<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CURRENCY> USD

<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             JUN-30-1998             MAR-31-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1                       1                       1
<CASH>                                      33,640,974             151,246,159             150,555,289
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                               39,944,931              29,716,528              29,604,269
<ALLOWANCES>                               (1,495,206)             (1,369,147)             (1,133,770)
<INVENTORY>                                          0                       0                       0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            82,660,722             187,835,271             182,435,544
<PP&E>                                     155,651,101               6,986,214               5,610,089
<DEPRECIATION>                             (9,543,791)             (1,218,576)               (556,084)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             325,944,531             249,563,919             238,434,831
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       31,145,223              19,853,419              14,400,785
<BONDS>                                    167,513,935             115,000,000             115,000,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                     73,000                  73,000                 183,000
<COMMON>                                       883,636                 883,273                 876,314
<OTHER-SE>                                 120,960,986             111,964,740             106,130,360
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               325,944,531             249,563,919             238,434,831
<SALES>                                    103,417,296              63,812,349              29,645,703
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           103,417,296              63,812,349              29,645,703
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               65,773,739              40,735,799              19,166,777
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            17,162,961              11,152,284               5,199,594
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               801,238                 703,133                 122,617
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           5,886,303               3,666,710               1,838,128
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             21,120,652              12,748,902               5,770,146
<INCOME-TAX>                                 8,659,468               5,226,777               2,400,381
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         12,452,959               7,515,725               3,365,190
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                12,452,959               7,515,725               3,365,190
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.71                    0.43                    0.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.69                    0.42                    0.19


</TABLE>