EX-12 3 deluxe045115_ex12.htm Exhibit 12 to Deluxe Corporation Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2004

Exhibit 12

Deluxe Corporation
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Year Ended December 31,
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
Earnings:                            

Income from continuing operations before
  
  income taxes   $ 244,562   $ 299,380   $ 340,722   $ 297,534   $ 273,429   $ 322,582  

Interest expense (excluding capitalized interest)
    19,303    19,241    5,079    5,691    11,900    8,852  

Portion of rent expense under long-term operating
  
 leases representative of an interest factor    1,663    2,478    3,058    3,540    3,520    7,728  







Total earnings
    $ 265,528   $ 321,099   $ 348,859   $ 306,765   $ 288,849   $ 339,162  


Fixed charges:
  

Interest expense (including capitalized interest)
   $ 19,387   $ 19,241   $ 5,139   $ 5,691   $ 11,900   $ 9,925  

Portion of rent expense under long-term operating
  
  leases representative of an interest factor    1,663    2,478    3,058    3,540    3,520    7,728  







Total fixed charges
    $ 21,050   $ 21,719   $ 8,197   $ 9,231   $ 15,420   $ 17,653  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
      12.6     14.8     42.6     33.2     18.7     19.2