Note 8 for the fair values of derivative assets and liabilities, both on a further disaggregated basis.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Valuation Techniques Used in the Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Fair Value

For the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (categorized in the valuation hierarchy table above) the Company applies the following valuation techniques:

Investment Securities

 

   

When available, quoted prices of identical investment securities in active markets are used to determine fair value. Such investment securities are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

   

When quoted prices of identical investment securities in active markets are not available, the fair values for the Company’s investment securities are obtained primarily from pricing services engaged by the Company, and the Company receives one price for each security. The fair values provided by the pricing services are estimated using pricing models, where the inputs to those models are based on observable market inputs or recent trades of similar securities. Such investment securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The inputs to the valuation techniques applied by the pricing services vary depending on the type of security being priced but are typically benchmark yields, benchmark security prices, credit spreads, prepayment speeds, reported trades and broker-dealer quotes, all with reasonable levels of transparency. The pricing services did not apply any adjustments to the pricing models used. In addition, the Company did not apply any adjustments to prices received from the pricing services.

The Company reaffirms its understanding of the valuation techniques used by its pricing services at least annually. In addition, the Company corroborates the prices provided by its pricing services for reasonableness by comparing the prices from the respective pricing services to valuations obtained from different pricing sources as well as comparing prices to the sale prices received from sold securities at least quarterly. In instances where price discrepancies are identified between different pricing sources, the Company evaluates such discrepancies to ensure that the prices used for its valuation represent the fair value of the underlying investment securities. Refer to Note 5 for additional fair value information.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

The fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments is estimated by a third-party valuation service that uses proprietary pricing models or by internal pricing models, where the inputs to those models are readily observable from actively quoted markets. The pricing models used are consistently applied and reflect the contractual terms of the derivatives as described below. The Company reaffirms its understanding of the valuation techniques used by the third-party valuation service at least annually. The Company’s derivative instruments are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps is determined based on a discounted cash flow method using the following significant inputs: the contractual terms of the swap such as the notional amount, fixed coupon rate, floating coupon rate (based on interbank rates consistent with the frequency and currency of the interest cash flows) and tenor, as well as discount rates consistent with the underlying economic factors of the currency in which the cash flows are denominated.

The fair value of the Company’s total return contract, which serves as a hedge against the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) change in fair value associated with the Company’s investment in the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), is determined based on a discounted cash flow method using the following significant inputs as of the valuation date: number of shares of the Company’s underlying ICBC investment, the quoted market price of the shares in HKD and the monthly settlement terms of the contract inclusive of price and tenor.

The fair value of foreign exchange forward contracts is determined based on a discounted cash flow method using the following significant inputs: the contractual terms of the forward contracts such as the notional amount, maturity dates and contract rate, as well as relevant foreign currency forward curves, and discount rates consistent with the underlying economic factors of the currency in which the cash flows are denominated.

Credit valuation adjustments are necessary when the market parameters, such as a benchmark curve, used to value derivatives are not indicative of the credit quality of the Company or its counterparties. The Company considers the counterparty credit risk by applying an observable forecasted default rate to the current exposure. Refer to Note 8 for additional fair value information.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value

The following table discloses the estimated fair value for the Company’s financial assets and financial liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                               

 

      
 
Carrying
Value
  
  
    Corresponding Fair Value Amount

2013 (Billions)

         Total        Level 1        Level 2     

Level 3

Financial Assets:

            

Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     $ 28        $ 28      $ 26        $ 2 (a)    $           —

Other financial assets(b)

     $ 48     $ 48      $      $ 48      $           —

Financial assets carried at other than fair value

            

Loans, net

     $ 61     $ 62 (c)    $      $      $           62

Financial Liabilities:

            

Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value

     $ 62     $ 62      $      $ 62      $           —

Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value

            

Certificates of deposit(d)

     $ 9     $ 9      $      $ 9      $           —

Long-term debt

     $ 56     $ 59 (c)    $      $ 59      $           —

 

 

      
 
Carrying
Value
  
  
    Corresponding Fair Value Amount

2012 (Billions)

         Total        Level 1        Level 2     

Level 3

Financial Assets:

            

Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value

            

Cash and cash equivalents

     $ 22     $ 22      $ 21     $ 1 (a)    $           —

Other financial assets(b)

     $ 47     $ 47      $      $ 47      $           —

Financial assets carried at other than fair value

            

Loans, net

     $ 64     $ 65 (c)    $      $      $           65

Financial Liabilities:

            

Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value

     $ 55     $ 55      $      $ 55      $           —

Financial liabilities carried at other than fair value

            

Certificates of deposit(d)

     $ 10     $ 10      $      $ 10      $           —

Long-term debt

     $ 59     $ 62 (c)    $      $ 62      $           —

 

 

  (a)

Reflects time deposits.

 

  (b)

Includes accounts receivables (including fair values of cardmember receivables of $6.9 billion and $8.0 billion held by consolidated variable interest entities (VIEs) as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively), restricted cash and other miscellaneous assets.

 

  (c)

Includes fair values of loans of $29.8 billion and $32.4 billion, and long-term debt of $17.4 billion and $19.5 billion, held by consolidated VIEs as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (d)

Presented as a component of customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The fair values of these financial instruments are estimates based upon the market conditions and perceived risks as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, and require management judgment. These figures may not be indicative of their future fair values. The fair value of the Company cannot be reliably estimated by aggregating the amounts presented.

Valuation Techniques Used in the Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value

For the financial assets and liabilities that are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis (categorized in the valuation hierarchy table above), the Company applies the following valuation techniques to measure fair value:

Financial Assets for Which Carrying Values Equal or Approximate Fair Value

Financial assets for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include cash and cash equivalents, cardmember receivables, accrued interest and certain other assets. For these assets, the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration, have no defined maturity or have a market-based interest rate.

Financial Assets Carried at Other Than Fair Value

Loans

Loans are recorded at historical cost, less reserves, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In estimating the fair value for the Company’s loans the Company uses a discounted cash flow model. Due to the lack of a comparable whole loan sales market for similar credit card receivables and a lack of observable pricing inputs thereof, the Company uses various inputs derived from an equivalent securitization market to estimate fair value. Such inputs include projected income (inclusive of future interest payments and late fee revenue), estimated pay-down rates, discount rates and relevant credit costs.

Financial Liabilities for Which Carrying Values Equal or Approximate Fair Value

Financial liabilities for which carrying values equal or approximate fair value include accrued interest, customer deposits (excluding certificates of deposit, which are described further below), Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products outstanding, accounts payable, short-term borrowings and certain other liabilities for which the carrying values approximate fair value because they are short term in duration, have no defined maturity or have a market-based interest rate.

Financial Liabilities Carried at Other Than Fair Value

Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of deposit (CDs) are recorded at their historical issuance cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Fair value is estimated using a discounted cash flow methodology based on the future cash flows and the discount rate that reflects the Company’s current rates for similar types of CDs within similar markets.

Long-term Debt

Long-term debt is recorded at historical issuance cost on the Consolidated Balance Sheets adjusted for the impact of fair value hedge accounting on certain fixed-rate notes and current translation rates for foreign-denominated debt. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is measured using quoted offer prices when quoted market prices are available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value is determined by discounting the future cash flows of each instrument at rates currently observed in publicly traded debt markets for debt of similar terms and credit risk. For long-term debt, where there are no rates currently observable in publicly traded debt markets of similar terms and comparable credit risk, the

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Company uses market interest rates and adjusts those rates for necessary risks, including its own credit risk. In determining an appropriate spread to reflect its credit standing, the Company considers credit default swap spreads, bond yields of other long-term debt offered by the Company, and interest rates currently offered to the Company for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities.

Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements

The Company did not have any material assets that were measured at fair value for impairment on a nonrecurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or during the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

3. Accounts Receivable and Loans

As described below, the Company’s charge and lending payment card products result in the generation of cardmember receivables and cardmember loans, respectively.

Cardmember and Other Receivables

Cardmember receivables, representing amounts due from charge card product customers, are recorded at the time a cardmember enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant. Each charge card transaction is authorized based on its likely economics reflecting a cardmember’s most recent credit information and spend patterns. Additionally, global spend limits are established to limit the maximum exposure for the Company.

Charge card customers generally must pay the full amount billed each month. Cardmember receivable balances are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of reserves for losses (refer to Note 4), and include principal and any related accrued fees.

Accounts receivable as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consisted of:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

U.S. Card Services(a)

     $ 20,369      $           21,124

International Card Services

       7,115      7,778

Global Commercial Services(b)

       15,704      13,671

Global Network & Merchant Services(c)

       183      193
    

 

 

    

 

Cardmember receivables(d)

       43,371      42,766

Less: Reserve for losses

       410      428
    

 

 

    

 

Cardmember receivables, net

     $ 42,961      $           42,338
    

 

 

    

 

Other receivables, net(e)

     $ 3,143      $             3,576
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes $6.5 billion and $7.5 billion of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (b)

Includes $449 million and $476 million of gross cardmember receivables available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Also includes $896 million and $913 million due from airlines, of which Delta Air Lines (Delta) comprises $645 million and $676 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (c)

Includes receivables primarily related to the Company’s International Currency Card portfolios.

 

  (d)

Includes approximately $13.6 billion and $13.7 billion of cardmember receivables outside the United States as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (e)

Other receivables primarily represent amounts related to (i) purchased joint venture receivables, (ii) certain merchants for billed discount revenue, (iii) the Company’s travel customers and suppliers, and (iv) other receivables due to the Company in the ordinary course of business. Other receivables are presented net of reserves for losses of $86 million as of both March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Cardmember and Other Loans

Cardmember loans, representing amounts due from lending card product customers, are recorded at the time a cardmember enters into a point-of-sale transaction with a merchant or when a charge card customer enters into an extended payment arrangement with the Company. The Company’s lending portfolios primarily include revolving loans to cardmembers obtained through either their credit card accounts or the lending on charge feature of their charge card accounts. These loans have a range of terms such as credit limits, interest rates, fees and payment structures, which can be revised over time based on new information about cardmembers and in accordance with applicable regulations and the respective product’s terms and conditions. Cardmembers holding revolving loans are typically required to make monthly payments based on pre-established amounts. The amounts that cardmembers choose to revolve are subject to finance charges.

Cardmember loans are presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of reserves for losses (refer to Note 4), and include principal, accrued interest and fees receivable. The Company’s policy generally is to cease accruing interest on a cardmember loan at the time the account is written off, and establish reserves for interest that the Company believes will not be collected.

