<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,539,358<F1> <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 0 <MORTGAGE> 17,310 <REAL-ESTATE> 159 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,653,985 <CASH> 18,746 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 132,537 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,224,917 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,163,682<F2> <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 188,711 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 129,079 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 148,667 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 59 <OTHER-SE> 408,384 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 4,224,917 <PREMIUMS> 444,062 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 140,480 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> (8,896) <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 315,994 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 36,498 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 79,709 <INCOME-PRETAX> 60,731 <INCOME-TAX> 38,716 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 22,015 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 22,015 <EPS-BASIC> 0.53 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.53 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0 <FN> <F1> Refer to Note 3 - Investments of the Company's Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements for September 30, 1999. <F2> Refer to the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 1999. </FN>