EXHIBIT 12
ARAMARK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (A)
(In thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
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October 3, September 27, September 29, September 30, October 1,
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
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Income before income taxes
and minority interest ...... $ 215,847 $ 179,159 $ 167,577 $ 163,484 $ 143,265
Fixed charges, excluding
capitalized interest 163,404 160,740 152,991 150,432 168,158
Other, net ............. (67) (371) 1,502 (477) 1,222
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings, as adjusted .. $ 379,184 $ 339,528 $ 322,070 $ 313,439 $ 312,645
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Interest expense ............. $ 119,284 $ 117,856 $ 111,605 $ 110,040 $ 128,367
Capitalized interest ... 223 414 79 27 47
Portion of operating lease
rentals representative
of interest factor ... 44,120 42,884 41,386 40,392 39,791
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Fixed charges .......... $ 163,627 $ 161,154 $ 153,070 $ 150,459 $ 168,205
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges .............. 2.3x 2.1x 2.1x 2.1x 1.9x
========= ========= ========= ========= =========
(A) For the purpose of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings include pre-tax income plus fixed charges (excluding
capitalized interest). Fixed charges consist of interest on all
indebtedness (including capitalized interest) plus that portion of
operating lease rentals representative of the interest factor (deemed
to be one-third of operating lease rentals).