<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM COMBINED STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS FOR THE INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS OF VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-02-1998 SEP-26-1997 SEP-27-1996 <PERIOD-START> SEP-27-1997 SEP-28-1996 SEP-30-1995 <PERIOD-END> OCT-02-1998 SEP-26-1997 SEP-27-1996 <CASH> 0 0 0 <SECURITIES> 0 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 143,836 131,641 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 0 0 <INVENTORY> 71,575 64,797 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 241,671 221,161 0 <PP&E> 219,385 201,373 0 <DEPRECIATION> 124,666 114,448 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 404,099 357,906 0 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 149,578 144,059 0 <BONDS> 0 0 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 <COMMON> 0 0 0 <OTHER-SE> 243,467 203,296 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 404,099 357,906 0 <SALES> 557,770 541,946 504,394 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 557,770 541,946 504,394 <CGS> 336,387 330,845 310,753 <TOTAL-COSTS> 518,606 515,144 492,947 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 0 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 0 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 39,164 26,802 11,447 <INCOME-TAX> 15,736 12,597 5,277 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,428 14,205 6,170 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,428 14,205 6,170 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.78 0.47 0.20 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.78 0.47 0.20