EXHIBIT 12 MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollars in millions) (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30, Year Year Year Year Year 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 EARNINGS ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest $2,851 $2,479 $2,168 $2,011 $1,851 $1,779 Add: Interest on debt 74 79 102 70 39 61 Interest component of the ESOP benefit expense 24 34 37 39 41 42 Portion of rent under operating leases representative of the interest component 34 46 51 46 44 44 Less: Equity in undistributed income of 20-50% owned companies 7 -- 1 2 -- (1) ----- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- TOTAL EARNINGS AVAILABLE FOR FIXED CHARGES $2,976 $2,638 $2,357 $2,164 $1,975 $1,927 FIXED CHARGES Interest on debt 74 79 102 70 39 61 Interest component of the ESOP benefit expense 24 34 37 39 41 42 Portion of rent under operating leases representative of the interest component 34 46 51 46 44 44 ---- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ TOTAL FIXED CHARGES $ 132 $ 159 $ 190 $ 155 $ 124 $ 147 RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 22.55 16.59 12.41 13.96 15.93 13.11