<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,115,824 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 156,067 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 164,229 <EQUITIES> 431,094 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,702,985 <CASH> 309,131 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 196,231 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,022,070 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,533,917 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 713,239 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 578,327 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 7,281 <OTHER-SE> 673,615 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,022,070 <PREMIUMS> 1,491,014 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 210,448 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 8,364 <OTHER-INCOME> 3,412 <BENEFITS> 1,094,411 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 454,729 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 141,850 <INCOME-PRETAX> 40,851 <INCOME-TAX> 2,451 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 38,400 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 36,238 <EPS-BASIC> 1.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.39 <RESERVE-OPEN> 1,723,865 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 1,047,060 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 14,042 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 394,401 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 584,047 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 1,818,049 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 14,042