EXHIBIT 12 GE FINANCIAL ASSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 26, 1998 (UNAUDITED) RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Dollar amounts in millions) ------------------ Net earnings ............................................................................. $ 353 Provision for income taxes ............................................................... 209 Minority interest ........................................................................ -- ----- Earnings before provision for income taxes and minority interest ......................... 562 ----- Fixed charges: Interest ................................................................................ 68 One-third of rentals .................................................................... 13 ----- Total fixed charges ...................................................................... 81 ----- Less interest capitalized, net of amortization ........................................... -- ----- Earnings before provision for income taxes and minority interest, plus fixed charges ..... $ 643 ===== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges ....................................................... 7.9 ===== For purposes of computing the ratios, fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness and one-third of rentals, which management believes is a reasonable approximation of the interest factor of such rentals. 11