<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000 <CASH> 5,097,901 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 191,637,505 <ALLOWANCES> (41,210,593) <INVENTORY> 14,247,467 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 30,418,477 <DEPRECIATION> (3,380,215) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 270,374,379 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 85,408 <OTHER-SE> 56,962,043 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 270,374,379 <SALES> 124,967,077 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 152,806,804 <CGS> 75,450,574 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 38,850,417 <LOSS-PROVISION> 21,387,881 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,084,277 <INCOME-PRETAX> 19,025,064 <INCOME-TAX> 7,266,343 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,665,367 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,665,367 <EPS-BASIC> 1.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.18