<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 5,497 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 139,772 <ALLOWANCES> 2,966 <INVENTORY> 80,281 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 251,624 <PP&E> 134,450 <DEPRECIATION> 45,421 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 577,701 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 185,573 <BONDS> 218,250 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 9,058 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 303 <OTHER-SE> 149,816 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 577,701 <SALES> 618,813 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 618,813 <CGS> 232,497 <TOTAL-COSTS> 248,997 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 249,991 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,278 <INCOME-PRETAX> 101,547 <INCOME-TAX> 27,148 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 74,399 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 74,399 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.45 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.27