EXHIBIT 12
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES, INC.
                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                                 ($ in millions)

                                                     FISCAL YEAR    FISCAL YEAR       34 WEEKS             FISCAL YEAR ENDED
                                                                                                     -------------------------------
                                                        2000           1999        AUGUST 28, 1998        1997       1996      1995
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------

<S>                                                           <C>            <C>                <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Income Before Extraordinary Item                             $ 63           $ 51               $ 58       $335       $306      $247

Add / (Deduct):
Tax and Extraordinary Item                                     49             41                 42        219        196       165

Fixed Charges                                                  85             88                 65        179        142       107

Interest Capitalized as Property and Equipment                 --             --                 --        (16)        (9)       (8)

(Income) / Loss Related to certain 50%-or-Less-
  Owned-Affiliates                                             --             --                 --         --          1        --
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------

Earnings Available For Fixed Charges                         $197           $180               $165       $717       $636      $511
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------

Fixed Charges:
Interest Including Amounts Capitalized as
  Property and Equipment                                     $ 85           $ 88               $ 65       $126        $94       $61

Portion of Rental Expense Representative of
  Interest                                                     --             --                 --         53         48        45

Share of Interest Expense of certain 50%-or-Less-
  Owned-Affiliates                                             --             --                 --         --         --         1
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------


Total Fixed Charges                                          $ 85           $ 88               $ 65       $179       $142      $107
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                            2.3            2.0                2.5        4.0        4.5       4.8
                                                    -------------- -------------- ------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------

<FN>
For the  purpose  of  computing  the  ratio  of  earnings  to fixed  charges  as
prescribed by the rules and  regulations of the Commission,  earnings  represent
income  before  cumulative  effect  of a  change  in  accounting  principle  and
extraordinary  item, plus, when applicable,  (a) taxes on such income, (b) fixed
charges,   and  (c)  the  Company's   equity   interest  in  losses  of  certain
50%-or-less-owned-affiliates;     less    (x)    undistributed    earnings    of
50%-or-less-owned-affiliates,   and  (y)  interest  capitalized.  Fixed  charges
represent interest (including amounts capitalized),  representative of interest,
and when  applicable,  the  Company's  share of the interest  expense of certain
50%-or-less-owned-affiliates.
</FN>
</TABLE>