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Exhibit 12.1
 Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)
 Pro Forma CombinedNine Months
    
    
    Year
    
    
    
    Nine MonthsEnded
    
    
    Ended
    
    
    
    Ended
    
    
    
    Years Ended October 31,October 31,July 31, 2007
    
    
    2006
    
    
    
    July 31, 2007
    
    
    
    2006
    
    
    2005
    
    
    2004
    
    
    2003
    
    
    2002Earnings from continuing
operations before income
taxes
    
    $
    48,958
    
    
    $
    61,233
    
    
    
    $
    48,235
    (3)
    
    
    $
    58,790
    (4)
    
    $
    11,837
    (5)(6)
    
    $
    49,004
    (7)
    
    $
    4,902
    (8)
    
    $
    17,449
    (9)(10)Fixed charges:Interest charges (1)
    
    
    18,551
    
    
    
    27,190
    
    
    
    
    20,051
    
    
    
    
    30,203
    
    
    
    30,793
    
    
    
    47,735
    
    
    
    53,962
    
    
    
    62,296Interest portion of lease
expense (2)
    
    
    1,102
    
    
    
    1,604
    
    
    
    
    1,102
    
    
    
    
    1,604
    
    
    
    1,567
    
    
    
    1,918
    
    
    
    1,933
    
    
    
    2,258Total fixed charges
    
    $
    19,653
    
    
    $
    28,794
    
    
    
    
    21,153
    
    
    
    
    31,807
    
    
    
    32,360
    
    
    
    49,653
    
    
    
    55,895
    
    
    
    64,554Earnings from continuing
operations before income
taxes and fixed charges,
less capitalized interest
    
    $
    68,611
    
    
    $
    90,027
    
    
    
    $
    68,611
    (3)
    
    
    $
    90,027
    (4)
    
    $
    43,864
    (5)(6)
    
    $
    98,257
    (7)
    
    $
    60,478
    (8)
    
    $
    81,687
    (9)(10)Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges
    
    
    3.49
    
    
    
    3.13
    
    
    
    
    3.24
    (3)
    
    
    
    2.83
    (4)
    
    
    1.36
    (5)(6)
    
    
    1.98
    (7)
    
    
    1.08
    (8)
    
    
    1.27
    (9)(10)


(1)
    
    Includes capitalized interest expense of $570 for the nine months ended July 31, 2007 and $777, $333, $400,
$319 and $316 for 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.(2)
    
    The interest portion of lease expense is one-third of total lease expense.(3)
    
    Includes a charge of $2,343 related to Hurricane Katrina, a charge of $580 for separation charges primarily
related to separation pay of a former executive officer who retired in the first quarter of 2007 and $677 for the
loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the June 2007 senior convertible debt transaction.(4)
    
    Includes a net recovery of $1,628 related to Hurricane Katrina expenses, business interruption insurance
proceeds of $3,169 related to Hurricane Katrina, a charge of $991 for separation charges related to the July
2005 restructuring of the Companys divisions and retirement of an executive officer and ($353) of gains on
dispositions, net of impairment losses.(5)
    
    Excludes cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $153,180 (net of a $101,061 income tax
benefit).(6)
    
    Includes a charge of $9,366 for net expenses related to Hurricane Katrina, a charge of $1,507 for separation
charges related to the July 2005 restructuring of the Companys divisions, $1,234 of gains on disposition, net of
impairment losses and $32,822 for the loss on early extinguishment of debt related to the 2005 debt
refinancings.(7)
    
    Includes a charge of $3,435 for severance and other charges relating to the workforce reduction announced in
December 2003 and separation payments to a former executive and ($225) of gains on dispositions, net of
impairment losses.(8)
    
    Includes a charge of $11,289 for the loss on early extinguishment of debt recorded in connection with the
redemption of the Remarketable Or Redeemable Securities, a noncash charge of $9,562 recorded in connection
with long-lived asset impairment and $2,450 of separation payments to former executives.(9)
    
    Includes a noncash charge of $18,500 recorded in connection with the write-down of assets held for sale.(10)
    
    Excludes cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $193,090 (net of a $16,310 income tax benefit).