<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JUL-01-2000 JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 2,153,825 2,153,825 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 276,021,057 276,021,057 <ALLOWANCES> (10,176,135) (10,176,135) <INVENTORY> 95,259,273 95,259,273 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 0 <PP&E> 17,075,423 17,075,423 <DEPRECIATION> 0 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 436,573,259 436,573,259 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 0 <BONDS> 289,858,760 289,858,760 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 30,000 30,000 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 280,897 280,897 <OTHER-SE> 83,716,005 83,716,005 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 436,573,259 436,573,259 <SALES> 31,567,724 77,761,867 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 48,433,235 127,012,033 <CGS> 7,872,766 18,934,882 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 25,341,050 52,723,148 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,509,332 6,198,559 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,505,115 19,026,296 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,204,972 15,064,574 <INCOME-TAX> 2,675,000 6,400,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,529,972 8,664,574 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,529,972 8,664,574 <EPS-BASIC> 0.12 0.29 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.12 0.29