LIBERTY FINANCIAL COMPANIES, INC. EXHIBIT 12 - Statement re Computation of Ratios ($ in millions) Three Months Ended Six Months Ended June 30 June 30 ------------------ ------------------- 1998 1997 1998 1997 -------- -------- -------- --------- Earnings: Pretax income $ 43.5 $ 43.9 $ 88.9 $ 95.7 Add fixed charges: Interest on indebtedness 5.0 5.4 10.2 10.9 Portion of rent representing the interest factor 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.1 Accretion to face value of redeemable convertible preferred stock 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 -------- -------- -------- --------- Sub-total of income as adjusted 49.8 50.5 101.6 109.1 Interest on fixed annuities and financial products 140.2 147.2 282.3 294.5 -------- -------- -------- --------- Total income as adjusted $ 190.0 $ 197.7 $ 383.9 $ 403.6 ======== ======== ======== ========= Fixed charges: Interest on indebtedness $ 5.0 $ 5.4 $ 10.2 $ 10.9 Portion of rent representing the interest factor 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.1 Accretion to face value of redeemable convertible preferred stock 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.4 -------- -------- -------- --------- Sub-total of fixed charges 6.3 6.6 12.7 13.4 Interest on fixed annuities and financial products 140.2 147.2 282.3 294.5 -------- -------- -------- --------- Combined fixed charges 146.5 153.8 295.0 307.9 Preferred stock dividends 0.4 0.4 0.7 0.7 -------- -------- -------- --------- Fixed charges and preferred stock dividends $ 146.9 $ 154.2 $ 295.7 $ 308.6 ======== ======== ======== ========= Ratio of earnings to fixed charges: Excluding interest on fixed annuities and financial products 7.90x 7.65x 8.00x 8.14x ======== ======== ======== ========= Including interest on fixed annuities and financial products 1.30x 1.29x 1.30x 1.31x ======== ======== ======== ========= Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends: Excluding interest on fixed annuities and financial products 7.43x 7.21x 7.58x 7.74x ======== ======== ======== ========= Including interest on fixed annuities and financial products 1.29x 1.28x 1.30x 1.31x ======== ======== ======== =========