<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> BRITISH POUNDS STERLING <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.641 <CASH> 14,993 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,557 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 2,622 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 25,191 <PP&E> 1,081 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 33,073 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,699 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 18,321 <OTHER-SE> 8,311 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 33,073 <SALES> 13,363 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 6,655 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,426 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 2,373 <INCOME-TAX> 820 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,553 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,553 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0