<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                                           7
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FILED  HEREWITH  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
  
                    
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-mos

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     MAR-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                                     548
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                      0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                        0
<EQUITIES>                                               427
<MORTGAGE>                                                11
<REAL-ESTATE>                                              0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                           986
<CASH>                                                    94 <F1>
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                       637
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                                    51
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          2113
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                          558
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                      455
<POLICY-OTHER>                                             0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                      0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                           51
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    409 <F2>
<PREFERRED>                                                0
<COMMON>                                                  10
<OTHER-SE>                                               404
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            2113
<PREMIUMS>                                                97
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                       16
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                         7
<OTHER-INCOME>                                            28
<BENEFITS>                                                38
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                               23
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                      50 <F3>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           32
<INCOME-TAX>                                              11
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       21
<DISCONTINUED>                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                              21
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0.72<F4><F5>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0.71<F4><F6>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                           550
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                                        0 <F7>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                          0 <F7>
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                         0 <F7>
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                           0 <F7>
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                          558
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                                    0

<FN>
<F1>Cash includes short-term investments.
<F2>Company obligated mandatorily  redeemable capital securities and convertible
capital securities  classified at mezzanine level on Consolidated  Statements of
Financial Position.
<F3>Includes  engineering  services,  underwriting  and  inspection and interest
expense.
<F4>Reflects  the impact of  three-for-two  stock split approved by the Board of
Directors on April 21, 1998 for net income.
<F5>Per SFAS No. 128 "Earnings per Share", this item represents EPS-Basic.
<F6>Per SFAS No. 128 "Earnings  per Share",  this item  represents  EPS-Assuming
Dilution.
<F7>Not calculated at interim periods.
</FN>
        


</TABLE>