Loans as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 consisted of:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

U.S. Card Services(a)

     $ 53,606      $           55,953

International Card Services

       8,631      9,236

Global Commercial Services

       49      40
    

 

 

    

 

Cardmember loans

       62,286      65,229

Less: Reserve for losses

       1,367      1,471
    

 

 

    

 

Cardmember loans, net

     $ 60,919      $           63,758
    

 

 

    

 

Other loans, net(b)

     $ 541      $                551
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes approximately $30.1 billion and $32.7 billion of gross cardmember loans available to settle obligations of a consolidated VIE as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (b)

Other loans primarily represent loans to merchants and a store card loan portfolio whose billed business is not processed on the Company’s network. Other loans are presented net of reserves for losses of $18 million and $20 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Cardmember Loans and Cardmember Receivables Aging

Generally, a cardmember account is considered past due if payment is not received within 30 days after the billing statement date. The following table represents the aging of cardmember loans and receivables as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                               

 

2013 (Millions)

       Current       
 
 
 
30-59
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
60-89
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
90+
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
 

Total

Cardmember Loans:

            

U.S. Card Services

     $ 52,947     $ 182     $ 143     $ 334     $    53,606

International Card Services

       8,487       50       32       62     8,631

Cardmember Receivables:

            

U.S. Card Services

     $ 19,992     $ 107     $ 83     $ 187     $    20,369

International Card Services(a)

       (b     (b     (b     80     7,115

Global Commercial Services(a)

       (b     (b     (b     111     15,704

 

            

 

2012 (Millions)

       Current       
 
 
 
30-59
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
60-89
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
90+
Days
Past
Due
  
  
  
  
 

Total

Cardmember Loans:

            

U.S. Card Services

     $ 55,281     $ 200     $ 147     $ 325     $    55,953

International Card Services

       9,099       47       30       60     9,236

Cardmember Receivables:

            

U.S. Card Services

     $ 20,748     $ 116     $ 76     $ 184     $    21,124

International Card Services(a)

       (b     (b     (b     74     7,778

Global Commercial Services(a)

       (b     (b     (b     112     13,671

 

 

  (a)

For cardmember receivables in International Card Services (ICS) and Global Commercial Services (GCS), delinquency data is tracked based on days past billing status rather than days past due. A cardmember account is considered 90 days past billing if payment has not been received within 90 days of the cardmember’s billing statement date. In addition, if the Company initiates collection procedures on an account prior to the account becoming 90 days past billing the associated cardmember receivable balance is considered as 90 days past billing. These amounts are shown above as 90+ Days Past Due for presentation purposes.

 

  (b)

Data for periods prior to 90 days past billing are not available due to financial reporting system constraints. Therefore, it has not been relied upon for risk management purposes. The balances that are current to 89 days past due can be derived as the difference between the Total and the 90+ Days Past Due balances.

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Credit Quality Indicators for Cardmember Loans and Receivables

The following tables present the key credit quality indicators as of or for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

       2013       2012
       Net Write-Off Rate       
 
 
 
30 Days
Past Due
as a % of
Total
  
  
  
  
    Net Write-Off Rate     

30 Days Past Due as a % of Total

 

      
 
Principal
Only
(a)
  
  
   
 
 
Principal,
Interest, &
Fees
(a)
  
  
  
     
 
Principal
Only
(a)
  
  
   
 
 
Principal,
Interest, &
Fees
(a)
  
  
  
 

Cardmember Loans:

              

U.S. Card Services

       2.0%        2.2%        1.2%        2.3%        2.6%      1.3%

International Card Services

       1.8%        2.3%        1.7%        2.1%        2.7%      1.8%

Cardmember Receivables:

              

U.S. Card Services

       2.0%        2.2%        1.9%        2.3%        2.5%      1.9%

 

 

                                                                                               

 

       2013       2012

 

      
 
 
 
 
Net Loss
Ratio as
a % of
Charge
Volume
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
90 Days
Past Billing
as a % of
Receivables
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Net Loss
Ratio as
a % of
Charge
Volume
  
  
  
  
  
 

90 Days Past Billing as a % of Receivables

Cardmember Receivables:

          

International Card Services

       0.18%        1.1%        0.15%      1.0%

Global Commercial Services

       0.08%        0.7%        0.08%      0.6%

 

 

  (a)

The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because the Company’s practice is to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.

Refer to Note 4 for additional indicators, including external environmental qualitative factors, management considers in its monthly evaluation process for reserves for losses.

Impaired Cardmember Loans and Receivables

Impaired loans and receivables are defined by GAAP as individual larger balance or homogeneous pools of smaller balance restructured loans and receivables for which it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the original contractual terms of the loan and receivable agreement. The Company considers impaired loans and receivables to include: (i) loans over 90 days past due still accruing interest, (ii) non-accrual loans, and (iii) loans and receivables modified as troubled debt restructurings (TDRs).

The Company may modify, through various company sponsored programs, cardmember loans and receivables in instances where the cardmember is experiencing financial difficulty to minimize losses while providing cardmembers with temporary or permanent financial relief. The Company has classified cardmember loans and receivables in these modification programs as TDRs. Such modifications to the loans and receivables may include (i) reducing the interest rate (as low as zero percent, in which case the loan is characterized as non-accrual in the Company’s TDR disclosures), (ii) reducing the outstanding balance (in the event of a settlement), (iii) suspending delinquency fees until the cardmember exits the modification program and (iv) placing the cardmember on a fixed payment plan not to exceed 60 months. Upon entering the modification program, the cardmember’s ability to make future purchases is either cancelled or in certain cases suspended until the cardmember successfully exits the modification program. In accordance with the modification agreement with the cardmember, loans revert back to the original contractual terms (including the contractual interest rate) when the cardmember exits the modification program, either (i) when all payments have been made in accordance with the modification agreement or (ii) the cardmember defaults out

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

of the modification program. In either case, the Company establishes a reserve for cardmember interest charges considered to be uncollectible.

The performance of a loan or a receivable modified as a TDR is closely monitored to understand its impact on the Company’s reserve for losses. Though the ultimate success of modification programs remains uncertain, the Company believes the programs improve the cumulative loss performance of such loans and receivables.

Reserves for cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs are determined by the difference between the cash flows expected to be received from the cardmember (taking into consideration the probability of subsequent defaults), discounted at the original effective interest rates, and the carrying value of the cardmember loan or receivable balance. The Company determines the original effective interest rate as the interest rate in effect prior to the imposition of any penalty interest rate. All changes in the impairment measurement, including the component due to the passage of time, are included in the provision for losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following table provides additional information with respect to the Company’s impaired cardmember loans and receivables, which are not significant for ICS and GCS, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                                                 

 

2013 (Millions)

      
 
 
 
 
Loans over
90 Days
Past Due
& Accruing
Interest
(a)
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
Non-
Accrual
Loans
(b)
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Loans &
Receivables
Modified
as a TDR
(c)
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Total
Impaired
Loans &
Receivables
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
(d)
  
  
  
 

Allowance

for  TDRs(e)

Cardmember Loans:

              

U.S. Card Services

     $ 84      $ 428      $ 573      $ 1,085     $ 1,032      $            143

International Card Services

       62        4        5        71       70      1

Cardmember Receivables:

              

U.S. Card Services

                     113        113       106      88
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 146      $ 432      $ 691      $ 1,269     $ 1,208      $            232
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

2012 (Millions)

      
 
 
 
 
Loans over
90 Days
Past Due
& Accruing
Interest
(a)
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
Non-
Accrual
Loans
(b)
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Loans &
Receivables
Modified
as a TDR
(c)
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Total
Impaired
Loans &
Receivables
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
(d)
  
  
  
 

Allowance

for TDRs(e)

Cardmember Loans:

              

U.S. Card Services

     $ 73      $ 426      $ 627      $ 1,126     $ 1,073      $            152

International Card Services

       59        5        6        70       69      1

Cardmember Receivables:

              

U.S. Card Services

                     117        117       111      91
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 132      $ 431      $ 750      $ 1,313     $ 1,253      $            244
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

The Company’s policy is generally to accrue interest through the date of write-off (at 180 days past due). The Company establishes reserves for interest that the Company believes will not be collected. Excludes loans modified as a TDR.

 

  (b)

Non-accrual loans not in modification programs include certain cardmember loans placed with outside collection agencies for which the Company has ceased accruing interest. The Company’s policy is generally not to resume the accrual of interest on these loans. Payments received are applied against the recorded loan balance. Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for any payments received after the loan balance has been paid in full. Excludes loans modified as a TDR.

 

  (c)

Total loans and receivables modified as a TDR includes $294 million and $320 million that are non-accrual and $5 million and $6 million that are past due 90 days and still accruing interest as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

 

  (d)

Unpaid principal balance consists of cardmember charges billed and excludes other amounts charged directly by the Company such as interest and fees.

 

  (e)

Represents the reserve for losses for TDRs, which are evaluated individually for impairment. The Company records a reserve for losses for all impaired loans. Refer to Cardmember Loans Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment in Note 4 for further discussion of the reserve for losses on loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest and non-accrual loans, which are evaluated collectively for impairment.

 

15


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The following table provides information with respect to the Company’s interest income recognized and average balances of impaired cardmember loans and receivables, which are not significant for ICS and GCS, during the three months ended March 31:

 

                                                                                           

 

       2013       2012

(Millions)

      
 
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
  
  
  
   
 
Average
Balance
  
  
   
 
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
  
  
  
 

Average Balance

Cardmember Loans:

          

U.S. Card Services

     $ 15     $ 1,105     $ 16     $             1,307

International Card Services

       4       70       4     80

Cardmember Receivables:

          

U.S. Card Services

              115            160
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 19     $ 1,290     $ 20     $             1,547
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

Cardmember Loans and Receivables Modified as TDRs

The following table provides additional information with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs, which are not significant for ICS, during the three months ended March 31:

 

                                                                                                                                         

 

       2013       2012

(Accounts in thousands,

Dollars in millions)

      
 
Number of
Accounts
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Aggregated
Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Balances
(a)
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Aggregated
Post-
Modification
Outstanding
Balances
(a)
  
  
  
  
  
   
 
Number of
Accounts
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Aggregated
Pre-
Modification
Outstanding
Balances
(a)
  
  
  
  
  
 

Aggregated Post- Modification Outstanding Balances(a)

Troubled Debt Restructurings:

              

U.S. Card Services —
Cardmember Loans

       23     $ 172     $ 170       32     $ 229     $                223

U.S. Card Services —
Cardmember Receivables

       8       104       102       11       128     125
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total(b)

       31     $ 276     $ 272       43     $ 357     $                348
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes principal and accrued interest.

 

  (b)

The difference between the pre- and post-modification outstanding balances is attributable to amounts charged off for cardmember loans and receivables being resolved through the Company’s short-term settlement programs.

As described previously, the Company’s cardmember loans and receivables modification programs may include (i) reducing the interest rate, (ii) reducing the outstanding balance, (iii) suspending delinquency fees and (iv) placing the cardmember on a fixed payment plan not exceeding 60 months. Upon entering the modification program, the cardmember’s ability to make future purchases is either cancelled or in certain cases suspended until successfully exiting the modification program.

The Company has evaluated the primary financial effects of the impact of the changes to an account upon modification as follows:

 

   

Interest Rate Reduction: For both the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the average interest rate reduction was 13 percentage points. None of these interest rate reductions had a significant impact on interest on loans in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company does not offer interest rate reduction programs for U.S. Card Services (USCS) cardmember receivables as these receivables are non-interest bearing.

