<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,234,818 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 145,978 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,453,268 <CASH> 207,968 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 1,383 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 85,183 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,175,728 <POLICY-LOSSES> 876,846 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 308,138 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 198,408 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 262 <OTHER-SE> 683,634 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,175,728 <PREMIUMS> 513,055 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 67,276 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (10,906) <OTHER-INCOME> 849 <BENEFITS> 364,613 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 138,346 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 35,229 <INCOME-PRETAX> 20,484 <INCOME-TAX> 5,451 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,033 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,033 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.57 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0