<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 447,795,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 128,291,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 576,086,000 <CASH> 5,447,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 50,694,000 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 79,377,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 871,982,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 158,779,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 290,952,000 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 35,996,000 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 52,327,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 911,000 <OTHER-SE> 247,054,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 871,982,000 <PREMIUMS> 298,152,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 18,619,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,564,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 28,941,000 <BENEFITS> 158,316,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 85,627,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 47,207,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,113,000 <INCOME-TAX> 7,792,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 20,321,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 20,321,000 <EPS-BASIC> 2.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.15 <RESERVE-OPEN> 88,267,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 84,751,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0