 

   

Outstanding Balance Reduction: The table above presents the financial effects to the Company as a result of reducing the outstanding balance for short-term settlement programs. The difference between the pre- and post-modification outstanding balances represents the amount that either has been written off or will be written off upon successful completion of the settlement program.

 

16


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

   

Payment Term Extension: For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the average payment term extension was approximately 12 months and 15 months, respectively, for USCS cardmember receivables. For USCS cardmember loans, there have been no payment term extensions.

The following table provides information for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, with respect to the cardmember loans and receivables modified as TDRs that subsequently defaulted within 12 months of modification. A cardmember will default from a modification program after one and up to three consecutive missed payments, depending on the terms of the modification program. The defaulted ICS cardmember loan modifications were not significant.

 

                                                                                           

 

       2013       2012

(Accounts in thousands,

Dollars in millions)

      
 
Number of
Accounts
  
  
   
 
 
 
Aggregated
Outstanding
Balances
Upon Default
(a)
  
  
  
  
   
 
Number of
Accounts
  
  
 

Aggregated

Outstanding

Balances

Upon Default(a)

Troubled Debt Restructurings That Subsequently Defaulted:

          

U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Loans

       5     $ 48       9     $                  63

U.S. Card Services — Cardmember Receivables

       1       12       1     12
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

       6     $ 60       10     $                  75
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

The outstanding balance includes principal and accrued interest.

 

4. Reserves for Losses

Reserves for losses relating to cardmember loans and receivables represent management’s best estimate of the probable inherent losses in the Company’s outstanding portfolio of loans and receivables, as of the balance sheet date. Management’s evaluation process requires certain estimates and judgments.

Reserves for losses are primarily based upon statistical models that analyze portfolio performance and reflect management’s judgment regarding the quantitative components of the reserve adequacy. The models take into account several factors, including loss migration rates and average losses and recoveries over an appropriate historical period. Management considers whether to adjust the models for specific qualitative factors such as increased risk in certain portfolios, impact of risk management initiatives on portfolio performance and concentration of credit risk based on factors such as vintage, industry or geographic regions. In addition, management may increase or decrease the reserves for losses on cardmember loans for other external environmental qualitative factors, including various indicators related to employment, spend, sentiment, housing and credit, as well as the legal and regulatory environment. Generally, due to the short-term nature of cardmember receivables, the impact of additional external qualitative factors on the probable losses inherent within the cardmember receivables portfolio is not significant. As part of this evaluation process, management also considers various reserve coverage metrics, such as reserves as a percentage of past due amounts, reserves as a percentage of cardmember receivables or loans and net write-off coverage.

Cardmember loans and receivables balances are written-off when management considers amounts to be uncollectible, which is generally determined by the number of days past due and is typically no later than 180 days past due. Cardmember loans and receivables in bankruptcy or owed by deceased individuals are generally written off upon notification and recoveries are recognized as they are collected.

 

17


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Changes in Cardmember Receivables Reserve for Losses

The following table presents changes in the cardmember receivables reserve for losses for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013    

2012

Balance, January 1

     $ 428     $               438 

Additions:

      

Provisions(a)

       154     149 

Other(b)

       41     29 
    

 

 

   

 

Total provision

       195     178 
    

 

 

   

 

Deductions:

      

Net write-offs(c)

       (178   (182)

Other(d)

       (35   (10)
    

 

 

   

 

Balance, March 31

     $ 410     $               424 
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Provisions for principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components.

 

  (b)

Provisions for unauthorized transactions.

 

  (c)

Consists of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee components, less recoveries of $99 million and $93 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

  (d)

Includes net write-offs resulting from unauthorized transactions of $(40) million and $(33) million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively; foreign currency translation adjustments of $(2) million and $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively; reclassified cardmember bankruptcy reserves of $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 only (cardmember bankruptcy reserves were classified as other liabilities in periods prior to March 31, 2012); and other items of $7 million and $2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Cardmember Receivables Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment

The following table presents cardmember receivables evaluated individually and collectively for impairment and related reserves as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Cardmember receivables evaluated individually for impairment(a)

     $ 113      $                117

Related reserves(a)

     $ 88      $                  91

 

Cardmember receivables evaluated collectively for impairment

     $ 43,258      $           42,649

Related reserves

     $ 322      $                337

 

 

  (a)

Represents receivables modified in a TDR and related reserves. Refer to the Impaired Cardmember Loans and Receivables discussion in Note 3 for further information.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Changes in Cardmember Loans Reserve for Losses

The following table presents changes in the cardmember loans reserve for losses for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013    

2012

Balance, January 1

     $ 1,471     $            1,874 

Additions:

      

Provisions(a)

       243     185 

Other(b)

       32     27 
    

 

 

   

 

Total provision

       275     212 
    

 

 

   

 

Deductions:

      

Net write-offs

      

Principal(c)

       (304   (349)

Interest and fees(c)

       (38   (44)

Other(d)

       (37   (13)
    

 

 

   

 

Balance, March 31

     $ 1,367     $            1,680 
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Provisions for principal (resulting from authorized transactions), interest and fee reserves components.

 

  (b)

Provisions for unauthorized transactions.

 

  (c)

Consists of principal write-offs (resulting from authorized transactions), less recoveries of $114 million and $133 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Recoveries of interest and fees were de minimis.

 

  (d)

Includes net write-offs resulting from unauthorized transactions of $(32) million and $(28) million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively; foreign currency translation adjustments of $(1) million and $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively; reclassified cardmember bankruptcy reserves of $4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 only (cardmember bankruptcy reserves were classified as other liabilities in periods prior to March 31, 2012); and other items of $(4) million and $1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Cardmember Loans Evaluated Individually and Collectively for Impairment

The following table presents cardmember loans evaluated individually and collectively for impairment and related reserves as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Cardmember loans evaluated individually for impairment(a)

     $ 578      $                633

Related reserves(a)

     $ 144      $                153

 

Cardmember loans evaluated collectively for impairment(b)

     $ 61,708      $           64,596

Related reserves(b)

     $ 1,223      $             1,318

 

 

  (a)

Represents loans modified in a TDR and related reserves. Refer to the Impaired Cardmember Loans and Receivables discussion in Note 3 for further information.

 

  (b)

Represents current loans and loans less than 90 days past due, loans over 90 days past due and accruing interest, and non-accrual loans and related reserves. The reserves include the quantitative results of analytical models that are specific to individual pools of loans and reserves for external environmental qualitative factors that apply to loans in geographic markets that are collectively evaluated for impairment and are not specific to any individual pool of loans.

 

19


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

5. Investment Securities

Investment securities include debt and equity securities classified as available for sale. The Company’s investment securities, principally debt securities, are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets with unrealized gains (losses) recorded in AOCI, net of income taxes. Realized gains and losses are recognized in results of operations upon disposition of the securities using the specific identification method on a trade date basis. Refer to Note 2 for a description of the Company’s methodology for determining the fair value of investment securities.

The following is a summary of investment securities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                                                               

 

       2013       2012

Description of Securities (Millions)

       Cost       
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 

 

Estimated
Fair

Value

  
  

  

    Cost       
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
  
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
 

Estimated Fair Value

State and municipal obligations

     $ 4,467     $ 190     $ (5   $ 4,652     $ 4,280     $ 199     $ (5   $      4,474

U.S. Government agency obligations

       3                     3       3                   3

U.S. Government treasury obligations

       330       7              337       330       8            338

Corporate debt securities

       39       5              44       73       6            79

Mortgage-backed securities(a)

       190       12              202       210       14            224

Equity securities(b)

       55       196              251       64       232            296

Foreign government bonds and obligations

       242       11              253       134       15            149

Other(c)

       51                     51       51                   51
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 5,377     $ 421     $ (5   $ 5,793     $ 5,145     $ 474     $ (5   $      5,614
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.

 

  (b)

Primarily represents the Company’s investment in ICBC.

 

  (c)

Other comprises investments in various mutual funds.

The following table provides information about the Company’s investment securities with gross unrealized losses and the length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                                                               

 

       2013       2012
       Less than 12 months        12 months or more        Less than 12 months        12 months or more

Description of Securities (Millions)

      
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
 

Gross Unrealized Losses

State and municipal obligations

     $ 93     $ (2   $ 75     $ (3   $ 100     $ (1   $ 73     $           (4)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 93     $ (2   $ 75     $ (3   $ 100     $ (1   $ 73     $           (4)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

The following table summarizes the gross unrealized losses due to temporary impairments by ratio of fair value to amortized cost as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                                                                               

 

       Less than 12 months        12 months or more        Total

Ratio of Fair Value to

Amortized Cost (Dollars in millions)

      
 
Number of
Securities
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 
Number of
Securities
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
   
 
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
  
  
  
   
 
Number of
Securities
  
  
   
 
Estimated
Fair Value
  
  
 

Gross Unrealized Losses

2013:

                    

90%–100%

       22     $ 93     $ (2     4     $ 75     $ (3     26     $ 168     $           (5)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total as of March 31, 2013

       22     $ 93     $ (2     4     $ 75     $ (3     26     $ 168     $           (5)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

2012:

                    

90%–100%

       46     $ 100     $ (1     4     $ 73     $ (4     50     $ 173     $           (5)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total as of December 31, 2012

       46     $ 100     $ (1     4     $ 73     $ (4     50     $ 173     $           (5)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

The gross unrealized losses are attributed to overall wider credit spreads for state and municipal securities, wider credit spreads for specific issuers, adverse changes in market benchmark interest rates, or a combination thereof, all as compared to those prevailing when the investment securities were acquired.

 

20


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Overall, for the investment securities in gross unrealized loss positions identified above, (i) the Company does not intend to sell the investment securities, (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the investment securities before recovery of the unrealized losses, and (iii) the Company expects that the contractual principal and interest will be received on the investment securities. As a result, the Company recognized no other-than-temporary impairment during the three months ended March 31, 2013 or the year ended December 31, 2012.

Supplemental Information

Gross realized gains on the sales of investment securities, included in other non-interest revenues, were $36 million and $24 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no gross realized losses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

Contractual maturities of investment securities, excluding equity securities and other securities, as of March 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       Cost     

Estimated Fair Value

Due within 1 year

     $ 478      $                479

Due after 1 year but within 5 years

       509      519

Due after 5 years but within 10 years

       175      188

Due after 10 years

       4,109      4,305
    

 

 

    

 

Total

     $ 5,271      $             5,491
    

 

 

    

 

 

The expected payments on state and municipal obligations and mortgage-backed securities may not coincide with their contractual maturities because the issuers have the right to call or prepay certain obligations.

 

6. Asset Securitizations

Charge Trusts and Lending Trust

The Company periodically securitizes cardmember receivables and loans arising from its card business through the transfer of those assets to securitization trusts. The trusts then issue securities to third-party investors, collateralized by the transferred assets.

