<ARTICLE>  7
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            270,804
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                               485
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                 497   
<EQUITIES>                                          447
<MORTGAGE>                                            0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                         0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  271,736
<CASH>                                            2,863
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              328,354 
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            7,079
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  640,249   
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 417,526
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              90,807
<POLICY-OTHER>                                        0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                 0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                          7,079
<OTHER-SE>                                       71,085
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    640,249
<PREMIUMS>                                       80,891
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              15,694
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                 (192)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    6,231
<BENEFITS>                                       82,045
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      15,245
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              4,886 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    (147)
<INCOME-TAX>                                        (64)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 (83)
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                        (83)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      (.01)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      (.01)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  143,494
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              73,741
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                 8,304
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               23,804 
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 56,475
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 145,260
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                          (8,304)