STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                           (Dollars in Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     Year Ended     Year Ended    Year Ended     Year Ended    Year Ended
                                      March 31,      March 31,     March 31,      March 31,     March 31,
                                        1999           1998          1997           1996          1995
                                    ------------   ------------  ------------   ------------  ------------
<S>                               <C>               <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>

Consolidated pretax loss from
   continuing operations          $      (7,839)     (27,122)      (26,005)      (21,431)        (1,869)

Net amortization of debt
issuance expense                          1,412        2,292         1,784         2,139          2,174

Interest expense                         34,830       36,664        34,505        30,549         23,578

Interest portion of rental
expense                                   2,301        2,130         1,799         1,618          1,392
                                     ------------   ------------  ------------   ------------  ------------

Earnings                          $      30,704       13,964        12,083        12,875         25,275
                                     ============   ============  ============   ============  ============


Interest expense                  $      34,830       36,664        34,505        30,549         23,578

Net amortization of debt
issuance expense                          1,412        2,292         1,784         2,139          2,174

Interest portion of rental
expense                                   2,301        2,130         1,799         1,618          1,392
                                     ------------   ------------  ------------   ------------  ------------

   Fixed Charges                  $      38,543       41,086        38,088        34,306         27,144
                                     ============   ============  ============   ============  ============


   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
    Charges                               (a)            (a)           (a)            (a)           (a)
                                     ============   ============  ============   ============  ============
</TABLE>

(a)    The deficiency in earnings required to cover fixed charges for the fiscal
       years ended March 31, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, and 1995 was $7,839,
       $27,122, $26,005, $21,431 and $1,869, respectively. The deficiency in
       earnings to cover fixed charges is computed by subtracting earnings
       before fixed charges, income taxes, discounted operations and
       extraordinary items from fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest
       expense and one-third of operating lease rental expense, which is deemed
       to be representative of the interest factor. The deficiency in earnings
       required to cover fixed charges includes depreciation of property, plant
       and equipment and amortization of goodwill and other assets and non-cash
       charges which are reflected in cost of sales and selling, general and
       administrative expenses, in the following amounts (in thousands):

                                   Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
                      -------------------------------------------------------
                       1999         1998       1997        1996       1995
                      --------     -------    --------    -------   ---------
Depreciation        $  29,651    $ 28,124   $ 25,282    $ 21,385   $ 18,327
Amortization            4,025      10,413      9,374       9,311      8,941
Non-cash
charges(gain)           1,150       2,301      1,944       3,435     (3,311)
                      --------     -------    --------    -------    --------
  Total             $  34,826    $ 40,838   $ 36,600    $ 34,131   $ 23,957
                      ========     =======    ========    =======    ========