Form: S-3

Registration statement for specified transactions by certain issuers

May 23, 1997

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS

Published on May 23, 1997



EXHIBIT 12.1

RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK
DIVIDENDS



QUARTER ENDED
MARCH 31, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------- ----------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------------- -------- -------- -------- -------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

Income before income taxes and
cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle, but
after minority interest...... $35,982 $156,160 $165,322 $109,298 $31,281
Add:
Portion of rents
representative of the
interest factor............ 67 -- -- -- --
Interest expense............ 1,933 6,553 6,424 192 --
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Income as adjusted............ $37,982 $162,713 $171,746 $109,490 $31,281
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Fixed charges:
Interest expense............ $ 1,933 $ 6,553 $ 6,424 $ 192 $ --
Preferred dividends......... 545 -- 2,536 12,879 --
Portion of rents
representative of the
interest factor............ 67 -- -- -- --
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Total....................... $ 2,545 $ 6,553 $ 8,960 $ 13,071 $ --
------- -------- -------- -------- -------
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges...................... 14.9x 24.8x 19.2x 8.4x N/A