<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This Schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the financial statements contained in the body of the accompanying Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 29,308 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 248,015 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 195,916 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 635,362 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 432,580 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 41,908 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 65 <OTHER-SE> 110,535 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 635,362 <SALES> 43,822 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 124,374 <CGS> 29,673 <TOTAL-COSTS> 29,673 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 66,677 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,231 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,195 <INCOME-PRETAX> 14,598 <INCOME-TAX> (15,497) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 30,095 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 25,589 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.93 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.93