
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       610,324,605                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,817,964                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,998,688                       0
<EQUITIES>                                  96,007,650                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     826,480                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,855,972                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             886,017,316                       0
<CASH>                                       4,424,123                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,689,654                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     100,094,079                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,019,330,155                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            442,878,500                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         92,945,366                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               8,988,574                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,925,786                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             86,619,547                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       41,891,512                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 281,420,297                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,019,330,155                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 337,186,418              87,036,674
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         54,194,334              13,760,853
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           2,807,588             (2,399,515)
<OTHER-INCOME>                               2,147,688                 532,280
<BENEFITS>                                 270,367,026              64,807,803
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 51,111,851              13,536,999
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        29,003,291               7,337,919
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             45,853,860              13,247,571
<INCOME-TAX>                                13,664,645               4,081,210
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         32,189,215               9,166,361
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                32,189,215               9,166,361
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .79                     .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .79                     .22
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             110,368,715                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        250,334,038                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (4,550,459)                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         179,450,636                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            54,733,288                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            120,504,956                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>
