<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,312,989 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 177,563 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 190,509 <EQUITIES> 562,397 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 3,052,949 <CASH> 503,823 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 154,542 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,909,039 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,953,835 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 622,277 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 602,642 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 65 <COMMON> 7,281 <OTHER-SE> 956,115 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,909,039 <PREMIUMS> 302,633 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 56,394 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,417 <OTHER-INCOME> 2,243 <BENEFITS> 205,202 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 32,720 <INCOME-TAX> 7,197 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,786 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,435) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,351 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.72 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.69 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0