EX-12.1 5 a2062750zex-12_1.htm EXHIBIT 12.1 Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


Exhibit 12.1

FIRST DATA CORPORATION
COMPUTATION OF PRO FORMA
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollars in Millions)

 
  Year Ended
December 31, 2000

  Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2001

 
Earnings:              
  Income before income taxes   $ 1,321.8 (1)(3) $ 798.4 (2)(3)
  Interest expense     85.7 (3)   97.5 (3)
  Other adjustments     46.3     37.1  
   
 
 

Total earnings (a)

 

$

1,453.8

(3)

$

933.0

(3)
   
 
 

Fixed charges:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest expense     85.7 (3)   97.5 (3)
  Other adjustments     46.3     37.1  
   
 
 

Total fixed charges (b)

 

$

132.0

(3)

$

134.6

(3)
   
 
 
Pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a ÷ b)     11.01 (3)   6.93 (3)

(1)
Includes net restructuring, business divestitures, litigation and impairment benefit of $71.3 million ($46.0 million after tax). The pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges without this benefit would have been 10.47x.

(2)
Includes net restructuring, business divestitures and impairment charges of $180.2 million ($116.2 million after tax). The pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges without these charges would have been 8.27x.

(3)
Pro forma ratios and amounts give effect to the sale of the notes and repayment of outstanding commercial paper and proportionate repayment of long-term debt with the estimated net proceeds from the offering as of the beginning of the periods.



QuickLinks