<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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 39,105 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 366,556 <ALLOWANCES> 8,480 <INVENTORY> 358,212 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 767,692 <PP&E> 173,161 <DEPRECIATION> 77,976 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,055,608 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 267,526 <BONDS> 476,908 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 9,479 <OTHER-SE> 281,127 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,055,608 <SALES> 1,207,295 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,207,295 <CGS> 1,021,803 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,021,803 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 138,806 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,422 <INCOME-PRETAX> 36,109 <INCOME-TAX> 15,181 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 18,007 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 18,007 <EPS-BASIC> .68 <EPS-DILUTED> .58