<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Company's audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS 12-MOS 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1995 <CASH> 3,537 18,455 1,419 <SECURITIES> 18,914 3,479 0 <RECEIVABLES> 145,239 69,077 49,226 <ALLOWANCES> 22,146 8,125 8,500 <INVENTORY> 33,888 5,752 6,329 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0<F1> 0<F1> 0<F1> <PP&E> 46,891 23,591 9,236 <DEPRECIATION> (5,639) (2,939) (1,439) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 279,054 118,083 60,790 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0<F1> 0<F1> 0<F1> <BONDS> 0 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 10,000 <COMMON> 172,622 82,612 127 <OTHER-SE> 9,152 (293) (5,243) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 279,054 118,083 60,790 <SALES> 123,814 53,768 47,824 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 191,118 75,629 58,203 <CGS> 66,509 29,890 27,964 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 79,250 24,700 19,896 <LOSS-PROVISION> 24,075 9,811 8,359 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,260 5,262 5,956 <INCOME-PRETAX> 16,024 5,966 (3,972) <INCOME-TAX> 6,579 100 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 0 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 9,445 5,866 (3,972) <EPS-PRIMARY> .53 .63 (.72) <EPS-DILUTED> .52 .60 (.72) <FN> <F1>UNCLASSIFIEDBALANCESHEET </FN>