<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE REGISTRANT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,528,290 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 11,757 <MORTGAGE> 165,452 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 3,634,001 <CASH> 37,395 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 316,156 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 289,842 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,673,550 <POLICY-LOSSES> 3,213,811 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 344,848 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 106,830 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 261 <OTHER-SE> 499,060 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,673,550 <PREMIUMS> 835,460 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 188,333 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 334 <OTHER-INCOME> 47,388 <BENEFITS> 658,062 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 76,989 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 99,493 <INCOME-PRETAX> 84,071 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 55,321 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 54,619 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.15 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.13 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0