Exhibit 12(b)



|                                                        | For the three months ended 
June 30, 2001 | For the six months ended 
June 30, 2001 | For the twelve months ended 
June 30, 2001
|------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------
|                                                        | (In thousands, except ratios)            
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Earnings                                                | $ 12,346                                  | $ 21,170                                | $   51,569                                
|Income taxes                                            | 6,451                                     | 10,901                                  | 27,115                                    
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes | $ 18,797                                  | $ 32,071                                | $   78,684                                
|                                                        | ======                                    | ======                                  | =======                                   
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Fixed charges:                                          |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Interest, long-term debt                                | $    6,089                                | $ 12,220                                | $    24,391                               
|Interest, other (including interest on short-term debt) | 1,122                                     | 2,294                                   | 4,165                                     
|Amortization of debt expense, premium, net              | 225                                       | 449                                     | 905                                       
|Portion of rentals representative of an interest factor | 17                                        | 220                                     | 545                                       
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Total fixed charges                                     | $    7,453                                | $ 15,183                                | $   30,006                                
|                                                        | ======                                    | ======                                  | =======                                   
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Earnings from continuing operations before              |                                           |                                         |                                           
|income taxes and fixed charges                          | $  26,250                                 | $ 47,254                                | $ 108,690                                 
|                                                        | ======                                    | ======                                  | =======                                   
|                                                        |                                           |                                         |                                           
|Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                      | 3.52x                                     | 3.11x                                   | 3.62x                                     
|                                                        | ======                                    | ======                                  | =======