EXHIBIT 12

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


 

( in thousands )

   Three months ended
September 30,
   Nine months ended
September 30,
   2007    2006    2007    2006

EARNINGS AS DEFINED:

           

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

   $ 154,198    $ 145,331    $ 449,412    $ 493,692

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

     11,618      17,573      38,010      49,513
                           

Earnings as defined

   $ 165,816    $ 162,904    $ 487,422    $ 543,205
                           

FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED:

           

Interest expense, including amortization of debt issue costs

   $ 9,072    $ 15,281    $ 30,002    $ 42,971

Interest capitalized

     120      20      242      48

Portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor

     2,546      2,292      8,008      6,542

Preferred stock dividends of majority-owned subsidiary companies

     20      20      60      60
                           

Fixed charges as defined

   $ 11,758    $ 17,613    $ 38,312    $ 49,621
                           

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     14.10      9.25      12.72      10.95