<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.1
CENDANT CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
-------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings before fixed charges:
Income (loss) before income taxes and minority
interest.............................................. $(740) $ 394 $ 289 $ 628 $ 446
Plus: Fixed charges.................................. 617 644 396 321 295
Less: Equity income in unconsolidated affiliates..... 18 14 51 -- --
Capitalized interest........................... -- -- -- 1 --
Minority interest in mandatorily redeemable
preferred trust securities issued by
subsidiary holding solely senior debentures
issued by the Company ........................ 96 80 -- -- --
-------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------
Earnings available to cover fixed charges ............. $(237) $ 944 $ 634 $ 948 $ 741
======== ========== ========== ======= ======
Fixed charges(1):
Interest, including amortization of deferred financing
costs ................................................ $ 460 $ 506 $ 379 $ 298 $ 278
Capitalized interest .................................. -- -- 1 --
Other charges, financing costs ........................ 28 -- -- --
Minority interest in mandatorily redeemable preferred
trust securities issued by subsidiary holding solely
senior debentures issued by the Company .............. 96 80 -- -- --
Interest portion of rental payment .................... 61 30 17 22 17
-------- ---------- ---------- ------- ------
Total fixed charges ................................... $ 617 $ 644 $ 396 $ 321 $ 295
======== ========== ========== ======= ======
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges .................... (*) 1.47x(2) 1.60x(2) 2.95x 2.51x
======== ========== ========== ======= ======
</TABLE>
------------
(1) Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness
(including amortization of deferred financing costs) and the portion of
operating lease rental expense that is representative of the interest
factor (deemed to be one-third of operating lease rentals).
(2) For the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997, income from continuing
operations before income taxes, minority interest, extraordinary gain
and cumulative effect of accounting change includes other charges of
$810 million (exclusive of financing costs of $28 million) and $701
million, respectively. Excluding such charges, the ratio of earnings to
fixed charges for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 is 2.72x
and 3.37x, respectively.
(*) Earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges for the year ended
December 31, 1999 (deficiency of $854 million) as a result of unusual
charges of $2,947 million offset by $967 million net gain on
dispositions of businesses. Excluding such charges and net gain on
dispositions of businesses, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges is
2.82x.
