1
EXHIBIT 12
ROCK-TENN COMPANY
STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS
TO FIXED CHARGES
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expenses............................. $ 2,736 $ 8,122 $10,772 $26,466 $ 34,622
Amortization of debt issuance costs........... 91 265 206 320 360
Interest capitalized during period............ -- -- -- 1,214 888
Portion of rent expenses representative of
interest................................... 1,035 1,443 2,316 2,584 3,034
------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Fixed charges................................. $ 3,862 $ 9,830 $13,294 $30,584 $ 38,904
======= ======= ======= ======= ========
Earnings:
Pretax income from continuing operations...... $60,978 $67,922 $82,469 $37,756 $ 74,613
Fixed charges................................. 3,862 9,830 13,294 30,584 38,904
------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Earnings...................................... $64,840 $77,752 $95,763 $68,340 $113,517
======= ======= ======= ======= ========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges.............. 16.79 7.91 7.20 2.23 2.92
======= ======= ======= ======= ========
24