EXHIBIT 12 ---------- NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES --------------------------------------------------------------- YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 (In thousands, except ratio data) EARNINGS AVAILABLE TO FIXED CHARGES: Income before income taxes $685,487 $230,939 $816,973 $544,590 $673,312 Fixed charges - Interest expense 130,033 100,021 100,514 114,357 84,822 Portion of rent determined to be interest(A) 33,957 30,319 26,287 23,343 17,561 Minority interest in income of subsidiary trust 26,725 26,771 26,692 1,528 - Equity in earnings elimination (7,996) (8,118) (7,127) (5,831) (6,364) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $868,206 $379,932 $963,339 $677,987 $769,331 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== FIXED CHARGES: Interest expense $130,033 $100,021 $100,514 $114,357 $84,822 Portion of rent determined to be interest(A) 33,957 30,319 26,287 23,343 17,561 Minority interest in income of subsidiary trust 26,725 26,771 26,692 1,528 - -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $190,715 $157,111 $153,493 $139,228 $102,383 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 4.55 2.42 6.28 4.87 7.51 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== NOTE A - A STANDARD RATIO OF 33% WAS APPLIED TO GROSS RENT EXPENSE TO APPROXIMATE THE INTEREST PORTION OF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM LEASES.