<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 135,895,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 10,900,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 214,339,000 <CASH> 170,561,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 24,755,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,139,944,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 252,552,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 43,870,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 11,571,000 <OTHER-SE> 378,474,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,139,944,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,315,053,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 20,046,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 4,293,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 65,589,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 68,554,000 <INCOME-TAX> 26,600,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,954,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,954,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.62 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0