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<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     Exhibit 12

                                         GE GLOBAL INSURANCE HOLDING CORPORATION
                                                    AND SUBSIDIARIES

                                    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges


                                                                        Year ended December 31,
                                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------- 
 (In millions)                                        1997          1996           1995          1994          1993
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>    
Earnings:
   Earnings before income taxes                     $  882          $780           $561          $409          $395 
   Fixed charges
     Minority interest in net earnings of
       consolidated subsidiaries (1)                    83            84             95            97            92
     Interest expense (2)                               47            47             20             3             2
                                                    ------          ----           ----          ----          ----      
                                                    $1,012          $911           $676          $509          $489
                                                    ======          ====           ====          ====          ====

Fixed charges:
   Minority interest in net earnings of
     consolidated subsidiaries (3)                    $113          $110           $115          $108          $111
   Interest expense (2)                                 47            47             20             3             2
                                                      ----          ----           ----          ----          ----      
                                                      $160          $157           $135          $111          $113
                                                      ====          ====           ====          ====          ====

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    6.33          5.80           5.01          4.59          4.33
                                                      ====          ====           ====          ====          ====
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(1)  Minority  interest in net earnings of  consolidated  subsidiaries  includes
     earnings from purchased affiliates and dividends on subsidiary's  preferred
     stock.

(2)  Interest  expense  includes an amount for  one-third  of the annual  rental
     expense  which the Company  believes is a reasonable  approximation  of the
     interest factor for such rentals.

(3)  The  fixed  charges  amounts  for  minority  interest  in net  earnings  of
     consolidated subsidiaries represent the pretax earnings amounts which would
     be required to cover such fixed charges as calculated below:

                      Earnings From Purchased Affiliates or
                Subsidiary's Preferred Stock Dividend Requirement
                -------------------------------------------------
                             100% - Income Tax Rate

     The  income  tax rate is based on the  relationship  of the  provision  for
     income tax  expense to  earnings  before  income  taxes for the  respective
     period.


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