<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 227,685,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 27,338,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 351,241,000 <CASH> 375,440,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,784,790,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 270,436,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 130,193,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 60,332,000 <OTHER-SE> 671,583,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,784,790,000 <PREMIUMS> 2,802,190,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 39,761,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 35,377,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 118,763,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 326,410,000 <INCOME-TAX> 127,700,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 198,710,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 198,710,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.46 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.32 <RESERVE-OPEN> 250,826,000 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 114,812,000 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 3,951,000 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 48,228,000 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 44,133,000 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 270,436,000 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0