<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997 <CASH> 112,728 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 87,670 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 210,435 <PP&E> 23,238 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 935,289 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 169,780 <BONDS> 273,333 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 467,595 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 935,289 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 400,861 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 315,665 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,001 <INCOME-PRETAX> 71,195 <INCOME-TAX> 2,573 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 68,622 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.59 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.59