EXHIBIT 12.1 POLYONE CORPORATION RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (IN MILLIONS) 2001 (1) 2000 1999 1998 1997 ------------------------------------------------------- Earnings: Consolidated pre-tax income from continuing operations before minority interest and earnings of equity affiliates (60.5) (10.9) 164.3 19.9 34.9 Share of distributed earnings of equity affiliates 5.4 32.3 4.6 3.2 - Share of pre-tax loss of equity affiliates with guaranteed debt (8.6) - (9.3) (0.1) (1.2) Add, fixed charges 60.6 43.7 34.2 33.7 28.0 Add, amortization of capitalized interest 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.9 1.8 Subtract, interest capitalized (1.1) - (0.7) - (5.2) ------------------------------------------------------- (3.4) 65.9 194.9 58.6 58.3 ------------------------------------------------------- Fixed charges: Interest expense 41.5 36.3 17.3 15.6 11.3 Capitalized interest 1.1 - 0.7 - 5.2 Net amortization of debt discount and premium and issuance expenses 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.6 Interest portion of rental expense (2) 8.5 7.0 7.0 10.7 10.7 Interest expense relating to guaranteed debt of equity affiliates 9.1 - 8.8 7.0 0.2 ------------------------------------------------------- 60.6 43.7 34.2 33.7 28.0 ------------------------------------------------------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges -- 1.5x 5.7x 1.7x 2.1x ------------------------------------------------------- (1) Earnings in 2001 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $64.0 million. Accordingly, such ratio is not presented. (2) The interest factor represents approximately one-third of lease expense, which management believes is representative of the interest component of lease expense.