<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                      15,455,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                              131,456,000
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                  7,398,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                           171,977,000
<PP&E>                                      84,846,000
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             554,817,000
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       28,784,000
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        44,000
<OTHER-SE>                                 260,157,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               554,817,000
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                           307,450,000
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                              251,703,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             6,292,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           9,442,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             44,816,000
<INCOME-TAX>                                18,255,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                         26,561,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                26,561,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.59