<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1998 <CASH> 74,660,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 35,734,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 107,465,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 239,153,000 <PP&E> 73,974,000 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 380,567,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 141,454,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 889,000 <OTHER-SE> 118,246,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 380,567,000 <SALES> 297,256,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 316,553,000 <CGS> 230,247,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 292,720,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (85,000) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,476,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 18,442,000 <INCOME-TAX> 7,579,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 10,863,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,541,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.66 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.62