<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           2,901,720
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                          0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                            0
<EQUITIES>                                     16,302
<MORTGAGE>                                     0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                  0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 3,060,969
<CASH>                                         149,080
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         21,690
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 3,397,294
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                625,655
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            175,084
<POLICY-OTHER>                                 0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                          0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                420,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       121,111
<OTHER-SE>                                     1,950,874
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   3,397,294
<PREMIUMS>                                     428,538
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            83,340
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             163
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 23,296
<BENEFITS>                                     45,155
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    660
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           93,992
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                383,303
<INCOME-TAX>                                   119,980
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            263,323
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   263,323
<EPS-BASIC>                                    2.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  2.46
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                             0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        0