Exhibit 12 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Year ended Nine months ended May 31, Year ended December 31, September 30, ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- 1993(1) 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997 ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- Earnings: Income (loss) from operations before income taxes (1,770) 1,003 6,343 5,925 7,056 4,870 8,495 Fixed charges, exclusive of capitalized interest 5,350 3,720 3,716 4,517 4,478 3,230 3,944 ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- 3,580 4,723 10,059 10,442 11,534 8,100 12,439 Fixed Charges: Interest 5,058 3,499 3,538 4,322 4,287 2,999 3,272 Amortization of deferred loan costs 104 104 67 67 73 127 553 Interest portion of rent expense 188 117 111 128 118 104 119 Interest expense relating to guaranteed debt of less than 50% owned affiliates 459 - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- Fixed charges exclusive of capitalized interest 5,809 3,720 3,716 4,517 4,478 3,230 3,944 Capitalized interest - - - - 59 9 778 ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------- 5,809 3,720 3,716 4,517 4,537 3,239 4,722 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 0.6 1.3 2.7 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.6 ============================================================ ============================ (1) Earnings were not sufficient to cover fixed charges to the extent of $2.3 million for the year ended May 31, 1993.