Thomas & Betts (TNB) 10-Q 2001 Q1 Quarterly report

EXHIBIT 12

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(IN THOUSANDS)

		For Quarter Ended			For Years Ended
		April 1, 2001			December 31, 2000			January 2, 2000			January 3, 1999			December 28, 1997			December 29, 1996
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		$	(7,197	)	$	(272,230	)	$	77,886		$	66,980		$	153,095		$	128,844
Add:
	Interest on indebtedness		11,969			55,191			52,876			44,766			41,270			38,219
	Amortization of debt expense		292			907			729			239			610			1,335
	Portion of rents representative of the interest factor		2,781			10,026			10,484			8,166			8,890			8,731
Deduct:
	Undistributed earnings from less-than-50- percent-owned entities		(3,434	)		(8,863	)		(15,386	)		(9,674	)		(11,278	)		(4,217	)
	Earnings (as defined)	$	4,411	(a)	$	(214,969	)	$	126,589		$	110,477		$	192,587		$	172,912
Fixed charges:
	Interest on indebtedness		11,969			55,191			52,876			44,766			41,270			38,219
	Amortization of debt expense		292			907			729			239			610			1,335
	Portion of rents representative of the interest factor		2,781			10,026			10,484			8,166			8,890			8,731
Total fixed charges		$	15,042		$	66,124		$	64,089		$	53,171		$	50,770		$	48,285
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges			0.3x	(a)		—	(b)		2.0x			2.1x			3.8x			3.6x

(a)

Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the quarter ended April 1, 2001 by $10,631.

(b)

Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the year ended December 31, 2000 by $281,093.