<ARTICLE>                                           7
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     Year  
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Dec-31-1998  
<PERIOD-END>                                   Dec-31-1998  
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             1,806,594  
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                    0  
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                      0  
<EQUITIES>                                          68,243  
<MORTGAGE>                                               0  
<REAL-ESTATE>                                            0  
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                   1,874,837  
<CASH>                                               3,490  
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   3,907  
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                             199,559  
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   2,405,480  
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                     63,947  
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                721,699  
<POLICY-OTHER>                                           0  
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                    0  
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                    230,000  
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0  
<PREFERRED>                                            700  
<COMMON>                                           730,890  
<OTHER-SE>                                         341,846  
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     2,405,480  
<PREMIUMS>                                         137,927  
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                 78,823  
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  20,890  
<OTHER-INCOME>                                         474  
<BENEFITS>                                           3,949  
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                         35,439  
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                38,980  
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    159,746  
<INCOME-TAX>                                        42,768  
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                116,978  
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0  
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0  
<CHANGES>                                                0  
<NET-INCOME>                                       116,978  
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            0  
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         3.82  
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                      75,417  
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  8,049  
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   (8,192) 
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                     729  
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    10,598  
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                     63,947  
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                  0