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EXHIBIT 12.1
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
<Table>
<Caption>
PREDECESSOR REORGANIZED
---------------------------------------------- -----------
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
--------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
------- -------- -------- -------- -----------
Earnings to fixed charges
calculation(1)
Income (loss) from continuing
operations before income
taxes......................... $10,021 $(17,133) $(11,870) $(31,411) $ 7,495
Fixed charges................... 44,898 44,380 44,515 48,407 34,392
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
$54,919 $ 27,247 $ 32,645 $ 16,996 $41,887
======= ======== ======== ======== =======
Fixed charges:
Interest expense................ $43,949 $ 43,454 $ 43,466 $ 47,445 $33,392
Interest portion of rent
expense....................... 949 926 1,049 962 1,000
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
$44,898 $ 44,380 $ 44,515 $ 48,407 $34,392
======= ======== ======== ======== =======
Ratio of earning to fixed
charges....................... 1.22 N/A(2) N/A(2) N/A(2) 1.22
</Table>
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(1) For purposes of the computation, the ratio of earnings to fixed charges has
been calculated by dividing (a) income from continuing operations before
income taxes plus fixed charges by (b) fixed charges. Fixed charges are
equal to interest expense plus the portion of the rent expense estimated to
represent interest
(2) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges for the years ended
September 30, 2001, 2002 and 2003 by $17.1 million, $11.9 million, and $31.4
million, respectively.