<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>




<ARTICLE> 7
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                    9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-2000              SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-2000              OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-2000              JUN-30-2000
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           450,873                  450,873
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0                        0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0                        0
<EQUITIES>                                           0                        0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0                        0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 450,873                  450,873
<CASH>                                          98,532                   98,532
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               8,081                    8,081
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                          13,457                   13,457
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 730,795                  730,795
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                178,143                  178,143
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             75,793                   75,793
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0                        0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0                        0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                      3,000                    3,000
<COMMON>                                        15,625                   15,625
<OTHER-SE>                                     337,954                  337,954
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   730,795                  730,795
<PREMIUMS>                                      28,776                   86,379
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              9,251                   26,775
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  38                  (2,186)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0                        0
<BENEFITS>                                       9,720                   99,908
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                      6,586                   18,487
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             5,429                   14,559
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 16,330                 (21,986)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                        0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             16,330                 (21,986)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                        0
<CHANGES>                                            0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,330                 (21,986)
<EPS-BASIC>                                     0.72                   (1.32)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.71                   (1.32)
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 212,534                  146,552
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             15,414                  114,866
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                              (3,713)                  (7,210)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                                   0                   30,387
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                46,092                   45,678
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                178,143                  178,143
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                        (7,210)                  (7,210)


</TABLE>