Cardmember receivables are transferred to the American Express Issuance Trust (the Charge Trust), and the American Express Issuance Trust II (the Charge Trust II) (collectively referred to as the Charge Trusts). Cardmember loans are transferred to the American Express Credit Account Master Trust (the Lending Trust). The Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust are consolidated by American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (TRS), which is a consolidated subsidiary of the Company. The trusts are considered VIEs as they have insufficient equity at risk to finance their activities, which are to issue securities that are collateralized by the underlying cardmember receivables and loans.

 

21


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

TRS, in its role as servicer of the Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust, has the power to direct the most significant activity of the trusts, which is the collection of the underlying cardmember receivables and loans in the trusts. In addition, TRS, excluding its consolidated subsidiaries, owns approximately $0.8 billion of subordinated securities issued by the Lending Trust as of March 31, 2013. These subordinated securities have the obligation to absorb losses of the Lending Trust and provide the right to receive benefits from the Lending Trust, both of which are significant to the VIE. TRS’ role as servicer for the Charge Trusts does not provide it with a significant obligation to absorb losses or a significant right to receive benefits. However, TRS’ position as the parent company of the entities that transferred the receivables to the Charge Trusts makes it the party most closely related to the Charge Trusts. Based on these considerations, TRS is the primary beneficiary of both the Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust.

The debt securities issued by the Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust are non-recourse to the Company. Securitized cardmember receivables and loans held by the Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust are available only for payment of the debt securities or other obligations issued or arising in the securitization transactions. The long-term debt of each trust is payable only out of collections on their respective underlying securitized assets.

There was approximately $1 million and $3 million of restricted cash held by the Charge Trusts as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and approximately $1.1 billion and $73 million of restricted cash held by the Lending Trust as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, included in other assets on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts relate to collections of cardmember receivables and loans to be used by the trusts to fund future expenses and obligations, including interest paid on investor certificates, credit losses and upcoming debt maturities.

Charge Trusts and Lending Trust Triggering Events

Under the respective terms of the Charge Trusts and the Lending Trust agreements, the occurrence of certain triggering events associated with the performance of the assets of each trust could result in payment of trust expenses, establishment of reserve funds, or in a worst-case scenario, early amortization of investor certificates. During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and the year ended December 31, 2012, no such triggering events occurred.

 

22


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

7. Customer Deposits

As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, customer deposits were categorized as interest-bearing or non-interest-bearing, as follows:

 

                                             

 

(Millions) 

       2013     

2012

U.S.: 

       

Interest-bearing 

     $ 40,786      $           39,649

Non-interest-bearing (includes $155 million of cardmember credit balances)(a)

       174      10

Non-U.S.: 

       

Interest-bearing 

       126      135

Non-interest-bearing (includes $206 million of cardmember credit balances)(a)

       215      9
    

 

 

    

 

Total customer deposits 

     $ 41,301      $           39,803
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

  (a)

Beginning the first quarter 2013, the Company reclassified prospectively Cardmember credit balances from Cardmember loans, Cardmember receivables and Other liabilities to Customer deposits.

Customer deposits by deposit type, as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 were as follows:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

     2013     

2012

U.S. retail deposits:

     

Savings accounts – Direct

   $ 21,150      $           18,713

Certificates of deposit:

     

Direct

     722      725

Third-party

     8,280      8,851

Sweep accounts – Third-party

     10,634      11,360

Other retail deposits:

     

Non-U.S. deposits and U.S. non-interest bearing

     154      154

Cardmember credit balances – U.S. and non-U.S.

     361     
  

 

 

    

 

Total customer deposits

   $ 41,301      $           39,803
  

 

 

    

 

 

The scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit as of March 31, 2013 were as follows:

 

                                                                    

 

(Millions)

       U.S.        Non-U.S.     

Total

2013

     $ 4,128     $ 1     $             4,129

2014

       2,637       1     2,638

2015

       727            727

2016

       902            902

2017

       382            382

After 5 years

       226            226
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 9,002     $ 2     $             9,004
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more were as follows:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

U.S.

     $ 476      $               475

Non-U.S.

       1      1
    

 

 

    

 

Total

     $ 477      $               476
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

23


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

8. Derivatives and Hedging Activities

The Company uses derivative financial instruments (derivatives) to manage exposures to various market risks. Derivatives derive their value from an underlying variable or multiple variables, including interest rate, foreign exchange, and equity index or price. These instruments enable end users to increase, reduce or alter exposure to various market risks and, for that reason, are an integral component of the Company’s market risk management. The Company does not engage in derivatives for trading purposes.

Market risk is the risk to earnings or value resulting from movements in market prices. The Company’s market risk exposure is primarily generated by:

 

   

Interest rate risk in its card, insurance and Travelers Cheque businesses, as well as its investment portfolios; and

 

   

Foreign exchange risk in its operations outside the United States and the associated funding of such operations.

The Company centrally monitors market risks using market risk limits and escalation triggers as defined in its Asset/Liability Management Policy.

The Company’s market exposures are in large part byproducts of the delivery of its products and services. Interest rate risk arises through the funding of cardmember receivables and fixed-rate loans with variable-rate borrowings as well as through the risk to net interest margin from changes in the relationship between benchmark rates such as Prime and LIBOR.

Interest rate exposure within the Company’s charge card and fixed-rate lending products is managed by varying the proportion of total funding provided by short-term and variable-rate debt and deposits compared to fixed-rate debt and deposits. In addition, interest rate swaps are used from time to time to economically convert fixed-rate debt obligations to variable-rate obligations or to convert variable-rate debt obligations to fixed-rate obligations. The Company may change the mix between variable-rate and fixed-rate funding based on changes in business volumes and mix, among other factors.

Foreign exchange risk is generated by cardmember cross-currency charges, foreign currency balance sheet exposures, foreign subsidiary equity and foreign currency earnings in entities outside the United States. The Company’s foreign exchange risk is managed primarily by entering into agreements to buy and sell currencies on a spot basis or by hedging this market exposure to the extent it is economically justified through various means, including the use of derivatives such as foreign exchange forwards and cross-currency swap contracts, which can help mitigate the Company’s exposure to specific currencies.

In addition to the exposures identified above, effective August 1, 2011, the Company entered into a total return contract (TRC) to hedge its exposure to changes in the fair value of its equity investment in ICBC in local currency. Under the terms of the TRC, the Company receives from the TRC counterparty an amount equivalent to any reduction in the fair value of its investment in ICBC in local currency, and in return the Company pays to the TRC counterparty an amount equivalent to any increase in the fair value of its investment in local currency, along with all dividends paid by ICBC, as well as ongoing hedge costs. The TRC matures on August 1, 2014.

Derivatives may give rise to counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that a derivative counterparty will default on, or otherwise be unable to perform pursuant to, an uncollateralized derivative exposure. The Company manages this risk by considering the current exposure, which is the replacement cost of contracts on the measurement date, as well as estimating the maximum potential value of the contracts over the next 12 months, considering such factors as the volatility of the underlying or reference index. To mitigate derivative credit risk, counterparties are required to be pre-approved by the Company and rated as investment grade. Counterparty risk exposures are centrally monitored by the Company. Additionally, in order to mitigate the bilateral

 

24


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives, the Company has in certain instances entered into master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties, which provide a right of offset for certain exposures between the parties. A significant portion of the Company’s derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 is subject to such master netting agreements with its derivative counterparties. In addition, the Company has no derivative amounts subject to enforceable master netting arrangements that are not offset on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. To further mitigate bilateral counterparty credit risk, the Company exercises its rights under executed credit support agreements with certain of its derivative counterparties. These agreements require that, in the event the fair value change in the net derivatives position between the two parties exceeds certain dollar thresholds, the party in the net liability position posts collateral to its counterparty.

In relation to the Company’s credit risk, under the terms of the derivative agreements it has with its various counterparties, the Company is not required to either immediately settle any outstanding liability balances or post collateral upon the occurrence of a specified credit risk-related event. Based on the assessment of credit risk of the Company’s derivative counterparties as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company does not have derivative positions that warrant credit valuation adjustments.

The Company’s derivatives are carried at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The accounting for changes in fair value depends on the instruments’ intended use and the resulting hedge designation, if any, as discussed below. Refer to Note 2 for a description of the Company’s methodology for determining the fair value of derivatives.

The following table summarizes the total fair value, excluding interest accruals, of derivative assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                           

 

      
 
Other Assets
Fair Value
 
  
   
 
Other Liabilities
Fair Value

(Millions)

       2013       2012       2013    

2012

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

          

Interest rate contracts

          

Fair value hedges

     $ 718     $ 824     $      $                 — 

Total return contract

          

Fair value hedge

       4                   19 

Foreign exchange contracts

          

Net investment hedges

       81       43       153     150 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments

     $ 803     $ 867     $ 153     $               169 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

          

Interest rate contracts

     $      $      $      $                 — 

Foreign exchange contracts, including certain embedded derivatives(a)

       155       75       76     158 

Equity-linked embedded derivative(b)

                     1    
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

       155       75       77     160 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total derivatives, gross

     $ 958     $ 942     $ 230     $               329 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Cash collateral netting(c)

       (524     (326          (21)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Derivative asset and derivative liability netting(d)

       (31     (23     (31   (23)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total derivatives, net(e)

     $ 403     $ 593     $ 199     $               285 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes foreign currency derivatives embedded in certain operating agreements.

 

  (b)

Represents an equity-linked derivative embedded in one of the Company’s investment securities.

 

  (c)

Represents the offsetting of derivative instruments and the right to reclaim cash collateral (a receivable) or the obligation to return cash collateral (a payable) arising from derivative instrument(s) executed with the same counterparty under an enforceable master netting arrangement. Additionally, the Company received noncash collateral in the form of security interest in U.S. Treasury securities with a fair value of nil and $335 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, none of which was sold or repledged. Such noncash collateral effectively further reduces the Company’s risk exposure to $403 million and $258 million as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, but does not reduce the net exposure on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

  (d)

Represents the amount of netting of derivative assets and derivative liabilities executed with the same counterparty under an enforceable master netting arrangement.

 

  (e)

The Company has no individually significant derivative counterparties and therefore, no significant risk exposure to any single derivative counterparty. The total net derivative assets and derivative liabilities are presented within other assets and other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

25


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Derivative Financial Instruments that Qualify for Hedge Accounting

Derivatives executed for hedge accounting purposes are documented and designated as such when the Company enters into the contracts. In accordance with its risk management policies, the Company structures its hedges with terms similar to that of the item being hedged. The Company formally assesses, at inception of the hedge accounting relationship and on a quarterly basis, whether derivatives designated as hedges are highly effective in offsetting the fair value or cash flows of the hedged items. These assessments usually are made through the application of a regression analysis method. If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge, the Company will discontinue the application of hedge accounting.

Fair Value Hedges

A fair value hedge involves a derivative designated to hedge the Company’s exposure to future changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability, or an identified portion thereof that is attributable to a particular risk.

Interest Rate Contracts

The Company is exposed to interest rate risk associated with its fixed-rate long-term debt. The Company uses interest rate swaps to economically convert certain fixed-rate long-term debt obligations to floating-rate obligations at the time of issuance. As of both March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company hedged $18.4 billion of its fixed-rate debt to floating-rate debt using interest rate swaps.

