<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 52,821 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 74,659 <ALLOWANCES> 3,877 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 136,500 <PP&E> 152,342 <DEPRECIATION> 11,083 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,717,221 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 51,898 <BONDS> 743,340 <COMMON> 312 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 527,943 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,717,221 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 142,176 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 106,350 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 14,681 <LOSS-PROVISION> 918 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,397 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,988 <INCOME-TAX> 7,285 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (2,966) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 4,737 <EPS-PRIMARY> .19 <EPS-DILUTED> .19