American Express Co said it would cut about 5,400 jobs, mainly in its travel division, and would take about US$600-million in after-tax charges in the fourth quarter, which will halve its net income for the period.
The company said some of the cuts would be offset by new hiring but expects to reduce its workforce 4 to 6% by the end of 2013. It currently employs 63,500 people.
New York-based AmEx said the reductions would be spread proportionately between the U.S. and international markets.
?For the next two years, our aim is to hold annual operating expense increases to less than 3%,? Chief Executive Kenneth Chenault said in a statement.
The company said it recorded a US$287-million after-tax restructuring charge in the quarter. It also booked a US$212-million charge to account for a larger number of customers redeeming the rewards they earn while using its cards.
AmEx also took a US$95-million charge for cardmember reimbursements for transactions going back several years.
The company said cardmember spending grew 8% in the fourth quarter, the third straight quarter of single-digit growth after nine quarters of double-digit growth.
AmEx expects to report a profit of US$637-million, or 56 cents per share, including the charges.
Excluding the items, the company estimates fourth-quarter adjusted net income at US$1.2-billion, or $1.09 per share.
Consolidated total revenue net of interest expense rose 5% to US$8.1-billion in the quarter.
Analysts on average expected the company to earn $1.06 per share, excluding items, on revenue of US$8.12-billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Shares of the company rose 1% to US$61.45 in trading after the bell. They closed at US$60.79 on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FP_TopStories/~3/UHeL9gzgCRI/
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