<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 207,867,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 43,567,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 382,372,000 <CASH> 268,227,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 13,062,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,184,499,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 281,324,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 216,720,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 63,552,000 <OTHER-SE> 773,676,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,184,499,000 <PREMIUMS> 2,126,571,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 41,500,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,288,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 104,327,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 39,200,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 50,433,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 50,433,000 <EPS-BASIC> .79 <EPS-DILUTED> .77 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0