<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <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> 2,113 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 60,286 <ALLOWANCES> 9,033 <INVENTORY> 7,083 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 70,660 <PP&E> 127,356 <DEPRECIATION> 15,242 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 337,504 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 19,948 <BONDS> 134,301 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 157 <OTHER-SE> 169,034 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 337,504 <SALES> 235,769 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 238,855 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 192,527 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 17,834 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,555 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,934 <INCOME-TAX> 7,927 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,007 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 10,007 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.70 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.68