Pma Capital (PMACA) 10-Q 2004 Q3 Quarterly report

                             EXHIBIT 12

                                     COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

	For the nine months ended September 30,
(dollar amounts in thousands)		2004		2003
EARNINGS
Pre-tax income	$	18,923	$	(75,764	)
Fixed charges		9,923		7,928
Total	$	28,846	$	(67,836	)
FIXED CHARGES
Interest expense and amortization of debt discount
and premium on all indebtedness	$	8,872	$	6,936
Interest portion of rental expenses		1,051		992
Total fixed charges	$	9,923	$	7,928
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		2.9 x		(a	)

(a) Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $75.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.

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