<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000 <CASH> 30,572 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 462,134 <ALLOWANCES> (34,370) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 734,538 <PP&E> 165,372 <DEPRECIATION> (72,571) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,399,036 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 371,785 <BONDS> 655,323 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 108,919 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 165 <OTHER-SE> 237,302 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,399,036 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,606,812 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 963,045 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 524,693 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,702 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 54,376 <INCOME-PRETAX> 62,996 <INCOME-TAX> 29,100 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 33,896 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 27,642 <EPS-BASIC> 1.71 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.55