<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 130,576,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 8,517,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 191,181,000 <CASH> 173,439,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 24,753,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 979,794,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 245,245,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 71,257,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,554,000 <OTHER-SE> 352,465,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 979,794,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,571,168,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 23,787,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,611,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 86,487,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 89,189,000 <INCOME-TAX> 35,600,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 53,589,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 53,589,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 4.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 81,539 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 4,948 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 29,680 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 43,967 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 245,245 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0