<ARTICLE>    5
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                        YEAR         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             MAY-31-1996   MAY-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                  MAY-31-1996   FEB-28-1997
<CASH>                              4,300         2,270
<SECURITIES>                            0             0
<RECEIVABLES>                     127,553       112,971
<ALLOWANCES>                        9,163         8,536
<INVENTORY>                       180,937       230,084
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<PP&E>                            146,155       169,296
<DEPRECIATION>                     32,018        40,272
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    673,166       789,085
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             173,398       172,044
<BONDS>                           110,000       235,000
<COMMON>                              163           166
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0             0
<PREFERRED>                             0             0
<OTHER-SE>                        288,484       310,322
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      673,166       789,085
<SALES>                           928,599       711,491
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  928,599       711,491
<CGS>                             466,030       378,361
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     833,406       669,204
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                   37,358        11,693
<LOSS-PROVISION>                    9,565         8,810
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 11,170        12,027
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    46,665        18,567
<INCOME-TAX>                       14,768         6,626
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                31,897        11,941
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<NET-INCOME>                       31,897        11,941
<EPS-PRIMARY>                        1.97          0.72
<EPS-DILUTED>                        1.97          0.72