You cannot simply convert older Whatsapp message backups (for example .crypt7) to a later variant (.crypt12) nor you can import it to already Whatsapp.
However, you can trick Whatapp so it restores the backup by putting the .crypt7 in the default folder on external storage, uninstalling WhatsApp and reinstalling it. This will prompt old backup import wizard and convert the backups to the latest available version, which may even be higher than .crypt12.