<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 94 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 11,948 <ALLOWANCES> (201) <INVENTORY> 11,889 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 24,834 <PP&E> 15,557 <DEPRECIATION> (3,682) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 62,869 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,803 <BONDS> 105,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4 <OTHER-SE> (62,938) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 62,869 <SALES> 36,021 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 36,021 <CGS> 27,736 <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,551 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 272 <LOSS-PROVISION> 26 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,787 <INCOME-PRETAX> (2,781) <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,781) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,781) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0