<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001013698 <NAME> Symons International <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 0 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 181,310,000 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 181,310,000 <EQUITIES> 13,264,000 <MORTGAGE> 2,100,000 <REAL-ESTATE> 420,000 <TOTAL-INVEST> 222,853,000 <CASH> 14,800,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 71,640,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 16,332,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 569,437,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 211,773,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 110,664,000 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 13,744,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 135,000,000 <COMMON> 38,136,000 <OTHER-SE> 23,859,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 569,437,000 <PREMIUMS> 324,923,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 12,373,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,341,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 20,203,000 <BENEFITS> 270,466,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 2,379,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 97,039,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8,044,000) <INCOME-TAX> (2,038,000) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,006,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (14,417,000) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.39) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.39) <RESERVE-OPEN> 136,772,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 257,470,000 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 12,996,000 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 167,334,000 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 62,361,000 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 200,972,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> (12,996,000)