
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>

<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       812,871,523                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,030,931                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,079,667                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 113,175,338                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     305,079                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                2,004,405                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,155,214,053                       0
<CASH>                                       6,649,914                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           2,152,839                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     136,016,688                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,335,346,685                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            608,228,858                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        114,802,464                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,723,114                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        5,758,230                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            103,435,931                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 366,775,949                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,335,346,685                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 405,329,951             101,810,223
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         67,807,030              18,019,581
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,060,396                 902,412
<OTHER-INCOME>                               4,063,970                 669,168
<BENEFITS>                                 284,909,460              70,161,820
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 60,202,522              15,202,964
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        45,071,909              12,514,871
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             92,077,456              23,521,729
<INCOME-TAX>                                27,519,994               7,412,479
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         64,557,462              16,109,250
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                64,557,462              16,109,250
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.61                     .41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.60                     .40
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             140,843,010                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        264,504,721                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (18,147,894)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         182,900,553                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            58,871,415                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            146,439,100                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>
