<ARTICLE>                                          5
<MULTIPLIER>                                                 1,000
                                                    
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                    9-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                                SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                                       6,700
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                              160,500
<ALLOWANCES>                                                 4,600
<INVENTORY>                                                226,900
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                           406,700
<PP&E>                                                      87,900
<DEPRECIATION>                                              37,200
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             570,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                      234,500
<BONDS>                                                    265,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        1,000
<PREFERRED>                                                      0
<COMMON>                                                       200
<OTHER-SE>                                                  33,000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               570,600
<SALES>                                                    622,600
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           622,600
<CGS>                                                      519,800
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                              519,800
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                 0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          30,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                             20,700
<INCOME-TAX>                                                   400
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         20,300
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                            (14,800)
<CHANGES>                                                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                                 5,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                    0.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                    0.26