<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 199,946,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 31,422,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 312,727,000 <CASH> 297,975,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 26,759,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,598,282,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 262,824,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 145,032,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 56,820,000 <OTHER-SE> 520,106,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,598,282,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,257,077,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 16,512,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 35,743,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 59,531,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 149,371,000 <INCOME-TAX> 59,300,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 90,071,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 90,071,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.69 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.63 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0