EX-12.1 5 deluxe033672_ex12-1.htm Exhibit 12.1, Deluxe Corporation, Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Exhibit 12.1

Deluxe Corporation
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Year Ended December 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2003

2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
Earnings:                            

Income from continuing operations before
  
  income taxes   $ 235,430   $ 340,722   $ 297,534   $ 273,429   $ 322,582   $ 256,305  

Interest expense (excluding capitalized interest)
    14,205    5,079    5,691    11,900    8,852    8,672  

Portion of rent expense under long-term operating
  
 leases representative of an interest factor    1,870    3,058    3,540    3,520    7,728    8,859  







Total earnings
    $ 251,505   $ 348,859   $ 306,765   $ 288,849   $ 339,162   $ 273,836  

Fixed charges:
  

Interest expense (including capitalized interest)
   $ 14,205   $ 5,139   $ 5,691   $ 11,900   $ 9,925   $ 10,063  

Portion of rent expense under long-term operating
  
  leases representative of an interest factor    1,870    3,058    3,540    3,520    7,728    8,859  







Total fixed charges
    $ 16,075   $ 8,197   $ 9,231   $ 15,420   $ 17,653   $ 18,922  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
      15.6     42.6     33.2     18.7     19.2     14.5