EXHIBIT (12) THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES ============================================= COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES ------------------------------------------------- Millions of Dollars Nine Months Years Ended June 30 Ended March 31 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------ 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- EARNINGS AS DEFINED - ------------------- Earnings from operations before income taxes after eliminating undistributed earnings of equity method investees $ 294 $3,307 $4,022 $4,695 $5,274 $4,215 $4,723 Fixed charges excluding capitalized interest 631 569 571 576 534 420 466 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ TOTAL EARNINGS, AS DEFINED $ 925 $3,876 $4,593 $5,271 $5,808 $4,635 $5,189 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== FIXED CHARGES, AS DEFINED - ------------------------- Interest expense including capitalized $ 577 $ 501 $ 511 $ 493 $ 457 $ 352 $ 395 interest 1/3 of rental expense 79 87 83 92 77 68 71 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ $ 656 $ 588 $ 594 $ 585 $ 534 $ 420 $ 466 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 1.4 6.6 7.7 9.0 10.9 11.0 11.0