<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 134,721,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 8,020,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 195,090,000 <CASH> 162,355,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 24,503,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 960,179,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 245,679,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 74,786,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,467,000 <OTHER-SE> 326,292,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 960,179,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,151,279,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 18,003,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 2,772,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 67,488,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 71,378,000 <INCOME-TAX> 29,600,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,778,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,778,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.65 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0