<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Consolidated Balance Sheet and the Consolidated Statement of Operations and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,658,512<F1> <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 35,416 <REAL-ESTATE> 7,592 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,784,336 <CASH> 13,704 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 75,071 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,861,026 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,154,254<F2> <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 155,776 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 118,549 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 133,564 <COMMON> 29 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 484,366 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,861,026 <PREMIUMS> 502,699 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 198,607 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,451 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 346,691 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 41,063 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 97,021 <INCOME-PRETAX> 100,619 <INCOME-TAX> 26,817 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 73,802 <DISCONTINUED> (9,163) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 64,639 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.75 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.75 <RESERVE-OPEN> 345,889<F3> <PROVISION-CURRENT> 368,648 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (62,546) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 206,370 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 139,272 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 306,349<F3> <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 62,546 <FN> <F1> Refer to Note 3 - Investments of the Company's Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements for December 31, 1996. <F2> Refer to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1996. <F3> These balances are net of reinsurance recoverables. See also Note 1 - Significant Accounting Policies of the Company's Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements for December 31, 1996. </FN>