<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 25,769 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 100,944 <ALLOWANCES> 3,881 <INVENTORY> 99,342 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 232,269 <PP&E> 46,534 <DEPRECIATION> 24,006 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 329,036 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 133,988 <BONDS> 193,463 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 55 <OTHER-SE> (7,055) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 329,036 <SALES> 2,175,367 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,175,367 <CGS> 2,017,654 <TOTAL-COSTS> 130,493 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,319 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,916 <INCOME-PRETAX> 15,985 <INCOME-TAX> 6,941 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 9,044 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (1,830) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,214 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0