Exhibit 12. Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges Predecessor The Company ------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Year ended September 30, Year ended September 30, Six Months ended March 31, 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998 -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- --------- Fixed charges: Interest expense 81 380 723 1,013 2,962 1,411 2,201 Portion of rental expense representative of interest 137 167 465 883 1,267 569 761 -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- --------- Total fixed charges 218 547 1,188 1,896 4,229 1,980 2,962 ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ======== ========= Earnings: Income (loss) before income taxes $ (2,984) $ 1,212 $ 852 $ 7,112 $ 8,250 $ 3,439 $ 5,055 Fixed charges 218 547 1,188 1,896 4,229 1,980 2,962 -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- -------- --------- Total earnings (2,766) 1,759 2,040 9,008 12,479 5,419 8,017 ======== ======== ========= ========= ======== ======== ========= Ration of earnings to fixed charges (1) 3.2 to 1 1.7 to 1 4.8 to 1 3.0 to 1 2.7 to 1 2.7 to 1 Excess of fixed charges over earnings $ 2,984 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A (1) Earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges