<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the FORM 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 for Trenwick Group Inc. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U. S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 713,998 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 25,959 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 739,957 <CASH> 14,253 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 47,772<F1> <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 21,805 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 920,804 <POLICY-LOSSES> 467,177 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 71,448 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 103,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 673 <OTHER-SE> 265,080 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 920,804 <PREMIUMS> 211,069 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 41,226 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 299 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 129,316 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 58,757 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 20,693 <INCOME-PRETAX> 43,828 <INCOME-TAX> 9,980 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,848 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.95 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.25 <RESERVE-OPEN> 327,001<F2> <PROVISION-CURRENT> 133,755 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (4,439) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> (22,570) <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> (46,860) <RESERVE-CLOSE> 386,887<F3> <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 3,669<F4> <FN> <F1>Represents net reinsurance recoverable balances after offset of funds held and reinsurance balances payable. <F2>Reflects net reserve at beginning of year for unpaid claims <F3>Reflects net reserve at end of year for unpaid claims <F4>Reflects gross redundancy in restated reserves </FN>