EXHIBIT 12
 
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
    
Three months ended
March 31,

    
2002

  
2001

    
( in thousands )
EARNINGS AS DEFINED:
             
Earnings from operations before income taxes after eliminating undistributed earnings of 20%—to
50%-owned affiliates
  
$
69,223
  
$
118,930
Fixed charges excluding capitalized interest and preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies
  
 
8,149
  
 
13,833
    

  

Earnings as defined
  
$
77,372
  
$
132,763
    

  

FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED:
             
Interest expense, including amortization of debt issue costs
  
$
6,592
  
$
12,461
Interest capitalized
  
 
159
  
 
231
Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor
  
 
1,557
  
 
1,372
Preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies
  
 
20
  
 
20
    

  

Fixed charges as defined
  
$
8,328
  
$
14,084
    

  

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
  
 
9.29
  
 
9.43
    

  

E-2