<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 7
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             APR-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997             JUN-30-1997
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       663,733,929                       0
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        2,250,310                       0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          2,400,392                       0
<EQUITIES>                                 106,402,644                       0
<MORTGAGE>                                     691,951                       0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                1,775,442                       0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             937,725,821                       0
<CASH>                                       2,042,019                       0
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                             864,675                       0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                     104,741,059                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           1,077,050,660                       0
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            477,047,422                       0
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         98,398,412                       0
<POLICY-OTHER>                               8,994,857                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        6,612,380                       0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                             78,896,191                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                    41,891,512                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                 306,350,052                       0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             1,077,050,660                       0
<PREMIUMS>                                 182,724,322              92,240,084
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         27,916,606              13,917,544
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           5,218,026               1,962,958
<OTHER-INCOME>                               1,128,702                 578,314
<BENEFITS>                                 135,784,451              67,257,831
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 27,660,005              13,916,568
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        14,778,108               7,697,800
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             38,765,092              19,826,701
<INCOME-TAX>                                12,018,172               6,134,028
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         26,746,920              13,692,673
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                26,746,920              13,692,673
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.66                    0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.66                    0.34
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             120,504,956                       0
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        123,919,405                       0
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                          (2,155,229)                       0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          81,146,365                       0
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            34,935,469                       0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            125,496,613                       0
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0                       0
        

</TABLE>