<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1997 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1997 <CASH> 199,539 <SECURITIES> 70,382 <RECEIVABLES> 695,145 <ALLOWANCES> 15,058 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,047,741 <PP&E> 433,016<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,718,812 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 688,103 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 4 <COMMON> 1,089 <OTHER-SE> 822,506 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,718,812 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 843,772 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,133,159 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (289,387) <INCOME-TAX> (102,716) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (151,680) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (151,680) <EPS-PRIMARY> (1.46) <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>PP&E Balance is net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. </FN>