Exhibit 12.1 Merrill Corporation Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fix Charges Pro Forma ----------------------- Nine months Nine months ended Year ended ended Year ended January 31, October 31, January 31, October 31, ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1998 1999 1999 1999 ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- Income before provision for income taxes........ $ 21,154 $ 18,706 $ 32,484 $ 46,466 $ 47,671 $ 41,813 $ 35,549 $ 19,684 $ 15,267 ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- Fixed charges........... 2,742 2,807 6,157 7,068 7,035 5,090 7,733 43,732 33,718 ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- Ratio of Earnings to Fix Charges.......... 8.7x 7.7x 6.3x 7.6x 7.8x 9.2x 5.6x 1.5x 1.5x ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------- -----------------------