To the extent the fair value hedge is effective, the gain or loss on the hedging instrument offsets the loss or gain on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Any difference between the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item is referred to as hedge ineffectiveness and is reflected in earnings as a component of other expenses. Hedge ineffectiveness may be caused by differences between the debt’s interest coupon and the benchmark rate, primarily due to credit spreads at inception of the hedging relationship that are not reflected in the valuation of the interest rate swap. Furthermore, hedge ineffectiveness may be caused by changes in the relationship between 3-month LIBOR and 1-month LIBOR, as well as between the overnight indexed swap (OIS) and 1-month LIBOR, as basis spreads may impact the valuation of the interest rate swap without causing an offsetting impact in the value of the hedged debt. If a fair value hedge is de-designated or no longer considered to be effective, changes in fair value of the derivative continue to be recorded through earnings but the hedged asset or liability is no longer adjusted for changes in fair value resulting from changes in interest rates. The existing basis adjustment of the hedged asset or liability is amortized or accreted as an adjustment to yield over the remaining life of that asset or liability.

Total Return Contract

The Company hedges its exposure to changes in the fair value of its equity investment in ICBC in local currency. The Company uses a TRC to transfer this exposure to its derivative counterparty. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the fair value of the equity investment in ICBC was $250 million (357.1 million shares) and $295 million (415.9 million shares), respectively. To the extent the hedge is effective, the gain or loss on the TRC offsets the loss or gain on the investment in ICBC. Any difference between the changes in the fair value of the derivative and the hedged item results in hedge ineffectiveness and is recognized in other expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

 

26


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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

The following table summarizes the impact on the Consolidated Statements of Income associated with the Company’s hedges of its fixed-rate long-term debt and its investment in ICBC for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                                                                               

 

    

Gains (losses) recognized in income

(Millions)

    

Derivative contract

  

 

Hedged item

  

   

 

Net hedge

ineffectiveness

Derivative

relationship

    

Income Statement

Line Item

       Amount     

Income Statement

Line Item

       Amount     
            2013       2012            2013       2012       2013    

2012

Interest rate contracts

    

Other, net expenses

     $ (104   $ (83  

Other, net expenses

     $ 110     $ 69     $ 6     $      (14)

Total return contract

    

Other non-interest revenues

       4       (32  

Other non-interest revenues

       (4     32            — 

 

The Company also recognized a net reduction in interest expense on long-term debt of $112 million and $122 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, primarily related to the net settlements (interest accruals) on the Company’s interest rate derivatives designated as fair value hedges.

Cash Flow Hedges

A cash flow hedge involves a derivative designated to hedge the Company’s exposure to variable future cash flows attributable to a particular risk. Such exposures may relate to either an existing recognized asset or liability or a forecasted transaction. The Company hedges existing long-term variable-rate debt, the rollover of short-term borrowings and the anticipated forecasted issuance of additional funding through the use of derivatives, primarily interest rate swaps. These derivative instruments economically convert floating-rate debt obligations to fixed-rate obligations for the duration of the instrument. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the Company did not hedge any of its floating-rate debt using interest rate swaps.

For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivatives is recorded in AOCI and reclassified into earnings when the hedged cash flows are recognized in earnings. The amount that is reclassified into earnings is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the same line item in which the hedged instrument or transaction is recognized, primarily in interest expense. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss on the derivatives is reported as a component of other expenses. If a cash flow hedge is de-designated or terminated prior to maturity, the amount previously recorded in AOCI is recognized into earnings over the period that the hedged item impacts earnings. If a hedge relationship is discontinued because it is probable that the forecasted transaction will not occur according to the original strategy, any related amounts previously recorded in AOCI are recognized into earnings immediately.

In the normal course of business, as the hedged cash flows are recognized into earnings, the Company does not expect to reclassify any amount of net pretax losses on derivatives from AOCI into earnings during the next 12 months.

Net Investment Hedges

A net investment hedge is used to hedge future changes in currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. The Company primarily designates foreign currency derivatives, typically foreign exchange forwards, and on occasion foreign currency denominated debt, as hedges of net investments in certain foreign operations. These instruments reduce exposure to changes in currency exchange rates on the Company’s investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries. The effective portion of the gain or (loss) on net investment hedges, net of taxes, recorded in AOCI as part of the cumulative translation adjustment was $23 million and $(250) million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Any ineffective portion of the gain or (loss) on net investment hedges is recognized in other expenses during the period of change. No ineffectiveness or other amounts were reclassified from AOCI into income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 or 2012.

 

27


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges

The Company has derivatives that act as economic hedges, but are not designated as such for hedge accounting purposes. Foreign currency transactions and non-U.S. dollar cash flow exposures from time to time may be partially or fully economically hedged through foreign currency contracts, primarily foreign exchange forwards, options and cross-currency swaps. These hedges generally mature within one year. Foreign currency contracts involve the purchase and sale of a designated currency at an agreed upon rate for settlement on a specified date. The changes in the fair value of the derivatives effectively offset the related foreign exchange gains or losses on the underlying balance sheet exposures. From time to time, the Company may enter into interest rate swaps to specifically manage funding costs related to its proprietary card business.

The Company has certain operating agreements containing payments that may be linked to a market rate or price, primarily foreign currency rates. The payment components of these agreements may meet the definition of an embedded derivative, in which case the embedded derivative is accounted for separately and is classified as a foreign exchange contract based on its primary risk exposure. In addition, the Company holds an investment security containing an embedded equity-linked derivative.

For derivatives that are not designated as hedges, changes in fair value are reported in current period earnings.

The following table summarizes the impact on pretax earnings of derivatives not designated as hedges, as reported on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                                                    

 

    

Pretax gains (losses)

            Amount

Description (Millions)

    

Income Statement Line Item

       2013    

2012

Interest rate contracts

     Other, net expenses      $      $                  (1)

Foreign exchange contracts(a)

     Other non-interest revenues                    1     — 
     Other, net expenses        170     (102)

Equity-linked contract

     Other non-interest revenues        1    
         

 

 

   

 

Total

          $ 172     $              (102)
         

 

 

   

 

                       

 

  (a)

Foreign exchange contracts include embedded foreign currency derivatives. Gains (losses) on these embedded derivatives are included in other expenses.

 

28


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

9. Guarantees

The Company provides cardmember protection plans that cover losses associated with purchased products, as well as certain other guarantees in the ordinary course of business which are within the scope of GAAP governing the accounting for guarantees.

In relation to its maximum potential undiscounted future payments as shown in the table that follows, to date the Company has not experienced any significant losses related to guarantees. The Company’s initial recognition of guarantees is at fair value, which has been determined in accordance with GAAP governing fair value measurement. In addition, the Company establishes reserves when a loss is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

The following table provides information related to such guarantees as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012:

 

                                                                                           

 

      
 
 
 
Maximum potential
undiscounted future
payments
(a)
(Billions)
  
  
  
  
   
 
Related liability(b)
(Millions)

Type of Guarantee

       2013       2012       2013    

2012

Card and travel operations(c)

     $ 42     $ 44     $ 91     $                  93

Other(d)

       1       1       92     93
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 43     $ 45     $ 183     $                186
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Represents the notional amounts that could be lost under the guarantees and indemnifications if there were a total default by the guaranteed parties. The Merchant Protection guarantee is calculated using management’s best estimate of maximum exposure based on all eligible claims as measured against annual billed business volumes. The Company mitigates this risk by withholding settlement from the merchant or obtaining deposits and other guarantees from merchants considered higher risk due to various factors. The amounts being held by the Company are not significant when compared to the maximum potential undiscounted future payments.

 

  (b)

Included as part of other liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

  (c)

Includes Return Protection, Account Protection and Merchant Protection.

 

  (d)

Primarily includes guarantees related to the Company’s business dispositions and real estate.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

10. Changes In Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

AOCI is a balance sheet item in the Shareholders’ Equity section of the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. It is comprised of items that have not been recognized in earnings but may be recognized in earnings in the future when certain events occur. Changes in each component of AOCI for the three months ended March 31 were as follows:

 

                                                                                                                                                

 

2013 (Millions), net of tax

      
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment
Securities
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow
Hedges
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Benefit Losses
  
  
  
  
  
 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Balances as of December 31, 2012

     $ 315     $      $ (754   $ (488   $                  (927)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

       (12         (12)

Reclassification for realized (gains) losses into earnings

       (23         (23)

Net translation of investments in foreign operations

           11       11 

Net losses related to hedges of investment in foreign operations

           (56     (56)

Pension and other postretirement benefit losses

             27     27 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Net change in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

       (35            (45     27     (53)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Balances as of March 31, 2013

     $ 280     $      $ (799   $ (461   $                 (980)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                

 

2012 (Millions), net of tax

      
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investment
Securities
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Cash Flow
Hedges
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
Net Unrealized
Pension and
Other
Postretirement
Benefit Losses
  
  
  
  
  
 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

Balances as of December 31, 2011

     $ 288     $ (1   $ (682   $ (481   $                  (876)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

       34           34 

Reclassification for realized (gains) losses into earnings

       (14     1         (13)

Net translation of investments in foreign operations

           322       322 

Net losses related to hedges of investment in foreign operations

           (250     (250)

Pension and other postretirement benefit losses

             6    
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Net change in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

       20       1       72       6     99 
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Balances as of March 31, 2012

     $ 308     $      $ (610   $ (475   $                  (777)
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

The following table presents the effects of reclassifications out of AOCI and into the Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended March 31, 2013:

 

                                                         

 

Description (Millions)

       Income Statement Line Item             

Amount

Net gain in AOCI reclassifications for previously unrealized net gains on investment securities

       Other non-interest revenues      $                   (36)

Related income tax expense

       Income tax provision      13 
      

 

Total

       $                   (23)
      

 

 

 

30


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

11. Income Taxes

The Company is under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax authorities in other countries and states in which the Company has significant business operations. The tax years under examination and open for examination vary by jurisdiction. The IRS has completed its field examination of the Company’s federal tax returns for years through 2004; however, refund claims for those years continue to be reviewed by the IRS. In addition, the Company is currently under examination by the IRS for the years 2005 through 2007.

The Company believes it is reasonably possible that its unrecognized tax benefits could decrease within the next 12 months by as much as $886 million principally as a result of potential resolutions of prior years’ tax items with various taxing authorities. The prior years’ tax items include unrecognized tax benefits relating to the deductibility of certain expenses or losses and the attribution of taxable income to a particular jurisdiction or jurisdictions. Of the $886 million of unrecognized tax benefits, approximately $682 million relates to amounts that if recognized would be recorded to shareholders’ equity and would not impact the effective tax rate. With respect to the remaining $204 million, it is not possible to quantify the impact that the decrease could have on the effective tax rate and net income due to the inherent complexities and the number of tax years open for examination in multiple jurisdictions. Resolution of the prior years’ items that comprise this remaining amount could have an impact on the effective tax rate and on net income, either favorably (principally as a result of settlements that are less than the liability for unrecognized tax benefits) or unfavorably (if such settlements exceed the liability for unrecognized tax benefits).

