<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 3,782,862 <SECURITIES> 40,593,199 <RECEIVABLES> 72,929,062 <ALLOWANCES> 1,958,560 <INVENTORY> 3,950,426 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 121,908,955 <PP&E> 53,490,351 <DEPRECIATION> 17,912,215 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 290,947,208 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 29,907,149 <BONDS> 130,698,684 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 244,126 <OTHER-SE> 130,097,249 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 290,947,208 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 169,247,919 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 82,425,019 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,961,562 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,977,655 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,391,584 <INCOME-TAX> 8,300,236 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 13,091,348 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 13,091,348 <EPS-PRIMARY> .55 <EPS-DILUTED> .54