
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       731,550,744                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,011,449                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,154,921                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 116,133,472                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     566,783                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,718,175                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,027,659,527                       0
<CASH>                                       5,820,597                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,132,011                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     105,855,585                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,170,065,802                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            498,387,318                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         97,669,270                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,024,751                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,488,037                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            101,631,941                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       41,891,512                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 341,039,682                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,170,065,802                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 370,965,046              94,321,517
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         57,528,669              15,096,640
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           3,356,231              (2,760,765)
<OTHER-INCOME>                               2,159,683                 598,393
<BENEFITS>                                 269,243,048              66,265,771
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 55,997,727              14,288,105
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        31,969,232               8,848,686
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             76,799,622              17,853,223
<INCOME-TAX>                                24,005,989               5,459,780
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         52,793,633              12,393,443
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                52,793,633              12,393,443
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.29                     .30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.29                     .30
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             120,768,406                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        251,928,001                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                           (8,936,404)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         175,245,018                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            53,722,934                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            134,329,249                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>
