<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 15,281 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 109,416 <ALLOWANCES> 2,950 <INVENTORY> 103,246 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 233,790 <PP&E> 56,633 <DEPRECIATION> 28,633 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 336,580 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 131,574 <BONDS> 197,012 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 55 <OTHER-SE> (1,091) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 336,580 <SALES> 2,395,867 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,395,867 <CGS> 2,216,162 <TOTAL-COSTS> 148,902 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,498 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,181 <INCOME-PRETAX> 11,124 <INCOME-TAX> 4,834 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 6,290 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 6,290 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0