<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 1,712,004 <SECURITIES> 17,316,545 <RECEIVABLES> 62,723,869 <ALLOWANCES> (6,116,523) <INVENTORY> 4,185,215 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 16,699,652 <DEPRECIATION> (1,226,507) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 113,656,472 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 99,453 <OTHER-SE> 45,567,062 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 113,656,472 <SALES> 31,314,081 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 40,819,814 <CGS> 20,763,335 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 12,565,815 <LOSS-PROVISION> 4,391,961 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,789,702 <INCOME-PRETAX> 951,026 <INCOME-TAX> 150,989 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 811,830 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 81,830 <EPS-BASIC> .08 <EPS-DILUTED> .08