<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 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> 25,948 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,907 <ALLOWANCES> 893 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 76,190 <PP&E> 29,276 <DEPRECIATION> 13,420 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 249,397 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 37,655 <BONDS> 145,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 255 <OTHER-SE> 55,330 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 249,397 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 122,890 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 66,699 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 16,331 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,195 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,008 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,008 <DISCONTINUED> 7,922 <EXTRAORDINARY> (577) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,353 <EPS-PRIMARY> .52 <EPS-DILUTED> .52