The effective tax rate from continuing operations was 32.9 percent and 29.2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2012 includes a $50 million tax benefit related to the realization of certain foreign tax credits.

In addition, the tax rates for both periods reflect the level of pretax income in relation to a generally consistent level of recurring permanent tax benefits and geographic mix of business.

 

12. Earnings Per Common Share (EPS)

The computations of basic and diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31 were as follows:

 

                                             

 

(Millions, except per share amounts)

       2013    

2012

Numerator:

      

Basic and diluted:

      

Net income

     $ 1,280     $            1,256 

Earnings allocated to participating share awards(a)

       (11   (14)
    

 

 

   

 

Net income attributable to common shareholders

     $ 1,269     $            1,242 
    

 

 

   

 

Denominator:(a)

      

Basic: Weighted-average common stock

       1,099     1,160 

Add: Weighted-average stock options(b)

       7    
    

 

 

   

 

Diluted

       1,106     1,166 
    

 

 

   

 

Basic EPS

     $ 1.15     $              1.07 

Diluted EPS

     $ 1.15     $              1.07 
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards, which include the right to receive non-forfeitable dividends or dividend equivalents, are considered participating securities. Calculations of EPS under the two-class method exclude from the numerator any dividends paid or owed on participating securities and any undistributed earnings considered to be attributable to participating securities. The related participating securities are similarly excluded from the denominator.

 

  (b)

For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the dilutive effect of unexercised stock options excludes 1 million and 8 million options, respectively, from the computation of EPS because inclusion of the options would have been anti-dilutive.

 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company met specified performance measures related to the Subordinated Debentures of $750 million issued in 2006, which resulted in no impact to EPS. If the performance measures were not achieved in any given quarter, the Company would be required to issue common shares and apply the proceeds to make interest payments.

 

13. Details of Certain Consolidated Statements of Income Lines

The following is a detail of other commissions and fees for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Foreign currency conversion revenue

     $ 210      $                207

Delinquency fees

       164      162

Service fees

       82      93

Other

       117      121
    

 

 

    

 

Total other commissions and fees

     $ 573      $                583
    

 

 

    

 

 

The following is a detail of other revenues for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Global Network Services partner revenues

     $ 144      $                151

Net gain on investment securities

       36      24

Other

       357      378
    

 

 

    

 

Total other revenues

     $ 537      $                553
    

 

 

    

 

 

Other revenues include revenues arising from contracts with Global Network Services (GNS) partners including royalties and signing fees, insurance premiums earned from cardmember travel and other insurance programs, Travelers Cheques-related revenues, publishing revenues and other miscellaneous revenue and fees.

The following is a detail of marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Marketing and promotion

     $ 621      $                631

Cardmember rewards

       1,520      1,467

Cardmember services

       189      194
    

 

 

    

 

Total marketing, promotion, rewards and cardmember services

     $ 2,330      $             2,292
    

 

 

    

 

 

Marketing and promotion expense includes advertising costs, which are expensed in the year in which the advertising first takes place. Cardmember rewards expense includes the costs of rewards programs, including Membership Rewards and co-brand arrangements. Cardmember services expense includes protection plans and complimentary services provided to cardmembers.

The following is a detail of other, net for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013     

2012

Professional services

     $ 716      $                691

Occupancy and equipment

       472      438

Communications

       96      96

Other

       246      250
    

 

 

    

 

Total other, net

     $ 1,530      $             1,475
    

 

 

    

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

Other expense includes general operating expenses, gains (losses) on sale of assets or businesses not classified as discontinued operations, litigation, internal and regulatory review-related reimbursements and insurance costs or settlements, investment impairments and certain Loyalty Partner expenses.

 

14. Contingencies

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in a number of legal proceedings concerning matters arising out of the conduct of their respective business activities and are periodically subject to governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, subpoenas, inquiries and investigations (collectively, governmental examinations). As of March 31, 2013, the Company and various of its subsidiaries were named as a defendant or were otherwise involved in numerous legal proceedings and governmental examinations in various jurisdictions, both in and outside the United States. The Company discloses its material legal proceedings and governmental examinations under Item 1. Legal Proceedings in Part II. Other Information, and under “Legal Proceedings” in the 2012 Form 10-K (collectively, Legal Proceedings).

The Company has recorded liabilities for certain of its outstanding legal proceedings and governmental examinations. A liability is accrued when it is both (a) probable that a loss has occurred and (b) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. As discussed below, there may be instances in which an exposure to loss exceeds the accrued liability. The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and governmental examinations that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that has been previously accrued or a revision to the disclosed estimated range of possible losses, as applicable.

The Company’s legal proceedings range from cases brought by a single plaintiff to class actions with hundreds of thousands of putative class members. These legal proceedings, as well as governmental examinations, involve various lines of business of the Company and a variety of claims (including, but not limited to, common law tort, contract, antitrust and consumer protection claims), some of which present novel factual allegations and/or unique legal theories. While some matters pending against the Company specify the damages claimed by the plaintiff, many seek a not-yet-quantified amount of damages or are at very early stages of the legal process. Even when the amount of damages claimed against the Company are stated, the claimed amount may be exaggerated and/or unsupported. As a result, some matters have not yet progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues to enable the Company to estimate a range of possible loss.

Other matters have progressed sufficiently through discovery and/or development of important factual information and legal issues so that the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss. Accordingly, for those legal proceedings and governmental examinations disclosed or referred to in Legal Proceedings where a loss is reasonably possible in future periods, whether in excess of a related accrued liability or where there is no accrued liability, and for which the Company is able to estimate a range of possible loss, the current estimated range is zero to $440 million in excess of any accrued liability related to those matters. This aggregate range represents management’s estimate of possible loss with respect to these matters and is based on currently available information. This estimated range of possible loss does not represent the Company’s maximum loss exposure. The legal proceedings and governmental examinations underlying the estimated range will change from time to time and actual results may vary significantly from current estimates.

Based on its current knowledge, and taking into consideration its litigation-related liabilities, the Company believes it is not a party to, nor are any of its properties the subject of, any pending legal proceeding or governmental examination that would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or liquidity. However, in light of the uncertainties involved in such matters, the ultimate

 

33


Table of Contents

AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

outcome of a particular matter could be material to the Company’s operating results for a particular period depending on, among other factors, the size of the loss or liability imposed and the level of the Company’s earnings for that period.

 

15. Reportable Operating Segments

The Company is a leading global payments and travel company that is principally engaged in businesses comprising four reportable operating segments: USCS, ICS, GCS and GNMS. Corporate functions and auxiliary businesses, including the Company’s publishing business, the Enterprise Growth Group (including Global Payment Options), as well as other Company operations are included in Corporate & Other.

The following table presents certain selected financial information for the three months ended March 31:

 

                                             

 

(Millions)

       2013    

2012

Non-interest revenues:

      

USCS

     $ 2,878     $            2,754 

ICS

       1,124     1,106 

GCS

       1,220     1,216 

GNMS

       1,234     1,186 

Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)

       182     192 
    

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 6,638     $            6,454 
    

 

 

   

 

Interest income:

      

USCS

     $ 1,386     $            1,314 

ICS

       290     293 

GCS

       3    

GNMS

       7    

Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)

       76     93 
    

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 1,762     $            1,707 
    

 

 

   

 

Interest expense:

      

USCS

     $ 182     $               184 

ICS

       97     100 

GCS

       60     62 

GNMS

       (62   (58)

Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)

       242     286 
    

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 519     $               574 
    

 

 

   

 

Total revenues net of interest expense:

      

USCS

     $ 4,082     $            3,884 

ICS

       1,317     1,299 

GCS

       1,163     1,157 

GNMS

       1,303     1,248 

Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)

       16     (1)
    

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 7,881     $            7,587 
    

 

 

   

 

Net income:

      

USCS

     $ 804     $               752 

ICS

       178     197 

GCS

       191     177 

GNMS

       373     357 

Corporate & Other, including adjustments and eliminations(a)

       (266   (227)
    

 

 

   

 

Total

     $ 1,280     $            1,256 
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

  (a)

Corporate & Other includes adjustments and eliminations for intersegment activity.

 

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Table of Contents
  ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Introduction

American Express Company (the Company) is a global services company that provides customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. The Company’s principal products and services are charge and credit payment card products and travel-related services offered to consumers and businesses around the world. The Company’s range of products and services include:

 

   

charge and credit card products;

 

   

expense management products and services;

 

   

consumer and business travel services;

 

   

stored-value products such as Travelers Cheques and other prepaid products;

 

   

network services;

 

   

merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, and point-of-sale, marketing and information products and services for merchants; and

 

   

fee services, including fraud prevention services and the design of customized customer loyalty and rewards programs.

The Company’s products and services are sold globally to diverse customer groups, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations. These products and services are sold through various channels, including direct mail, online applications, in-house and third-party sales forces and direct response advertising.

The Company competes in the global payments industry with charge, credit and debit card networks, issuers and acquirers, as well as evolving alternative payment mechanisms, systems and products. As the payments industry continues to evolve, the Company is facing increasing competition from non-traditional players, such as online networks, telecom providers and software-as-a-service providers, that leverage new technologies and customers’ existing charge and credit card accounts and bank relationships to create payment or other fee-based solutions. The Company is transforming its existing businesses and creating new products and services for the digital marketplace as the Company seeks to increase its share of online spend, enhance customers’ digital experiences and develop platforms for online and mobile commerce.

The Company’s products and services generate the following types of revenue for the Company:

 

   

Discount revenue, which is the Company’s largest revenue source, represents fees generally charged to merchants when cardmembers use their cards to purchase goods and services at merchants on the Company’s network;

 

   

Net card fees, which represent revenue earned for annual card membership fees;

 

   

Travel commissions and fees, which are earned by charging a transaction or management fee for airline or other travel-related transactions;

 

   

Other commissions and fees, which are earned on foreign exchange conversions and card-related fees and assessments;

 

   

Other revenue, which represents insurance premiums earned from cardmember travel and other insurance programs, revenues arising from contracts with partners of our Global Network Services (GNS) business (including royalties and signing fees), publishing revenues and other miscellaneous revenue and fees; and

 

   

Interest on loans, which principally represents interest income earned on outstanding balances.

 

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In addition to funding and operating costs associated with these types of revenue, other major expense categories are related to marketing and reward programs that add new cardmembers and promote cardmember loyalty and spending, and provisions for cardmember credit and fraud losses.

Financial Targets

The Company seeks to achieve three financial targets, on average and over time:

 

   

Revenues net of interest expense growth of at least 8 percent;

 

   

Earnings per share (EPS) growth of 12 to 15 percent; and

 

   

Return on average equity (ROE) of 25 percent or more.

If the Company achieves its EPS and ROE targets, it will seek to return on average and over time approximately 50 percent of the capital it generates to shareholders as dividends or through the repurchases of common stock, which may be subject to certain regulatory restrictions as described herein.

