EX-12.1 4 a2124119zex-12_1.htm EXHIBIT 12.1
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document


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,
   Nine Months Ended
September 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 ) $ (42,629 ) $ (15,580 )
 
Portion of rents representative of interest factor
 
 
1,368
 
 
1,798
 
 
1,821
 
 
288
 
 
2,109
 
 
2,378
 
 
2,475
 
 
1,855
 
 
1,832
 
 
Interest on indebtedness
 
 
27,862
 
 
39,888
 
 
38,161
 
 
13,765
 
 
51,926
 
 
55,499
 
 
51,211
 
 
38,797
 
 
40,383
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Earnings (loss) before fixed charges
 
 
2,058
 
 
29,670
 
 
50,682
 
 
(8,764
)
 
41,918
 
 
57
 
 
(19,314
)
 
(1,977
)
 
26,635
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Fixed charges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Portion of rents representative of interest factor
 
 
1,368
 
 
1,798
 
 
1,821
 
 
288
 
 
2,109
 
 
2,378
 
 
2,475
 
 
1,855
 
 
1,832
 
 
Interest on indebtedness
 
 
27,862
 
 
39,888
 
 
38,161
 
 
13,765
 
 
51,926
 
 
55,499
 
 
51,211
 
 
38,797
 
 
40,383
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Total fixed charges
 
 
29,230
 
 
41,686
 
 
39,982
 
 
14,053
 
 
54,035
 
 
57,877
 
 
53,686
 
 
40,652
 
 
42,215
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

Deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges by earnings before fixed charges
 
$
(27,172
)
$
(12,016
)
 
—
 
$
(22,817
)
$
(12,117
)
$
(57,820
)
$
(73,000
)
$
(42,629
)
$
(15,580
)
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


QuickLinks

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