<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 209,407,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 58,720,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 392,730,000 <CASH> 300,905,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,199,737,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 284,607,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 219,838,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 63,887,000 <OTHER-SE> 806,350,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,199,737,000 <PREMIUMS> 2,877,528,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 53,025,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,702,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 141,632,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 136,923,000 <INCOME-TAX> 54,700,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 82,223,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 82,223,000 <EPS-BASIC> 1.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.24 <RESERVE-OPEN> 273,724,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (2,471,000) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 70,985,000 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0