<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 368,506,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 94,791,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 498,829,000 <CASH> 40,809,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 26,433,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 55,590,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 760,463,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 120,134,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 240,340,000 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 34,476,000 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 92,309,000 <COMMON> 911,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 196,115,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 760,463,000 <PREMIUMS> 311,159,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 21,332,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,170,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 38,769,000 <BENEFITS> 171,163,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 81,180,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 49,118,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 34,703,000 <INCOME-TAX> 10,336,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,367,000 <DISCONTINUED> (6,817,000) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 17,550,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 5.88 <EPS-DILUTED> 5.67 <RESERVE-OPEN> 88,992,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 163,038,000 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 5,230,000 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 113,841,000 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 37,307,000 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 108,334,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> (7,182,000)