<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 13,782 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 187,995 <ALLOWANCES> 3,809 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 205,145 <PP&E> 29,127 <DEPRECIATION> 01 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 794,098 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 66,719 <BONDS> 419,707 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 337 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 300,803 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 393,340 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 264,416 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 93,700 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,564 <INCOME-PRETAX> 26,784 <INCOME-TAX> 11,250 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,534 <DISCONTINUED> 3,378 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,912 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.57 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.57