<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1996 <CASH> 18,781 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 77,839 <ALLOWANCES> (3,008) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 110,609 <PP&E> 24,130 <DEPRECIATION> (8,351) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 168,333 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 58,833 <BONDS> 55,233 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 87 <OTHER-SE> 53,423 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 168,333 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 89,734 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 53,027 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 31,860 <LOSS-PROVISION> (16) <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,431 <INCOME-PRETAX> 3,432 <INCOME-TAX> 1,360 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,072 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,072 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.22 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.22