<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,058,477 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 153,778 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 154,704 <EQUITIES> 373,379 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,585,634 <CASH> 384,754 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 191,582 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,857,450 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,398,711 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 714,080 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 613,025 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,281 <OTHER-SE> 591,067 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,857,450 <PREMIUMS> 385,761 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 46,928 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 468 <OTHER-INCOME> 658 <BENEFITS> 261,759 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,865 <INCOME-TAX> (2,652) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 4,346 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,346 <EPS-BASIC> 0.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.17 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0