EX-12.1 4 deluxe032008_ex12-1.htm COMP OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Deluxe Corporation, Exhibit 12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Exhibit 12.1

Deluxe Corporation
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Quarter Ended
March 31, 2003
Year Ended December 31,
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998






Earnings:                            
     
Income from continuing operations before    
  income taxes     $ 80,610   $ 340,722   $ 297,534   $ 273,429   $ 322,582   $ 256,305  
     
Interest expense (excluding capitalized interest)       4,367     5,079     5,691     11,900     8,852     8,672  
     
Portion of rent expense under long-term operating    
 leases representative of an interest factor       642     3,058     3,540     3,520     7,728     8,859  






     
Total earnings     $ 85,619   $ 348,859   $ 306,765   $ 288,849   $ 339,162   $ 273,836  
     
Fixed charges:    
     
Interest expense (including capitalized interest)     $ 4,367   $ 5,139   $ 5,691   $ 11,900   $ 9,925   $ 10,063  
     
Portion of rent expense under long-term operating    
  leases representative of an interest factor       642     3,058     3,540     3,520     7,728     8,859  






     
Total fixed charges     $ 5,009   $ 8,197   $ 9,231   $ 15,420   $ 17,653   $ 18,922  
     
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges       17.1     42.6     33.2     18.7     19.2     14.5