<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 75061460 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 135373036 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 9999919 <TOTAL-INVEST> 238140592 <CASH> 1544438 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 913186 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 13524777 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 277359597 <POLICY-LOSSES> 55336376 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 41541432 <POLICY-OTHER> 23167674 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11529376 <OTHER-SE> 129786597 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 277359597 <PREMIUMS> 88629476 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 9119936 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 13198139 <OTHER-INCOME> 113005 <BENEFITS> 52377114 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 29220814 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 1461640 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28000988 <INCOME-TAX> 8577075 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 19423913 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 19423913 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.73 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.72 <RESERVE-OPEN> 71472338 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 49862090 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 3575305 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 20035517 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 26370166 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 78504050 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0