<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM (A) ARDENT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH (B) REGISTRATION ON FORM S-4. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 24,167,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 24,589,000 <ALLOWANCES> 3,351,000 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 52,101,000 <PP&E> 21,320,000 <DEPRECIATION> 14,733,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 82,804,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 39,014,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 157,000 <OTHER-SE> 43,633,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 82,804,000 <SALES> 70,200,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 119,260,000 <CGS> 7,953,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 30,464,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 84,218,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 860,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 389,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,768,000 <INCOME-TAX> 3,131,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,637,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,637,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.11 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.10