<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER>                    1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-2000             DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           928,102                 565,085
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                           0                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 971,475                 565,085
<CASH>                                         110,571                 131,740
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             167,604                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           8,599                  13,679
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,468,989                 847,269
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                403,611                 104,496
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            112,541                 137,459
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 50,000                  80,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           87,630                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                        22,999                  25,605
<OTHER-SE>                                     677,819                 488,535
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,468,989                 847,269
<PREMIUMS>                                     433,002                  61,699
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             77,868                  10,058
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             (7,151)                   (617)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  10,959                    (94)
<BENEFITS>                                     108,604                  19,981
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     38,530                   6,322
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            37,954                   3,301
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                131,876                  39,171
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,648                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            127,228                  39,171
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   127,228                  39,171
<EPS-BASIC>                                       6.68                    1.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     6.50                       0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 174,913                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            100,168                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                8,436                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              12,545                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                33,958                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                237,014                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        (8,436)                       0