<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,866,860 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 158,784 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 4,111,736 <CASH> 51,578 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 692,473 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 82,332 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,538,020 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,437,818 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 337,383 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 508 <OTHER-SE> 1,306,965 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,538,020 <PREMIUMS> 1,049,847 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 228,546 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 15,916 <OTHER-INCOME> 4,880 <BENEFITS> 765,421 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 811 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 325,657 <INCOME-PRETAX> 207,300 <INCOME-TAX> 52,345 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 154,955 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 154,955 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.05 <RESERVE-OPEN> 2,500,218 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 768,597 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (3,176) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 185,310 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 331,205 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 2,749,124 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 3,176