<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996 <CASH> 66,875 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 53,241 <ALLOWANCES> (1,223) <INVENTORY> 168,855 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 299,571 <PP&E> 25,967 <DEPRECIATION> 3,626 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 522,950 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 221,455 <BONDS> 11,121 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2 <OTHER-SE> 281,204 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 522,950 <SALES> 1,302,031 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,303,829 <CGS> 1,157,368 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,157,368 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,792 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,037 <INCOME-TAX> (6,270) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (4,987) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,474 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 0