<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 151,503,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 13,904,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 229,483,000 <CASH> 181,531,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 25,016,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,168,144,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 250,826,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 41,973,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17,374,000 <OTHER-SE> 394,038,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,168,144,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,860,205,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 27,755,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (499,000) <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 90,323,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 106,209,000 <INCOME-TAX> 41,500,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 64,709,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 64,709,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.73 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.64 <RESERVE-OPEN> 245,245,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 84,645,000 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 4,678,000 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 39,934,000 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 39,745,000 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 250,826,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0