<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7

<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999             JUL-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       808,940,101                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        1,082,171                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          1,142,004                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 108,817,873                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     322,222                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,937,629                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           1,159,368,443                       0
<CASH>                                       5,912,817                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                           2,106,878                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     130,783,242                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,333,789,506                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            596,885,002                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                        117,668,989                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               9,667,251                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,007,230                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                            107,919,162                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 363,938,818                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,333,789,506                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 303,519,728             102,148,099
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         49,787,449              17,122,676
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           4,157,984              (1,337,457)
<OTHER-INCOME>                               3,394,802               2,130,558
<BENEFITS>                                 214,747,640              72,855,055
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 44,999,558              15,158,922
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        32,557,038               8,525,432
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             68,555,727              23,524,467
<INCOME-TAX>                                20,107,515               7,273,999
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         48,448,212              16,250,468
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                48,448,212              16,250,468
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.21                    0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.20                    0.41
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             140,843,010                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        198,962,289                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (13,930,384)                      0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         144,813,256                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            37,536,465                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            144,518,173                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0


</TABLE>