<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 204,455,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 36,666,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 347,738,000 <CASH> 300,723,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 8,834,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,923,890,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 264,203,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 141,235,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 65,152,000 <OTHER-SE> 781,273,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,923,890,000 <PREMIUMS> 1,468,515,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,268,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,657,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 55,441,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 86,299,000 <INCOME-TAX> 33,200,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 53,099,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 53,099,000 <EPS-BASIC> .83 <EPS-DILUTED> .80 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0