<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999 <CASH> 19,738 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 460,854 <ALLOWANCES> (15,268) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 680,184 <PP&E> 158,556 <DEPRECIATION> (65,552) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,306,936 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 292,877 <BONDS> 701,291 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 100,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 157 <OTHER-SE> 191,648 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,306,936 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 849,758 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 500,889 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 290,321 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,802 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,828 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,918 <INCOME-TAX> 18,200 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,718 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,718 <EPS-BASIC> 1.41 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.30