EXHIBIT 12.1 CHESAPEAKE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES for the three years ended December 31, 1995 (Dollar amounts in millions) 1995 1994 1993 Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes $93.4 $37.6 $10.4 Add: Provision for income taxes 48.2 20.6 10.3 Interest expense including amortization of deferred loan costs 30.8 31.1 32.0 Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor (assumed to be one-third) 4.6 4.2 4.4 Earnings, as adjusted $177.0 $93.5 $57.1 Fixed charges Interest expense including amortization of deferred loan costs $30.8 $31.1 $32.0 Capitalized interest - .5 .4 Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor (assumed to be one-third) 4.6 4.2 4.4 Fixed Charges $35.4 $35.8 $36.8 Ratio 5.0 2.6 1.6