Comdisco, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Exhibit 12.00
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(dollars in millions)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine months ended
June 30 For the years ended September 30
----------------- --------------------------------
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed charges
Interest expense (1).................................. $277 $230 $341 $329 $301 $267 $278
Approximate portion of
rental expense representative
of an interest factor .............................. 5 4 6 5 4 7 11
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Fixed charges ........................................ 282 234 347 334 305 274 289
Earnings before income taxes,
net of preferred stock dividends .................... 157 28 75 238 203 176 160
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Earnings before income taxes,
net of preferred stock dividend,
plus fixed charges .................................. $439 $262 $422 $572 $508 $450 $449
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ..................... 1.56 1.12 1.22 1.71 1.67 1.64 1.55
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
Rental expense:
Equipment subleases .................................. $ 2 $ 3 $ 4 $ 5 $ 6 $ 14 $ 22
Office space, furniture, etc ......................... 13 10 14 9 7 8 10
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Total ............................................. $ 15 $ 13 $ 18 $ 14 $ 13 $ 22 $ 32
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
1/3 of rental expense ............................. $ 5 $ 4 $ 6 $ 5 $ 4 $ 7 $ 11
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
<FN>
1 Includes interest expense incurred by technology services and included in
technology services expenses on the statements of earnings and interest expense
incurred by Prism Communication Services and included in Prism expenses on the
statements of earnings.
</FN>
</TABLE>
-71-
