**Exhibit 12.1**

**COMPUTATIONOF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES**

($ in thousands)

 
| ** **                                                                                        | ** ** | **Fiscal years ended December 31,** | ** ** |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------|---------------------------------------------------------|------------|
| ** **                                                                                        | ** ** | **2006**                                                | ** ** | **2005** | ** ** | **2004** | ** ** | **2003** | ** ** | **2002** | ** ** |
|                                                                                              |       |                                                    |       |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Income (loss) from  continuing operations,before taxes and minority interest                      |       | $                                                       | 212,405    |   | $ | 71,069 |   | $ | 52,579 |   | $ | (12,745 | ) | $ | 47,380 |   |
|                                                                                              |       |                                                    |       |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Fixed charges:                                                                                    |       |                                                    |       |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Total interest  including amortization of debt discount and issue costs and amounts  capitalized  |       | $                                                       | 157,278    |   | $ | 145,467 |   | $ | 145,521 |   | $ | 151,568 |   | $ | 153,169 |   |
| Rentals                                                                                           |       | 3,932                                                   |       | 3,969 |   | 5,274 |   | 3,517 |   | 3,018 |   |
| Total fixed charges                                                                               |       | $                                                       | 161,210    |   | $ | 149,436 |   | $ | 150,795 |   | $ | 155,085 |   | $ | 156,187 |   |
|                                                                                              |       |                                                    |       |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Earnings before income  or loss from equity earnings plus fixed charges less capitalized interest |       | $                                                       | 373,002    |   | $ | 220,552 |   | $ | 203,469 |   | $ | 142,528 |   | $ | 203,486 |   |
|                                                                                              |       |                                                    |       |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |
| Ratio of earnings to  fixed charges (a)                                                           |       | 2.3                                                     | x          | 1.5 | x | 1.3 | x | — |   | 1.3 | x |

 

 

(a) Due to losses duringthe fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, the ratio coverage for that period wasless

than 1:1. The coverage deficiency was $26.6 million.

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