<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 3,945 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 148,555 <ALLOWANCES> 3,343 <INVENTORY> 3,086 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 155,959 <PP&E> 45,232 <DEPRECIATION> 21,418 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 230,067 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 126,086 <BONDS> 26,647 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 44 <OTHER-SE> 77,290 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 230,067 <SALES> 379,125 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 424,241 <CGS> 343,842 <TOTAL-COSTS> 371,596 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 450 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 759 <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,705 <INCOME-TAX> 2,117 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,588 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,588 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.60 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.60