<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 138,647,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 10,366,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 210,916,000 <CASH> 165,429,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 24,472,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,095,445,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 246,925,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 39,846,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,562,000 <OTHER-SE> 359,032,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,095,445,000 <PREMIUMS> 819,872,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 13,379,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,389,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 41,049,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 34,982,000 <INCOME-TAX> 13,600,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,382,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,382,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.85 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0