<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 140,933,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 20,481,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 224,261,000 <CASH> 211,687,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 25,171,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,298,955,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 252,927,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 39,149,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 17,581,000 <OTHER-SE> 445,768,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,298,955,000 <PREMIUMS> 561,614,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,608,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 35,827,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 27,328,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 74,365,000 <INCOME-TAX> 29,400,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 44,965,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 44,965,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.49 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0