EXHIBIT 12.1
BETTER MINERALS & AGGREGATES COMPANY
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollars in Thousands)
Predecessor(a) Successor
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
January 1 February 10
through through
February 9 December 31
1995 1996 1996 1997 1998 1999
-------------------- ------------- --------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------
Earnings
- --------
Income (loss) before
income taxes.......... $11,415 $517 $(3,621) $(1,961) $(16,871) $ 1,032
Fixed charges.......... 252 21 10,143 10,578 10,401 19,870
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total earnings......... $11,667 $538 $ 6,522 $ 8,617 $ (6,470) $20,902
=====================================================================================================
Fixed Charges
- -------------
Interest expense....... $ 162 $13 $10,074 $10,513 $ 10,269 $19,590
Estimated interest in 90 8 69 65 132 280
rental expense........
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total fixed charges.... $ 252 $21 $10,143 $10,578 $10,401 $19,870
=====================================================================================================
Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges......... 46.3 25.6 (b) (b) (b) 1.1
(a) Amounts are not comparable to subsequent periods.
(b) Earnings used in computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges consist of
income (loss) before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist
of interest expense, including amortization of debt issuance costs and
original issue discounts, and a portion of operating lease rental expense
deemed to be representative of the interest factor. Earnings were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $3.6 million, $2.0 million and $16.9
million for the period from February 10, 1996 to December 31, 1996 and the
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.