<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,314,549
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     124,125
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,479,066
<CASH>                                           8,651
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              36,803
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          53,509
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,709,117
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                208,663
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             82,899
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 99,459
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           352
<OTHER-SE>                                   1,054,532
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,709,117
<PREMIUMS>                                     362,473
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             63,452
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              24,434
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  15,153
<BENEFITS>                                     103,004
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           145,506
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                205,509
<INCOME-TAX>                                    59,226
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            146,283
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   146,283
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.58
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0