<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial informaiton extracted from SEC
     Form 10-Q and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements.
</LEGEND>

<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               AUG-31-1999

<PERIOD-END>                                   MAY-31-1999
<CASH>                                         6,658
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  236,495
<ALLOWANCES>                                   0
<INVENTORY>                                    70,931
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               322,025
<PP&E>                                         95,875
<DEPRECIATION>                                 30,288
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 399,477
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          230,711
<BONDS>                                        70,058
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    80
<COMMON>                                       3,859
<OTHER-SE>                                     92,970
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   399,477
<SALES>                                        158,591
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               158,591
<CGS>                                          107,213
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  107,213
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               14,181
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             1,396
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                33,713
<INCOME-TAX>                                   12,965
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            20,748
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   20,748
<EPS-BASIC>                                  0.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.51