<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,507,280<F1> <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 17,396 <REAL-ESTATE> 154 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,630,209 <CASH> 22,848 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 130,192 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,253,846 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,170,449<F1> <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 170,845 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 126,530 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 148,677 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 59 <OTHER-SE> 400,083 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,253,846 <PREMIUMS> 595,128 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 188,267 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (7,969) <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 416,186 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 53,041 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 109,694 <INCOME-PRETAX> 93,354 <INCOME-TAX> 48,849<F2> <INCOME-CONTINUING> 44,505 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 44,505 <EPS-BASIC> 1.08 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.07 <RESERVE-OPEN> 243,039<F3> <PROVISION-CURRENT> 379,455 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (4,583) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 240,045 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 142,473 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 235,393<F3> <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 4,583 <FN> <F1>REFER TO THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999. <F2>INCLUDES $20,000 PROVISION FOR PRIOR YEARS' TAXES. REFER TO THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999. <F3>THESE BALANCES ARE NET OF REINSURANCE RECOVERABLES. SEE ALSO NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES OF THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR DECEMBER 31, 1999. </FN>