<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                  JAN-31-2000
<CASH>                                            28,775
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    482,036
<ALLOWANCES>                                     (24,640)
<INVENTORY>                                            0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 739,221
<PP&E>                                           163,034
<DEPRECIATION>                                   (71,348)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,414,441
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            359,385
<BONDS>                                          693,313
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            105,386
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             160
<OTHER-SE>                                       214,103
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,414,441
<SALES>                                                0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 512,877
<CGS>                                                  0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    310,176
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 168,274
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     760
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                17,983
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   15,684
<INCOME-TAX>                                       7,050
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                8,634
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                       6,582
<EPS-BASIC>                                         0.41
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.40