EXHIBIT 12 COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES Year Ended December 31, ----------------------- 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Fixed charges: Rent expense $ 26,829 $ 17,007 $ 14,111 $ 12,261 $ 11,070 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Portion of rent representative of an interest factor (1/3) $ 8,943 $ 5,669 $ 4,699 $ 4,087 $ 3,690 Interest expense 29,262 17,225 9,622 7,216 6,160 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Total fixed charges 38,205 22,894 14,321 11,303 9,850 Income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary items (A) (1,737) 2,523 5,347 1,200 2,972 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Earnings before fixed charges (B) $ 36,468 $ 25,417 $ 19,668 $ 12,503 $ 12,822 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1,737)/(1)/ 1.11x 1.37x 1.11x 1.30x -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- /(1)/ Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by the amount indicated.