<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 203,546,000 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 39,519,000 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 354,919,000 <CASH> 307,242,000 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 0 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 9,675,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,984,176,000 <POLICY-LOSSES> 266,083,000 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 0 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 148,350,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 65,247,000 <OTHER-SE> 796,023,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,984,176,000 <PREMIUMS> 2,213,782,000 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 39,615,000 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 1,635,000 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 85,549,000 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 121,939,000 <INCOME-TAX> 46,900,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 75,039,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 75,039,000 <EPS-BASIC> 1.16 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.13 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0