<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999 <CASH> 22,997,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 208,959,000 <ALLOWANCES> 15,803,000 <INVENTORY> 263,093,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 500,939,000 <PP&E> 255,207,000 <DEPRECIATION> 43,298,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 982,672,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 143,502,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 25,000,000 <PREFERRED> 1,000 <COMMON> 461,000 <OTHER-SE> 276,028,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 982,672,000 <SALES> 404,283,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 407,056,000 <CGS> 154,184,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 154,184,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 217,291,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39,018,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 405,000 <INCOME-TAX> 952,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (547,000) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (3,973,000) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (4,520,000) <EPS-BASIC> (0.24) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.24)