<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 24,586 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 115,990 <ALLOWANCES> 2,761 <INVENTORY> 112,481 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 259,633 <PP&E> 61,332 <DEPRECIATION> 33,283 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 359,390 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 138,144 <BONDS> 208,124 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 55 <OTHER-SE> 3,807 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 359,390 <SALES> 2,476,376 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,476,376 <CGS> 2,295,659 <TOTAL-COSTS> 150,977 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 2,204 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 15,402 <INCOME-PRETAX> 12,134 <INCOME-TAX> 4,925 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,209 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,209 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0