<PAGE> 1
TYPE: EX-12.1
DESCRIPTION: STATEMENTS RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
EXHIBIT 12.1
AEARO CORPORATION
CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
(UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended September 30.
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EARNINGS:
Pre tax income (loss) from continuing
operations ............................... $ 6,477 $ (5,959) $ (9,242) $ 10,297 $ 12,624
Fixed Charges ............................ 22,153 28,419 27,984 26,152 26,497
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Earnings as defined ...................... $ 28,630 $ 22,460 $ 18,742 $ 36,449 $ 39,121
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
FIXED CHARGE:
Interest Expense, net .................... $ 20,703 $ 26,665 $ 26,152 $ 24,322 $ 24,387
Interest component of operating lease..... 1,450 1,754 1,832 1,830 2,110
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Fixed charges as defined ................. $ 22,153 $ 28,419 $ 27,984 $ 26,152 $ 26,497
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ....... 1.3 -- -- 1.4 1.5
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Note: Ratio of earnings to fixed charges is defined
pre-tax income from continuing operations
plus fixed charges divided by fixed charges.
Fixed charges include interest (including
amortization of debt issuance costs) and a
portion of rental expense assumed to
represent interest. Earnings for the years
ended September 30, 1997 and 1998 were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $6.0
million and $9.2 million, respectively.
