<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,320,173 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 144,290 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,520,925 <CASH> 10,412 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 45,657 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 69,230 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,813,238 <POLICY-LOSSES> 224,082 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 94,496 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 99,508 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 352 <OTHER-SE> 1,138,429 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,813,238 <PREMIUMS> 260,099 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 43,528 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 344 <OTHER-INCOME> 7,453 <BENEFITS> 52,717 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 41,967 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 77,805 <INCOME-PRETAX> 131,187 <INCOME-TAX> 38,076 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 93,111 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 93,111 <EPS-BASIC> 3.10 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.09 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0