<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 81,124 <SECURITIES> 45,963,081 <RECEIVABLES> 68,411,636 <ALLOWANCES> 5,450,000 <INVENTORY> 3,673,966 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 115,307,875 <PP&E> 46,199,611 <DEPRECIATION> 15,812,617 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 269,163,506 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 15,731,137 <BONDS> 130,729,923 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 237,736 <OTHER-SE> 122,464,710 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 269,163,506 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 103,334,224 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 49,887,324 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,213,737 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,508,380 <INCOME-PRETAX> 13,281,583 <INCOME-TAX> 4,999,536 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 8,282,047 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 8,282,047 <EPS-PRIMARY> .34 <EPS-DILUTED> .34