<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 2,034,211 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 144,813 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 2,307,738 <CASH> 13,370 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 9,677 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 91,389 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,986,719 <POLICY-LOSSES> 1,599,482 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 295,408 <POLICY-OTHER> 23,124 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 299,940 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,168 <OTHER-SE> 625,358 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,986,719 <PREMIUMS> 422,072 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 90,797 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 28,458 <OTHER-INCOME> 0 <BENEFITS> 278,388 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 158,834 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 16,308 <INCOME-PRETAX> 87,797 <INCOME-TAX> 18,691 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 69,106 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 69,106 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.68 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.42 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0