<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1998 <CASH> 1,869 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 98,377 <ALLOWANCES> (1,171) <INVENTORY> 10,008 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 157,521 <PP&E> 75,712 <DEPRECIATION> (37,713) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 275,608 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 98,953 <BONDS> 73,323 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 996 <OTHER-SE> 96,675 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 275,608 <SALES> 228,979 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 456,365 <CGS> 168,965 <TOTAL-COSTS> 445,792 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 118,376 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 3,927 <INCOME-PRETAX> 6,646 <INCOME-TAX> 2,791 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,855 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,855 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.40 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.39