<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>     7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE AUDITE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K AN
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENT
</LEGEND>

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1996           DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           218,300                 268,004               322,799
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0                     0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0                     0
<EQUITIES>                                      48,537                  83,837                84,156
<MORTGAGE>                                      11,290                  11,149                10,248
<REAL-ESTATE>                                    3,354                   3,342                 3,329
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 368,001                 405,926               452,717
<CASH>                                           7,648                  10,697                 8,048
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              20,379                  11,786                19,519
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          24,585                  29,437                30,328
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 781,034                 884,380               979,453
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                369,244                 432,173               428,653
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            124,122                 140,217               157,134
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0                     0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                       0                     0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 69,000                  69,000                94,875
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                     0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                     0
<COMMON>                                         6,057                   6,103                 6,168
<OTHER-SE>                                     171,730                 201,717               247,502
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   781,034                 884,380               979,453
<PREMIUMS>                                     271,584                 348,653               335,215
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             20,651                  26,491                28,016
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               2,707                   5,216                 7,321
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   2,863                   1,035                     0
<BENEFITS>                                     212,337                 243,257               213,455
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     57,420                  89,288                83,109
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            15,182                   6,515                 7,821
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  5,343                  33,490                51,305
<INCOME-TAX>                                     1,188                   3,210                15,992
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              4,155                  30,280                35,313
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                     0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,155                  30,280                35,313
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .28                    2.03                  2.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .28                    1.99                  2.30
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 141,514                 201,356               246,752
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            190,019                 233,727               206,597
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                               22,318                   9,530                 6,858
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              80,281                 102,565               110,372
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                72,214                  95,296                86,729
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                201,356                 246,752               263,106
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                         22,318                   9,530                 6,858


</TABLE>