<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1998 <CASH> 39,805 <SECURITIES> 14,366 <RECEIVABLES> 22,512 <ALLOWANCES> 1,535 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 80,135 <PP&E> 41,259 <DEPRECIATION> 13,309 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 296,156 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 35,165 <BONDS> 140,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 27 <OTHER-SE> 120,406 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 296,156 <SALES> 23,169 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 31,200 <CGS> 2,337 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,568 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,223 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,630 <INCOME-TAX> 3,699 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,931 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,931 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 0.21 <FN> <F1>Item consists of basic earnings per share. </FN>