EXHIBIT 12 ---------- NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (in thousands, except ratio data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2000 1999 ---- ---- Earnings (loss) available to fixed charges: Income before income taxes $123,935 $(55,022) Fixed charges: Interest expense 27,849 25,261 Portion of rent determined to be interest (1) 10,608 10,765 Minority interest in income of subsidiary trust 6,685 6,712 Eliminate equity in earnings (2,174) (1,820) -------- -------- $166,903 $(14,104) ======== ======== Fixed charges: Interest expense 27,849 25,261 Portion of rent determined to be interest (1) 10,608 10,765 Minority interest in income of subsidiary trust 6,685 6,712 -------- -------- $ 45,142 $ 42,738 ======== ======== Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges 3.70 (0.33) (1) A standard ratio of 33% was applied to gross rent expense to approximate the interest portion of short-term and long-term leases. 48