EXHIBIT (12) THE MEAD CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (All dollar amounts in millions) Year Ended December 31 --------------------------------------- 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 ------ ------ ------ ------- ------ Earnings: The Mead Corporation earnings from continuing operations before income taxes $ 52.4 $135.0 $ 15.8 $ 64.3 $124.4 Mead's share of earnings (loss) of investees before income taxes 95.7 30.3 9.4 (31.1) 17.9 Interest and debt expense 113.4 107.5 116.0 137.4 114.9 Amortization of capitalized interest: The Mead Corporation 4.6 6.5 4.9 4.9 3.1 Mead's share of investees 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 Portion of rental payments deemed to be interest 18.0 16.5 17.3 16.4 14.3 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ $285.4 $297.2 $164.9 $193.5 $276.2 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Combined fixed charges: Interest and debt expense: The Mead Corporation $101.1 $ 94.6 $ 99.5 $112.9 $ 92.0 Mead's share of investees 12.3 12.9 16.5 24.5 22.9 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 113.4 107.5 116.0 137.4 114.9 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Capitalized interest: The Mead Corporation 5.7 2.6 2.3 4.5 20.1 Mead's share of investees ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 5.7 2.6 2.3 4.5 20.1 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Portion of rental payments deemed to be interest: The Mead Corporation 17.6 16.2 17.3 16.3 14.2 Mead's share of investees .4 .3 .1 .1 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ 18.0 16.5 17.3 16.4 14.3 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ $137.1 $126.6 $135.6 $158.3 $149.3 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.08 2.35 1.22 1.22 1.85 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== 95