<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