<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 12,888 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 103,561 <ALLOWANCES> 21,199 <INVENTORY> 96,660 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 220,097 <PP&E> 60,023 <DEPRECIATION> 32,303 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 320,755 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 129,289 <BONDS> 180,482 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 55 <OTHER-SE> 1,650 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 320,755 <SALES> 1,830,164 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,830,164 <CGS> 1,697,485 <TOTAL-COSTS> 111,880 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 1,884 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,666 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,249 <INCOME-TAX> 3,332 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,917 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,917 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0