<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the registrant and is qualifed in its entirety by reference to such financial statements </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,361,925 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,917,644 <CASH> 14,692 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 69,522 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 203,335 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,498,485 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,571,687 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 208,749 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 104,496 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 174 <OTHER-SE> 372,388 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,498,485 <PREMIUMS> 331,315 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 60,925 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,795 <OTHER-INCOME> 7,878 <BENEFITS> 281,252 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 23,409 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 37,637 <INCOME-PRETAX> 38,636 <INCOME-TAX> 14,247 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 24,389 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,996 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.41 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0