<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,671,600 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 2,389,300 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 2,409,900 <EQUITIES> 66,500 <MORTGAGE> 65,900 <REAL-ESTATE> 39,000 <TOTAL-INVEST> 6,529,500 <CASH> 39,600 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 211,900 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,304,500 <POLICY-LOSSES> 0 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 589,500 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 5,469,500 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 70,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 225,000<F1> <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 43,200 <OTHER-SE> 441,600 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,304,500 <PREMIUMS> 52,700 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 242,700 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 200 <OTHER-INCOME> 5,300 <BENEFITS> 189,400 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 16,200 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 35,500 <INCOME-PRETAX> 52,100 <INCOME-TAX> 16,400 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 35,700 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 35,700 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.80 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.80 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0 <FN> <F1>Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of subsidiary trusts </FN>