<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1999 <PERIOD-START> MAY-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999 <CASH> 867 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 98,883 <ALLOWANCES> 1,437 <INVENTORY> 16,846 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 175,863 <PP&E> 97,385 <DEPRECIATION> 47,656 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 308,516 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 97,624 <BONDS> 94,015 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 1,076 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 108,259 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 308,516 <SALES> 200,738 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 482,709 <CGS> 151,382 <TOTAL-COSTS> 337,670 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 129,727 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,886 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,426 <INCOME-TAX> 4,536 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,890 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 5,890 <EPS-BASIC> 0.56 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.56