EXHIBIT 12

                        UNUM CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                              (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)



                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                 --------------------------
                                                  1995      1994      1993
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
EARNINGS:
  Income from continuing operations before
   income taxes                                  $381.9    $198.6    $460.3
Add:
  Fixed charges                                    48.0      29.6      24.2
                                                 ------    ------    ------
Earnings as adjusted                             $429.9    $228.2    $484.5
                                                 ------    ------    ------
                                                 ------    ------    ------


FIXED CHARGES:
  Interest expense                               $ 37.2    $ 18.7    $ 12.7
  Interest portion of rent expense                 10.8      10.9      11.5
                                                 ------    ------    ------
Total fixed charges                              $ 48.0    $ 29.6    $ 24.2
                                                 ------    ------    ------
                                                 ------    ------    ------

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES                  9.0       7.7      20.0
                                                 ------    ------    ------
                                                 ------    ------    ------



For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings as
adjusted consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes plus
fixed charges.  Fixed charges consist of interest expense and the estimated
interest portion of rent expense.