EXHIBIT 12

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

     Three months ended
September 30,


   Nine months ended
September 30,


( in thousands )


   2004

   2003

   2004

   2003

EARNINGS AS DEFINED:

                           

Earnings from operations before income taxes after eliminating undistributed earnings of 20%- to 50%-owned affiliates

   $ 102,121    $ 89,060    $ 384,233    $ 302,156

Fixed charges excluding capitalized interest and preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies

     9,096      9,615      29,016      28,725
    

  

  

  

Earnings as defined

   $ 111,217    $ 98,675    $ 413,249    $ 330,881
    

  

  

  

FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED:

                           

Interest expense, including amortization of debt issue costs

   $ 7,149    $ 7,944    $ 22,816    $ 23,779

Interest capitalized

     84      138      600      302

Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor

     1,947      1,671      6,200      4,946

Preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies

     20      20      60      60
    

  

  

  

Fixed charges as defined

   $ 9,200    $ 9,773    $ 29,676    $ 29,087
    

  

  

  

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     12.09      10.10      13.93      11.38