Forward-Looking Statements and Non-GAAP Measures

Certain of the statements in this Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Refer to the “Forward-Looking Statements” section below. In addition, certain information included within this Form 10-Q constitute non-GAAP financial measures. The Company’s calculations of non-GAAP financial measures may differ from the calculations of similarly titled measures by other companies.

Bank Holding Company

The Company is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and the Federal Reserve Board (Federal Reserve) is the Company’s primary federal regulator. As such, the Company is subject to the Federal Reserve’s regulations, policies and minimum capital standards.

Current Economic Environment/Outlook

The Company’s results for first quarter of 2013 reflect healthy spending growth and strong credit performance in both the United States and internationally. The rate of spending growth was consistent with last quarter, however it was slower than in the first quarter of the prior year, reflecting in part the impact of a continuing slow growth economic environment. The Company also saw its average loans continue to grow modestly year over year, which, along with a higher net yield and a lower cost of funds related to the charge card portfolio, led to a 10 percent increase in net interest income. At the same time, lending loss rates remain near all-time lows.

The positive impacts of billings and loan growth were partially offset by lower lending reserve releases this year as compared to the prior year. In the first quarter, operating expenses grew by 1 percent as compared to the prior year. The Company’s aim is to have operating expenses grow at an annual rate of less than 3 percent over the next two years, with the 2012 operating expenses, excluding the restructuring charge taken in the fourth quarter of 2012, as the base.

The Company continues to invest in growth opportunities in the United States and internationally. For the first quarter of 2013, marketing and promotion expense was approximately 7.9 percent of revenues. The Company continues to aim to keep this ratio at approximately 9 percent for the full year.

As discussed below within Certain Legislative, Regulatory and Other Developments, the regulatory environment continues to evolve and has heightened the focus that all financial companies, including the Company, must have on their controls and processes. The review of products and practices will be a continuing focus of the Company, as well as by regulators.

 

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Competition remains extremely intense across the Company’s businesses. In addition, the global economic environment remains sluggish. While the Company’s business is diversified, including the corporate card business, a large international business and GNS partners around the world, any impact of potential U.S. income tax law changes and continued budget and debt ceiling discussions in Washington remains uncertain. In addition, the current instability in Europe could further adversely affect global economic conditions, including continued pressure on consumer and corporate confidence and spending. Europe accounted for approximately 11 percent of the Company’s total billed business for the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

American Express Company

Selected Statistical Information

Refer to the “Glossary of Selected Terminology” for the definitions of certain key terms and related information appearing within this section.

 

                                         

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

       2013       2012    

 Change

Card billed business: (billions)

        

United States

     $ 150.0     $ 139.6     7%

Outside the United States

       74.5       71.6     4%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

     $ 224.5     $ 211.2     6%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total cards-in-force: (millions)

        

United States

       52.1       50.9     2%

Outside the United States

       51.1       47.8     7%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

       103.2       98.7     5%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Basic cards-in-force: (millions)

        

United States

       40.5       39.6     2%

Outside the United States

       41.1       38.2     8%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total

       81.6       77.8     5%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Average discount rate

       2.52     2.53  

Average basic cardmember spending (dollars)(a)

     $ 3,905     $ 3,772     4%

Average fee per card (dollars)(a)

     $ 40     $ 38     5%

Average fee per card adjusted (dollars)(a)

     $ 44     $ 42     5%

 

 

  (a)

Average basic cardmember spending and average fee per card are computed from proprietary card activities only. Average fee per card is computed based on net card fees, including the amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs divided by average worldwide proprietary cards-in-force. The adjusted average fee per card, which is a non-GAAP measure, is computed in the same manner, but excludes amortization of deferred direct acquisition costs. The amount of amortization excluded was $65 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company presents adjusted average fee per card because the Company believes this metric presents a useful indicator of card fee pricing across a range of its proprietary card products.

 

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American Express Company

Selected Statistical Information

(continued)

 

                                   

 

As of or for the Three Months Ended March 31,

(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)

       2013       2012    

 Change

Worldwide cardmember receivables

        

Total receivables (billions)

     $ 43.4     $ 41.5        5 %

Loss reserves

        

Beginning balance

     $ 428     $ 438       (2)%

Provisions(a)

       154       149        3 %

Other additions(b)

       41       29      41 %

Net write-offs(c)

       (178     (182     (2)%

Other deductions(d)

       (35     (10  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Ending balance

     $ 410     $ 424       (3)%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

% of receivables

       0.9     1.0  

Net write-off rate — principal — USCS(e)

       2.0     2.3  

Net write-off rate — principal and fees — USCS(e)

       2.2     2.5  

30 days past due as a % of total — USCS

       1.9     1.9  

Net loss ratio as a % of charge volume — ICS/GCS

       0.12     0.11  

90 days past billing as a % of total — ICS/GCS

       0.8     0.7  

Worldwide cardmember loans

        

Total loans (billions)

     $ 62.3     $ 60.1       4 %

Loss reserves

        

Beginning balance

     $ 1,471     $ 1,874     (22)%

Provisions(a)

       243       185      31 %

Other additions(b)

       32       27      19 %

Net write-offs — principal(c)

       (304     (349   (13)%

Net write-offs — interest and fees(c)

       (38     (44   (14)%

Other deductions(d)

       (37     (13  
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Ending balance

     $ 1,367     $ 1,680     (19)%
    

 

 

   

 

 

   

Ending Reserves — principal

     $ 1,316     $ 1,622     (19)%

Ending Reserves — interest and fees

     $ 51     $ 58     (12)%

% of loans

       2.2     2.8  

% of past due

       170     201  

Average loans (billions)

     $ 62.8     $ 60.7        3 %

Net write-off rate — principal only(e)

       1.9     2.3  

Net write-off rate — principal, interest and fees(e)

       2.2     2.6  

30 days past due as a % of total

       1.3     1.4  

Net interest income divided by average loans(f)

       8.0     7.5  

Net interest yield on cardmember loans(f)

       9.5     9.2  

 

 

  #

denotes a variance greater than 100 percent.

 

  (a)

Provisions for principal (resulting from authorized transactions) and fee reserve components.

 

  (b)

Provisions for unauthorized transactions.

 

  (c)

Consists of principal (resulting from authorized transactions) interest and/or fees, less recoveries.

 

  (d)

Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the components of other deductions for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

  (e)

The Company presents a net write-off rate based on principal losses only (i.e., excluding interest and/or fees) to be consistent with industry convention. In addition, because the Company’s practice is to include uncollectible interest and/or fees as part of its total provision for losses, a net write-off rate including principal, interest and/or fees is also presented.

 

  (f)

Refer to the following table for the calculation of net interest yield on cardmember loans, a non-GAAP measure, net interest income divided by average loans, a GAAP measure, and the Company’s rationale for presenting net interest yield on cardmember loans.

 

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American Express Company

Selected Statistical Information

(continued)

Calculation of Net Interest Yield on Cardmember Loans

 

                                             

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

(Millions, except percentages and where indicated)

       2013    

2012

Net interest income

     $ 1,243     $          1,133   

Exclude:

      

Interest expense not attributable to the Company’s cardmember loan portfolio

       311     364   

Interest income not attributable to the Company’s cardmember loan portfolio

       (95   (109)  
    

 

 

   

 

Adjusted net interest income(a)

     $ 1,459     $          1,388   

Average loans (billions)

     $ 62.8     $            60.7   

Exclude:

      

Unamortized deferred card fees, net of direct acquisition costs of cardmember loans, and other (billions)

       (0.3   (0.2)  
    

 

 

   

 

Adjusted average loans (billions)(a)

     $ 62.5     $            60.5   

Net interest income divided by average loans

       8.0   7.5%

Net interest yield on cardmember loans(a)

       9.5   9.2%

 

 

  (a)

Net interest yield on cardmember loans, adjusted net interest income, and adjusted average loans are non-GAAP measures. The Company believes adjusted net interest income and adjusted average loans are useful to investors because they are components of net interest yield on cardmember loans, which provides a measure of profitability of the Company’s cardmember loan portfolio.

Consolidated Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 and 2012

The Company’s consolidated net income for the three months ended March 31, 2013 increased $24 million or 2 percent and diluted EPS increased $0.08 or 7 percent as compared to the same period in the prior year.

The Company’s total revenues net of interest expense, total provisions for losses and total expenses increased by approximately 4 percent, 21 percent and 1 percent, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Total Revenues Net of Interest Expense

Consolidated total revenues net of interest expense increased $294 million or 4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, reflecting increases of 5 percent in U.S. Card Service (USCS), 4 percent in Global Network & Merchant Services (GNMS), and 1 percent in both Global Commercial Services (GCS) and International Card Services (ICS). The increase in total revenues net of interest expense primarily reflects higher discount revenue, higher net interest income, and higher net card fees, partially offset by lower other revenues and travel commissions and fees.

Discount revenue increased $181 million or 4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily as a result of 6 percent growth in billed business volumes, partially offset by higher contra-revenue items, including cash rebate rewards, and a decline in the average discount rate. The average discount rate of 2.52 percent in the first quarter of 2013 decreased by 1 basis point compared to 2.53 percent in the first quarter 2012 and increased by 3 basis points compared to 2.49 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. The increase in rate versus the fourth quarter of 2012 reflects the normal seasonal impact of a higher level of retail-related business volumes during that period. Changes in the mix of spending by location and industry, volume-related pricing discounts, strategic investments, certain pricing initiatives and other factors will likely result in some erosion of the average discount rate.

U.S. billed business and billed business outside the United States increased 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the prior year, reflecting increases in average spending per proprietary basic card and in basic cards-in-force.

 

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The table below summarizes selected statistics for billed business and average spend during the three months ended March 31, 2013 compared to the same period in the prior year.

 

                                                                           

 

       2013

 

      
 
 
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease)
  
  
  
 

Percentage Increase (Decrease) Assuming No Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates(a)

Worldwide(b)

      

Billed business

       6   7%

Proprietary billed business

       6     6    

GNS billed business(c)

       9     12    

Airline-related volume (10% of worldwide billed business)

            1    

United States(b)

      

Billed business

       7    

Proprietary consumer card billed business(d)

       7    

Proprietary small business billed business(d)

       11    

Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)

       6    

T&E-related volume (27% of U.S. billed business)

       4    

Non-T&E-related volume (73% of U.S. billed business)

       9    

Airline-related volume (9% of U.S. billed business)

       1    

Outside the United States(b)

      

Billed business

       4     7    

Japan, Asia Pacific & Australia (JAPA) billed business

       6     9    

Latin America & Canada (LACC) billed business

       6     9    

Europe, the Middle East & Africa (EMEA) billed business

       2     4    

Proprietary consumer and small business billed business(f)

       2     5    

JAPA billed business

       (1   4    

LACC billed business

       5     7    

EMEA billed business

       2     4    

Proprietary Corporate Services billed business(e)

       (2   —    

 

 

  (a)

The foreign currency adjusted information assumes a constant exchange rate between the periods being compared for purposes of currency translation into U.S. dollars (i.e., assumes the foreign exchange rates used to determine results for the current year apply to the corresponding year-earlier period against which such results are being compared). The Company believes the presentation of information on a foreign currency adjusted basis is helpful to investors by making it easier to compare the Company’s performance in one period to that of another period without the variability caused by fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

 

  (b)

Captions in the table above not designated as “proprietary” or “GNS” include both proprietary and GNS data.

