<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF MARCH 31, 1999 AND THE RELATED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE SIX MONTHS THEN ENDED AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <CASH> 17,154 <SECURITIES> 1,743 <RECEIVABLES> 158,772 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 57,259 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 247,336 <PP&E> 41,083 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 329,494 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 93,118 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 234 <OTHER-SE> 175,003 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 329,494 <SALES> 238,402 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 240,008 <CGS> 189,319 <TOTAL-COSTS> 189,319 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 39,699 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,945 <INCOME-PRETAX> 9,045 <INCOME-TAX> 3,150 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,895 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,895 <EPS-PRIMARY> .66 <EPS-DILUTED> 0