EXHIBIT 12 STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------ (IN MILLIONS) 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- Income (loss) before extraordinary charges and cumulative effects of accounting changes..................................................... $ (49.1) $ (169.9) $ (319.2) $ (128.8) $ 444.5 Income tax provision (credit)........................................... 31.1 (59.4) (147.7) (35.5) 320.9 Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries.......................... 5.8 5.3 3.6 1.2 29.3 Preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiary...... (5.9) (4.7) (5.7) (9.4) -- Undistributed (earnings) loss of non-consolidated subsidiaries.......... 5.4 6.0 13.3 9.1 (9.0) Capitalized interest.................................................... (81.9) (47.4) (10.8) (4.7) (13.2) --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- (94.6) (270.1) (466.5) (168.1) 772.5 --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- Fixed charges: Interest charges (expensed and capitalized), amortization of debt discount and debt fees on all indebtedness........................... 479.7 433.5 437.5 460.7 473.5 Interest cost portion of rental expenses (33 1/3%).................... 26.8 27.8 27.4 29.1 35.4 Preferred stock dividend requirements of majority owned subsidiary.... 5.9 4.7 5.7 9.4 -- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- Total fixed charges................................................. 512.4 466.0 470.6 499.2 508.9 --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- Earnings before income taxes, undistributed (earnings) loss of non-consolidated subsidiaries, minority interest and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest)....................................... $ 417.8 $ 195.9 $ 4.1 $ 331.1 $ 1,281.4 --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...................................... (D) (C) (B) (A) 2.52 --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- - --------- (A) The Company's earnings for the year ended December 31, 1994 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $168.1 million. Earnings for 1994 included a non-recurring pretax gain of $22.0 million relating to an involuntary conversion at the Company's Panama City, Florida pulp and paperboard mill. If such a nonrecurring event had not occurred, earnings would have been insufficient to cover the fixed charges by $190.1 million. (B) The Company's earnings for the year ended December 31, 1993 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $466.5 million. Earnings for 1993 included a non-recurring pretax gain of $35.4 million from the sale of the Company's 49 percent equity interest in Empaques de Carton Titan, S.A. If such a non-recurring event had not occurred, earnings would have been insufficient to cover fixed charges by $501.9 million. (C) The Company's earnings for the year ended December 31, 1992 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $270.1 million. (D) The Company's earnings for the year ended December 31, 1991 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $94.6 million. Earnings for 1991 included a non-recurring pretax gain of $41.8 million associated with the settlement and termination of a Canadian supply contract and a non-recurring pretax gain of $17.5 million relating to an involuntary conversion at the Company's Missoula, Montana mill. If such nonrecurring events had not occurred, earnings would have been insufficient to cover the fixed charges by $153.9 million. 73