<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 1999 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999 <CASH> 30,090 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 392,990 <ALLOWANCES> 10,844 <INVENTORY> 376,552 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 802,671 <PP&E> 182,052 <DEPRECIATION> 83,029 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,101,334 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 273,744 <BONDS> 498,006 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,496 <OTHER-SE> 297,995 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,101,334 <SALES> 1,875,637 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,875,637 <CGS> 1,587,420 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,587,420 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 213,780 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 19,649 <INCOME-PRETAX> 56,633 <INCOME-TAX> 23,424 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 28,813 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 28,813 <EPS-BASIC> 1.09 <EPS-DILUTED> .92