
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       774,346,360                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,471,113                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,560,903                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 103,055,465                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     404,432                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,482,647                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,084,064,247                       0
<CASH>                                       5,948,409                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           1,121,089                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     114,141,870                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,246,659,137                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            548,428,408                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        105,464,480                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,337,982                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,217,463                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             66,804,412                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 381,730,473                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,246,659,137                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 391,838,282              99,019,753
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         62,511,658              15,442,318
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           4,397,533                 498,759
<OTHER-INCOME>                               2,238,096                 585,816
<BENEFITS>                                 281,136,725              66,734,513
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 57,821,043              14,172,299
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        38,762,883              14,056,876
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             83,264,918              20,582,876
<INCOME-TAX>                                26,549,227               6,933,142
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         56,715,691              13,649,816
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                56,715,691              13,649,816
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.39                    0.33
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.38                    0.33
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             134,329,249                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        268,530,538                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (18,742,920)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         189,554,044                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            53,748,726                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            140,843,010                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>
