<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,935,757 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 201,761 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 201,232 <EQUITIES> 179,586 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,317,104 <CASH> 266,458 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 106,727 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,699,243 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,722,005 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 492,899 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 389,967 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 127 <COMMON> 4,854 <OTHER-SE> 861,458 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,699,243 <PREMIUMS> 472,157 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 79,109 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 523 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,143 <BENEFITS> 325,042 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 51,966 <INCOME-TAX> 11,083 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 40,883 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 33,665 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0