<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10-Q FILING FOR NINE MONTHS ENDED 12/28/97 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> DEC-28-1997 DEC-29-1996 <CASH> 46,340 122,491 <SECURITIES> 378 378 <RECEIVABLES> 180,990 191,675 <ALLOWANCES> 142 107 <INVENTORY> 52,389 68,125 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 324,680 425,242 <PP&E> 523,255 518,175 <DEPRECIATION> 189,470 162,615 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 894,064 1,004,704 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 234,092 326,197 <BONDS> 186,357 237,071 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 59,972 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 121 131 <OTHER-SE> 206,851 218,661 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 894,064 1,004,704 <SALES> 787,811 778,606 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 787,811 778,606 <CGS> 650,196 649,424 <TOTAL-COSTS> 650,196 649,424 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 7,564 11,769 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 21,880 27,334 <INCOME-PRETAX> 48,605 35,137 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 48,605 35,137 <DISCONTINUED> 0 4,819 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 48,605 39,956 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.72<F1> 3.07<F1> <EPS-DILUTED> 3.62<F2> 2.98<F2> <FN> <F1>(1) Represents Basic EPS as defined under SFAS 128. <F2>(2) Represents Diluted EPS as defined under SFAS 128. </FN>