<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1999             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999             JUN-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         1,302,533               1,302,533
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                       0
<EQUITIES>                                     109,941                 109,941
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               1,412,474               1,412,474
<CASH>                                          72,243                  72,243
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                              46,727                  46,727
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                         141,671                 141,671
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,707,307               2,707,307
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              1,225,873               1,225,873
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                            585,645                 585,645
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                175,000                 175,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                       150,992                 150,992
<OTHER-SE>                                     381,710                 381,710
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,707,307               2,707,307
<PREMIUMS>                                     156,388                 296,398
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             23,403                  46,456
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              26,264                  31,280
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   4,158                   8,901
<BENEFITS>                                     112,631                 201,871
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                     69,264                 115,068
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             5,874                  12,522
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  9,101                  33,760
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (4,138)                   (539)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             13,239                  34,299
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,239                  34,299
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.53                    1.36
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.51                    1.32
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 954,710                 982,904
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                            125,184                 223,700
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                             (12,553)                (21,829)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              21,038                  22,538
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                86,267                 202,201
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                960,036                 960,036
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>