EXHIBIT 12
                               WHITMAN CORPORATION
                            STATEMENT OF CALCULATION
                      OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                          (in millions, except ratios)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               First Quarter                                 Fiscal Years
                                          ----------------------     -------------------------------------------------------------
                                             2000         1999         1999         1998         1997         1996          1995
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>

Earnings:
Income from continuing
   operations before taxes                $    19.4    $    26.5     $   71.6     $  152.2     $   69.9     $   127.7    $   118.2
Fixed charges                                  22.5         13.3         73.5         51.5         75.6          74.4         76.7
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------    ---------

Earnings as adjusted                      $    41.9    $    39.8     $  145.1     $  203.7     $  145.5     $   202.1    $   194.9
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    =========


Fixed charges:
Interest expense                          $    20.8    $    12.0     $   67.1     $   46.4     $   69.0     $    68.2    $   70.3
Preferred stock dividend requirements
   of majority owned subsidiary                  --           --           --           --          1.7           1.5         1.4
Portion of rents representative
   of interest factor                           1.7          1.3          6.4          5.1          4.9           4.7         5.0
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------    --------
   Fixed charges                          $    22.5    $    13.3     $   73.5     $   51.5     $   75.6     $    74.4    $   76.7
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    ========

Ratio of earnings to
   fixed charges*                               1.9x         3.0x         2.0x         4.0x         1.9x          2.7x         2.5x
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    =========

</TABLE>

*     Whitman Corporation recorded a pretax gain of $2.6 million in the first
      quarter of 2000 related to the sale of operations in the Baltics.
      Excluding this gain, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the first
      quarter of 2000 would have been 1.7x.

      Whitman Corporation also recorded special charges of $27.9 million in the
      second and third quarters of 1999, as well as a $56.3 million pretax
      charge in the second quarter of 1999 to reduce the book value of
      non-operating real estate. In addition, Whitman Corporation recorded an
      $11.4 million pretax gain in the first quarter of 1999 on the sale of
      operations in Marion, Virginia; Princeton, West Virginia and the St.
      Petersburg area of Russia, as well as a $1.9 million increase to this gain
      in the fourth quarter of 1999. Excluding these full year charges and
      credits, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for fiscal year 1999 would
      have been 2.9x. Excluding the first quarter 1999 gain, the ratio of
      earnings to fixed charges for the first quarter of 1999 would have been
      2.1x.

      Intercompany interest income from Hussmann and Midas was $1.6 million,
      $23.1 million, $23.7 million and $21.8 million in 1998, 1997, 1996 and
      1995, respectively. If the fixed charges had been reduced by this
      intercompany interest income, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for
      1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995 would have been 4.1x, 2.3x, 3.5x and 3.2x,
      respectively.

      Whitman Corporation recorded special charges of $49.3 million during 1997.
      Excluding these special charges, the 1999 ratio of earnings to fixed
      charges would have been 2.6x. Additionally, if the fixed charges for 1997
      were adjusted for the intercompany interest income noted above, the ratio
      of earnings to fixed charges would have been 3.3x.