<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,634,586 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 325,100 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,048,530 <CASH> 16,902 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 52,141 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 63,839 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,336,933 <POLICY-LOSSES> 295,297 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 177,206 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 140,221 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 528 <OTHER-SE> 1,412,989 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,336,933 <PREMIUMS> 467,944 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 85,642 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,558 <OTHER-INCOME> 6,213 <BENEFITS> 77,346 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 59,191 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 132,337 <INCOME-PRETAX> 279,676 <INCOME-TAX> 85,451 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 194,225 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 194,225 <EPS-BASIC> 4.39 <EPS-DILUTED> 4.33 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0