Exhibit (12) Pitney Bowes Inc. Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1) ----------------------------------------------------- (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, --------------------------------- ------------------------------- 2003 2002 2003 2002 -------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- Income before income taxes................................. $ 171,794 $ 213,785 $ 511,037 $ 610,635 Add: Interest expense....................................... 41,810 45,005 126,323 142,150 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor..................................... 10,724 10,878 33,413 31,408 Amortization of capitalized interest............................................ 369 368 1,105 979 Minority interest in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges.................................. 876 1,377 2,974 4,006 -------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- Income as adjusted......................................... $ 225,573 $ 271,413 $ 674,852 $ 789,178 ============== ============== ============== ============= Fixed charges: Interest expense....................................... $ 41,810 $ 45,005 $ 126,323 $ 142,150 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor..................................... 10,724 10,878 33,413 31,408 Minority interest, excluding taxes, in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges....................... 1,270 2,004 4,327 5,831 -------------- -------------- -------------- ------------- Total fixed charges................................. $ 53,804 $ 57,887 $ 164,063 $ 179,389 ============== ============== ============== ============= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges......................... 4.19 4.69 4.11 4.40 ============== ============== ============== ============= <FN> (1) The computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing income before income taxes as adjusted by fixed charges. Included in fixed charges is one-third of rental expense as the representative portion of interest. </FN>