EXHIBIT 12.1
ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC.
COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
SIX MONTHS PRO FORMA
PRO FORMA ENDED SIX MONTHS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, ENDED
--------------------------------------------- DECEMBER 31, -------------- JUNE 30,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------------ ------ ------- ----------
Pretax income (loss)
from continuing
operations before
minority interests..... $(44,759) $(58,901) $ (978) $(4,869) $(8,309) $(12,965) $ 739 $(4,941) $(2,259)
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense....... 10,835 13,003 16,328 13,699 14,649 35,900 7,163 10,376 17,972
Amortization of debt
discounts............. 4,878 3,901 2,926 813 -- 31 -- 6 20
Amortization of
deferred debt cost.... 1,829 1,371 517 146 934 720 448 461 360
Interest factor on
rental expense........ 960 940 815 788 900 900 450 432 432
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------
Total fixed charges..... 18,502 19,215 20,586 15,446 16,483 37,551 8,061 11,275 18,784
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------
Pretax earnings (loss)
before fixed charges... (26,257) (39,686) 19,608 10,577 8,174 24,586 8,800 6,334 16,525
-------- -------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------ ------- -------
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges......... -- -- -- -- -- -- 1.09 --
Deficiency of earnings
to cover fixed
charges................ $ 44,759 $ 58,901 $ 978 $ 4,869 $ 8,309 $ 12,965 $ 4,941 $ 2,259