<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         5,459,647
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                     964,967
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               6,424,614
<CASH>                                         563,737
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         143,408
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              10,848,076
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              3,230,271
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                          1,196,065
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  79,908
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                388,700
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         1,106
<OTHER-SE>                                   4,880,788
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                10,848,076
<PREMIUMS>                                     530,864
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                            205,994
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                             113,988
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  21,263
<BENEFITS>                                     295,773
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     84,902
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           115,502
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                375,932
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,959
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            370,989
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   370,989
<EPS-BASIC>                                       3.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.28
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                  0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                    0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                     0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                      0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0