EXHIBIT 12.1 COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES The Predecessor The Company - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Year 1/1/93 3/1/93 Year 1/1/95 9/8/95 Year Ended Through Through Ended Through Through Ended 12/31/92 2/28/93 12/31/93 12/31/94 9/8/95 6/30/96 6/30/97 - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ (in thousands) (in thousands) Earnings: Pretax income from continuing operations $ (5,385) $ (2,186) $ (4,908) $ (5,947) $ (5,485) $ 5,057 $ 5,885 Total fixed charges 4,439 853 2,846 3,636 2,963 1,375 5,343 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Earnings (1) $ (946) $ (1,333) $ (2,062) $ (2,311) $ (2,522) $ 6,432 $ 11,228 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed Charges: Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing fees $ 3,728 $ 725 $ 2,182 $ 3,170 $ 2,576 $ 687 $ 4,179 Interest element of rentals (2) 711 128 664 466 387 688 1,164 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total Fixed Charges (1) $ 4,439 $ 853 $ 2,846 $ 3,636 $ 2,963 $ 1,375 $ 5,343 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (0.21) (1.56) (0.72) (0.64) (0.85) 4.68 2.10 Dollar Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges (3) (5,385) (2,186) (4,908) (5,947) (5,485) - - Note: 1. In computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges: (a) "earnings" have been based on income from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges and (b) "fixed charges" consists of interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing fees and the estimated interest portion of rents. 2. The interest portion of rent expense was assumed to be one-third of the total rental expense. 3. For the year ended December 31, 1992, the periods from January 1, 1993 through February 28, 1993 and March 1, 1993 through December 31, 1993, the year ended December 31, 1994 and the period January 1, 1995 through September 8, 1995, earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges.