Exhibit 12 COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (amounts in thousands of dollars) Six Months Year Ended December 31, Ended June 30, ---------------------------------- -------------- 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998 1999 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations....... $4,029 $4,455 $4,348 $4,365 $ 601 $3,098 $ 4,457 Rent....................... 780 1,043 1,116 1,131 1,630 620 3,059 Interest expense........... 77 106 722 841 6,519 653 8,283 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- Adjusted income.............. $4,886 $5,604 $6,186 $6,337 $8,750 $4,371 $15,799 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= Fixed Charges: Interest expense and amortization of debt discount/premium.......... $ 77 $ 106 $ 722 $ 841 $6,519 $ 653 $ 8,283 Rental expense--20% of total..................... 156 209 223 226 326 124 612 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------- Total applicable fixed charges................. $ 233 $ 315 $ 945 $1,067 $6,845 $ 777 $ 8,895 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ======= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges..................... 20.97 17.81 6.54 5.94 1.28 5.6 1.8 ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== =======