EX-12.1 6 a2118014zex-12_1.htm EXHIBIT 12.1
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Exhibit 12.1


Advanstar Communications Inc.

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges/Deficiency
In the Coverage of Fixed Charges by Earnings Before Fixed Charges

 
   Predecessor
   Advanstar
 
   Year ended
December 31,
   For the period
from January 1,
2000 through
October 11,
   For the period
from October 12,
2000 through
December 31,
   Combined
   Year ended
December 31,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   1998
   1999
   2000
   2000
   2000
   2001
   2002
   2002
   2003
 
    
    
    
    
   (unaudited)
    
    
    
    
 
    
    
    
   (dollars in thousands)

    
    
    
    
Earnings before fixed charges:                                                      
  Income (loss) before income taxes, extraordinary item and accounting change   $ (27,172 ) $ (12,016 ) $ 10,700   $ (22,817 ) $ (12,117 ) $ (57,820 ) $ (73,000 ) $ (44,321 ) $ 2,121
  Portion of rents representative of interest factor     1,368     1,798     1,821     288     2,109     2,378     2,475     1,235     1,217
  Interest on indebtedness     27,862     39,888     38,161     13,765     51,926     55,499     51,211     25,926     24,635
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Earnings (loss) before fixed charges     2,058     29,670     50,682     (8,764 )   41,918     57     (19,314 )   (17,160 )   27,973
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fixed charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portion of rents representative of interest factor
 
 
1,368
 
 
1,798
 
 
1,821
 
 
288
 
 
2,109
 
 
2,378
 
 
2,475
 
 
1,235
 
 
1,217
  Interest on indebtedness     27,862     39,888     38,161     13,765     51,926     55,499     51,211     25,926     24,635
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Total fixed charges     29,230     41,686     39,982     14,053     54,035     57,877     53,686     27,161     25,852
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
 
 
—
 
 
—
 
 
1.3
 
 
—
 
 
—
 
 
—
 
 
—
 
 
—
 
 
1.1
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges by earnings before fixed charges
 
$
(27,172
)
$
(12,016
)
 
—
 
$
(22,817
)
$
(12,117
)
$
(57,820
)
$
(73,000
)
$
(44,321
)
$
—
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Advanstar Communications Inc. Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges/Deficiency In the Coverage of Fixed Charges by Earnings Before Fixed Charges