<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           205,214
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                       1,526
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 242,116
<CASH>                                          35,376
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               3,927
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           5,879
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 416,569
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                201,255
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             12,913
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     30
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          101,277
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        34,301
<OTHER-SE>                                      25,517
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   416,569
<PREMIUMS>                                     140,920
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             12,674
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  44
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<BENEFITS>                                      90,447
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     19,977
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            17,718
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 17,261
<INCOME-TAX>                                     6,437
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             10,824
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                               (12,896)
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,141)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.98)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.00)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 195,131
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             95,826
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              (5,379)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              37,945
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                95,533
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                152,100
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        (5,379)
<FN>
<F1>Reserves for unpaid claims, provision for insured events, and payments of claims
are stated net of reinsurance.  Reserves for unpaid claims - beginning of year
include Pac Rim reserves at acquisition.
</FN>