Exhibit 12.1 Earnings to Fixed Charges Calculation Six months to 31-Mar Fiscal year ended September 30 ------ ------------------------------ 1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Earnings Per Financial Statements 367,558 370,111 560,151 502,725 327,619 247,369 (45,678) Add (deduct): Provision for income taxes 10,494 13,198 20,040 25,181 26,543 7,673 - Fixed charges 10,071 7,369 27,059 13,290 11,314 5,536 333 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earnings for Computation 388,123 390,678 607,250 541,196 365,476 260,578 (45,345) ========================================================================================== Fixed Charges - ------------- Interest expense 9,271 6,553 25,459 11,657 10,481 5,036 - One third of payments under operating leases. 800 816 1,600 1,633 833 500 333 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Fixed Charges 10,071 7,369 27,059 13,290 11,314 5,536 333 ========================================================================================= Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges 38.54 53.02 22.44 40.72 32.30 47.07 (136.17) - ---------------------------------- =========================================================================================