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


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                Nine Months                                  Fiscal Years
                                             2000         1999         1999         1998         1997         1996          1995
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>

Earnings:
Income from continuing
   operations before taxes                $   133.3    $    41.9     $   71.6     $  152.2     $   69.9     $   127.7    $   118.2
Fixed charges                                  69.4         51.6         73.5         51.5         75.6          74.4         76.7
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------    ---------
Earnings as adjusted                      $   202.7    $    93.5     $  145.1     $  203.7     $  145.5     $   202.1    $   194.9
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    =========
Fixed charges:
Interest expense                          $    64.4    $    47.6     $   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                           5.0          4.0          6.4          5.1          4.9           4.7          5.0
                                          ---------    ---------     --------     --------     --------     ---------    ---------
   Fixed charges                          $    69.4    $    51.6     $   73.5     $   51.5     $   75.6     $    74.4    $    76.7
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    =========
Ratio of earnings to
   fixed charges*                               2.9x         1.8x         2.0x         4.0x         1.9x          2.7x         2.5x
                                          =========    =========     ========     ========     ========     =========    =========

</TABLE>

*     Whitman Corporation 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 impaired
      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. The gain was subsequently increased by $1.9
      million in the fourth quarter of 1999 due to adjustments arising from the
      final working capital settlements. 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 charges and credits in the first nine months
      of 1999, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the first nine months
      of 1999 would have been 3.2x.

      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 1997 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.