<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 611,163 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 14,059 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 14,227 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 29,821 <TOTAL-INVEST> 763,171 <CASH> 98,128 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 18,518<F1> <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 23,841 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,222,406 <POLICY-LOSSES> 728,421 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 45,004 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 3,015 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 121,750 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 252,346 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,222,406 <PREMIUMS> 515,272 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 37,548 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 7,176 <OTHER-INCOME> 3,512 <BENEFITS> 443,204 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 36,174 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 132,013<F2> <INCOME-PRETAX> (58,264) <INCOME-TAX> (28,847) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (29,417) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (29,417) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0<F3> <EPS-DILUTED> 0<F3> <RESERVE-OPEN> 469,425 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 367,971 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 75,233 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> (135,202) <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> (255,877) <RESERVE-CLOSE> 521,550 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 75,233 <FN> <F1>REINSURANCE RECOVERABLE ON PAID LOSSES. <F2>EXCLUDES INTEREST, GOODWILL AND DIVIDENDS. <F3>EPS INFORMATION NOT APPLICABLE AS BIG WAS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF FHC. </FN>