<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO REFLECT THE DECEMBER 12, 1997 
THREE-FOR-TWO STOCK SPLIT.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                              JAN-1-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                          20,000
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   42,981
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                86,958
<PP&E>                                         121,363
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,622
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 565,033
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           98,208
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          110,000
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           296
<OTHER-SE>                                     264,204
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   565,033
<SALES>                                        114,792
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               116,706
<CGS>                                           86,369
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   99,304
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,232
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,774
<INCOME-TAX>                                     5,910
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,864
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.30