SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 22, 2003
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AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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New York 1-7657 13-4922250
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Identification No.)
organization)
200 Vesey Street, World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 640-2000
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
As previously reported in its Form 8-K dated April 24, 2003 and its Form 10-Q
dated May 14, 2003, American Express Company (the "Company") presents
consolidated return on average equity (ROE) computed on a trailing 12-month
basis excluding the effect on shareholders' equity of unrealized gains or
losses related to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115,
"Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," and SFAS
No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities."
Similarly, the presentation of ROE for the Company's Travel Related Services
(TRS), American Express Financial Advisors (AEFA) and American Express Bank
(AEB) segments, contain comparable exclusions for effects related to SFAS No.
115 and 133. The Company also presents consolidated return on average assets
(ROA) excluding the effect on assets of unrealized gains or losses related to
SFAS No. 115 and 133. These items are excluded from the denominators of the
ratios because they represent gains or losses which have not been recognized
during the period of the relevant calculation in net income and are not
certain to be recognized in net income in such amounts and, as such, are not
contained in the numerators of the ratios. Management believes the adjusted
ratios represent a better correlation of realized return on equity or assets
invested for the relevant reporting period and therefore are more meaningful
to investors.
The following table compares and reconciles the unaudited ROE and ROA
ratios using total shareholders' equity and total assets as reported in the
Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with the unaudited
ratios as previously reported by the Company.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31,
Quarters Ended 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
total shareholders'
equity - GAAP (1) 20.0% 20.2% 17.8% 15.2% 11.4%
Effect of SFAS No.
115 and 133 0.7% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1%
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
equity - adjusted (2) 20.7% 20.6% 18.1% 15.4% 11.5%
============ ================ ================ =========== ============
(1) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total shareholders' equity as
reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
(2) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on shareholders'
equity of unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133.
TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES
March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31,
Quarters Ended 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
total shareholder's 31.3% 30.3% 25.4% 21.2% 20.7%
equity - GAAP (1)
Effect of SFAS No.
115 and 133 (0.5%) (0.4%) (0.2%) (0.2%) (0.1%)
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
equity - adjusted (2) 30.8% 29.9% 25.2% 21.0% 20.6%
============ ================ ================ =========== ============
Return on average
total assets - GAAP
(3) 3.3% 3.2% 2.6% 2.1% 2.1%
Effect of SFAS No.
115 and 133 - - - 0.1% -
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
assets - adjusted (4) 3.3% 3.2% 2.6% 2.2% 2.1%
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(1) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total shareholder's equity as
reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
(2) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on shareholder's
equity of unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133.
(3) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total assets as reported in
the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(4) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on assets of
unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133, to the
extent that they directly affect shareholder's equity.
AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL ADVISORS
March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31,
Quarters Ended 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
total shareholder's
equity - GAAP (1) 9.8% 10.9% 11.3% 11.6% 3.5%
Effect of SFAS No.
115 and 133 0.8% 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 0.1%
------------ ---------------- ---------------- ----------- ------------
Return on average
equity - adjusted (2) 10.6% 11.6% 11.9% 12.1% 3.6%
============ ================ ================ =========== ============
(1) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total shareholder's equity as
reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with
GAAP.
(2) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on shareholder's
equity of unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133.
AMERICAN EXPRESS BANK
March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31,
Quarters Ended 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002
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Return on average total
common shareholder's
equity - GAAP (1) 10.9% 10.6% 9.1% (0.4%) (1.3%)
Effect of SFAS No. 115
and 133 1.2% 0.9% 0.7% - (0.1%)
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Return on average common
equity - adjusted (2) 12.1% 11.5% 9.8% (0.4%) (1.4%)
============= ================ ================ ========== ===========
Return on average total
assets - GAAP (3) 0.7% 0.7% 0.5% - (0.1%)
Effect of SFAS No. 115
and 133 - - 0.1% - -
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Return on average assets
- adjusted (4) 0.7% 0.7% 0.6% - (0.1%)
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(1) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total common shareholder's
equity as reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in
accordance with GAAP. Average total common shareholder's equity excludes
average preferred stock of $75 million for all periods.
(2) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on shareholder's
equity of unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133.
Average common equity excludes average preferred stock of $75 million for all
periods.
(3) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis using total assets as reported in
the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
(4) Computed on a trailing 12-month basis excluding the effect on assets of
unrealized gains or losses related to SFAS No. 115 and SFAS No. 133, to the
extent that they directly affect shareholder's equity.
As previously reported in its Form 8-K dated April 24, 2003, the Company
also reports both actual book value per common share and book value per common
share excluding the effect on shareholders' equity of SFAS No. 115 and 133.
Management believes excluding the effect of SFAS No. 115 and 133 from the
numerator of the book value calculation presents a view of book value for the
relevant reporting period based on the underlying realized earnings of the
Company and excluding the unrealized impact of SFAS No. 115 and 133.
Management believes both metrics have value to investors.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
(REGISTRANT)
/s/ Stephen P. Norman
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Name: Stephen P. Norman
Title: Secretary
DATE: July 22, 2003