<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER OTHER <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JUN-18-1996 JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 JUL-17-1996 <CASH> 2,276 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 96,152 0 <ALLOWANCES> 7,482 0 <INVENTORY> 81,019 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 198,372 0 <PP&E> 92,379 0 <DEPRECIATION> 4,134 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 846,260 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 109,867 0 <BONDS> 206,336 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 1 0 <OTHER-SE> 474,500 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 846,260 0 <SALES> 290,406 281,621 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 290,406 281,621 <CGS> 230,808 226,626 <TOTAL-COSTS> 273,589 304,358 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,388 1,713 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,619 32,808 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,810 (57,258) <INCOME-TAX> 4,432 (21,855) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,378 (35,403) <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,378 (35,403) <EPS-PRIMARY> 1,378 (35,403) <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0