<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <CURRENCY> BRITISH STERLING <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.6727 <CASH> 14,176 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 3,195 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 3,552 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 22,599 <PP&E> 1,150 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 31,893 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,872 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 18,358 <OTHER-SE> 7,973 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 31,893 <SALES> 7,522 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 0 <CGS> 3,606 <TOTAL-COSTS> 0 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 4,196 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (115) <INCOME-TAX> 252 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (367) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (367) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.03) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.03)