<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US$ <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 4,665,400 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 1,179,200 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 6,201,300 <CASH> 25,300 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 281,800 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 332,900 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,175,900 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,192,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 2,562,400 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 1,070,500 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 72,800 <OTHER-SE> 2,613,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 9,175,900 <PREMIUMS> 1,322,100 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 72,600 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 11,200 <BENEFITS> 913,900 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 175,000 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 141,700 <INCOME-PRETAX> 150,500 <INCOME-TAX> 45,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 105,300 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 105,300 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.45 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.41 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0