 

  (c)

Included in the GNMS segment.

 

  (d)

Included in the USCS segment.

 

  (e)

Included in the GCS segment.

 

  (f)

Included in the ICS segment.

Net card fees increased $43 million or 7 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, reflecting higher average fees per card primarily due to fee increases and a greater mix of premium products in USCS and ICS as well as an increase in proprietary cards-in-force.

Travel commissions and fees decreased $14 million or 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, reflecting a 3 percent decrease in worldwide travel sales. Business travel sales declined 4 percent, while U.S. consumer travel sales increased 2 percent.

Other commissions and fees decreased $10 million or 2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by relatively flat delinquency fees and modest costs from cardmember remediation, partially offset by higher Loyalty Partner revenues in the ICS segment.

 

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Other revenues decreased $16 million or 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily reflecting a favorable effect in the first quarter of 2012 due to revised estimates of the liability for uncashed Travelers Cheques in certain international markets, partially offset by a larger gain on the sale of investment securities in the first quarter of 2013.

Interest income increased $55 million or 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Interest on loans increased $72 million or 4 percent, driven by higher average loans and a reduction in the cardmember remediation reserve. Interest and dividends on investment securities decreased $13 million or 20 percent, primarily due to lower average investment securities. Interest on deposits with banks and others decreased $4 million or 13 percent, primarily due to a lower volume of interest-bearing transactions with financial institutions.

Interest expense decreased $55 million or 10 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Interest on deposits decreased $15 million or 12 percent, primarily due to a lower effective cost of funds, partially offset by an increase in average customer deposit balances. Interest on long-term debt and other decreased $40 million or 9 percent, reflecting a lower effective cost of funds and average long-term debt balances.

Provisions for Losses

Provisions for losses increased $85 million or 21 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year. Charge card provisions for losses increased $17 million or 10 percent, primarily due to higher ending receivables balances in the first quarter of 2013. Cardmember loan provisions for losses increased $63 million or 30 percent, primarily due to a lower reserve release in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, partially offset by lower write-offs in the first quarter of 2013 due to improved credit performance. Other provisions for losses increased $5 million or 23 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Expenses

Consolidated expenses increased $73 million or 1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increase reflects higher cardmember rewards expense, occupancy and equipment, and professional services, partially offset by lower salaries and employee benefits, marketing and promotion and cardmember services expenses.

Marketing and promotion expense decreased $10 million or 2 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, reflecting lower brand advertising, partially offset by higher acquisition spending in USCS.

Cardmember rewards expense increased $53 million or 4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, due to an increase in co-brand rewards expense of $62 million, partially offset by a decrease in the Membership Rewards expense of $9 million. The increase in co-brand rewards expenses is primarily related to higher spending volumes. The decrease in Membership Rewards is a result of a net $35 million expense reduction resulting from (i) a slower average ultimate redemption rate (URR) growth rate reducing expenses and (ii) a decline in the reduction in the weighted-average cost (WAC) increasing expenses (both comparing the first quarter of 2013 to the same period in the prior year), mostly offset by higher expenses in 2013 due to an increase in new points earned.

 

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The Company’s Membership Rewards URR for current participants was 94 percent (rounded up) for the three months ended March 31, 2013, an increase from 93 percent (rounded up) as compared to the same period in the prior year. The increases in the ultimate redemption rate are a result of cardmembers’ increased engagement with the Company’s Membership Rewards program and enhancements made to the U.S. URR estimation process implemented in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Cardmember services expense decreased $5 million or 3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Salaries and employee benefits expense decreased $20 million or 1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, driven by greater restructuring charges in the prior year.

Other, net increased $55 million or 4 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily reflecting higher occupancy and equipment expenses driven by higher data processing costs and software amortization costs as well as higher professional services expenses driven by increased investments in the business and higher legal fees.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate was 32.9 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2013 as compared to 29.2 percent for the same period in the prior year. The tax rate in the first quarter of 2012 includes a tax benefit of $50 million related to the realization of certain foreign tax credits.

Consolidated Capital Resources and Liquidity

The Company’s balance sheet management objectives are to maintain:

 

   

A solid and flexible equity capital profile;

 

   

A broad, deep and diverse set of funding sources to finance its assets and meet operating requirements; and

 

   

Liquidity programs that enable the Company to continuously meet expected future financing obligations and business requirements for at least a 12-month period, even in the event it is unable to continue to raise new funds under its traditional funding programs.

Capital Strategy

The Company’s objective is to retain sufficient levels of capital generated through earnings and other sources to maintain a solid equity capital base and to provide flexibility to support future business growth. The Company believes capital allocated to growing businesses with a return on risk-adjusted equity in excess of its costs will generate shareholder value.

The level and composition of the Company’s consolidated capital position are determined through the Company’s internal capital adequacy assessment process, which reflects its business activities, as well as marketplace conditions and credit rating agency requirements. The Company’s consolidated capital position is also influenced by subsidiary capital requirements. The Company, as a bank holding company, is also subject to regulatory requirements administered by the U.S. federal banking agencies. The Federal Reserve has established specific capital adequacy guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items.

 

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The Company currently calculates and reports its capital ratios under the standards commonly referred to as Basel I. In June 2004, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (commonly referred to as Basel) published new international guidelines for determining regulatory capital (Basel II). In December 2007, the U.S. bank regulatory agencies jointly adopted a final rule based on Basel II. The Company has adopted Basel II in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions and is currently taking steps toward Basel II implementation in the United States.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) and a series of international capital and liquidity standards published by Basel on December 16, 2010 will in the future change the current quantitative measures. In general, these changes will involve, for the U.S. banking industry as a whole, a reduction in the types of instruments deemed to be capital along with an increase in the amount of capital that assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items require. These changes will generally serve to reduce reported capital ratios compared to current capital guidelines. On June 7, 2012, the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation issued three joint notices of proposed rulemaking, collectively referred to as Basel III, which presents details of the proposed new U.S. regulatory capital standards. The proposed U.S. rules are generally in line with the aforementioned capital standards published by Basel in 2010.

The following table presents the regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratio for the Company and its significant bank subsidiaries, as well as additional ratios widely utilized in the marketplace, as of March 31, 2013.

 

                                             

 

 

      
 
 
Well-
Capitalized
Ratios
(a)
  
  
  
 

Ratios as of March 31, 2013

Risk-Based Capital

      

Tier 1

       6  

American Express Company

       12.6%

American Express Centurion Bank

       20.8%

American Express Bank, FSB

       17.9%

Total

       10  

American Express Company

       14.6%

American Express Centurion Bank

       22.1%

American Express Bank, FSB

       20.1%

Tier 1 Leverage

       5  

American Express Company

       10.3%

American Express Centurion Bank

       18.2%

American Express Bank, FSB

       17.3%

Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets

      

American Express Company

       15.7%

Tier 1 Common Risk-Based(b)

      

American Express Company

       12.6%

Tangible Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets(b)

      

American Express Company

       12.4%

 

 

  (a)

As defined by the Federal Reserve.

 

  (b)

Refer to page 44 for a reconciliation of Tier 1 common equity and tangible common equity, both non-GAAP measures.

The following provides definitions for the Company’s regulatory risk-based capital ratios and leverage ratio, which are calculated as per standard regulatory guidance, if applicable:

Risk-Weighted Assets — Assets are weighted for risk according to a formula used by the Federal Reserve to conform to capital adequacy guidelines. On and off-balance sheet items are weighted for risk, with off-balance sheet items converted to balance sheet equivalents, using risk conversion factors, before being allocated a risk-adjusted weight. The off-balance sheet items comprise a minimal part of the overall calculation. Risk-weighted assets as of March 31, 2013 were $123.0 billion.

 

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Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The Tier 1 capital ratio is calculated as Tier 1 capital divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 capital is the sum of common shareholders’ equity, certain perpetual preferred stock (not applicable to the Company), and noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries, adjusted for ineligible goodwill and intangible assets, as well as certain other comprehensive income items as follows: net unrealized gains/losses on securities and derivatives, and net unrealized pension and other postretirement benefit losses, all net of tax. Tier 1 capital as of March 31, 2013 was $15.5 billion. This ratio is commonly used by regulatory agencies to assess a financial institution’s financial strength and is the primary form of capital used to absorb losses beyond current loss accrual estimates.

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The total risk-based capital ratio is calculated as the sum of Tier 1 capital and Tier 2 capital, divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 2 capital is the sum of the allowance for receivable and loan losses (limited to 1.25 percent of risk-weighted assets) and 45 percent of the unrealized gains on equity securities, plus a $750 million subordinated hybrid security, for which the Company received approval from the Federal Reserve for treatment as Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital as of March 31, 2013 was $2.4 billion.

Tier 1 Leverage Ratio — The Tier 1 leverage ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by the Company’s average total consolidated assets for the most recent quarter. Average total consolidated assets as of March 31, 2013 were $150.4 billion.

The following provides definitions for capital ratios widely used in the marketplace, although they may be calculated differently by different companies:

Tier 1 Common Risk-Based Capital Ratio — The Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio is calculated as Tier 1 common equity, a non-GAAP measure, divided by risk-weighted assets. Tier 1 common equity is calculated by reference to total shareholders’ equity as shown below:

 

 

(Billions)

    

March 31, 2013

Total shareholders’ equity

     $              19.3 

Net effect of certain items in accumulated other comprehensive loss excluded from

    

Tier 1 common equity

     0.1 

Less: Ineligible goodwill and intangible assets

     (3.7)

Less: Ineligible deferred tax assets

     (0.2)
    

 

Total Tier 1 common equity

     $              15.5 
    

 

 

The Company believes the Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio is useful because it can be used to assess and compare the quality and composition of the Company’s capital with the capital of other financial services companies. Moreover, the proposed U.S. banking capital standards known as Basel III include measures that rely on the Tier 1 common risk-based capital ratio.

Common Equity and Tangible Common Equity to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratios — Common equity equals the Company’s shareholders’ equity of $19.3 billion as of March 31, 2013, and tangible common equity, a non-GAAP measure, equals common equity less goodwill and other intangibles of $4.0 billion as of March 31, 2013. The Company believes presenting the ratio of tangible common equity to risk-weighted assets is a useful measure of evaluating the strength of the Company’s capital position.

The Company seeks to maintain capital levels and ratios in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements; failure to maintain minimum capital levels could affect the Company’s status as a financial holding company and cause the respective regulatory agencies to take actions that could limit the Company’s business operations.

 

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The Company’s primary source of equity capital has been the generation of net income. Historically, capital generated through net income and other sources, such as the exercise of stock options by employees, has exceeded the annual growth in its capital requirements. To the extent capital has exceeded business, regulatory and rating agency requirements, the Company has historically returned excess capital to shareholders through its regular common share dividend and share repurchase program.