<ARTICLE>                                             7
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                            602,770
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                            30,412
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                              29,862
<EQUITIES>                                       31,111
<MORTGAGE>                                            0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                         0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  664,293
<CASH>                                           54,810
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               16,085
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                           17,946
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                1,134,806
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                 740,089
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              85,465
<POLICY-OTHER>                                        0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                 0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                  68,750
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                              0
<OTHER-SE>                                      184,150
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  1,134,806
<PREMIUMS>                                       56,243
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              10,635
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  921
<OTHER-INCOME>                                    1,472
<BENEFITS>                                       40,942
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      14,176
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                              4,369
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   7,437
<INCOME-TAX>                                      2,144
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               5,293
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      5,293
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                        0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                   0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                     0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                      0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                               0