<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 1998 and the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations for the nine months then ended and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 7,642 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 119,086 <ALLOWANCES> 20,454 <INVENTORY> 244,319 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 386,379 <PP&E> 28,505 <DEPRECIATION> 17,933 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 808,644 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 145,405 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 93 <OTHER-SE> 267,492 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 808,644 <SALES> 433,275 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 433,275 <CGS> 339,918 <TOTAL-COSTS> 339,918 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 63,342 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,956 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,595 <INCOME-PRETAX> 21,741 <INCOME-TAX> 24,535 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,794) <DISCONTINUED> 25,000 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (27,794) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.30) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.30)