<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the condensed consolidated financial statements of the registrant and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLAR <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,546,144 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 9,187 <MORTGAGE> 213,717 <REAL-ESTATE> 1,573 <TOTAL-INVEST> 4,592,472 <CASH> 24,485 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 279,425 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 337,351 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,846,456 <POLICY-LOSSES> 4,040,120 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 404,899 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 107,695 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 310 <OTHER-SE> 784,387 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,846,456 <PREMIUMS> 822,884 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 207,606 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 3,358 <OTHER-INCOME> 17,593 <BENEFITS> 741,753 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 54,098 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 116,772 <INCOME-PRETAX> 87,810 <INCOME-TAX> 31,563 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 56,247 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 55,783 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.04 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.01 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0