<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 573,511 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 598,683 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 598,523 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 790,298 <CASH> 26,727 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 307,306 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 10,041 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,460,217 <POLICY-LOSSES> 870,988 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 58,609 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 77,284 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 25,212 <OTHER-SE> 284,106 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,460,217 <PREMIUMS> 243,137 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 39,422 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (10,247) <OTHER-INCOME> 61,811 <BENEFITS> 248,734 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 44,308 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 35,460 <INCOME-PRETAX> (56,394) <INCOME-TAX> (19,201) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 993 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (36,200) <EPS-BASIC> (2.11) <EPS-DILUTED> (2.10) <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0