Unum Group Financing Trust I S-3 Shelf registration

Exhibit 12.1

Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 (1)			Year Ended December 31
				2003 (1)			2002		2001		2000		1999 (1)
	(in millions, except ratios)
Earnings
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Income Tax and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Principle Change	$	(402.3	)	$	(435.2	)	$	593.2	$	753.8	$	821.2	$	(159.0	)
Fixed Charges		179.3			221.1			202.3		218.1		228.1		213.3
Adjusted Earnings	$	(223.0	)	$	(214.1	)	$	795.5	$	971.9	$	1,049.3	$	54.3
Fixed Charges
Interest and Debt Expense	$	154.1		$	187.2		$	162.4	$	169.6	$	181.8	$	137.8
Interest Credited to Policyholders		10.5			16.7			23.8		30.4		32.3		59.3
Amortization of Deferred Debt Costs		5.3			5.4			3.3		7.1		2.4		2.4
Portion of Rents Deemed Representative of Interest		9.4			11.8			12.8		11.0		11.6		13.8
Total Fixed Charges	$	179.3		$	221.1		$	202.3	$	218.1	$	228.1	$	213.3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		N.M.			N.M.			3.9		4.5		4.6		0.3

N.M. = not a meaningful percentage

(1) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The coverage deficiency totaled $402.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, $435.2 million for 2003, and $159.0 million for 1999.