<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>