<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM FORM 10-Q AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 36,204 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,328 <ALLOWANCES> 1,986 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 101,352 <PP&E> 45,018 <DEPRECIATION> 21,929 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 221,385 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 104,876 <BONDS> 114,750 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 257 <OTHER-SE> 762 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 221,385 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 167,013 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 76,946 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 20,278 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 7,481 <INCOME-PRETAX> 28,711 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,711 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,711 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.12 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.09