<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S FIRST QUARTER 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> 0
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,101,175
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                      82,375
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,183,550
<CASH>                                          65,631
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              25,738
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          46,536
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,897,331
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                901,312
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            379,874
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 75,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          125,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           126
<OTHER-SE>                                     339,644
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,897,331
<PREMIUMS>                                      62,915
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             16,234
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                               2,182
<OTHER-INCOME>                                     260
<BENEFITS>                                      40,895
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     11,225
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                            15,990
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 13,481
<INCOME-TAX>                                     2,298
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             11,183
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,183
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .95
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0