<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 27,290 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 240,731 <ALLOWANCES> 7,556 <INVENTORY> 351,925 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 630,561 <PP&E> 117,189 <DEPRECIATION> 45,555 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 749,632 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 230,440 <BONDS> 275,707 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,249 <OTHER-SE> 237,993 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 749,632 <SALES> 1,251,696 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,251,696 <CGS> 1,032,753 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,032,753 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 164,300 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 14,809 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,834 <INCOME-TAX> 16,631 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,203 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,203 <EPS-PRIMARY> .89 <EPS-DILUTED> .87