EXHIBIT 12.1
ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES/DEFICIENCY
IN THE COVERAGE OF FIXED CHARGES BY EARNINGS BEFORE FIXED CHARGES
PREDECESSOR
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FISCAL FIVE MONTHS SEVEN MONTHS YEAR ENDED
YEAR ENDED ENDED ENDED DECEMBER 31,
DECEMBER 31 MAY 31, DECEMBER 31 ---------------------------------
1995 1996 1996 1997 1998 1999
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(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Earnings before fixed charges:
Income (loss) before income taxes $ (978) $ 4,469 $ (9,338) $ (8,312) $(27,172) $(12,016)
Portion of rents representative of interest
factor 1,029 382 575 1,024 1,368 1,798
Interest on indebtedness 19,613 6,963 7,511 15,117 27,862 39,888
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Earnings (loss) before fixed charge $ 19,664 $ 11,814 $ (1,252) $ 7,829 $ 2,058 $ 29,670
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Fixed charges:
Portion of rents representative of interest
factor $ 1,029 $ 382 $ 575 $ 1,024 $ 1,368 $ 1,798
Interest on indebtedness 19,613 6,963 7,511 15,117 27,862 39,888
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Total fixed charges $ 20,642 $ 7,345 $ 8,086 $ 16,141 $ 29,230 $ 41,686
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges - 1.6 - - - -
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Deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges
by earnings before fixed charges $ (978) - (9,338) (8,312) (27,172) (12,016)
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PREDECESSOR ADVANSTAR
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FOR THE PERIOD FOR THE PERIOD
FROM JANUARY 1, FROM OCTOBER 12,
2000 THROUGH 2000 THROUGH
OCTOBER 11, DECEMBER 31, COMBINED
2000 2000 2000
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(UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Earnings before fixed charges:
Income (loss) before income taxes $ 10,700 $ (21,517) $ (10,817)
Portion of rents representative of interest
factor 1,821 288 2,109
Interest on indebtedness 38,161 13,765 51,926
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Earnings (loss) before fixed charge $ 50,682 $ (7,464) $ 43,218
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Fixed charges:
Portion of rents representative of interest
factor $ 1,821 $ 288 $ 2,109
Interest on indebtedness 38,161 13,765 51,926
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Total fixed charges $ 39,982 $ 14,053 $ 54,035
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 1.3 - -
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Deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges
by earnings before fixed charges - (21,517) (10,817)
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