EXHIBIT 12.1
ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC.
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
THREE MONTHS PRO FORMA
PRO FORMA ENDED THREE MONTHS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, ENDED
--------------------------------------------- DECEMBER 31, -------------- MARCH 31,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------------ ------ ------ ------------
Pretax income from
continuing operations
before minority
interests.............. $(44,759) $(58,901) $ (978) $(4,869) $(8,309) $(8,510) $ (19) $ 474 $7,106
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense....... 10,835 13,003 16,328 13,699 14,649 31,100 3,530 3,827 7,773
Amortization of debt
discounts............. 4,878 3,901 2,926 813 -- 31 -- -- 10
Amortization of
deferred debt cost.... 1,829 1,371 517 146 934 720 229 238 180
Interest factor on
rental expense........ 960 940 815 788 900 900 225 216 216
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------
Total fixed charges..... 18,502 19,215 20,586 15,446 16,483 32,751 3,984 4,281 8,179
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------
Pretax earnings before
fixed charges.......... 26,257 39,686 19,608 10,577 8,174 24,241 3,965 4,755 15,285
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ ------ ------
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges......... -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.00 1.11 1.87
Deficiency of earnings
to cover fixed
charges................ $ 44,759 $ 58,901 $ 978 $ 4,869 $ 8,309 $ 8,510