EXHIBIT (i) ----------- PITNEY BOWES INC. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(1) (Dollars in thousands) Years Ended December 31, --------------------------------------------------------------- 1998 1997(2) 1996(2) 1995(2) 1994(2) ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Income from continuing operations before income taxes....................... $ 864,177 $775,527 $657,170 $597,471 $547,341 Add: Interest expense................... 168,558 162,993 163,176 196,436 171,057 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor............... 37,396 39,146 40,387 41,941 42,214 Amortization of capitalized interest.............. 973 914 914 914 914 Minority interest in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges..................... 12,425 11,322 8,121 5,013 - ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Income as adjusted.................. $1,083,529 $989,902 $869,768 $841,775 $761,526 ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges: Interest expense................... $ 168,558 $162,993 $163,176 $196,436 $171,057 Capitalized interest............... - - 1,201 2,178 733 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor............... 37,396 39,146 40,387 41,941 42,214 Minority interest, excluding taxes, in the income of subsidiary with fixed charges...................... 18,906 17,251 11,792 7,613 - ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- $ 224,860 $219,390 $216,556 $248,168 $214,004 ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of earning to fixed charges...................... 4.82 4.51 4.02 3.39 3.56 ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges excluding minority interest........................... 5.20 4.84 4.21 3.48 3.56 ========== ======== ======== ======== ======== (1) The computation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing income from continuing operations before income taxes as adjusted by fixed charges. Included in fixed charges is one-third of rental expense as the representative portion of interest. (2) Amounts reclassified to reflect CPLC in discontinued operations.