<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10Q FILING FOR NINE MONTHS ENDED 12/27/98 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-31-1999 MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998 APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-27-1998 DEC-28-1997 <CASH> 37,778 68,960 <SECURITIES> 388 388 <RECEIVABLES> 240,470 209,915 <ALLOWANCES> 127 177 <INVENTORY> 39,476 49,072 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 361,554 373,030 <PP&E> 536,360 521,550 <DEPRECIATION> 206,462 188,012 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 903,664 908,309 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 283,331 277,402 <BONDS> 314,443 180,810 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 44,979 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 124 121 <OTHER-SE> 128,644 220,654 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 903,664 908,309 <SALES> 789,765 787,811 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 789,765 787,811 <CGS> 650,740 650,196 <TOTAL-COSTS> 650,740 650,196 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,703 7,564 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,089 21,880 <INCOME-PRETAX> 59,398 48,605 <INCOME-TAX> 8,910 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 50,488 48,605 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (16,288) 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 34,200 48,605 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.75 3.72 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.68 3.62