EXHIBIT 12

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

     Three months ended
September 30,


   Nine months ended
September 30,


( in thousands )


   2005

   2004

   2005

   2004

EARNINGS AS DEFINED:

                           

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

   $ 111,733    $ 101,107    $ 416,641    $ 383,374

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

     14,412      9,096      33,720      29,016
    

  

  

  

Earnings as defined

   $ 126,145    $ 110,203    $ 450,361    $ 412,390
    

  

  

  

FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED:

                           

Interest expense, including amortization of debt issue costs

   $ 12,136    $ 7,149    $ 27,067    $ 22,816

Interest capitalized

            84             600

Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor

     2,276      1,947      6,653      6,200

Preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies

     20      20      60      60
    

  

  

  

Fixed charges as defined

   $ 14,432    $ 9,200    $ 33,780    $ 29,676
    

  

  

  

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     8.74      11.98      13.33      13.90