Exhibit 12

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(in thousands, except ratios)

	Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
	2000		2001		2002		2003		2004
FIXED CHARGES
Interest expensed and capitalized	$	22,962	$	21,051	$	20,064	$	21,376	$	21,445
Amortized premiums related to indebtedness		683		923		818		928		902
Estimate of interest within rental expense		349		338		3,252		4,422		4,333
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES	$	23,994	$	22,312	$	24,134	$	26,726	$	26,680
EARNINGS
ADD
Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations before minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries or income (loss) from equity investees	$	13,513	$	29,300	$	(40,537)	$	(8,641)	$	18,795
Fixed charges		23,994		22,312		24,134		26,726		26,680
TOTAL ADJUSTED EARNINGS	$	37,507	$	51,612	$	(16,403)	$	18,085	$	45,475
RATIO OF ADJUSTED EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		1.56x		2.31x		—		—		1.70x
DEFICIENCY OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		—		—	$	(40,537)	$	(8,641)		—