<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,110,411 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 152,657 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 150,465 <EQUITIES> 314,810 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,577,878 <CASH> 315,474 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 182,348 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,784,791 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,361,238 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 689,826 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 627,918 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,281 <OTHER-SE> 584,497 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,784,791 <PREMIUMS> 1,414,384 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 190,316 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (6,064) <OTHER-INCOME> 2,688 <BENEFITS> 1,085,826 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (79,248) <INCOME-TAX> (45,766) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (34,545) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 735 <CHANGES> (3,250) <NET-INCOME> (37,060) <EPS-BASIC> (1.44) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.43) <RESERVE-OPEN> 1,583,304 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 1,032,089 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 28,351 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 433,942 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 496,410 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 1,723,865 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 28,351