<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,143,808 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 194,006 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 197,684 <EQUITIES> 455,208 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,793,022 <CASH> 306,258 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 136,692 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,332,621 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,839,993 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 577,102 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 598,182 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 70 <COMMON> 4,854 <OTHER-SE> 879,970 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 884,902 <PREMIUMS> 529,200 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 92,418 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 7,194 <OTHER-INCOME> 1,516 <BENEFITS> 350,860 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 63,922 <INCOME-TAX> 15,359 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 48,563 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 45,052 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0